Well community, I need to vent. Just opened a brand new AC90 direct from B&H. While reading through the piddly manual to get to know my new work companion. I recorded... well, nothing really, just shot out a window to get used to some controls etc. I open a clip in Premiere CS6 and there's a monster audio buzz that's -24dB. That's Fu*#ing loud for an audio buzz. Then I wanted to go deeper into the instructions than the silly manual shows so I loaded up the CD that comes with it for what it says are manuals (hoping for a more detailed version) and 3 computers can't read the CD. All computers just make horrible chugging noises. So no manual and an audio buzz that makes this camera useless. I also bought a filter re-sizer to change the 49mm filter to a 72 which I have plenty of filters at 72mm but the way the lens is made the re-size filter won't reach the AC90 filter threads. The threads are too far recessed to get to. I feel like I just got ***** slapped.
AC90: New AC90 and feeling like huge mistake.
- Thread starter MarcM
- Start date
ChrisHarding
Well-known member
Hi Marc - Is the audio section set up correctly ..since you cannot read the CD's you might not have been able to read the manual .. an alternative is to just download a PDF version which Panny always make available to check what's causing the buzz? Going from 49 to 72 is quite a big ask for physical restraints so you might have to compromise there. At worst B&H have a brilliant return policy so you could always send it back and get another one from them?
Yea, the step up ring won't connect to the threads. The threads on the lens are recessed so the wide part of the step up ring hits around the lens. B&H will replace it. Hopefully not with a refurbished unit.
No one the phantom power. Also the short seems in the SDXC card slot. Opening or closing the door makes the buzz change. Turns out the internal mic or an external makes no difference. Its just defective, B&H will take it back. Kind of a bubble burster though.
R Hudson
Well-known member
Different stepup ring perhaps? Maybe a different one that has threads that go deeper? I've used stepup rings for larger filters myself so I know there's got to be one out there that will work.
Edit: I just looked at mine and am confused. You removed the lens hood, right?
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Alchroma
Active member
Sounds like a dodgey unit, it happens.
I can confirm the audio works pretty well on the AC90.
My only gripe is that there is unacceptable handling noise using the external mic clamp.
It's a bit on the flimsy/plasticy side and I've done a small mod that sweetens things up using an old boom mount with a solid rubber block screwed onto the bottom mount on the camera.
Happy now. :smile:
Al
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Mic Mount
Mic Mount
Yea, that's one of the first things I noticed when unpacking the unit. The mic holder is exactly like the one on my DVX100A except much... much cheesier.
Mic Mount
Sounds like a dodgey unit, it happens.
My only gripe is that there is unacceptable handling noise using the external mic clamp.
It's a bit on the flimsy/plasticy side
Al
Yea, that's one of the first things I noticed when unpacking the unit. The mic holder is exactly like the one on my DVX100A except much... much cheesier.
Nope, didn't remove the hood but it doesn't seem to be hitting the hood, just the lens's metal face around the glass. I don't have the camera anymore but if you look at the lens (the glass part) then look at the metal part just outside the glass you'll notice a bevel going out & away from the glass. This bevel ends about a 1/4 inch from the glass. Where this bevel stops a becomes flat, that's the part the stepup hits. Because of thei bevel the stepup threads don't reach the lens filters threads. I'm thinking about a filter ring with no glass in it. Just the thread ring to put a set of threads out a bit farther. I wonder if I can get a cheap UV or skylight filter and break the glass out of it to use just the metal threads on it. Hmmm...
R Hudson
Well-known member
That is all part of the lens hood. The entire thing comes off (including the beveled part) when you remove the hood. A small screw is installed in the lower lens barrel holding the hood on. Remove that screw (and save it) then the whole hood twists (counterclockwise) and pulls off as it is mounted bayonet style. Once it is off you will have full access to the lens and thread mount with no obstructions.
Note: Your idea of adding an empty filter ring "may" possibly solve your issue and allow you to keep the hood on. I would think that if it is thick enough, once you have an empty filter ring then the step-up adapter installed you should be outside of the beveled area and should have room to work inside the hood.
