TECH NOTES AG-EZ30 IN DEPTH - Last Updated 26-12-98
- FIREWIRE INPUT !!!
Well ... we received good news from our local Panasonic dealer ... for about U$S 70 (plus his hand work) he can change the DV OUTPUT processor to a DV INPUT/OUTPUT processor. So, at last, things clear up. He states that he needs to change a certain circuit wich came with the DISABLED INPUT .... He states that PANASONIC USA does not want to sell him that circuit board :(
- BATTERY BACKUP PLACE
Well ... I was really worried on WHERE did they put the coin sized battery intended for memory backup (just in case I needed to replace it) and finally I found it out ! ... it is located near the FIREWIRE INPUT OUTPUT port, bellow the RECORD button INSIDE the camera. You got to take out some screws in order to reach it out ... So it is (I assume) not intended for user replacement ...
- FIREWIRE PORT
Is this a 100% compatible IEE1394 port ? ... Searching for an answer. On the other side, my AG-EZ30E (European model) did not include a firewire input. This is explained in different web sites i researched as a TAXES problem in the European economic circle, wich collects many more $$$ if the camera equipment has also INPUTS of any kind, as it would be catalogued as RECORDING DEVICE also. This happened with other camera brands as well (specially the consumer line of SONY, JVC and CANON) wich had the firewire input disabled for European Users. There should be an easy way to crack this and allow the firewire input to work again, but hey, this is discussed in the HACKS option of this web site ! :) .... The problem is that I received a letter from Panasonic wich states that there is no such TAX thing in Europe, and all their AG-EZ30 cameras are being manufactured with I/O IEE1394 interface ... This email explained me that I should perhaps have a "BETA" earlier model camera NOT INTENDED FOR SALE. This must be analized as soon as posible ... in the MEANTINE ! BEWARE, take a deep look into the MANUALS and verify that your EZ30 has I/O FIREWIRE !!!
- Db Adjustable LEVELS for MIC
This option is a WELCOME ADDITION (for me, a formerly AG-EZ1 user). It allows you to select between -20 -10 0 +3 and +6 the Db GAIN of the MIC INPUT. You also have the choice of AUTO. I found the older EZ1 a bit incompatible with the wireless microphones that are out there (most notably with the AZDEN LINE), as it recorded their sound TOO LOW. With the addition of this manual controls, I can BOOST now the MIC INPUT up to +6DB, but then I feel the lack of some kind of VUMETER in order to monitor my input level.
- Adjustable SPEAKER volume
This is another welcome option. It lets you adjust the MONITOR SPEAKER VOLUME.
- ZEBRA PATTERN
This is a function that was clearly reserved for the INDUSTRIAL and BROADCAST line of cameras. It emerged in the PROSUMER market with the SONY VX1000 camera, and now we got it included in the EZ30. It shows you (with a diagonal lines PATTERN, hence the ZEBRA name) all the zones that are burning (too much light being reflected from them into the lens and CCDs), so you can adjust your IRIS level accordingly.