AC160 Advise on whether to get 130 or 160

M

MarcM

Active member
I'm trying to decide whether to get the AC160 or AC130.
Is there anything making the 160 worth $1200 more (present price at B&H) than the 130?
All I can see is the 160 does 60fps at 1080P, has an SDI video out, some extra frame rates (between 2 and 60 fps), and PCM audio.
Can anyone tell me if there's anything else that makes the extra $1200 worth it because these few differences seem more dickish than worth $1200. I can't see these differences costing Panasonic more than a 100 bucks. Is this really a slap to pros who could use the SDI out and a nice slomo or am I missing something.

Thx
 
I bought the 160 and still love it. 60P is beautiful for slomo, but I doubt I will ever use all the in between speeds it can shoot at. I also like the PCM sound over the compressed audio. But it's hard to say if those two differences are worth $1200. (I think the difference in price was less when the cameras first came out)

I also wanted a camera with BNC output so I could use an external recorder like the Blackmagic Hyper Deck Shuttle or an Atomos Ninja. HDMI has always felt a bit flimsy as a connector. But in testing I did with a Hyper Deck Shuttle, I could see very little difference between the AVC recording of the camera vs ProRes on the Shuttle. Low-light noisy pictures looked significantly worse in AVCHD vs Pro Res, but in all my other testing, including green screen tests, it was hard to see a big difference between AVCHD and Pro Res.

Hope this helps!
 
See the "AC160 Or AC130 - Which Will You Choose and Why? - this forum started up 10-19-2011.


I bought the 160. No clue at the time why. I just figured that for a little more there had to be a few things worth having - If there is a difference on audio, then I am glad I bought the 160.
BUT, soon as Plural Eyes (just an example) comes out with audio alignment that works on PCs, I may mostly record on my Tascam DR 100 MKII. I am not happy with the volume dials on the 160.


I suppose over time I will get a video recorder and here the SDI interface may give a better result, but I do not know. I understand you can get lockdown attachments for HDMI, again maybe they work/maybe they don't.


Some "enhancements" are difficult to appreciate.
 
Whether or not the differences are worth it doesn't actually matter: the price is what it is and if it is within your reach, you have just to look at the differences and enhancements and ask yourself if you would use any/all of them. I have a 160A and it is truly a brilliant piece of professional kit. I shoot in 1080/50p all the time and that alone is worth it for me. (try filming unpredictable action at 25fps!) Cheers! Rod
 
I have the 130 from when it first came out. At that point there was still a possible chance it was going to be able to do 1080/60p upon firmware update, so wind was pulled out my sails when they announced officially that was only going to be for the 160. It is a great camera. I now also have a Sony FS700 which is no doubt my go to cam, but, I still love my AC130 with it's comfortable ergonomics and solid robust video quality. I still use it as my B cam happily. The FS700 offers the 1080/60p plus the 240fps at 1080p so I got my frame rates options there but, I still so wish my Panny did 60fps as well. I do all types of work ranging from music videos, promotional videos, docs, live events, commercials, and am currently editing my first film as well. I mention this because most often, I end up filming at 60fps. Only in the most controlled situations to go to 24fps. It is so great to stretch footage out where you need to in an edit.


The only other thing I am almost positive I read Barry Green say in a thread on here before (and correct me if I am misquoting you Barry) is he found the AC160 to be noticeably sharper in picture quality than the AC130. That really surprised me because I though under the hood they were basically identical minus the extra features. If Barry noticed it though, I am sure it's true.


Ash von Chamier
www.RoughCutProductions.com
 
I bought a 130 based on price and the lack of need for HD-SDI. I am presently selling my HM700 to fund a 160A. I find myself now desiring 1080p since my 720p comes out so nice. Other thing is I want to have a backup just in case Panasonic discontinues it without me knowing it. Once I get the 160A I will send in my 130 for repairs of the focus.
 
I would get the 160a for the 1080 60p. For many things I shoot I like 60p and miss it on the cameras I have that can't. Its not a HUGE deal for me bevause often those projects I like shot in 60p are destined for DVD anyway so 720 works fine but I like the reframing possibilities 1080 gives me for those events.
If you dont want 60fps then I'd say no. Get the 130a. The uncompressed audio is a plus but not worth it to me, nor VFR or SDI alone.
 
One other benefit of the 160 over the 130 is that it is NTSC/PAL switchable. From what I have researched, the 130 is not switchable. In most cases that doesn't matter but I personally had to turn down a local gig because the client needed an interview recorded in PAL for a European TV station and needed the files delivered that way. Conversion was not an option either as it was very time-sensitive. If I had owned an NTSC/PAL switchable camera that gig alone would have paid for the additional price of the 160 over the 130.
 
Thanks all for the suggestions, however I ended up getting the AC90 instead. This saves me $$ for next year when I hope Panny offers a decent 4k. That 21x zoom on the 130/160 is going to be missed. I really wanted that for the work I do but I settled.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top