AC160 Got AC160, where is my FULL users guide?

abeas

Well-known member
Got the camera, love it! I found the paper work and part of the users guide at the bottom of the accessories box. However, the users guide is volume 1......most of the advanced operations, and of course the things I have questions about are in volume 2, which I did not get. Barry, Jan? Should I have received this? I'd rather not print one out either on 8x11 paper.
Also worth noting I got a mail in card for a free copy of the AC160/130 book. That, is awesome. Mailed it this morning.
 
It's common with a lot of equipment now days to only supply the main manual on a CD. I guess the majority of people don't bother reading the manual so the manufacturers try to save a few trees.
 
I understand, but when I'm sitting in my living room with the camera in my lap scrolling through menus and looking at new features, not entirely sure what they are, it's not that enjoyable to have to go upstairs to the computer and lok at a PDF online or a file off of a CD. I guess my beef is that for $4700, it would be nice to have a small paper copy of the manual included.
 
I'm just envious that you have the camera in your lap. :) Still, I really don't think they are doing it to be cheap. I think it is because more people don't read it than do.
 
I'm just envious that you have the camera in your lap. :) Still, I really don't think they are doing it to be cheap. I think it is because more people don't read it than do.

Haha, I'm sure you have things I'd be envious of too!!! Well, I'll make do with volume 1 and a PDF for now. Hopefully Panasonic gets my mail in card and I get Barry's book very soon.
 
I copied the volume 2 manual to my e-reader so it's a little easier to carry around. Of course your e-reader must support pdf files.
 
Frankly, with a camera like this that has a rich set of features/functions, you are best off filing both manuals, going to a manual download site, printing out a copy and marking it up with felt pens as you master each function. This way you'll know what you know and what you don't know/haven't tried. Great camera, great forum.
 
Noah, your course allowed me to take a new AG-AC160 virtually out-of-the-box and make the following test 3 min recording.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ICnMNeYun8Y

I admit to reading the manual about 20 times but the course pulled it all together.

The recording was done at night (obvious) using 8 x 300 watt tungsten halogen bulbs on construction stands, about 12 feet away at 45 deg angles, with two layers of "Bounce" at each of the 4 cages to diffuse the light. I screwed up the setting on white balance (I think I put it at 5.6 instead of 3.2), but was able to edit out this error. I used a Rode Videomic Pro on Channel II (0 db setting) with the volume adjustments slightly below center and had to boost by 4db during editing.
 
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