First Look, Panasonic AG-AC90 at DVExpo West

The chips in the Z10000 are 1/4.1" which is the same size as the TM900 and the X900 while the chip size of the AC90 is 1/4.7"

-EDIT-
OK, it's true that for the TM900, X900 and Z10000, it uses a slightly smaller portion of the chips for video. I should have remembered that earlier.

Z10000:
Total Pixels: 9.15 megapixels (3.05 megapixels x 3)
Effective Pixels: 6.57 megapixels (2.19 megapixels × 3)

HMC40:
Total: Pixels. 3.05 megapixels×3
Effective Pixels: Approx. 2.51 megapixels×3 (16:9)

X900:
Total Pixels : 9.15 megapixels (3.05 megapixels x 3)
Effective Pixels :6.57 - 6.21 megapixels (2.19 - 2.07 megapixels x 3)

AC190
Total: 8,040K (Approx. 2,630K x 3)
Effective: 2.19

Somebody will have to correct me in the AC90 specs. Some places say 2.630 total and other places say 2.19 so is it around 2.63 total and 2.19 for video? or is it really 2.19 all together?
 
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Gosh I certainly hope that the AC-90 has a lot better image than the X900!! My buddy Chip bought an X900 and was very unimpressed with the footage...the 900 is also a sub $1K camera so it's maybe a tad unfair to do comparisions between the 90 and 900

User comments will tell in time as Barry and Bob had a very limited time with the camera!!

Chris
 
One things for sure is that the 24p mode should be a bit better on the AC90 because it has a higher bit rate and is native 24p from the very beginning. With the X900, you have to convert it to pure 24p by using something like Cineform. As for 1080 60p, the bit rate is about the same.

The AC90 does have far more features and I definately wouldn't mind owning one.
 
Hi Guys! I finally got my AC90! WHOOWHOO!! and I am leaving today (in a hour) for a month shooting abroad. I need to make the best images,
from day one, so all advice for specific camera settings would be appreciated

Barry Green: I think you are the only one that actually also has the camera, so I hope you can give some suggestions:

1. In what mode will the highest quality be recorded? I was thinking to shoot 1080 50P (shutter 100 ) which would be most easy if I decide to slow things later .
Or is 1080 25P (shutter 50) recording more resolution (as the files are probably not much smaller, and the 50P needs to record more frames?)
2. Would you suggest to change the in camera audio settings? (I put it on 2 ch, 1 will be the sennheiser ME66 shotgun mic, other will be the Sennheiser wireless lav G2 100 which I will put on 'line'. I saw the standard Mic volume is -50. I suppose that is fine.
3. Do you think the DRS works well? Because I think everyone would love to have more Dynamic range. So should I always put it on? (I don't think so)
4. I did not see any/ much different with the user button 'backlight' on. Would you suggest using it (or does it give other artifacts)
5. Maybe a stupid question (but I just got the camera) How is it possible, I sometimes have different options in Gamma? (Sometimes only HDnorm etc, and sometimes Cine D etc)

If any one feels like sharing other interesting settings to get the best high resolution, cine like image, please let me know!
 
Firstly what a great forum and great thread! I've pre - ordered an AC90 to arrive middle of this month and this thread has been invaluable in getting an idea of what to expect.

As a newbie to the world of tapless video (shooting tape for years on old Sony VX's) this is my first forray into this medium and away from 3CCD. Can I ask those that know about SD cards as I need some guidance on what I can use, what I should use and the difference between re this camera. It has SDXC on the back but reading about the different classes of SD card I'm still a little unsure. Some cards are over one hundered pounds (I'm in scotland so sterling applies) whilst others are cheaper. I have a budget that got stretched already so what can I use is an ideal start point.

I found this article helpful in general but would appreciate more specific info re the AC90 - http://www.photographybay.com/2011/01/20/demystifying-sd-cards/

Adendum - more reading reveals to me that the SDXC technology is backwards compatable with SDHC and SD.
https://www.sdcard.org/consumers/sdxc_capabilities/

There's a huge price gap between SDHC class 10 and a SDXC cards. Other than the restriction @32gb on the SDHC class 10 is there any other reason not to use them in terms of the speed and reliability of capturing HD video....?

Thank you in advance.
 
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Let us know how it works. B&H Photo is now saying the middle of Nov for their shipment

solutions said:
Hi Guys! I finally got my AC90! WHOOWHOO!! and I am leaving today (in a hour) for a month shooting abroad. I need to make the best images,
from day one, so all advice for specific camera settings would be appreciated

Barry Green: I think you are the only one that actually also has the camera, so I hope you can give some suggestions:

1. In what mode will the highest quality be recorded? I was thinking to shoot 1080 50P (shutter 100 ) which would be most easy if I decide to slow things later .
Or is 1080 25P (shutter 50) recording more resolution (as the files are probably not much smaller, and the 50P needs to record more frames?)
2. Would you suggest to change the in camera audio settings? (I put it on 2 ch, 1 will be the sennheiser ME66 shotgun mic, other will be the Sennheiser wireless lav G2 100 which I will put on 'line'. I saw the standard Mic volume is -50. I suppose that is fine.
3. Do you think the DRS works well? Because I think everyone would love to have more Dynamic range. So should I always put it on? (I don't think so)
4. I did not see any/ much different with the user button 'backlight' on. Would you suggest using it (or does it give other artifacts)
5. Maybe a stupid question (but I just got the camera) How is it possible, I sometimes have different options in Gamma? (Sometimes only HDnorm etc, and sometimes Cine D etc)

If any one feels like sharing other interesting settings to get the best high resolution, cine like image, please let me know!
Click to expand...
 
solutions said:
1. In what mode will the highest quality be recorded? I was thinking to shoot 1080 50P (shutter 100 ) which would be most easy if I decide to slow things later .
Click to expand...
That's what I'd do.

