AC160 1080 60p cometh
- Thread starter dcloud
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LanceOregon
Well-known member
Well, but if Panasonic gives us no indication that they will be developing an update for the AC130, then I believe that it would be unrealistic for anyone to have any hope of such an update being released.
You do make a good point that even Panasonic is putting 1080 60p into many of its consumer camcorders too.
Why does the AC130 have to be treated like it is such a poor relative??
If the AC130 was a person, it could file a civil rights lawsuit.
scapsinger
Well-known member
@LanceOregon...like I said at first, I agree to an extent. But everyone who bought the 130 or the 160 bought it with an understanding that the cameras are what they are. The fact that Panasonic decides to implement a function later on for one camera and not another is totally their decision to make for whatever reason they choose.
As for punishing B&H... Do you really think they'll be upset if you return $3,700 camera in order to buy a $4,500 camcorder? They want you to be satisfied with your purchase no matter what. They have that policy to cover satisfaction with the product, so return it if you are dissatisfied.
Or...continue to raise hell. Panasonic listens, and if they can add 1080p60 to the 130, and enough people scream, maybe it will happen.
But again, as for the 130 not having 1080p60 and "every other consumer camera" offering it, all I wonder is...why did you buy this camera if it didn't have a feature you needed? Do the Sony NX5U, or the Canon XF300/100 cameras offer 1080p60? (Answer: no they don't). There obviously are reasons why almost no professional cameras currently offer 1080p60, and while I'm with you in wishing/hoping for it on the 130, I think it's appropriate to at least acknowledge that Panasonic is going where other manufacturers have not gone before.
Again, we can point out that Sony consumer cams have 1080p60 (and Panasonic), but realize that even Sony's pro cams don't have it. So why keep trying to make it look like "Sony does this, but Panasonic doesn't" when it's really more of a consumer vs. pro camera issue?
So raise hell, make yourself heard, Panasonic will listen, but let's not make it like Panasonic committed some unforgivable foul and Sony is giving the world what they want. Panasonic could have waited 2 more years to add this, but they chose to give it to people who had already purchased a camera. And as pointed out before, the 160 really already had 1080p60 recording, so all that is being added effectively is audio recording along with the 1080p60 shooting mode. They've already said that it won't be possible on the similar-but-different HPX250, so there may be similar technical reasons for being unable to put it out there on the AC130.
I'm really not trying to throw you under the bus for complaining, I just think that you DO have a decent argument in asking Panasonic to implement this on the AC130, and it's worth asking for it if it's possible to do it, but I think you're drawing a lot of comparisons and conclusions that aren't fair or accurate. The strongest argument you can make is that you REALLY REALLY want this feature and it "should" be included on the 130 as well as the 160 (again, if it's possible) simply to bring both groups of camera owners up to the latest possible recording standards on two cameras that are very similar to begin with.
I'll say it again, I'm quite excited to see Panasonic actually adding in something like this after a camera has shipped. It's a good indication about how Panasonic likes to run their business. Now, Panasonic, just add it to the 130 if you can, and make all the people happy.
As for punishing B&H... Do you really think they'll be upset if you return $3,700 camera in order to buy a $4,500 camcorder? They want you to be satisfied with your purchase no matter what. They have that policy to cover satisfaction with the product, so return it if you are dissatisfied.
Or...continue to raise hell. Panasonic listens, and if they can add 1080p60 to the 130, and enough people scream, maybe it will happen.
But again, as for the 130 not having 1080p60 and "every other consumer camera" offering it, all I wonder is...why did you buy this camera if it didn't have a feature you needed? Do the Sony NX5U, or the Canon XF300/100 cameras offer 1080p60? (Answer: no they don't). There obviously are reasons why almost no professional cameras currently offer 1080p60, and while I'm with you in wishing/hoping for it on the 130, I think it's appropriate to at least acknowledge that Panasonic is going where other manufacturers have not gone before.
