AC160 AG-AC160 or AG-HPX250, That is the question...

zmacman

New member
Hi everyone. I have an awful decision to make here... The AG-AC160 or the AG-HPX250 ?? I have a HMC150 and need a second camera. I shoot mostly events, but occasionally commercials and short features. Will I run into more production time using the different formats? Will there be a significant image quality difference to contend with? And if I go with the HPX250, does anyone know What series P2 cards are compatible besides the new E-Series cards. That 1 Gb per 1 minute of AVC-Intra 100 is rough after using the SD cards in the 150, aaarrggghhh.
 
The 250 will be compatible with all P2 cards.

As for image differences, they're not the same camera. You'd think they should be, but they're not. The lens and chips are the same, but the processing and recording are different. The 250 has the better recording format and it is 10 bit and 4:2:2, but that's why you have to pay the price for P2 instead of SDHC.

If matching with an hmc150, I'd think the ac160 is going to be the more familiar unit with the more matchable image and the same recording format and also a lower price. If buying a companion to the hpx370 then it is a no brainer, get the hpx250. If you can afford the additional $1,000 and the P2 cards, get the HPX250. 4:2:2 and 10 bit are both sweet and if you can afford it, go for it. But for an avccam user, if you're happy with what you've got and are looking to add to it, and you're used to the flexibility and low cost of SDHC, then by all means the ac160 sounds perfect for you.
 
Not exactly sure, but you will also have to add $100 or so for a P2 card reader for your comp if you don't want to have to plug the camera in all the time to get the footage off it. Prices vary as always.
 
Be advised that if you are filming events with a lot of flashes, you'll get flash banding with with ac160.

The HPX250 has flash banding compensation, so, you'll not get this issue.
 
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