Just received a new AC160-A yesterday

[pifemaster]

Hello everyone,

I just got a new AC160-A yesterday that I ordered from B&H. I am a wedding disc jockey located in Pittsburgh PA and I plan on using the camera to shoot highlight videos from wedding that I perform at. I have been using a Panasonic HDC-TM900 for the past few months and decided to upgrade to the AC160-A.

I am VERY new to HD video and am looking to learn as much as possible about the camera. The camera came with Barry Green's book (which is how I found this forum), and I have started reading it, but it is a lot to absorb. I saw a link to a downloadable video tutorial from Call Box. Has anyone purchased this and did you find it helpful? I am looking for very basic information at this point since I have virtually no knowledge in this area. Would this tutorial be advisable for a beginner. Are there any other tutorials that someone could reccommend?

Here are the items that I just purchased:

Panasonic AC160-A
Manfrotto MVH502A Head & 535 Carbon Fiber Tripod
Intellytech 312ASZ LED Video Light Kit

I ordered Adobe Creative Suite 6 Production Premium and will be using this to edit the videos.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thank you,
Robert Pfeifer
Pifemaster Productions
www.pifemaster.com

[ChrisHarding]

Hi Robert

The Call Box video is great for explaining what does what on the camera instead of paging thru the manual ..at the price DVX users pay for it, grab a copy and watch it with your camera in your lap...he will explain what buttons do what but there is very little detail about moving further into any function so Barry's book then becomes your main tool!!! Call box will tell you what every button does and how to activate or set it but Barry's book will show you how to use it for best results!!

Chris

[NOA]

There is nothing better then to take the camera out and shoot as much as you can before even thinking about using it on a paid assignment, the 160 has a much steeper learning curve compared to the tm900 unless you trow it into full auto but that can result in some unpleasant surprises.
I have had Barry's book for my dvx100b and if the book for the 160 is written in the same way I would forget about it for the time being, first you need to get the basics under control and then you can use, like Chris said, Barry's book to get the best out of your camera.
I don't know about that callbox video but if it covers the basics of a semi-pro camera use that's your best starting point, that and hours and hours of worry-free filming untill you get paid for it, then you can start worrying to get it right the first time.

[Jan_Crittenden]

Hi Robert,

Welcome to the club.

You should have received a copy of Barry's Book in the box with your AC160. Take a few minutes to give it a read. You should find it very helpful.

Best,

jan

[pifemaster]

..at the price DVX users pay for it, grab a copy and watch it with your camera in your lap...Chris

Chris, is there a discount code for DVX Users? If so, where can I find the code? I am very interested in this tutorial.

Thank you to everyone for the replies. I will mention that I am NOT planning on shooting video at weddings and charging the clients for the videos. My intention is to shoot the video and use it as a promotional tool. I create a blog post for many of the weddings I perform at and in years past, I would include photos that I captured at the event. I now will be including a "highlight video" that will show a brief overview of the wedding ceremony and/or reception.

I do not consider myself a professional videographer and would never want the client to rely on me to provide them with a high quality video from their once in a lifetime event.

Thank you,
Robert Pfeifer
Pifemaster Productions
www.pifemaster.com

[pifemaster]

You should have received a copy of Barry's Book in the box with your AC160. Take a few minutes to give it a read. You should find it very helpful.

Jan,
I was very please that a copy of the book was included with the new camera. I have started to read through the book and it is very helpful, but some of the information is a little (ok... a lot) overwhelming. I am going to read as much of it as possible today and tomorrow and my next wedding is Saturday so I will get a chance to try things out at that time.


Thank you,
Robert Pfeifer
Pifemaster Productions
www.pifemaster.com

[pifemaster]

I found the discount code for the Call Box video. I just placed the order and I am downloading the videos as I type this. I think it will be a busy afternoon :-)

Thank you,
Robert Pfeifer
Pifemaster Productions
www.pifemaster.com

[Rod Pike]

Hi Robert,
I have also just received my 160A and Barry's book. I have also downloaded the call box video and am probably two days ahead of you on the learning curve (more like a vertical climb!). this is a complex professional camera and it is capable of comprehensive and quite complex set-ups. Patience and extensive "play-with time" is required to understand many of the functions and is definitely a necessary route.

I have been using Sony cameras for many years professionally and understand most of the basics. However, it is quite different in many ways. The extensive controls are everything any pro could ask for and requires patience to understand the inter-relationships. To this end as mentioned the Call box video shows the control and function layout and is good value for money. Treat it as your car handbook:Barry's superb book is the driving course! And this forum represents a global font of all knowledge on this camera and will be a source of constant learning. (I have already had some questions answered by members and Barry as well!)

I would also recommend downloading the Panasonic parts 1 and 2 manual from the disk, putting it on a usb memory stick, and getting both printed and wire spiral bound. I have just done this at a modest $25NZ and then you can keep it in your camera bag at all times. Having part 2 on a disk is a PITA!

So enjoy!
Rod

[kwkeirstead]

I found it very helpful to highlight sections in the printed Panasonic manual as I reached a stage where I thought I understood a particular feature. Then, another pass with a different colored pen as I later found that I did not quite understand something the first time around.

After four months, I still have not quite figured out what functions to assign to the three User buttons.

A few things worth IMO getting used to early on are:

1) load Barry's scene files so you can play with these. I like his FILMIC scene.

2) spend $10 on an SD -> USB plug and don't get into the habit of offloading content from the camera to a PC. Remove the SD, write-protect it immediately, put the SD in the SD to USB plug, then copy - If you try to copy objects directly off the camera, the temptation at the end of the copy is to delete things on the SD from the PC after you have copied files using a direct connection is too great.

3) if you decide to play around with VFR (160 only), don't forget that whereas your sound level indicator AND your headset will give you the impression that sound is being recorded, it is not. Look at the little symbol with the slash through it that warns you that sound is NOT being recorded.

4) leave Auto Zoom off, in case you inadvertently at startup start to turn the zoom ring manually. Not good for the camera !

5) at your own risk, decide whether the little plastic covers over the sound meters are troublesome to you and if yes, consider removing them. I have not found that they easily can shift position on their own.

6) find a thin cork washer and put this between the camera base and any quick release plate you keep mounted (I have had major issues with the usual single screw and single pin connection both with my Manfrotto fluid head quick release device AND with the one that comes with the Gliders Grey shoulder mount that I recently acquired). I cannot understand how badly designed these quick release devices are - maybe they can accommodate two screws instead of one?

7) leave the waveform screen on your LCD as much as you can. Convert the Viewfinder from color to black/white and turn on the red highlighting.

8) never leave the camera pointing (either end) in the sun.

9) never let the camera get out of your sight. (yes, for bringing it into restaurants, etc.) - I used to leave things lying around when I had my German Shepherd but, sadly, she passed away last December.



None of these are of my invention but just the result of many readings of Barry's book, the manual and posts at discussion groups here.

[Uran]

Robert Pfeifer, tell us in detail about real advantages of a new FAST AUTO FOCUS (How it works???) Whether it is necessary to upgrade old cameras to "A" for $300. We are waiting your memoirs!!