This Panasonic AG-AC30 review mentions everything that I found out while looking for a professional camera. I am a photographer who recently got a huge contract. I was asked to cover the events at my nearby church. It was a huge thing for me because I never got a job that paid so well and was rewarding at the same time. I knew that if I wanted to make a good career out of this, I will have to change my old camera and buy a better one. I got to work, but the more I looked at models, the more disappointed I was.
There were hardly any that were both durable and compact. Either the cameras were too heavy or they were too vulnerable to damage. I knew that I couldn’t afford either. But like all bad times, this had to hand too. While scouring through the internet, I stumbled across this excellent model that completely fascinated me. It had everything that I wanted from my camera. However, before I fell completely in love with the design, I decided to give myself some time and review it thoroughly.
Panasonic AG-AC offered an excellent resolution of 1080 and an extra wide angle that allowed for all types of photography. It also came with a built-in Camcorder for greater efficiency. However, as impressive as these features were, I knew there were a couple of other things that I had to look out for before I jump to the fancy features.
There were two things that I absolutely could not overlook; design and efficiency. The former because I like to look as professional as I can while doing my job and the latter because I wanted a good value for the money. I wanted a model that was both attractive and sturdy. I also wanted my camera to be very durable so even if it falls, it won’t break. The latter feature I chose because I knew that the Church management expected me to provide them with the best coverage of their events. And the last thing I wanted was to disappoint them.
So here is what I asked myself before I moved on to the other parts of my research.
The answers to these had to be more than satisfactory. Since this is an international version model, it is compatible with almost all accessories. The durability is also good as the model offers good shock absorption and impact resistance. To top all this, it also comes with an excellent warranty.
If there was ever a model made especially for professional usage, it was this one. It comes with a range of options that allow you to zoom and focus on images and make them appear brighter than usual. There is also an optical zoom lens that allows for an admirable 1080p resolution. This not only gives more clarity to images but also ensures your clients are fully satisfied with your work. Another fascinating feature of the Panasonic AG-AC30 is that it comes with a user-friendly touch screen with FHD up to 120 FPS. This camera can also record in MOV, MP4, and AVCHD format and hence ensures greater diversity.
When it comes to cameras, people appreciate functionality more than the aesthetics and that is why I was looking for too. Here is what made me fall in love with this model.
Ease of usage is one of my first priorities. I knew my management people wouldn’t be able to handle something very complex. AG-AC30 was very easy to use and came with a large LCD screen with easy and efficient controls. Moreover, it came with a BSI MOS sensor that ensured low light performances and allowed for greater image stabilization. The latter benefit was also ensured by the 20 X zoom feature. There is also an LED light that is built on top of the camera and allows you to illuminate your object in low light settings.
There are two viewfinders that will provide you with greater choice. You can either operate the camera with a traditional tilt up color EVF or you can opt for the pullout LCD high-resolution screen. The slow mode functionality is also enabled and allows you to capture the natural and true beauty of any event or person. You get to enjoy recording in full HD for up to 120 fps. This high frame per second feature ensures greater accuracy and control.
These things go hand in hand with each other and both influence performance to a great degree. This model comes with a 35 mm focal length and a range of 29.5 to 612 mm. there is also a filter thread that is 49mm wide. Moreover, the camera also makes use of a hybrid O.I.S that compensates for any tilting or faulty angles of the camera. It also ensures that your handheld shakes don’t distort the quality of the image.
Since the church has to deal with a variety of events every year, we were looking for a camera that can do the job well in any setting. The AG-AC30 features zoom, focus, and iris ring on the lens. Moreover, these rings are designed to ensure a better tactile feel. You also get to shoot in low light settings thus enjoying greater versatility.
I was convinced with both the design and the durability of the model, but there were still some questions that I wanted answers for. I knew the perfect way to get reliable answers was to read what other buyers had said about the model. My research confirmed that this camera offered amazing diversity with advanced technology that allowed for an excellent color conversion. Moreover, buyers also said that this model works great in both low and high-end light settings thus allowing for unlimited performance. But the comment that really pleased me was regarding the filter covers. These help adjust the amount of light coming in and thus ensures greater accuracy and precision.
and,
The best way to get over any initial biases is to compare your preferred model with a couple of others. This will do one of two things. It will either reinforce your belief that your model is the best one in the market or it will negate the idea. In either case, you will thank yourself for going through this daunting process. I went through the process to ensure I wasn’t making any rash decisions.
I chose some similar cameras for the purpose and filtered any units that were too expensive or too lightweight. Then I chose the best features of each unit such as the display sizes and resolutions and compared them with the features of AG-AC30. This was to ensure that I wasn’t spending too much on a model that wasn’t good enough.
My research proved otherwise, here is how.
| Panasonic AG-AC30 | Panasonic X1500 |
| 30-inch display size | 3.5-inch display size |
| 1080 resolution | 480p resolution |
| Expensive | Cheaper |
| Panasonic AG-AC30 | Canon XA11 |
| Better visibility | Smaller display |
| 5.5 pounds | 1.6 pounds |
| Difficult to handle | Better controls |
| Panasonic AG-AC30 | Panasonic Lumix LX100 |
| Wider angle | Relatively smaller angle |
| Better image clarity | Images may distort when zoomed |
| Expensive | Cheaper |
When it comes to life, there are very few things that mean more to us than our memories, and the case for our Church was no different. Since I worked with a group of passionate individuals, I knew how much it meant for us to preserve the beauty of each event. A good camera was our way of doing that.
To all our delight, Panasonic AG-AC30 soon became our constant companion. Whenever there was an event at our church, regardless of how big or small, we used to take a plethora of pictures and would keep them safe for later. This not only allowed us to reminisce over the glory of the past but also helped us become more appreciative of our blessings.
