Image Quality8The wide angle and superb accuracy of the 16x Leica Dicomar lens will In the past, if digital zoom was used to exceed full optical zoom magnification, the picture quality would decrease as the image was enlarged using digital processing. On the AG-DVC30, in contrast, pressing the Digital Zoom button once causes the entire zoom range to shift to 1.25x magnification, and pressing it again shifts it to 1.5x magnification (in the 24x mode). This decreases the area being read by the CCDs and maintains roughly the same picture quality throughout the zoom range (through resolution does decrease somewhat). In fact the reduction in picture quality is not particularly noticeable during the shift to 1.25x magnification. A 160x mode setting, using a 2x, 5x, and 10x magnification shift, is also available on a menu.The unique 16x Leica Dicomar lens of the AG-DVC30 is a combination of Art and Technology.Digital video cameras using 3 CCD imagers have improved so much, that the quality differences of the optics have become the more significant factor to compare. The lens' focal distance can determine whether a particular subject can be captured or not. The DVC30's 16 times Leica lens is a major competitive advantage. The Zoom Rocker control is fast for sports but even more impressive, is how slowly it zooms! For shooting dramatic work, it can take you from wide to telephoto in approximately 100 seconds. What's more, the Switch Mode menu allows a choice for Zoom speed curve favoring Fast, Slow or Normal. It has smooth start/stops and is quiet, so it won't affect the soundtrack.The 16x Leica Dicomar lens of the AG-DVC30 is a joy to use. Its focal distance allows handheld shooting of distant subjects at full zoom magnification. Furthermore, its performance passes the test at the widest field angle setting. And you can achieve an even wider field angle by mounting an optional 0.7x wide conversion lens. This results in a minimum focal distance of 28 millimeters (35 mm equivalent). This broad focal distance range in a compact camera (equipped with a small wide conversion lens) will release your inhibitions to capture new and exciting shots. On the topic of the desire to capture stunning images, the "Movie-Like" scene file setting is invaluable. With its 410,000 pixel CCD's, the AG-DVC30 produces impressive cinema-like effects.The scene file adjustment items are simple and easy to understand. They are outstanding in a camcorder in this class, and they provide you with the ability to tweak the picture to get exactly the results you want.