Again, we can point out that Sony consumer cams have 1080p60 (and Panasonic), but realize that even Sony's pro cams don't have it. So why keep trying to make it look like "Sony does this, but Panasonic doesn't" when it's really more of a consumer vs. pro camera issue?
So raise hell, make yourself heard, Panasonic will listen, but let's not make it like Panasonic committed some unforgivable foul and Sony is giving the world what they want. Panasonic could have waited 2 more years to add this, but they chose to give it to people who had already purchased a camera. And as pointed out before, the 160 really already had 1080p60 recording, so all that is being added effectively is audio recording along with the 1080p60 shooting mode. They've already said that it won't be possible on the similar-but-different HPX250, so there may be similar technical reasons for being unable to put it out there on the AC130.
I'm really not trying to throw you under the bus for complaining, I just think that you DO have a decent argument in asking Panasonic to implement this on the AC130, and it's worth asking for it if it's possible to do it, but I think you're drawing a lot of comparisons and conclusions that aren't fair or accurate. The strongest argument you can make is that you REALLY REALLY want this feature and it "should" be included on the 130 as well as the 160 (again, if it's possible) simply to bring both groups of camera owners up to the latest possible recording standards on two cameras that are very similar to begin with.
I'll say it again, I'm quite excited to see Panasonic actually adding in something like this after a camera has shipped. It's a good indication about how Panasonic likes to run their business. Now, Panasonic, just add it to the 130 if you can, and make all the people happy.
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Hi, can someone try this for me, "A way to cope, and quickly get focus is to use the PUSH AUTO button, while in auto focus mode." This surprised me because I would think you would only use it in manual mode to set up focus. He says to try in auto mode.
Wondering on the location of the button too. Can I change it to user 1 or 2 in setup?
Thanks
Wondering on the location of the button too. Can I change it to user 1 or 2 in setup?
Thanks
Camera Expert
Well-known member
We're definitely in a new time in which companies are adding features more than ever now. Canon put 24p into the 5D Mark II, Sony added extra controls to the older NEX cameras and Panasonic said they were going to put at least 1 more video mode to the GH2. Now Panasonic is saying they are adding an extra video mode to the AC160. This is why I said that if the AC130 is not hard to also do it to, it might get 60p as well. Obviously to be on the safe side would be to get the AC160.
At least we do know that theirs been professional cameras with 1080 60p such as the Panasonic Z10000, Sony NX70 and the Sony FS100 so it's not anything new. Rather or not the AC130 will get it, I'm very glad 60p have been gaining a lot of traction lately.
At least we do know that theirs been professional cameras with 1080 60p such as the Panasonic Z10000, Sony NX70 and the Sony FS100 so it's not anything new. Rather or not the AC130 will get it, I'm very glad 60p have been gaining a lot of traction lately.
LanceOregon
Well-known member
But won't B&H take a financial hit? Or do they have agreements with vendors like Panasonic to take back such returns? Returned merchandise can no longer legally be sold as being new.
Well, but the Canon XF300/100 cameras have been on the market now for a year and half now. The Sony NX5U even far longer than they have. And Sony released the NEX FS100 a number of months ago, and it has 1080 60p. You clearly overlooked it. So professional camcorders are indeed already coming out with it.
I agonized a long time whether the additional features of the AC160 would be worth it to me. In my final decision, I figured they fell just short of being worth my spending the extra money for them. Adding support for 1080 60p now helps tip the scale more in favor of the AC160.
I'll say it again, I'm quite excited to see Panasonic actually adding in something like this after a camera has shipped. It's a good indication about how Panasonic likes to run their business. Now, Panasonic, just add it to the 130 if you can, and make all the people happy.
Actually, if you think about it, Panasonic will benefit a lot from doing this. For this announcement will most likely cause more people to buy the more expensive AC160.
I suspect that Panasonic will confirm for us that adding it to the other two new camcorders would not be easy, and probably even impractical.
heres a response on their facebook page to me:
its really good to hear a response from them
and to the ac130, it seems they really didnt consider it. so you just have to take it the way it is.
