OTHER: New AG-AC8

T

thefluentone

Member
I was just browsing and stumbled across an advertisement for it. From what I can tell its a shoulder mount version of the ac90?? Don't see to many details on their page. And by details I mean differences betwen the other line up. If I missed a press release or another thread I'm sorry for the repost. Has anyone else seen or got ny info?

Here's the link.

http://www.panasonic.com/business/provideo/AG-AC8.asp
 
I don't know any more about it than you do, but I do know the AC90, and I can say that the new AC8 is not the same as the AC90. For one thing, the lens is a lot longer on the new AC8, it's listed as 21x whereas on the AC90 it's 12x. It also has a limited 720p mode (PM mode, which is only 8 megabits) whereas the AC90 is a 1080-only camera. And it looks like it has only one ring on the lens, more similar to the way the HMC40 was; the AC90 has three rings (focus, iris, and zoom).

I posted the press release when they sent it to me. From a careful reading of it, it looks like this may be a one-chip camera with a 4-megapixel 1/4.5" sensor, although it's hard to say for sure based on how it's phrased in the press release.


Here's a brochure: http://pro-av.panasonic.net/en/sales_o/broch_pdf/ag-ac8.pdf

The controls look really simplistic, so it looks like it's probably aimed at the very entry-level pro crowd, or for schools. And it has some "bling"; apparently there's a ring around the lens that will glow blue for no reason other than that it looks cool; you can make it glow red as a tally lamp if you want. And check it out -- it has an auto-leveling feature! That's pretty interesting actually -- apparently they're using the optical image stabilizer to level out your footage automatically if you happen to be tilted or leaning...

They're claiming 1080 TV lines of resolution, which would be profoundly impressive from a single-sensor camera. I'll believe that only after I've tested it (or seen Adam Wilt test it). However, if the chip really is substantially oversampling, maybe that lends credence to their claims of a digital zoom that preserves sharpness, maybe it really does oversample and thus has enough res left over that after windowing down to the 2.4x max digital zoom, it's still delivering a 1080 image... I don't know, again, would have to test.

It also looks like it's going to be really, really cheap. The press release mentions 1280 euros, and I found a Studio Daily article that says the US list price is going to be $1450. Maybe a street price of around $1299 is possible. A shoulder-mount camera for $1299 is really, really, really cheap...

Looks like it uses DVX100 batteries, like the AC90 does, and doesn't use the memory-chipped AVCCAM batteries that the AF100/AC160/AC130 and HMC150/HMC80/HMC40 use.
 
EDIT -- .24x is not the maximum digital zoom, apparently that's about the max for the "intelligent zoom" (which, on the AC90, is a seamlessly integrated digital zoom). The AC8 also has another digital zoom which provides absurd levels of magnification, presumably with absurd levels of blockiness, like all digital zooms do. But the "intelligent zoom" is claimed to maintain resolution. On the AC90 it does reasonably well, but the full reach of 2x on the intelligent zoom is definitely significantly lower resolution than the maximum optical zoom is.
 
I noticed that hdwarrior.co.uk did a piece on the AC8 on Sept 14th (Day 1 of IBC 2013). IMO it's not a bad strategy to come out with a camera like this at the price they plan to charge. Buyers can play with it for a while, then upgrade. It will be interesting to see how the market receives it.
 
We still have the MDH1 which is under $1K here http://www.globalmediapro.com/dp/A2CZ10/Panasonic-HDC-MDH1-AVCHD-Camcorder-PAL/ I suspect that this model was the PAL version of the AC7 as it has 16X zoom and just one card slot but still uses the same 1/4.1" sensor. The model prior to this was called the MD10000 and was a 4:3 SD camera with 3 x 1/6th chips and was remarkably good ..again it was the PAL version of the old DVC20 I would say. Panny have brought out the AC8 to compete with JVC's HM70 and it's like the price is better too. Low light had got to be nowhere as good as the AC-90 with it's backlit chips but who knows with advances in technology .... It would be awesome to have an AC8 for weddings ... I wonder if the XLR box that was available for the HMC40 could be used on the new camera .... it will certainly be of interest to entry level event users and the case looks a lot more streamlined than the older models which were downright ugly.... Even if it struggles in low light it's still an awful lot of camera for $1200!!
 
