Panasonic AG-DVC20

The Panasonic AG-DVC20 camera is a newly released model. It joins the Proline series as a capable piece of equipment. I've had this for quite some time and have been quite pleased with it.

The most striking aspect of it is the size. Size alone stabilizes the camera immensely. I can't overestimate the value of stability. I can hold it on my shoulder and make a pan smoother than most tripods allow. Also when walking it's very smooth. The viewfinder is a little too close for my comfort but shouldn't pose a problem for most people.

This MiniDV camera has a 3CCD imaging sensor, which greatly improves the quality of color and contrast. The manual control is clearly meant for either prosumers or pure professionals (i.e. it's not consumer-friendly).

So now for the pros and cons:

PROS

• Large size makes for steady handheld shots. Shoulder mount is very comfortable.
• Weighs about 5 pounds, give or take. Not too light but not overbearingly heavy.
• Excellent SD image quality. Good color.
• Battery lasts long (and the camera comes with an extra as well).
  
• Zoom toggle is well engineered. You can make it creep or make it fast.
  
• Wide range of manual controls. You can set f-stop, gain, shutter speed, and more.
• Onboard mic has incredible clarity. One of the best onboard mics I've seen.
  

CONS

• No XLR input - but this is even a debatable con. It takes a 1/8" jack which provides essentially the same audio quality. The hitch is that you have to have an XLR to 1/8" adapter.
• Manual controls can be clumsy to get to. No dedicated switches.
• The focus ring works great, however there is no zoom ring. Since zooms are rarely done in the middle of a shot, this isn't always that bad, but it is a con.

Perhaps the best thing I can say about it is that it's built for news gathering. Therefore it's rugged and good quality. It doesn't have any extraneous features. For the price ($1300 at reputable dealers) it's an astounding deal. If you are a event videographer, independent filmmaker, etc., it's worth looking into.