AC130 not shipped??

[ELN614]

I have an AC130 on order and I was told it was to have shipped last week-- but never was shipped.
Has anyone gotten one?
There is speculation that Panasonic is not shipping the AC130 so they can sell their more expensive model AC160.
Anyone else told it was to have been shipped already?
I am thinking of canceling my order and getting a different camera.

[scapsinger]

Everything I've seen has indicated "November" as the shipping estimate. From whom did you order? As far as I know, nobody has stock on it yet, so I presume we're still looking at a November delivery for anyone who has ordered the AC130.

[ELN614]

My local supplier told me the estimated delivery date. It appears their Rep is telling them this.

update:
I got an e-mail blast from Panasonic (http://panasonic-pbts.createsend5.com/t/ViewEmail/y/825509E0DD08E310/D6BB17CF0C3EA161948D468F162BC46E), today, that their 130 and 160 is "shipping". Actual headline: "Panasonic ships new 22X AVCCAM Camcorder, longest lensing in their class "
So I called my local supplier and said; great will it show up early next week? -- they called their Rep and was now told the 130s won't be delivered until around thanksgiving. :angry:
I told them to cancel my order. I am done with Panasonic's games. E-mail says one thing and Panasonic Reps are saying something else.:thumbdown
I am now looking at non-Panasonic camera.

[Phil1076]

My local supplier told me the estimated delivery date. It appears their Rep is telling them this.

update:
I got an e-mail blast from Panasonic (http://panasonic-pbts.createsend5.com/t/ViewEmail/y/825509E0DD08E310/D6BB17CF0C3EA161948D468F162BC46E), today, that their 130 and 160 is "shipping". Actual headline: "Panasonic ships new 22X AVCCAM Camcorder, longest lensing in their class "
So I called my local supplier and said; great will it show up early next week? -- they called their Rep and was now told the 130s won't be delivered until around thanksgiving. :angry:
I told them to cancel my order. I am done with Panasonic's games. E-mail says one thing and Panasonic Reps are saying something else.:thumbdown
I am now looking at non-Panasonic camera.


That's why they call it an ESTIMATED delivery date...

[ullanta]

Have you ever taken a boat from japan to whereever you are? Sat in your box waiting to be cleared by customs? Still waited in your box for logistics and transport to a dealer, then waited for dealer inventorying? "Shipping" by Panasonc, "shipping" by Panasonic USA, "Shipping" by your dealer... all are separate things. But, any shipping is good news!


I miss my box. It was cozy.

[LanceOregon]

My local supplier told me the estimated delivery date. It appears their Rep is telling them this.

update:
I got an e-mail blast from Panasonic (http://panasonic-pbts.createsend5.com/t/ViewEmail/y/825509E0DD08E310/D6BB17CF0C3EA161948D468F162BC46E), today, that their 130 and 160 is "shipping". Actual headline: "Panasonic ships new 22X AVCCAM Camcorder, longest lensing in their class "
So I called my local supplier and said; great will it show up early next week? -- they called their Rep and was now told the 130s won't be delivered until around thanksgiving. :angry:
I told them to cancel my order. I am done with Panasonic's games. E-mail says one thing and Panasonic Reps are saying something else.:thumbdown
I am now looking at non-Panasonic camera.


Well, I think that your upset here is misplaced. There is nothing in that email blast that specifically says that the AC130 is shipping.

Remember that your dealer has his own motive here in getting you to book an order with him. He wants to get your sale. So could he not have been more optimistic with you in order to get an order from you?

If you visit the online stores for any of the major national dealers, you will see that they are all saying that the camcorder is not in stock, and are only quoting a NOVEMBER delivery.

To assume that Panasonic is playing "games" here, and is deliberately holding back the AG-AC130, is really jumping to conclusions.

[Philip Goetz]

Backing a truck into the Panasonic tree and seeing what falls out. All I know is our order for store stock is going to be filled on the first shipment that hits the distributor, that is, we got an order in early.

