I just acquired a Panasonic DVC-30 camera and I am learning to use it. It has a 16X optical zoom and two ranges of digital zoom: 24X and 160X. When I try the digital zooms, at the extreme range of both, the automatic focus doesn't make the image sharp. The 160X is the worst. Changing to manual focus and using the focus ring, I can change the sharpness, but the image can never be made anything but a big, blurry blob. I am aware that the digital zoom will have blockiness and digital artifacts, but this is not what I am seeing. The image is simply very far out of focus no matter how much I turn the focus ring. Yes, I am using a tripod, so the blur is not from motion or hand movement. Is the camera defective or am I missing something? Anyone have experience with this model or digital zooms in general?
