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Panasonic's AG-DVC200, a three-- CCD DV camcorder, is sweet vindication for those of us who championed the DV format as a better-than-Beta SP professional solution. In the "early years," the professional divisions of Sony and Panasonic insisted that only DVCAM and DVCPRO, respectively, had the features necessary to ensure professional results. They warned DV shooters about the dangers of using a "consumer" format.
Sony warned of audio glitches that would occur when video pros shooting DV edited "unlocked" DV audio. Of course, we did not intend to edit using tape decks. After all, the magic of Firewire was to input and output digital data streams to inexpensive native-DV NLE systems.
Panasonic reminded us of dropouts that were common with the ME-based Hi8 format. Of course, most of us knew the latest Sony HMEAD Hi8 tape was very robust.
Despite our confidence in the DV format, there has been one area of recognized inferiority. Until JVC introduced the DY-500, there were no DV camcorders with 1/2in. chips. Half-inch chips have several advantages. First, they allow a wide range of 1/2in. bayonet-mount lenses to be employed. Second, the number of CCD elements can be increased without forcing each element to become unreasonably small. In fact, element size can be larger. Larger elements capture more light, thereby increasing sensitivity. Equally important, large CCD elements can handle a wider range of light intensity.
Thus, a 1/2in. CCD provides increased resolution - allowing oversampling that increases MTF (Modulation Transfer Function), which increases image contrast - plus better low-light sensitivity and greater dynamic range.
After releasing a range of DVCPRO, DVCPR050, and DVCPRO100 products, Panasonic has entered the truly professional DV arena. Panasonic wisely decided that a state-of-the-art DV camcorder required more than just 1/2in. CCD chips. To appeal to event videographers, the company chose the same tape transport used in its DVCPRO camcorders. With a large DV cassette, this transport enables 270minute recording. (The transport will not accept miniDV cassettes.)
Panasonic engineers have also designed a comprehensive digital control system equal to that available on any professional digital camcorder. In fact, if you didn't know the AG-DVC200's recording format was DV, you certainly wouldn't be able to tell by the unit's capabilities, image quality, or magnesium alloy die-cast construction....