Hmmm... Expanded Focus assist for AC130 & AC160 available in May for a $300 upgrade cost. I'd love to hear the details on this. http://bit.ly/HLc2Wa
...Jerry
...Jerry
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ALL: Does this look like an Autofocus Bug to You?? -- Video Clip
- Thread starter LanceOregon
- Start date
LanceOregon
Well-known member
Now you have to ask yourself if you want to buy the current AC160, or wait for the new AC160A model that will start shipping next month?
I, for one, would be reluctant to get a AC160, knowing that an improved model is only a month away from availability.
LanceOregon
Well-known member
I will have to wait to view some videos documenting just what this upgrade is going to offer in terms of real word usage and performance improvements, before I cough up $300 for this upgrade. Hopefully Panasonic will make a video demonstrating the new functionality to help sell these upgrades to existing AC-130 and AC-160 owners.
Barry_Green
Moderator
As for the upgrade: the AC160A is $300 more than an AC160 was. And the AC130A is $300 more than the AC130 was. Current owners of the AC130/AC160 can get their cameras upgraded to the "A" version for $300.
Yes, it would be nice to see some videos demonstrating the differences. I have heard someone describe the "turbo" AF as basically acting like an SLR does -- you press the button and <bam> whatever's in the center of the screen (or wherever the focus area is set at, I guess) is instantly in focus. I don't know about general autofocusing, whether that's changed or not.
The expanded focus sounds like it's the same as on the HPX250.
The 1080/60p is a separate thing. To get expanded focus and turbo autofocus, that's an actual hardware modification and you have to send the camera back to them and pay the $300 upgrade fee. But for the 1080/60p, that will be a free download (for the 160 only). So if you're happy with the focus performance and see no need for the update, then save your $300. If you think you'd be happy with the camera the way it is now, then buy it now and save $300 over what the 130A/160A will cost next month when they roll out. If you need a camera today, but you'd really rather have the updated focus, then buy one today and upgrade it later when the upgrade is available.
Yes, it would be nice to see some videos demonstrating the differences. I have heard someone describe the "turbo" AF as basically acting like an SLR does -- you press the button and <bam> whatever's in the center of the screen (or wherever the focus area is set at, I guess) is instantly in focus. I don't know about general autofocusing, whether that's changed or not.
The expanded focus sounds like it's the same as on the HPX250.
The 1080/60p is a separate thing. To get expanded focus and turbo autofocus, that's an actual hardware modification and you have to send the camera back to them and pay the $300 upgrade fee. But for the 1080/60p, that will be a free download (for the 160 only). So if you're happy with the focus performance and see no need for the update, then save your $300. If you think you'd be happy with the camera the way it is now, then buy it now and save $300 over what the 130A/160A will cost next month when they roll out. If you need a camera today, but you'd really rather have the updated focus, then buy one today and upgrade it later when the upgrade is available.
hollyburgh
Member
Thanks, Barry! Does this mean that the HPX 250 does not need the upgrade?
Barry_Green
Moderator
The HPX250 is getting the turbo focus and focus in red, by firmware update. It doesn't need the expanded focus update because it already has it. No 1080/60p for the hpx250.
I want to hear all about the 130A. So am I reading this right. For people that were unhappy with the autofocus issues of the 130/160, is this the solution they are waiting and looking for?
If this is correct, and I see results, then I am back on the wagon and ready to invest.
I was hoping the 130A would have 60P , But I will settle for workable autofocus.
If this is correct, and I see results, then I am back on the wagon and ready to invest.
I was hoping the 130A would have 60P , But I will settle for workable autofocus.
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Can someone explain to me the infatuation with 1080p60? 60p is a live/soap opera look that most people seem to dislike because it looks like family home videos. Most videos now a days I see people are choosing 24p for that "film look," even for recording a lecture of someone standing in front of a class lecturing or someone giving a speech, which I think is kind of dumb. Why would you want a film look for that? I understand a lot of people choose 60p and conform to 24 or 30 for slow motion. In fact, I do that a lot. With the AC160, you could already over crank 1080 to 60p over 24 or 30p for slo-mo anyways. Unless everyone is going to record a majority of their videos now at 1080p60 and totally go away from the "film look" I really don't get the excitement over it.
scapsinger
Well-known member
1080p60 (and 720p60) are an incredible option for sports and other high-speed stuff. I shoot 60p a lot, many other producers as well. It's very flexible, can be used for 1/2 speed slo mo in a reduced frame rate sequence or used as-is for high-motion reproduction.
You might have noticed a lot of sports on TV. 60p is very useful for that.
You might have noticed a lot of sports on TV. 60p is very useful for that.
Lars Gregersen
Member
Sounds brilliant with the upgrade. Seems my leaser was right.
Barry_Green
Moderator
Well, mainly, it means the death of the much-despised interlaced video formats. There is zero need for 1080/60i, in a 1080/60p world. Once and for all, finally, video becomes a single frame, not a goofy collection of half-frame fields.
60p gives the same look as 60i, without the interlacing and with each frame being full resolution. If that's what you want, then 1080/60p is the best way to get it. For the last several years I've been recommending 720/60p for those who want that "live" look, instead of using 1080/60i to get it. Now you can have it in 1080, instead of 720.
Well, you are mostly correct, except in the assumption that everyone wants "the film look". There are many shooting scenarios where the film look specifically isn't what the shooter wants. News, sports, live events, concerts, all sorts of things. For those shooters, 1080/60p will likely be a welcome addition. For the filmmakers, the existing 1080/60p slow-mo of the AC160 would probably be preferable over the new "live" 1080/60p mode.
Barry_Green
Moderator
Well, same camera as the 130, with two additions:
1) expanded focus assist
2) turbo push-auto focus function.
Maybe. Probably. I mean, they took the effort to revise the hardware and introduce a new model, so it probably addresses the problems people were facing. I have only played with it a little at the show; the magnified focus assist is very welcome, but I'll have to ask the engineers to explain exactly what/how the turbo one-touch focus works. If it's what I experienced, you press the push-auto button and it zings to locked-in focus like a stills camera does, which I thought was quite useful. But I don't know if overall focus performance has been "improved" or not, and I haven't had a chance to compare them side by side.
I would feel pretty confident that the answer to your question is probably "yes, this is what you were waiting and looking for", but without truly verifying it I'd still leave it open-ended. In the end, only you can answer whether it meets your requirements.
Nope, the 130A has different hardware in it than the 160A, and there's no capability for 1080/60p.
Barry, I'm trying to decide if the $300 upgrade is worth it for me. I use manual focus a lot, so being able to keep the image "un-magnified" and just display red outlines has been awesome. In fact I leave it on the entire shoot. I am curious to see if you know if this will still be possible with the upgrade, or if one presses focus assist will both the red peaking and magnifying happen? The latter, I don't want. It would be nice if you pressed focus assist once to display red peaking, and then a second time to magnify/zoom image. Any comment?
Barry_Green
Moderator
It has a menu item where you choose which focus assist you want, either expanded or red. It doesn't do both. So you can still use it the way you currently do.