Panasonic AG-DVC20

• Average user rating: 3.0 stars out of 5 reviews
• My rating: 0 stars

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• 6 stars

  cheap feel for a cheap price

  by nmith511 on June 2, 2008

  Pros: very cheap for a shoulder mount 3 chip camera, good for education market

  Cons: lacks XLR inputs, bad in low-light, feels like a toy camera

  Summary: lacks real pro features that you would normally expect in a shoulder mount camera, however it is priced accordingly. you get what you pay for. Good for education market, I ...

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  Summary: lacks real pro features that you would normally expect in a shoulder mount camera, however it is priced accordingly. you get what you pay for. Good for education market, I teach a basics on video production course, and this camera offers a pro-feeling for my students at an affordable price.

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  1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.

• 9 stars

  A great starter camcorder for any videographer!

  by feldmandigital on October 20, 2007

  Pros: Great video performance, Clear audio, Focus Ring, Control Setup, Output Options

  Cons: CCD size only 1/6 inch, but that's it

  Summary: This is my first professional level camcorder and I just have to say that this is a great start for me. This will do just fine for me and has ...

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  Summary: This is my first professional level camcorder and I just have to say that this is a great start for me. This will do just fine for me and has so far. The video quality is terrific and comes out great during editing.

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  1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.

• 6 stars

  A decent camcorder for the right use

  by rswartzfager on October 26, 2010

  Pros: Has a basic number of special effects, a stable recording platform, heavy duty

  Cons: Heavy, the 5 minute auto turn off can drive you crazy, low battery life, Expensive if used for everyday projects and needs a heavy duty tripod. The older model makes it dificult to find still photos when searching. poor still picture quality.

  Summary: Not a bad over-all camcorder, you look like a professional when shooting. Due to weight, it is a chore to lug around. It comes with basic array of special effects, ...

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  Summary: Not a bad over-all camcorder, you look like a professional when shooting. Due to weight, it is a chore to lug around. It comes with basic array of special effects, The rub is, its too expensive and heavy for the average user that might use the special effects, but a professional , who could afford it, would not need the special effects. and the camera is out dated with ithe intro of the sony hvr hd 1000u. It is a good camcorder for schools that need a robust camcorder for students.It will take a beating, can control,capture and load video into a computer and is hard to walk off with. Not sure why one would need to record audio during the still pictures shot, though. when entering the pictures into a video project you have to remove the audio ? for $1300 its not bad, if it meets your needs.

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• 6 stars

  Big step back from their previous models

  by peterphoto2 on February 22, 2008

  Pros: easy to use, light weight, decent image,

  Cons: poor exposure can't change exposure while recording

  Summary: I have been using this one for a while now, shot 5-10 weddings with it. My overall opinion is one of disappointment. Namely, the exposure leaves a lot to be ...

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  Summary: I have been using this one for a while now, shot 5-10 weddings with it. My overall opinion is one of disappointment. Namely, the exposure leaves a lot to be desired. The camera is easily fooled by black tux's and white dresses. In the case of tux's, the faces go pale and the suits go grey. The tonal range is just not there.
  The only way to compensate is using the iris. Which is a very crude way to do it. You crush the blacks.
  
  There is indeed a spotlight setting. This a feature that is aimed at providing exposure and skin detail when the subject is in a spotlight (ie theatre) or with a black background. Unfortunately, it doesn't work well. I usually have to use the iris instead.
  
  In a similiar way, you cannot adjust the settings (such as spotlight) WHILE recording. With my older panasonics, DVC 60, DVC 30 you could do so. Thus, if the lighting situation changes, the camera does not compensate. You are forced to using the iris instead, which is a really (compared to the previous models) crude way of compensating. What a disappointment! I shoot plays and theatre as well. If I stop recording, it is NOT good. So I am forced into using the iris.
  
  Speaking of which...the controls are poorly laid out. IF the bride is walking down the aisle, and the camera is not working properly, the last think I need is to stop, go into submenus, restart. Before, I could simply cycle through by touch (spotlight, suna sand sand, low light, etc.) No more!
  
  The low light function was terrible as well. The night shot feature infers that you can shoot in low light. And yes you can, provided you don't mind the severe strobing effect of any subject moving (such as people dancing--you cannot even tell who they are!
  
  There are other little quirks that are irritating. My guess is that they gutted the previous models to be able to say they are marketing a 3 chip camera, but they really stepped backward.
  
  With the new Sony competing for a cheap shoulder mount camera, my guess is that panasonic will probably lose. After spending at least $20,000 over the years at panasonic, I am definitely going to make my next purchase a Sony.

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• 7 stars

  Good Starter Semi-Pro Cam

  by foto66 on September 27, 2007

  Pros: Excellent pic quality, lightweight, pro-looks.

  Cons: Almost too small to shoulder. Low-light function useless. Eyepiece LCD tiny.

  Summary: I like this camera, but I don't love it. This 3-CCD prosumer camera offer excellent picture quality at a remarkable price point. Mini-DV still offers better pic quality than ...

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  Summary: I like this camera, but I don't love it. This 3-CCD prosumer camera offer excellent picture quality at a remarkable price point. Mini-DV still offers better pic quality than DVD or harddrive cameras, if one can tolerate tape inconvenience and the DVC20 takes great advantage of the format with a picture quality that belies it's 1/6" image censors. Many reviews have faulted the DVC20's menu-driven control system, but I found I mastered it quickly, effortlessly changing settings without thought. In fact, I've has bad shoots with my Sony's mechanical buttons from inadvertantly changed settings. I don't mind the menus at all. However, this camera does have some serious shortcomings for the serious user. The Zoom is smooth and variable, but it seems to start in second gear. The start of a zoom cannot be eazed into, it just starts. Ugh! The low-light function is not a gain increase or an infrared vision, but inexplicably, Panasonic used a super-slow shutter speed which produces an absolutely useless 10 fps smear.

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