AG-AC90 Review - in the Dominican Republic
- Thread starter Barry_Green
- Start date
R Hudson
Well-known member
My AC90 just arrived. I started charging the battery. I did a quick check in low light (indoor bedroom with blinds closed, sunny day) and already I like the image in low light. Does it need gain? Sure but with my HMC40 in the same room, same lighting conditions it would have been a grain extravaganza to achieve the same exposure level.
Now waiting for the battery to charge really is a bummer. I want to get out and test.
Now waiting for the battery to charge really is a bummer. I want to get out and test.
wschmid
Well-known member
Barry,
thank you for the great report and for the confirmation that the hmdi output is passed by the AVCHD 2.0 compression, and is 4:2:2 (not only filled up with zeros to upconvert that again from 4:2:0 to 4:2:2). That is very interesting I think.
I have here a Pana Z1000 too - what seems to be quite similar to the AC90. Do you think or even know that the hdmi output offers 4:2:2 for the Z10K too?
Thank you and kind regards from Vienna
Wolfgang
thank you for the great report and for the confirmation that the hmdi output is passed by the AVCHD 2.0 compression, and is 4:2:2 (not only filled up with zeros to upconvert that again from 4:2:0 to 4:2:2). That is very interesting I think.
I have here a Pana Z1000 too - what seems to be quite similar to the AC90. Do you think or even know that the hdmi output offers 4:2:2 for the Z10K too?
Thank you and kind regards from Vienna
Wolfgang
Barry_Green
Moderator
I don't know anything about the Z10000, really... I would guess that it's probably outputting 4:2:2 as well, but I really don't know...
Your review on the AG-AC90 is very helpful and thorough. Thanks for all your effort.
I'm considering the AC90 as one of three or four options to replace my Canon t2i. I love the look of the images from the large sensor. Being able to use DOF is a great tool. I'm using magic lantern so I have waveform and vectorscope (my two favorite tools), along with the other great things ML offers. But I've reached the end of my rope with the t2i. I shoot video outside in the desert southwest and the camera just overheats too soon. Even inside I have the problem. And then there's the recording limit. So I've been looking at options to address these two limitations with the t2i.
The AC90 is in my price range and seems to be the best of the bunch right now. But I'm so hesitant to go back to a small sensor. I usually shoot with available light indoors or a small two light fluorescent setup I bought, along with an LED for a hair light and other uses. I like the AC90 for pretty much everything else: OIS, xlr inputs, auto focus, etc. But I'm concerned if this camera is the right fit for me.
I'm also considering the GH3. The low light performance I assume would be similar to the t2i. And I'm used to the workflow with a dslr and the audio issues that come along with it. It does not have the limited recording time as the Canon dslr lineup, and I haven't seen complaints about the camera overheating. However, will the auto focus work on that as good as the AC90? Because that is one of the other things I'd like in a new camera. Manually focusing has worked fine but I've been in situations where it was really a burden to rack focus repeatedly.
The other option is a used AF100. I think it has some of the best of both the AC90 and the GH3, although the GH3 records in higher bit rates. And I'm pushing my dollar limit when I add a lens -- $400 to $550 additional with a decent prime.
If I was confident the GH3 would do well in quick setup situations, e.g., using auto focus, auto exposure, and the zoom control (all of which I've missed on the t2i), I think I would get that. But the AC90 has some really appealing attributes.
What are your thoughts since you have so much experience with these cameras? Any feedback is greatly appreciated.
I'm considering the AC90 as one of three or four options to replace my Canon t2i. I love the look of the images from the large sensor. Being able to use DOF is a great tool. I'm using magic lantern so I have waveform and vectorscope (my two favorite tools), along with the other great things ML offers. But I've reached the end of my rope with the t2i. I shoot video outside in the desert southwest and the camera just overheats too soon. Even inside I have the problem. And then there's the recording limit. So I've been looking at options to address these two limitations with the t2i.
The AC90 is in my price range and seems to be the best of the bunch right now. But I'm so hesitant to go back to a small sensor. I usually shoot with available light indoors or a small two light fluorescent setup I bought, along with an LED for a hair light and other uses. I like the AC90 for pretty much everything else: OIS, xlr inputs, auto focus, etc. But I'm concerned if this camera is the right fit for me.
I'm also considering the GH3. The low light performance I assume would be similar to the t2i. And I'm used to the workflow with a dslr and the audio issues that come along with it. It does not have the limited recording time as the Canon dslr lineup, and I haven't seen complaints about the camera overheating. However, will the auto focus work on that as good as the AC90? Because that is one of the other things I'd like in a new camera. Manually focusing has worked fine but I've been in situations where it was really a burden to rack focus repeatedly.
The other option is a used AF100. I think it has some of the best of both the AC90 and the GH3, although the GH3 records in higher bit rates. And I'm pushing my dollar limit when I add a lens -- $400 to $550 additional with a decent prime.
If I was confident the GH3 would do well in quick setup situations, e.g., using auto focus, auto exposure, and the zoom control (all of which I've missed on the t2i), I think I would get that. But the AC90 has some really appealing attributes.
What are your thoughts since you have so much experience with these cameras? Any feedback is greatly appreciated.
auto audio in the AGAC 90
auto audio in the AGAC 90
I am a proud owner of a new AGAC 90 and absolutely love it so far. The video pops. OIS is off the hook. Auto focus is rock solid and clients are raving about the footage. However, I am having troubles figuring out if it has auto audio capabilities for plug in XLR mics -- NOT the built-in camera mic. While I usually record audio manually, there are times because of unexpected noise levels like screaming fans that it is ideal to use auto audio. Best scenario would be to use one channel in manual and a second channel in auto as a backup. Is this possible with the 90? Thoughts?
auto audio in the AGAC 90
I am a proud owner of a new AGAC 90 and absolutely love it so far. The video pops. OIS is off the hook. Auto focus is rock solid and clients are raving about the footage. However, I am having troubles figuring out if it has auto audio capabilities for plug in XLR mics -- NOT the built-in camera mic. While I usually record audio manually, there are times because of unexpected noise levels like screaming fans that it is ideal to use auto audio. Best scenario would be to use one channel in manual and a second channel in auto as a backup. Is this possible with the 90? Thoughts?