AC90 Porn - Photos from Panasonic

So can I ask a dumb-dumb question? What're the major differences between this and the AC130/160? This one is supposed to be around $2000 right? So where are we losing out? What is it missing compared to the more expensive/presumably higher end AC series cams?
 
Ac130A has bigger chips (1/3" vs 1/4.7"), a longer lens (12x vs 22x), and is much faster (320 ISO vs 40 ISO). Plus the AC130 does 720p in addition to 1080, and has AVCCAM metadata, can use its EVF and LCD simultaneously, has a waveform monitor, plus its SD is DV with firewire output. Probably more but that's all I can think of right now.

AC160 adds uncompressed audio, HD-SDI, variable frame rates, and something else I can't remember off the top of my head.
 
Barry, does it have touch focus. In other words touch a point on the LCD and have the camera focus on that point while in manual focus mode.

Ron Evans
 
Hi Ron

I know that either Bob or Barry did mention that the two features missing on the AC-90 is the WFM and the touch focus so it seems like the answer is no with the touch focus!!

Chris
 
That is a real pity as it looked like the perfect camera for my wife to use. She is used to using a Sony SR11 or CX700 and using the touch focus a lot when we shoot theatre. Seems strange that it appears to have face detection yet no touch focus. However will wait and see what appears. This function of course is great for rack focusing too. Seems silly to leave it off.

Thanks

Ron Evans
 
Hi Ron

I guess you lose in some places and win in some places..My HMC's don't have touch focus so it's something I won't miss as I never had it!! The AC130/160 big brothers don't have it either as they don't have touch screens. However it does have all the essentials that I need for weddings..some people are crying about the lack of 720 P but then again I tend to shoot in 1080 again and the added 50/60P mode is an asset for me!!

I doubt whether there is any camera out there that has everything to satisfy everyone so every model is a compromise ... the spot focus mode from the 130's has been added to the 90 so that's a useful one too. For the price it still packs an awful amount of punch!!

Chris
 
Yes its interesting to look at the competition at this price point. CanonXA10, Sony NX30 a combination of all the good points would make a nice camcorder !!! I currently have all Sony cameras, NX5U, SR11, XR500 and CX700. Was really looking for a camera that my wife can use with me that would not take her too far from her normal operation with the SR11 that she uses now. Improvements I wanted was a smooth manual exposure control that goes in steps on the Sony. The iris wheel on the AG-AC90 looked that it may solve this problem. All our project are in the theatre on tripods so importance is have the ability to be in manual operation for exposure and focus but have quick and easy control when needed. Auto operation doesn't work well when lights are going up and down, so even face detection is not the answer. The touch operation defines what needs to be in focus at any time and manual exposure with zebras/histogram keeps the video looking more like the show. I have no need for touch on the NX5U partly because the lens will stay in focus through zooming something that the small camera lens do not seem to do well.

Ron Evans
 
Assuming you are talking about the new AC-90, I would say exposure comp would be done exactly the same as the HMC40/80 ..I doubt whether Panasonic would have changed that! So you simply use the iris wheel in auto, up or down, to effect a change similar to EV on a still camera ... value can also be reset by switching the camera to manual and back to auto. The wheel will also do EV compensation in manual if you are still in autoiris mode. On the 40/80 pressing in the wheel takes you into either auto iris or manual iris ..on the 90 which has a full size lens ring it's on a button to allow you to switch between autoiris and manual iris.

Chris
 
Beautiful, thank you.

I'm only hoping at this point that the AC90 will do well with indoor sports under a variety of lighting conditions.
 
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