Thank for the all extra info. First glance I was thinking of it supplementing my hmc40 at weddings . I don pull enough jobs yet at the moment to go with ac130s like I'd like to.
 
no xlr input? And I hope to find out on how well the low light and autofocus holds up. I think it will be a long wait for information we really want until spring.
 
I wonder if it will have the same lens (softness, etc) problems as the AC130a/160a and HPX 250 that people are complaining about due to sacrificing lens quality to reach the price point? It doesn't look like Leica.

Nonetheless it looks like an interesting camcorder at a great price. Follows the family tree from the DVC7, DVC20, AC7 sharing a similar body and target audience. It sure would be nice to have a wide 28mm lens that zooms to 21X. I wonder if it has that perfect silky variable servo zoom that the old DVC30 and DVC60 had?

I'd pay $500+ more for it if they'd give it the AC90 features it's missing (XLR, backlit sensors, 3 rings).

Back in the day I had a DVC7 that I used with a pair of DVC60s and a DVX100B. This camera looks to be exactly the HD equivalent of what the DVC7 was back then. I WISH they'd give us a step up camcorder in that form factor like what the DVC60 was back then which now would be either a shoulder mount AC90 or AC130. The AC130 and 160 are already as long as a shoulder mount anyway :)

Depending on reviews/tests, I may get one for an extra camera and when I need a longer zoom. I miss the longer (and better/smoother) zooms of my old SD cameras. I'm also curious about low light, autofocus and rolling shutter.
 
I find the AC130a/160a lens to be very good. I like to deliver work in 1080/60p and if the focus is off just a bit when you are less than wide open, it is very noticeable. I very much like the magnifier but it only works at the LCD so pretty much useless outdoors.

The variable servo zoom seems to be "silky" - I use a Studio 1 Productions remote that is able to go real slow /or fast and I don't see any jerks or clawbacks.
 
New here. I have the JVC GY-HM70E (U) that is a also a budget shoulder cam. And Have bought the panasonic HC-X920 last weekend also. Both produve very shap images in bright light. In low light they are both very good. The panasonic is slightly better/Sharper in low light.

TH AG-AC8 uses a new type of sensor -> the smart FSi sensor. Here is a video that shows the diffenrece with the older BSI sensor

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPec2EaBSSM

MY shop (where I bought my JVC) has already ordered the AG-C8. Maybe at the of october it's there. I will compare my JVC against the panasonic. If pana is better I will sell my JVC.
 
Yep, that's PAL version of the AC-8 so that will have 50i not 60i and 25/50P instead of 30/60P Apart from that it's the same. The build quality also looks like it's getting back to Panasonics normal again. My AC-130's seemed very thin and flimsy but these look nice and tough! I wouldn't expect the AC-8 to be a wizard in dark locations but for the price and an LED light you have a nice combo. I think it might just knock the JVC HM70 off it's perch!!
 
I saw in one video it has something like "night color recording". What do you think that is all about and what level of low light you are able to record in?

Why do you think they choose not to put in XLR? I assume there is a 3.5 input audio jack. Do you think there will be an add on for a XLR jack?
 
Deer Film said:
I saw in one video it has something like "night color recording". What do you think that is all about and what level of low light you are able to record in?
Click to expand...

I expect what they do is lower the shutter speed and increase the noise reduction. This is what other cameras that have that feature do. The side effect is blurring of any movement.

Why do you think they choose not to put in XLR?
Click to expand...

My guess is to help make sure it doesn't cut into sales of the more expensive cameras.


I assume there is a 3.5 input audio jack.
Click to expand...

Yes.


Do you think there will be an add on for a XLR jack?
Click to expand...

I very much doubt it or it would have been mentioned somewhere.
 
I have read a russian review about the AG-AC8 with some original footage you could download.
there was footage at night and it looked very good. Like I said they are now using a new type of sensor, not more backside but frontside.
 
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