ALL: AG-AC160/130 Upgrade

Jan_Crittenden

Jan_Crittenden

Veteran
Hi everyone,

Aparrently I was misinformed when I posted that the upgrade was only going to cost $300. The Kit costs this much but the labor is extra. The labor is an additional $130. Sorry about this, but the service guys have to pull the camera apart to do it and it takes about an hour and a half to do the upgrade.

Hope this clarifies.

Best,

jan
 
Hi,

No this is for the enhacenced Focus Assist and the faster Push to Focus function. 60P is a free download for the 160.

Best,

Jan
 
So it's really $430 plus tax, USD. Out here in LA that translates into about $456.25....I still think its worth it.
 
Just to clarify Jan, the proper phone number to call in the USA to make arrangements to get the upgrade is 855-772-8324?

Panasonic's original press release announcing the upgrade quoted the price as being $300 So it obviously is not your fault that this figure has turned out to be wrong.

Is there any chance that Panasonic has created ( or will create ) a video to demonstrate the performance of the camcorder after the upgrade has been done? Such a video might help folks decide if spending this much money will be worth it to them.
 
LanceOregon said:
Is there any chance that Panasonic has created ( or will create ) a video to demonstrate the performance of the camcorder after the upgrade has been done? Such a video might help folks decide if spending this much money will be worth it to them.
Click to expand...

Agreed. I was leaning on doing it for $300, but now an extra $130 plus tax? Maybe a video showing the difference would help me change my mind.
I'm not one to complain, but the fact that an updated model (160A) came out so quickly to address issues people were complaining about........ well, it just seems kind of crappy to have people like myself who bought the 160 on day one pay that much for the upgrade for features that "maybe" should have been there already. I haven't really come across the issues that others have pointed out, mainly because I use manual focus most of the time, but the turbo auto-focus does have me intrigued a bit. If it were $200 flat, no brainer, I'd do it. But $430, plus 7% tax, plus whatever the cost to ship is (insurance for $4000 is probably a chunk of change through UPS) just seems like too much more cash to shell out for this camera. Maybe a video would make me change my mind though....
 
Abeas.... I did make a two videos showing the difference. The findings are not easy to interpret but I will list them here below for easy reference purposes.

Bottom line, IMO, the upgrade is worth every penny.

1st Video - focus shift from a close object to a church on the other side of a lake (1.5 miles) where you will clearly see that we can get fast lock-in or slow lock-in depending on how much contrast you let the camera work with (at least that was my conclusion). If you listen to Bernie Mitchell's video on focus, my findings seem to be consistent with his pre-AC160A focusing guidelines.

http://youtu.be/5r_QPIA4tsY

2nd Video - this is a very short illustration of shifting of auto-focus (30 feet to 80) feet where you see the focus very quickly change as my subject leaves the scene and then returns. I found I had to use a magnifying class to see the detail on the tree leaves, others have come back to say it is noticeable without a magnifying glass.

http://youtu.be/Vi7Pcyw3NlE

As for testing the enhanced Push Auto feature, I have not yet had the time to record anything to illustrate this - when you push to me it seems the lock-in is instantaneous -I recall with the AC160, before upgrade to AC160A, that auto-focus was a LOT slower. You can't get much better than "instantaneous" so you just have to try it out.

I will however make a short video of this and post it.

My only critique was how to find and press Push Auto when the button is flush with the camera body. I am going to find a small piece of plastic and crazy glue it onto the existing button to make it easier to press.

So, for me, I felt that $430 on top of a $4,000 camera was not a show stopper, given the usefullness of the features.
 
The free PS mode 1080/60p download DOES record/playback audio.

But, if you use the Variable Frame Rate facility (available only on the AC-160), you get no sound (but that has always been the case).

You will be at V 1.23 after you download/install. Make sure you use Class 6 or higher SD Memory Cards.
 
Anyone else have questions / comments re the lock-in time for auto-focus on the AG-AC160A?

I would be happy to run other anchor/church tower tests under different weather conditions to hopefully reinforce the notion that feeding contrast to the camera gives you faster lock-in (piezoelectric behavior).

I think recording a soccer game from behind one of the player benches with auto-focus ON, auto-zoom ON and fixed iris might give a recording where we could see how many blurry frames there are?
 
I have a bunch of footage where the auto focus is very slow to come into focus. Definitely does not perform like my DVC30, DVX100 or any other auto focus I have owned.
I will try to post it Saturday. Disclaimer: is this a non upgraded AC130.
 
ELN614,
To think that a lens that weighs about twice of the DVX or the DVC and is focusing on an imager that has at least 4 X the resolution, is just not the right expectation. It is an entirely different camera and lens. So please watch the following video and hopefully that will help you learn how to use your camera.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0to4OqIrBg&list=UUAtY7XCdtu016Uhyc4ngCSw&index=5&feature=plcp

This was shot with the AG-AC160, non-upgraded.

Best,

Jan
 
I know that this is an old thread but I was curious if this is still an issue, or did any of the updates fix this problem. I have two 160's that both have this issue, we have been considering doing the $300 upgrade to the cameras but just have not done it yet. Will this update fix this naming issue?

Thanks
Phil
 
Hi Phil, mine is an 160A, so didn't have the hunting issue. However it did have a focussing issue- inconsistency-read the veeeery long thread started by ELN614.

But if it doesn't focus properly and consistently in controlled high contrast repeatable conditions, it must be faulty- send it back. I used test charts at two different distances- this is a test that the Panasonic engineers could duplicate. They confirmed that they couldn't duplicate the behaviour ofn their control camera and replaced the lens/ servo assembly under warranty and it certainly appears to be more consistent- but be aware that it is still a very slow focussing camera on auto.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top