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kwkeirstead
Well-known member
In my AG-AC160A there are two XLRs. Across from these are two switches "Input 1" and "Input 2' that both need to go to "mic" (if you have a mic that does not need 48v.
Elsewhere there are two other switches "CH1 Select" with OPTIONS [int(l), input1, input2] and then "Ch2 Select" with options [int(l), input 2], both nne to be at "input 2".
Once you get this done, plug your mic into the CH2 XLR.
Looks like they have built the latter set of switches with volume dials together on the AC90. I can't see a picture of the first set of switches.
Elsewhere there are two other switches "CH1 Select" with OPTIONS [int(l), input1, input2] and then "Ch2 Select" with options [int(l), input 2], both nne to be at "input 2".
Once you get this done, plug your mic into the CH2 XLR.
Looks like they have built the latter set of switches with volume dials together on the AC90. I can't see a picture of the first set of switches.
kwkeirstead
Well-known member
My 160 also had a mic holder - Since I use a Rode Videomic when I cannot get a feed from a sound board, I had to remove the mic holder.
The Rode has elastic band mounts that do a pretty good job of isolating it from the camera.
Still, I avoid touching the camera for fear of generating "thumps" - there is a neat Remote from Studio1 Productions that costs hardly more than $100 and lets you handle stop/start, focus, zoom, and iris from a tripod handle or a rig.
I suppose it would not work for hand held recordings.
The Rode has elastic band mounts that do a pretty good job of isolating it from the camera.
Still, I avoid touching the camera for fear of generating "thumps" - there is a neat Remote from Studio1 Productions that costs hardly more than $100 and lets you handle stop/start, focus, zoom, and iris from a tripod handle or a rig.
I suppose it would not work for hand held recordings.
Alchroma
Active member
I have a Sennheiser 600 mike that came with it's own camera shock mount.
With this shock mount fitted to my modded Canon rubber cold shoe it is really impressive in minimizing handling noise on the camera.
Compared to the original Pana setup, well, no contest I'm afraid.
http://en-de.sennheiser.com/mzs-600
Al
With this shock mount fitted to my modded Canon rubber cold shoe it is really impressive in minimizing handling noise on the camera.
Compared to the original Pana setup, well, no contest I'm afraid.
http://en-de.sennheiser.com/mzs-600
Al
It's All Good
It's All Good
Well, I got a replacement AC90 from B&H and all seems great right now. I went to a local camera store by me and found some used filters. The first one I tried still didn't get the threads out beyond the lens hood. I tried another that was a bit thicker and praise Sheva it worked. The lens cover will not go on but the lens cover from my DVX100A fits perfect & the lens hood does go on so a little pertection from lens flares will still happen. Now I can use my filters from the DVX. plus the Xume magnetic filter system works like a hot damn. This was a big concern switching from my DVX to the AC90 in that the 90 had no ND filter other than that autio thingy but that is of no use to me. However, where I used to flip the switch on the DVX I now can gab a neutral density filter fitted with the Xume magnetic ring and it's on as fast as the ND switch was on the DVX, life's good again.
Thx for keeping me sane everyone.
It's All Good
Well, I got a replacement AC90 from B&H and all seems great right now. I went to a local camera store by me and found some used filters. The first one I tried still didn't get the threads out beyond the lens hood. I tried another that was a bit thicker and praise Sheva it worked. The lens cover will not go on but the lens cover from my DVX100A fits perfect & the lens hood does go on so a little pertection from lens flares will still happen. Now I can use my filters from the DVX. plus the Xume magnetic filter system works like a hot damn. This was a big concern switching from my DVX to the AC90 in that the 90 had no ND filter other than that autio thingy but that is of no use to me. However, where I used to flip the switch on the DVX I now can gab a neutral density filter fitted with the Xume magnetic ring and it's on as fast as the ND switch was on the DVX, life's good again.
Thx for keeping me sane everyone.
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strangways
Well-known member
Get a cheap 49mm filter, like a UV or skylight, and remove (or smash) the glass out of it. Now you essentially have a 49mm to 49mm ring, that will give you enough distance from the housing for a step-up ring to mount.