[ELN614]

Lance, the title of the e-mail says it. Doesn't say "will ship".
plus I will quote Panasonic's own press release (http://www2.panasonic.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/prModelDetail?storeId=11301&catalogId=13251&itemId=645502&modelNo=Content08092011084207432&surfModel=Content08092011084207432) in August of 2011 "The AC160 will be available in September at a suggested list price of $4,795.00, and the AC130 will deliver in October at a suggested list price of $3,895.00."
They said 'deliver'. I see that as a delivery time frame to Retailers in the USA not a delivery date to a boat docked in Japan's harbor..
Perhaps I am a bit whiny but the 160 did ship out at the very end of September. And, I never did see an update press release on a modified delivery date for the 130.

[scapsinger]

For what it's worth, it looks like B&H removed the "November" date from the AC130 page. Just says "new item, accepting orders" so use that information however you please. I guarantee Panasonic is getting the camera out there to the market as soon as they can. From what I understand, they really like to sell their stuff and make money.

[LampoFilm]

Waiting and waiting.
As a kid, I could not wait to open presents on Christmas. Or how much fun it was to dream and wait before we went up north for vacation. Sometimes the waiting part was more fun. As life went on, I remember all the memories of my dad and I waiting for fish to bite as we sat in our old flat bottom boat. And now as an adult, or big kid, I have learned to be very patient and wait for my wife as she picks out clothes, or get ready to go some where. And seeing my little daughter grow up, I wish the waiting, would slow down more, because she is growing up so fast. For me, I had to save up for a long time for this camera as I pre-ordered it. I assured my wife we can make a little money doing side work with this camera as we did with the HMC150. So here I am waiting with everyone else. But I don't mind. I like to see people's test footage of the 160, and read everyone's comments.
If you pre-ordered the camera, then that means you really liked it. Would you be happy with something else? Maybe you need something faster for your work. If not, try to relax and have a little fun with the rest of us on here talking and dreaming of our new toy (expensive toy).
And to all the ac160 owners, put up as much test footage as you can. :)
thats my 2 cents about waiting.

[LanceOregon]

For what it's worth, it looks like B&H removed the "November" date from the AC130 page. Just says "new item, accepting orders" so use that information however you please. I guarantee Panasonic is getting the camera out there to the market as soon as they can. From what I understand, they really like to sell their stuff and make money.


You are right. B&H must have just changed that. They are now accepting orders, and the November delivery time frame has been removed. The camcorder must be getting close to shipping, for B&H to make this change.

[Jan_Crittenden]

We did get cameras in at the end of the month and they are the way to the distributors, so those that have them on order should start to receive them.

Best,

JaN

[wasabigrinch]

Last Wednesday, I commented on Panasonic Pro Video's facebook page about my daydreaming for the AC130 release. They responded that the first batch had "recently" left their warehouse.

When they announced that the 250/160 had first shipped from the warehouse, it was about 2 weeks later that I got an email from B&H saying it was in stock.

If I had to guess, I would say that we would see the AC130 sometime mid-late next week. However, Jan's post gives me hope that it will be sooner!

I think the AC130 will be a nice addition to my 7D for weddings!

[scapsinger]

B&H just notified me the AC130 is in stock, available for purchase.

[LanceOregon]

We did get cameras in at the end of the month and they are the way to the distributors, so those that have them on order should start to receive them.

Best,

JaN

Jan:

B&H Photo just told me that they received a big shipment of them from Panasonic yesterday. That is why they changed the camera to being in stock yesterday evening.

My AG-AC130 is shipping today via UPS Blue! So I will have it this Friday and be able to use it this weekend at a shoot! YIPEE! :)

Thank you for visiting this forum and monitoring it. It is great seeing industry people being so in touch with their customers to take the time to do this. Your presence here actually helped push me over the edge in my decision making, and go ahead and purchase the camcorder today.

Although Barry Green is probably the biggest culprit in convincing me to buy one of Panasonic's AVCCAM camcorders. He has been most helpful in answering my questions and explaining issues here.

.

[ELN614]

Well my supplier called today and said they got on in. :thumbsup:I guess the squeaky wheel does get grease.:happy:
I picked it up today since I had not yet picked out my option 2 camera since I was still doing research.

[wasabigrinch]

Mine arrives tomorrow from B&H! I'm so excited!

[LanceOregon]

This will be my first Panasonic camcorder, so I will be delving into a mysterious new world when it arrives Friday.

