Professional Motion Picture Equipment
Rental - Sales - Service

Products
Cameras

Panasonic AG-DVX100 Mini-DV Camera/Recorder (NTSC)

• Panasonic AG-DVX100 Mini-DV Camera/Recorder Home Page

• Panasonic AG-DVX100 - More Features and Specifications

• Panasonic AG-DVX100 Real World Applications

Introducing the Ultimate Handheld Camera for Video Professionals

Panasonic created the AG-DVX100 with a single goal in mind: To provide the ultimate handheld recording tool for video professionals. A well balanced, lightweight DV camera, the AG-DVX100 represents the crystallization of decades of advanced Panasonic video technology. It responds to today's professional broadcasting needs with a wide-angle lens and high sensitivity. It delivers the finest image quality in its class. Its manual-oriented controls are designed to satisfy professionals. And with features like the 24p/30p Cinema mode and IEEE 1394 interface, the AG-DVX100 is ready for the next generation of visual production. The AG-DVX100 packs all this performance and versatility into a conveniently small, perfectly balanced body that weighs only 4 lb (1.8 kg) in full operating condition.* With the AG-DVX100, Panasonic proudly presents a video camera that excels in every aspect of news gathering, wedding, live event coverage, video production, and filmmaking. It's the ultimate handheld camera for professionals.

* Camera/recorder with DV cassette tape and supplied batteries. Shown with optional microphone.

• Exceptional picture quality, thanks to a 410,000-pixel, 3CCD imaging system with high F11 sensitivity and low smear and flare levels.

• Wide 32.5mm-325mm (35mm lens equivalent) Leica Dicomar lens.

• Quick, easy, accurate operation with features such as cam-driven manual zoom and scene file dial.

• Cinema mode for 24p/30p progressive image shooting and Cine-Like gamma.

• Totally designed for professionals, with large electronic viewfinder, audio XLR input, and oversized audio controls.

• IEEE 1394 terminal for non-linear production and digital dubbing.

Crafted to Meet the Highest Professional Standards
High Sensitivity, Wide-Angle Lens, Superior Picture Quality, 24p/30p Mode

New 410,000-Pixel, 3CCD Image System Provides F11 Sensitivity for Superior Image Quality

Panasonic designed the AG-DVX100 to deliver the highest sensitivity and picture quality in its class. At its heart is a 3CCD RGB system comprising three 1/3-inch, 410,000-pixel progressive CCDs developed especially for broadcast and professional applications. The new on-chip lens design achieves high F11 sensitivity, allowing the AG-DVX100 to record in light as dim as below three lux, for example, in nighttime news gathering. Picture quality is outstanding, with a high S/N ratio that means less noise in darker parts of the image and low smear that allows shooting in sunlight or under bright spotlights.

Wide-Angle/Zoom Lens Answers Professional Needs

Previous handheld video cameras lacked sufficient wide-angle capabilities for professional applications. To make up for this shortcoming, videographers often had to carry a big, heavy wide-angle conversion lens. The AG-DVX100 eliminates this problem with a newly developed zoom lens that also covers the wide-angle range that professionals need most. Extending all the way to 4.5mm (equivalent to 32.5mm on a 35mm lens), the lens captures wide-angle shots for news close-ups, recording in small rooms, and self-recorded interviews. And because there's no need to haul around a wide-angle conversion lens, you get the full benefit of the handheld camera's outstanding mobility.

Superb Image Rendering with the Leica Dicomar™ Lens

The AG-DVX100's Leica Dicomar™ lens incorporates the optical technology of Leica Camera AG, creator of many world-renowned cameras and lenses. This fine lens system employs 15 lens elements in 11 groups, including two aspherical lenses, to render sharp, crisp images with subtle nuances and remarkable shading. A Leica multicoating process is also applied to the lenses to reduce flare and ghosts. The Leica Dicomar™ lens is manufactured under a quality control process authorized by Leica Camera AG. It meets the strict Leica quality standards for resolution, contrast and other characteristics.

*Leica is a registered trademark of Leica Microsystems IR GmbH.
Dicomar is a registered trademark of Leica Microsystems IR GmbH.

Optical Image Stabilizer Compensates for Hand Shaking

The AG-DVX100's OIS compensates for the slight hand shaking that occurs when shooting with a handheld camera. A gyrosensor detects hand shake and sends signals to a linear motor, which adjusts the lens to compensate. Because this process takes place prior to the CCD image capture rather than in the downstream electronic processing, the OIS virtually eliminates any effect of hand shake on resolution and screen angle. The OIS is also extremely effective in dim lighting and when zooming. Because the processing is done in real-time at 480 operations/sec, there are virtually no unnatural afterimages or visible interpolation effects.

Highly Reliable DV Mechanism

Panasonic chose a DV mechanism for the AG-DVX100 because of its superior mobility, low running costs, extended recording capability, and easy tape availability. However, for the AG-DVX100 we developed a greatly enhanced, vastly more reliable mechanism than the ones used in home DV cameras and recorders. To minimize dropout and head clogging, we incorporated the same forward cleaning head and automatic head cleaning function found in DVCPRO models. The sturdy loading system allows quick tape changes.

World's First 24p Mode and Cine-Like Gamma -- Handheld Camera for Filmmakers

The AG-DVX100 is the world's first handheld camera designed with cinema specifications. With its superb, film-like picture quality, the AG-DVX100 stands as a revolutionary development for independent filmmakers and anyone who produces short movies or streaming video for online distribution.

