From a 12x zoom on the older AC90 to a 20x optical on the new AC30 this is a superb update from Panasonic. Speaking to the first person to get his hands on one, Richard Payne from Holden…

“I love the new feature of being able to press one user button to activate the slow motion feature of 100fps.”

 

“The video light is very usable and a lot brighter than you think.”

Its LED video light with 2 light filters included allows reliable shooting even in night-time scenes and dark places as the color conversion filter adapts color temperature whereas the diffusion filter softens the light source. The outstanding low-light characteristics of the camcorder is a result of the built-in, newly-designed 1/3.1-type BSI sensor which achieves a high image quality of 6.03M effective pixels. This enables bright, beautiful shots even in dark places.

The AG-AC30 is a handheld camcorder with superb low-light characteristics and many professional features and tools, enabling the user to capture beautiful zoom shots and large groups thanks to its wide focal range (zoom 20x and 29.5 mm wide angle).

Besides the Focus Assist Functions (Expand, Peaking, Area Mode Function) and the sophisticated Professional Assist Functions the camcorder has many more features to offer:

• 20x Zoom Lens (F1.8 29.5-612mm)
• 3 manual rings (Focus, Zoom and Iris)
• Build-in, powerful LED video light
• Simultaneous and relay recording on 2 SD cards
• 2 XLR audio input and HDMI output
• Several Focus Assist functions
• Touch Panel: 460K dots 3.0-type LCD
• Cam Remote: Focus IRIS & Zoom S/S
• 5-axis hybrid OIS and Level Shot function

20x Zoom

The powerful 20x super-high-resolution zoom can be utilized for shooting scenes that you cannot get close to. Intelligent Resolution technology allows for shooting at high zoom rates while preserving the image resolution. The 29.5mm wide-angle (35mm equivalent) fits more people and more of the background into the frame which is especially handy when wanting to take a group photo in a small room.

To correct horizontal tilt and hand-shake blur the HYBRID O.I.S. + uses five-axis correction to thoroughly suppress blurring all the way from wide-angle to powerful zoom shots. It also achieves great effects when shooting while walking or in other motion. The included Level Shot function automatically detects and corrects the tilting of captured images.

The 3 manual rings of the camcorder (Focus, Zoom and Iris) add flexibility, provide control and adjust the light to get beautiful pictures regardless of the surrounding brightness.

Audio

The 2-Channel XLR Audio Input Terminals of the camcorder enable the use of professional-spec, high-performance microphones for recording high-quality sound. For more convenience, one input is positioned at the front of the camera and the other one at the back.

Media

The double SD card slots enable concurrent recording onto two cards which provides an extra assurance in recording important events and for safeguarding against recording media crashes.

LCD

The 1,555K-dot-equivalent color viewfinder can be tilted for added convenience.

The versatile 3-type Slide-Retractable LCD of the camcorder has touch operation and serves as a high-definition, 460K-dot monitor and menu-setting touch panel. When not in use, it slides into the handle front for extra mobility and safety. It also rotates 270 degrees vertically for easy high-angle, low-angle and self-interview shooting.

We have obtained the first footage shot from the Panasonic AG-AC30 produced by Richard Payne, Holden.