I have a civil rights town hall that I want to cover Saturday. It is a 2 hour community meeting. Do you think that I could possibly get up to speed in only one day? Are there any unique "gotchas" to this camcorder that might be a problem for someone totally new to using Panasonic products?

Otherwise, I suppose that I could just take my Canon to the event.

[LanceOregon]

Well my supplier called today and said they got on in. :thumbsup:I guess the squeaky wheel does get grease.:happy:
I picked it up today since I had not yet picked out my option 2 camera since I was still doing research.


Yep, a lot of places seem to now have it in stock today. Looks like you managed to be the first to get one after all. Congrats!

I've seen some great footage shot with the AC160. Now I need to see if I can muster enough know how to produce good looking video too.
.

[ELN614]

Lance, Well I have been playing with it. It has a small learning curve. Owners manual is slim in detailed description and it's function. The pdf (book #2) is much better to explain all the functionality but still weak is some sections.
I could use it tomorrow but I never take a new camera into the field until I have used it a few times and verified I have mastered all the functions I would ever plan to use.
----------------------

I WANNA CRY:cry:
background: I do depositions in Standard Definition mode (ie DV) and the time date stamp is a must have.
There are many very nice features to this camera but there is one which I will call an epic failure: time date stamp.
(3rd one by Panasonic when it comes to time date stamp)
First failure was the on the DP800 aka Supercam. The time date stamp ended in 2009 (or was it in 2008) (ie it would not display 2010, 2011 etc..)
Second was on the DVX100 when it failed to burn the time date stamp into image/tape -- unlike the DVC30.
The third (now) is on the AC130 (and AC160 I assume).
The time date stamp in DV mode (as you can see) IS SMACK-DAB IN THE MIDDLE OF THE IMAGE. Well almost in the middle... just a tab below the middle. I see no mention on shifting where it displays. I suggest if you plan to use this camera for depositions.. hold off until they fix this problem. I can't zoom in on an image of an exhibit and have the time date cover up what the witness is pointing at.


42750

I felt the HMC80 time date stamp was a tad higher than typical, but still acceptable. I can't imagine the Jury being able to pay attention to the witness when this time date is so high up.
-------------------

Jan Crittenden,
how could this have ever made it out the door??????? Didn't your beta-testers ever give you feedback on this?
plus I noticed (it seems) the naming nomenclature to the AVI files is still funky. I wonder if my NLE will correctly place them, in order, in the time line.:-BlackEye(DBG

firmware ver 1.09

[scapsinger]

That is a bummer about the time/date stamping. You wouldn't think anyone would ever want the stamp up there that high in the frame. Ridiculous. Hopefully there is a way to adjust that and you just haven't found it yet. Doesn't look good, though.

[Ed Kishel]

That is weird, I have used alot of cameras over the years that have time/date burns- but I have never seen one with it so high. Re: moving it around- perhaps a firmw... scratch that. BG has stated that Panasonic typicaly never adds features via firmware.

[LanceOregon]

I believe that Jan at Panasonic is already aware of the problems being caused by the high time - date stamp, and is looking into the matter.

I would have to believe that something like that can be fixed with a firmware update.

How good is Pansonic's track record in addressing issues like this one that involve firmware? Can any veteran Panasonic owners comment??

[ullanta]

I think that, as manufacturers go, the Panasonic pro/sumer division is very responsive, and in the past has addressed firmware and hardware issues at least as well as anyone. And while Panasonic might not add features in firmware updates (I neither confirm nor deny this), they do release firmware updates to address issues and add small "features" (such as compatibility with new media, like Class 10 SDHC compatibility for the HMC150). If it is something that can be addressed, I'm sure it will be.

[scapsinger]

Agreed, Panasonic is easily the most reliable among camera manufacturers for acknowledging issues like this and working on a solution (via firmware). Wouldn't expect an immediate fix, but who knows. They may already have something in process.

I know for the HMC150, the last firmware update added some functionality - not necessarily "features" - and an improved AVCHD processing was among the additions. I doubt a firmware update would allow you to customize the position of the date stamp (possibly) but rather the fixed position of the stamp would just be moved.

Guess we'll see...thankfully this is not likely to affect the majority of my projects and I can still use my HMC150s for this.