World's First Handheld DV Camera with 24p Shooting Mode*

The AG-DVX100 gives you a choice of three shooting modes. Select 24p (24 fps, progressive) for images with a movie film-like look and motion, 30p (30 fps, progressive), or standard 60i (60 fps, interlace). Images captured in 24p mode can be 2:3 pulldown-converted (24p Mode) or 2:3:3:2 pulldown-converted (24p Advance Mode) and recorded onto tape in the standard 60i TV format. They can also be played back using an ordinary DV VTR and TV monitor and edited with a DV system.

* As of September 2002. True 24p editing will require a non-linear editing system that is compatible with the 24p Advance Mode and provides reverse conversion from 60i to 24p. Development of such a system is now being planned by a Panasonic manufacturing partner. Use of a non-linear editing system compatible with the 24p Advance Mode pulldown results in less image degradation than 24p Mode, due to digital compression during reverse conversion from 60i to 24p.

Cine-Like Gamma Curve

The AG-DVX100 lets you select from four gamma curves according to the image tone desired.

• CINE-LIKE: Film-like images
• LOW: Images with strong black contrast
• NORM: Standard video gamma
• HIGH: Bright images with enhanced gradation in dark portions and soft contrast

Controls that Replicate Professional Cameras
Versatile Manual and High-Speed Auto Functions

Fast, Smooth, Cam-Driven Manual Zoom

The AG-DVX100 is the first DV handheld camera to be equipped with the cam-driven manual zoom ring found on most professional cameras with interchangeable lenses. The AG-DVX100's pin configuration and tactile sensitivity replicate the familiar look and feel of a professional lens. Its lens provides quick, nimble zooming with a multi-speed servo-driven zoom plus three speed handle zoom. Select the zoom method that best suits the task at hand.

Manual/Auto Focus

Enjoy fast, sharp focusing either manually or automatically. In manual mode, the focus ring provides the same responsive control as conventional professional cameras with interchangeable lenses. In auto mode you get the kind of sharp, instant focusing needed in news gathering or when shooting at a high or low angle. When set to the infinity position, the focal distance is immediately prepared for the next manual focus. Pressing the Push Auto button while in manual mode temporarily activates auto focus.

Scene File Dial for Quick, Easy Camera Setup

Set this dial for any of a variety of shooting conditions, and later you can instantly retrieve the settings. Six preset files are provided (F1 to F6, described below). You can freely change any of the six file names and their settings.

File Descriptions
F1:		--		Standard settings
F2:		FLUO.		Indoor shooting under fluorescent lights
F3:		SPARK		Highlighting subjects at receptions, dinners, and other gatherings
F4:		B-STR		Enhanced gradation in dark portions of sunset shots
F5:		24P		24p mode + Cine-Like gamma
F6:		ADVANC		Advanced 24p mode + Cine-Like gamma

User1/User2 Buttons for Customized Operation

The AG-DVX100 provides two user buttons, each of which can be assigned any one of the nine functions described below. The assigned functions can then be accessed at the touch of a button. This lets you customize the AG-DVX100 for quicker, easier, more versatile operation.

Assignable Functions
COLOR BAR		Display/hide the SMPTE color bar
SPOTLIGHT		Turn auto iris spotlight correction ON/OFF
BACKLIGHT		Turn auto iris backlight correction ON/OFF
BLACKFADE		Fade out to a black screen (linked with audio)
WHITEFADE		Fade out to a white screen (linked with audio)
MODECHECK		Display camera settings in viewfinder/monitor
ATW		Turn auto tracking white balance function ON/OFF
ATWLOCK		Lock/unlock white balance in ATW operation
GAIN		18dB Switch the gain to +18 dB

3-Position White Balance with Auto Tracking White Function

One press of the AWB button is all it takes to adjust the white balance and black balance. There are three white balance values to select from: one that's preset, and two (A, B) that you can set and save in memory. The auto tracking white balance (ATW) function can also be assigned to any of the three positions. The ATW mode supports fast, active shooting by adjusting the white balance in realtime as lighting conditions change.

Auto Button for Instant, Easy Shooting

Just press the Auto button to turn on Auto Iris, Auto Gain, Auto Tracking White Balance, and Auto Focus -- and you’re quickly ready to shoot. You can also customize the Auto button by removing functions and setting the gain to any value desired. With this new Auto function, the AG-DVX100 gives you the best of both worlds -- the speed and ease of automatic operation, and the precision of manual control.

Gain, Iris, Shutter Speed, ND Filter

• Gain: Increases gain up to 18 dB. The selector has three positions: L is fixed at 0 dB; M and H can be set to 0, +3, +6, +9, or +12 dB.
• Iris: Allows smooth, gradual manual or auto iris adjustment. The iris dial allows adjustment even when in Auto mode. Either backlight compensation or spotlight compensation can be added to the auto iris adjustment.
• Shutter: Maximum shutter speed is 1/2,000 sec. When a computer monitor is being recorded, a synchro scan function matches the shutter speed to the monitor to help eliminate the moving bar.
• ND filter: Two ND filters (1/8 ND, 1/64 ND) are built-in and easily accessible.

More on the Panasonic AG-DVX100 Mini-DV Camcorder


Back to Cameras & Accessories

Back to the Rental Department