Panasonic AG-DVX200 Tech Brief - Volume 2 - Page 2

Why a 4/3 Sensor With A Fixed Lens?, Traditional Sensor Sizes, Large Sensor Cameras - used

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Why a 4/3" Sensor With A Fixed Lens? There's no doubt; Panasonic "zigged" when everyone else has "zagged." While seemingly the rest of the camcorder manufacturing industry is pursuing large sensors with interchangeable lens capability, Panasonic has produced the DVX200, a camera with a quite large sensor, but with a fixed (non-removable) lens. What benefits are there to this approach? Traditional Sensor Sizes In the professional video world, there have been traditionally two main sensor sizes for video cameras and camcorders: the 1/3" sensor, and the 2/3" sensor. For decades, 2/3" sensor camcorders have been the mainstay of professional production. 2/3" camcorders are typically large full-size shoulder-mount cameras, mounted with interchangeable power zoom lenses, and are frequently used as studio cameras, for sports coverage, and general-purpose production. The 2/3" sensor size provides excellent imaging capability, dynamic range, sensitivity, and even the ability to create relatively shallow depth of field. 1/3" sensors are generally used in handheld cameras. There are some 1/3" sensor shoulder-mount cameras, but by and large the smaller sensor is typically used in handheld models. These cameras also generally have fixed (non-interchangeable) lenses, and became very popular because of their lower cost, lighter weight, easy handheld operation, and features such as autofocus and image stabilization (features which are typically not found on lenses made for larger 2/3" cameras). Small sensor cameras frequently come equipped with zoom lenses with at least a 10:1 zoom range, and 13:1 or 14:1 are quite common; some stretch as far as 20x or more. The drawbacks to a small-sensor camcorder are usually related to sensitivity and image noise; smaller sensors don't render images as nicely as the larger sensors do. Additionally, for those who want to create images with shallow depth of field, it's very difficult to achieve that look with such a small sensor. Large Sensor Cameras Super 35: In more recent years there's been a trend towards (relatively) gigantic sensors, such as "Super 35," a sensor that is about the same size as Super 35mm movie film. These sensors provide for excellent cinematic shal- 2

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Why a 4/3” Sensor With A Fixed Lens?
°ere’s no doubt; Panasonic “zigged” when everyone else has “zagged.”
While seemingly the
rest of the camcorder manufacturing industry is pursuing large sensors with interchangeable
lens capability, Panasonic has produced the DVX200, a camera with a quite large sensor, but
with a fixed (non-removable) lens.
What benefits are there to this approach?
Traditional Sensor Sizes
In the professional video world, there have been traditionally two main sensor sizes for video
cameras and camcorders: the 1/3” sensor, and the 2/3” sensor.
For decades,
2/3” sensor
camcorders have been the main-
stay of professional production.
2/3” camcorders are typi-
cally large full-size shoulder-mount cameras, mounted with
interchangeable power zoom lenses, and are frequently used
as studio cameras, for sports coverage, and general-purpose
production.
°e 2/3” sensor size provides excellent imaging
capability, dynamic range, sensitivity, and even the ability to
create relatively shallow depth of field.
1/3” sensors
are generally used in handheld cameras.
°ere
are some 1/3” sensor shoulder-mount cameras, but by and large the smaller sensor is typically
used in handheld models.
°ese cameras also generally have fixed (non-interchangeable)
lenses, and became very popular because of their lower cost,
lighter weight, easy handheld operation, and features such as
autofocus and image stabilization (features which are typically
not found on lenses made for larger 2/3” cameras).
Small
sensor cameras frequently come equipped with zoom lenses
with at least a 10:1 zoom range, and 13:1 or 14:1 are quite
common; some stretch as far as 20x or more.
°e drawbacks
to a small-sensor camcorder are usually related to sensitivity
and image noise; smaller sensors don’t render images as nicely as the larger sensors do.
Ad-
ditionally, for those who want to create images with shallow depth of field, it’s very difficult to
achieve that look with such a small sensor.
Large Sensor Cameras
Super 35:
In more recent years there’s been a trend to-
wards (relatively) gigantic sensors, such as “Super 35,” a
sensor that is about the same size as Super 35mm movie
film.
°ese sensors provide for excellent cinematic shal-
2