Or is 1080 25P (shutter 50) recording more resolution (as the files are probably not much smaller, and the 50P needs to record more frames?)
Click to expand...
It's not that different. You get more megabits (about 20% more) in 50p mode, but it has to store twice as many frames, so you'd think it'd be more highly compressed. However, remember that it's not storing individual frames, it's storing only the changes between frames, and the faster the frame rate, the less that changes between frames, so it ends up pretty equal. The flexibility of slowing in post makes 50p worth it, IMO.

2. Would you suggest to change the in camera audio settings? (I put it on 2 ch, 1 will be the sennheiser ME66 shotgun mic, other will be the Sennheiser wireless lav G2 100 which I will put on 'line'. I saw the standard Mic volume is -50. I suppose that is fine.
Click to expand...
Depends on how hot the mics are and where you have to set the audio dials. If you have to set the dials really low in order to avoid clipping, then that's a sign your mics are too hot and you should change the mic volume sensitivity. You should get reasonable levels with the dials somewhere near the middle; if you're getting clipping with the dials near the middle, your mics are too hot for the default sensitivity.

3. Do you think the DRS works well? Because I think everyone would love to have more Dynamic range. So should I always put it on? (I don't think so)
Click to expand...
I would only ever use DRS when it's absolutely necessary. It's like gain -- you don't always want it on, you only want it when you need it. If you're outdoors and the skies are blowing out and your subject is in shadow, then yeah, use DRS. But definitely don't leave it on by default.

4. I did not see any/ much different with the user button 'backlight' on. Would you suggest using it (or does it give other artifacts)
Click to expand...
It just opens up the iris a little bit when you're in auto-iris mode. If you're shooting with manual iris, it doesn't do anything.

5. Maybe a stupid question (but I just got the camera) How is it possible, I sometimes have different options in Gamma? (Sometimes only HDnorm etc, and sometimes Cine D etc)
Click to expand...
I don't know what you mean -- all the gammas are always available. The only difference is that the knee is disabled when you choose cine-D. Or maybe you've put the auto/manual switch to auto; in that case, you don't get to change any picture settings.
 
Rhymemaker said:
There's a huge price gap between SDHC class 10 and a SDXC cards. Other than the restriction @32gb on the SDHC class 10 is there any other reason not to use them in terms of the speed and reliability of capturing HD video....?
Click to expand...
The only thing you actually need is a good solid Class 4 card. There's nothing an AC90 can do that requires more than what a Class 4 SDHC card can give you.

A higher class card might offload to your computer faster, but it won't do anything for your video quality.

Always buy the highest-quality best cards you can possibly afford. Avoid ebay auctions and no-name cards and "value" cards. I stick exclusively with Panasonic Gold, Lexar Professional and SanDisk Extreme. But beware of counterfeits, especially on SanDisk, and only buy them from authorized resellers to avoid getting stuck with a fake card -- which is especially problematic when buying from ebay. If you get a "really great price", the chances are higher that you're actually getting a counterfeit card (which is usually some no-name piece of junk with a fake "SanDisk" label slapped on it).
 
Thanks for the advice Barry.

I wasn't sure what limitations the cards would pose on the recording front and that's cleared it up. Noted re fake and 'value' cards. I'll check Sandisk website for authorised dealers and get hunting. I use Sandisk in my DSLR and not had a problem yet.

So glad I found this site and forum. Will post thoughts, video's etc when appropriate to help others.

Thanks again.
 
Hey Barry. Can you say when we'll get to see the results of your testing? I'm especially curious about the AC90's dynamic range and rolling shutter performance.
 
Barry, Thanks a lot for everything! I am abroad now and your final information is very usefull!
The Gamma thing (as I just got the camera I didn´t see I could scroll down to a next page in that menu),
For everyone, I will post my results later, but this will take some months (sorry) I return in december and editing/ viewing material will be much later
 
Barry, you say that the AC90 is not very sensitive. I'm (finally) transitioning to HD from my DVX100 which I got in 2004. How do you think the low light performance is on the AC90 compared to the DVX100? The gain on the DVX100 is unimpressive and I almost never use it. Second, how is the 24p performance on the AC90? I get the impression from the videos posted so far that the 24p setting is one thing, and the cine-gamma setting is another. On the DVX100 there is that convenient dial on the back.
 
Hi MagicDave

I think Barry has already said that the sensivity of the 90 is pretty much the same as the HMC40...you have slightly smaller chips (1/4" versus 1/4.7") but a slightly faster lens so sensitivity is much the same as the 1/4" HMC's... I don't think you can compare sensitivity against 1/3" chips but technology has come a LONG way with gain..My HMC82's will produce a clean image in a dark Church at close to 15db gain ...With the AC-90 Barry reckons that even at 24db gain the image is remarkably noise free and even 30 db is doable which isn't even worth trying on the HMC's ...the only high gain issues seem to be a bit of "smearing???" Someone said at high gain hair looks like it has been spray painted but still a very nice image. I suspect at 15db gain it would somewhat outperform the HMC40 image. The fact that (as you already say) the DVX gain is unimpressive, I think you might be quite surprised at how how you can go with small chips and new technology gain!! I shot a Church wedding on my HMC's yesterday and the gain was set at 10db and the image is absolutely flawless ..the 90 will be even better!!

I'll leave Barry to comment on the 24P and cinegamma but from the specs it seems you only have 2 scene files (not dial selectable) the same as the HMC40 (Barry will correct me if I'm wrong)

Chris
 
Can the AC90 dial in manual white balance settings for working with mixed light sources? The reason I am asking is because I have some 6500k LED lights and with the HMC40 I wasn't fond of the 5.6K preset balance.
 
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