[ELN614]

Seems like the time date stamp was added as a bragging feature to sell the camera but not really designed as a usable feature in the real world.
This explains why the language in the manual says the time date stamp may vary on where it displays on your monitor. You would assume they are talking about over-scanning and under-scanning of TVs.
In truth it probably tries to get them off the hook on where the software engineer placed it.
When I have a chance I will put up a few different images of previous cameras made by Panny that have the TD stamp.
I have to run now---off to tape a deposition on my HMC80

[scapsinger]

Seems like the time date stamp was added as a bragging feature to sell the camera but not really designed as a usable feature in the real world.
This explains why the language in the manual says the time date stamp may vary on where it displays on your monitor.

It definitely was designed as a usable feature...also as a bragging point (of course...that's marketing). The HMC150 is one of the most popular camcorders in use today for depositions and other legal purposes where time/date stamp is crucial.

As for the display...was your earlier image showing the recording display of the time/date stamp, or the PLAYBACK display (of a recorded clip)...?

One thing that popped into my mind about the placement of the stamp...the HMC150 display was a 4:3 screen, and I wonder if somehow or another the current display is based upon the same programming logic (such as "place stamp X pixels from the bottom of display") and so as the code was carried over from the HMC150 maybe somebody forgot to make an adjustment for the new 16:9 LCD screen on the AC160/AC130 cameras. Just a hunch, nothing more, but would love to know an answer.

Anyway, that's why I'm asking if you were showing a RECORDING display of the stamp or a PLAYBACK display (which would show where the data is actually stamped on the recording itself).

[ELN614]

It definitely was designed as a usable feature...also as a bragging point (of course...that's marketing). The HMC150 is one of the most popular camcorders in use today for depositions and other legal purposes where time/date stamp is crucial.

As for the display...was your earlier image showing the recording display of the time/date stamp, or the PLAYBACK display (of a recorded clip)...? ...

answer: recorded image on SDHC card-->NLE--->output still image --->post here unedited.


One other thing I noticed was the image seems brighter on the camera's LCD vs my NLE monitor. I have yet to further investigate the discrepancy. My NLE monitor is calibrated.. so I might have to do some tweaking of the camera's LCD.

[scapsinger]

Yeah, the LCD has a brightness adjustment you can change.

But of course, brightness is so fickle depending upon lighting conditions and glare and such. That's why things like zebras and waveform on cameras are such crucial tools, since they analyze the signal purely independent of any LCD screen adjustments.

In general, the "normal" or "medium" setting for on-camera LCDs is the best. Uses less battery and is more accurate than the high settings, although in bright sunlight you may need to go brighter just to see the image at all.

[ullanta]

This explains why the language in the manual says the time date stamp may vary on where it displays on your monitor. You would assume they are talking about over-scanning and under-scanning of TVs.


I've never seen the manual… but this gets me thinking… have you tried turning off or removing items from the on-screen display? Perhaps there are issues related to overlapping text on the screen; and the language might indicate that the timestamp might move so as to avoid overlapping the informational display... Also, have you tried different shooting modes?

[Jan_Crittenden]

We are studying the placement of the time date and figuring out how and if it is moveable. I will post back in a new thread when we have solid news.

Best,

Jan

[scapsinger]

Just stopped by the local shop here in ATL to check out the AC130. This is a BIG camera! Love the new LCD and viewfinder...really clear, just like the AF100. Zoom is crazy long. Problem I have is that I'll need a bigger case to hold this monster.

Gonna pick one up soon...this ATL store will need to put up a better price. Otherwise I have DVXUser sponsors to call. :)

[LanceOregon]

Just stopped by the local shop here in ATL to check out the AC130. This is a BIG camera! Love the new LCD and viewfinder...really clear, just like the AF100. Zoom is crazy long. Problem I have is that I'll need a bigger case to hold this monster.



B&H recommended the Kata D-Light Capsule-183 carrying case to me. It costs $100, and the salesman told me that the AC130/160 fits perfectly in it.

I'm getting my gear tomorrow. I'll have to post a photo of the camcorder in the case. I'm hoping that I received sound advice.

Here is a photo of what this Kata carrying case looks like:

http://mediacdn.shopatron.com/media/mfg/2747/media_image/live_3/thm/t720x460_capsule_183_0003_v2.jpg

.