Panasonic AG-DVX100A user manual

AG-

Mini-DV Camera-Recorder (NTSC)

Mini

Digital
Video
Cassette

The Image Quality, Mobility and Versatility that Professionals Need

The AG-DVX100 shattered conventional notions of what a DV camera-recorder could do, delivering image quality, functions and
operating ease suitable for professional applications. As the first model in its class to offer the 24p/30p Cinema mode,
the AG-DVX100 was particularly well received by filmmakers and image creators. Now, Panasonic introduces the AG-DVX100A.
This advanced new model takes the DV camera a big step forward, retaining the popular features of its predecessor while adding
enhancements that reflect feedback from professionals who used the AG-DVX100.The AG-DVX100A offers higher image quality
and more functions than its predecessor. Even more important, it provides high-level specifications and design improvements that
cater to the needs of professional camera operators. Mobile, versatile and easy to use, the Diamond Graphite AG-DVX100A has
everything you need for creative content production and active image gathering.

Enhanced 24p/30p Progressive Mode Functions

Focus assist, gain up (+12 dB max.), and a SMPTE color bar display have
been added to enhance shooting in 24p/30p Progressive mode.

Improved Color Reproduction

Optimized color separation optics and a new high-performance lens that
uses low-dispersion glass combine to capture vivid, faithful colors.

New Cine-Like Gamma Curves and Enhanced Image
Adjustments

New modes have been added to the gamma curve and matrix settings.
New V DTL Level, Coring, and Knee adjustments have also been added.

Slow Shutter Function for Higher Sensitivity and
Dramatic Effects

The slow shutter (accumulative mode) drops the shutter speed to 1/4 sec,
1/6 sec, etc., for higher sensitivity low light shooting and dramatic, frame­by-frame like effects.

Smoother Zooming and Focusing

The operating feel of the manual zoom and manual focus ring has been
further enhanced. You feel virtually the same steady resistance as when
using a conventional professional lens. Slow zoom has been extended from
20 seconds to a dramatic 30 second duration.

Focus Assist and New Recording Mode for Improved
Ease and Versatility

The viewfinder features a B/W display mode and detail (PEAKING) function
for easier focusing. Three user-assignable buttons (USER1, USER2, USER3)
give you instant, one-touch access to three setup functions. A new 15-sec
interval recording mode has also been added.

New Squeeze Mode for 16:9 Recording

The AG-DVX100A provides high-quality wide-image recording in letterbox
mode, the new squeeze mode, or with the optional 16:9 conversion lens
(sold separately)

Further Evolution in the DV Camera-Recorder

Shown with optional unidirectional

microphone AG-MC100G.

Ultimate Creativity

Image quality that far exceeds anything in its class, plus an ev olved 24p/30p progressive function

Superior Image Rendering with the Leica Dicomar™ Lens, Plus OIS

The Leica Dicomar lens featured in the AG-DVX100A incorporates
Leica optical technology and know-how. Use of low-dispersion glass
reduces color aberration and increases resolution, while a multi-coating
process minimizes flare and ghosts. The results are sharp, crisp,
beautifully rendered images with delicate nuances and exceptional
shading. The lens system features 15 lens elements in 11 groups,
including three aspherical lenses. Panasonic's advanced OIS (Optical
Image Stabilizer) drastically cuts the blurring caused by hand shake.
Optical processing with an automatic correction function helps assure
consistently clear, sharp images.

*Leica and Dicomar are registered trademarks of Leica Microsystems IR GmbH.

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

Panasonic designed the AG-DVX100A
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-DVX100A 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.

High-Sensitivity Slow Shutter (in cumulative) Function

The slow shutter function uses image accumulation to enable shutter
speeds with frame rates reduced by half or more. You get the ultra-high
sensitivity needed for nighttime shooting without illumination, as well
as dramatic frame-by-frame or soft focus effects.

High Image Quality with 12-Bit A/D Conversion

The AG-DVX100A features an A/D converter that uses the same 12-bit
processing as broadcast camera-recorders. Precisely digitizing the
gradation and colors captured by the progressive CCD, this A/D
converter supports gamma switching and other fine downstream image
adjustments — one of the keys to achieving rich image expression.

RGB Gamma Processor Provides Rich, Cine-Like Tones

Panasonic has greatly expanded the expressive
capability of the DV camera by creating
unique gamma functions such as Cine-Like
gamma curves, which produce images
strikingly similar in tone to film images. For
each of the RGB signals, the gamma curve
settings are processed immediately upstream
from the digital signal processing circuit. This
helps achieve outstanding image quality.
The AG-DVX100A now introduces three new
gamma curve settings — Cine-Like-D, Cine­Like-V, and B.Press — giving you a total of seven to work with.

CINE-LIKE Film-like images
CINE-LIKE-D The Cine-Like mode shifted to prioritize dynamic range
CINE-LIKE-V The Cine-Like mode shifted to prioritize contrast
LOW Images with strong black contrast
B.PRESS Images with even stronger black contrast
NORM Standard video gamma
HIGH Bright images with enhanced gradation in dark portions

and soft contrast

High-Quality, Native Progressive 24p/30p Mode

Choose from three shooting modes: 24p (24 fps, progressive) for images
with the look and motion of film movies, 30p (30 fps, progressive), or
standard 60i (60 fps, interlace). Thanks to its progressive CCD,
the AG-DVX100A creates native progressive images with outstanding
vertical resolution — unlike images produced using conventional
electronic interpolation. With its high mobility and low costs,
the AG-DVX100A is the ideal tool for producing indies, shorts, or
streaming video.

aspherical lens

Optical Image Stabilizer

30p image

(30 progressive frames per second)

60i image

(60 interlace fields per second)

Output

Input

NORM

CINE-LIKE_V

CINE-LIKE_D

CINE-LIKE

Gamma Curve image