LanceOregon
Well-known member
Where exactly is this page on Facebook that you found? Can you provide a URL to link to it? I have searched all over Facebook, and have never been able to find any Panasonic page where their professional video products are being discussed.
The only Panasonic Facebook pages I have found just talk about their many various consumer electronics.
UPDATE: OK, I managed to find the pages. There was actually a link to Facebook from that blog.
Here are the Facebook pages, for anyone interested:
https://www.facebook.com/Panasonic.Pro.Video?sk=wall
https://www.facebook.com/panasonicbroadcast?sk=wall
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For me, the only reason I would get the 160 is for the 1080 60p . But for a thousand dollars more, it would not be worth it for me.
Do you think a tiny tiny tiny bit it is possible for the 1080 60p on the ac130. Even if they sold this option later on as firmware or something.
My way of thinking, is I could invest that 1000$ into another smaller camera with 1080 60p.
Just wishing and dreaming.
Do you think a tiny tiny tiny bit it is possible for the 1080 60p on the ac130. Even if they sold this option later on as firmware or something.
My way of thinking, is I could invest that 1000$ into another smaller camera with 1080 60p.
Just wishing and dreaming.
B&H is selling the ac 160 for $100 less than what i paid for 3 weeks ago. So it's $800 more to ac 130
LanceOregon
Well-known member
Good point. I too, would be willing to pay a reasonable fee to add support for 1080 60p to the AC130.
After thinking about this, I think Panasonic is doing this to tip more sales to the 160 for those on the fence. I very well may be wrong but since I am someone struggling with which one to get, it is carrying some weight in my decision. Is it realistic to think that 1080 60p is going to be what we need in order in order to stay up to date enough for several years? I wonder how long before they start making 2k and 4k TVs and then everyones thinks they need that, so we, as video producers have to go through an expensive upgrade again?
Blu ray doesn't even support 1080 60p does it? But will a future evolution, making it more of a necessity to ba able to shoot?
Blu ray doesn't even support 1080 60p does it? But will a future evolution, making it more of a necessity to ba able to shoot?
could be a hardware issue.
well maybe this could help your decision
which camera would be benefit you where youll earn the money back fast? if you can do it on the 130, then you could probably earn enugh, sell the 130 upgrade to the 160. or just do it with the 160
If 1080 60p is the next evolution and the hpx250 won't be able to do it, that seems to make a reasonable case to get an ac160 which will. Granted inferior codec and imaging with the 160. Since the 250 is arguably the better national "broadcast" camera that lack is discouraging. Similarly the lack of flash band compensation is discouraging on the 130/160 since they are more likely to be used in long form events where such a feature is needed. They sure don't make it easy to choose. Get some things with one, but give up others
Just a thought, but when the next evolution or standard is set in stone, then we can be sure that is what it is, and then buy what we need. By then, there will be new cameras out too. I would love 1080 60p, but just can't justify the extra money right now. And hats off to those with the 160.
Andy Turner
Active member
One thing to consider when deciding between the two cameras is that the street price between the two may actually be closer than you think. I bought a 160 yesterday (from an authorized dealer that I have dealt with for about 9 years) for about $600 less than list price. It ended up being only about $600 more than the best price I could find on a 130. It definitely made the decision easier. I think some dealers might be trying to dump inventory before the end of the year?
LanceOregon
Well-known member
The lowest price that I have seen for the AC-130 here in the USA is $3,699
So Andy, you are saying that you were able to buy a AC-160 for only $4,299 ??
So Andy, you are saying that you were able to buy a AC-160 for only $4,299 ??
Andy Turner
Active member
$100 under that. I was amazed. I don't think I am allowed to say where I got it am I? I was going to buy from Texas Media and Phil was very helpful, but they didn't have any in stock so I went back to my old standby and was blown away by the price. A dealer here in St. Louis had it for $4445, but they had no stock either. I needed the camera by Tuesday.