ALL: For those who have the AC160/130 and AC90?

R Hudson

R Hudson

Well-known member
Is the EVF on the 160/130 considerably better to use than on the AC90? I seem to feel like I have more eyestrain than I care for with my AC90. It fits fine around my glasses and I have the diopter adjusted fine but I feel like I am straining a bit as my eyes need to readjust quite a bit after use. I have tried both the one eye closed and both eyes open approach so far and both seem to cause more strain that I thought.

I read reviews that say that magnification could be better on the 160/130 (along with other Panny cameras).

Any opinions are most welcome.
 
The EVF is about the same size, and similar technology, but it's about 4x to 5x sharper on the AC130/AC160 than on the AC90.
 
How about viewing angle? I feel like I have to be in just the right spot for everything to be in view with the 90. Is viewing angle the same as well?
 
Not sure I understand the question? I use the VF with my eye pressed right up to the rubber eyecup, and there's pretty much no optional viewing angle, it's always straight-on...
 
Sorry. Poor explanation. With glasses, my eye needs to be centered just so. Otherwise the view is slightly obscured on the left or on the right. I was just wondering if the eyepiece itself may be a bit larger for more "leeway" in movement from side-to-side before getting cutoff on either side or if the view is exactly the same regardless of larger eyepiece. I hope that clarifies a bit.
 
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I don't use glasses when using the viewfinder. Perhaps that's the problem? Try without glasses, and use the diopter to focus the VF to your eyesight. I predict you will have a much easier time.
 
I understand what you mean about the angle. I don't use glasses when using my 130a, but I occasionally see a ghosting of the image. If I "wiggle " my eye in the cup from side to side, it loses the ghost. You are looking through a couple of lenses, so I'm sure that is the reason.
 
I can't compare the 90 and the 130, I just have the 130. But The AC130 is the best camera I've ever owned (I had: Sony VX2100, Sony V1E, Panasonic HMC40, then Sony NX70). I've been using it pretty intensively since I got it in February, and the only complaints I have would be:

- No 1080 50p (but I knew that, and bought the 130 over the 160 to save money, and my destination platforms aren't 50p anyway)
- Can't have EVF and LCD at the same time (Edit: I can - see next post)
- That "Simul Rec Possible" that sits on the screen for about a year (it seems) when you're trying to quickly start up (Edit: workaround - see next post)

... and that's pretty much it. Build quality, picture quality, customisation, dual cards, great lens, good EVF and LCD, good manual controls, pretty good low light, built-in NDs... the whole package is excellent value and a great performer.

Plus it looks pretty cool too!
 
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Can't have EVF and LCD at the same time
Click to expand...

Mike, I have EVF and LCD together all the time.

Menu/Display Setup/EVF Mode/On (Default mode Auto)
- That "Simul Rec Possible" that sits on the screen for about a year (it seems) when you're trying to quickly start up
Click to expand...

Haven't seen "Simul Rec Possible" at all, maybe because our cameras are set to Relay record. However, Menu/Recording Setup/simul Rec/off should fix it.

Cheers,

Vaughan
 
Vaughan - I love you. I'm still learning this camera, that is fantastic!

I need the Simultaneous recoding to two cards, so I'm stuck with the message. Thanks to a bit of quick poking round, if I Press Menu twice quickly it seems to cancel the message.

It's not even 7am and I've learned two new things about this camera. Fan-tastic!
 
Well, I think that I have learned something. I believe that I am left eye dominant. When shooting with my right eye (as I have done for years) I seem to get fatigue and I have a hard time keeping my focus on my right eye with both eyes open. However, when I shoot with my left eye I don't seem to have as much difficulty. It's kind of strange because I have shot for years with the right eye (both cameras and guns) but now it seems to have changed. OR.........it is time for a new eyeglass prescription :)
 
I'm left eye dominant... You can test your dominant eye pretty easy to see if that's the problem. Hold your arm out and make a circle with your finger & thumb. Look thru the hole and keep looking thru it while you bring it closer and closer to your face. By the time you touch your face, the circle will be over your dominant eye.
 
Barry_Green said:
I'm left eye dominant... You can test your dominant eye pretty easy to see if that's the problem. Hold your arm out and make a circle with your finger & thumb. Look thru the hole and keep looking thru it while you bring it closer and closer to your face. By the time you touch your face, the circle will be over your dominant eye.
Click to expand...


LOL, never knew that now I have a new party trick !!!
 
Well, how about that? I did the test and it went to left eye. I have been shooting with my right eye for many years. When I think back to shooting a week-long motorsports event last year I remember having to setup my tripod on a lift with very little room to stand. To get the sweeping shot smoothly I needed to stand on the right side of the tripod and shoot with my left eye. I just thought that I had the gift to be able to switch but now that explains why I didn't have massive headaches after shooting 10-hour days for a whole week. That's funny! I just learned something about ME :)
 
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