MODELS IN PAL OR NTSC:
There are two models, labeled with an U (for USA) or an E (for Europe) at the end. So The first thing to take into consideration is in wich TV NORM you will work with this camera, and then getting the right AG-EZ30U or AG-EZ30E model for you.
FANCY THINGS:
You got a viewfinder and a large screen (of 2.5") both of color LCD. It is most noticeable the high resolution of the color LCD monitor, wich proved to be an improvement over viewfinder only cameras. All this comes in a very LITTLE CAMERA (only a bit bigger than your hands) that weights only 1.5 Libs. The IMAGE QUALITY EXCELS (I did not notice any difference with the OLDER AG-EZ1, even if that model had 40 more resolution lines than the EZ30) ... I also found the ZEBRA PATTERN as a real interesting and useful function. This is a camera that works exceptionally well even under BAD lighting circumstances.
BAD THINGS:
This is not necesarily in order of magnitude. I will start with the DIGITAL STABILIZATION system. It SUCKS! I dont get it, why they include such a thing if it does not work ! ... I tested the digital Stabilization sistem on the JVC PALMSIZED camera, and it was FAR BETTER than this one. In fact it feels quite the same as the older AG-EZ1 Digital stabilization alghorithm (wich sucked too).
Other Disgusting thing is the NOTABLE ABSENCE OF buttons. ALMOST EVERYTHING is MENU-Driven. (okay, okay, there are two or three buttons, but that´s it !) ... Perhaps it is too small also. Another strange thing is the ZOOM button ... or better said, zoom slider dangerously protuding in an angle. This zoom slider gives you the impression that it will escape into someone´s eye in the next use ... and hey ! I saw this VERY EXACT TYPE OF ZOOM in a JAPAN made RCA LOW COST CAMERA ... I think that it is very probable that PANASONIC is OEMing some low cost models to RCA, wich happens to be good, as RCA cameras were really BAD (at least the ones that reached or country) ... but anyway that is material for another unofficial page, not this one so I´ll cut it !
CONCLUSION:
This is a good camera, suitable for profesional/industrial and even BROADCAST production, with a few drawbacks, but overall a good piece of equipment. It is a succesful child of the old and outdated AG-EZ1.