AC160 New to AC160- minor issues learning to use it

mainstreetprod

mainstreetprod

Veteran
Yesterday I started shooting a TV show in a studio using the client's 3 Panasonic AC160's , with my Sony FS7 as main camera. I'm unfamiliar with the 160 (but am very familiar with the HVX). Couple of issues:


* 2 of the 3 cameras seemed to have a pronounced green cast when set at the 3200 setting. The third looked fine. I'm trying to avoid manual white balance as we have to set up the cameras and roll in a very limited time.The lighting is half tungsten and half CFL, which probably accounts for the green, but my Sony and the third Panny look great.

* One of the Panasonics needed to be wide open to get an acceptable exposure (in a studio full of bright lights!). ND was off of course. Naturally I suspected the shutter, but I was never able to change the shutter speed or see it displayed. When I hit the button that is supposed to enable me to change (Dial SEL) it, it said "shutter dial" or similar but turning the dial did nothing. Both A/M switches were on manual. Any ideas what is going on?
 
My experience with the 160 is you should always do a manual white and black balance.

The one exception for me was the 27th when I recorded the lunar eclipse where I set ATW to ON.

Re (Dial SEl), press once to DIAL FRAME RATE, then again to DIAL LOCK then DIAL SHUTTER

Now press the wheel button and it should say SHUTTER OFF. If you press the wheel button again it should say SHUTTER 1/60 and you will also see below 1/60 as a reminder you are in DIAL SHUTTER mode and at other than SHUTTER OFF.

I think that except for good reason, you should leave things at SHUTTER OFF which defaults your shutter to 1/60.

Make sure you check the SCENE File settings so they are the same across all 3 cams.

Under OTHER FUNCTIONS at SYSTEM FREQ make sure the problematic cam has 59.94 Hz (or 50 depending the country)
 
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Oops.. since Scene Files seem to be editable . . . . . I suspect you could have all three cams dialed to Scene F6, all reading, for example, "Cine D" but each having different values under the attributes.

Each Scene File has 23 attributes on the 160.

Imagine the nightmare that could happen at a video production unit where different people use a camera.

I am surprised that there is no password to prevent casual editing of Scene Files.

A casual user is likely to assume that Scene Files load from files on the SD card and that they cannot be edited.

There are so many settings on these cams that I never allow anyone near my cam.
 
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I did dial them all to scene file 1, wanting the most generic look. Maybe someone had doctored that file on some of the cameras.
 
mainstreetprod said:
I did dial them all to scene file 1, wanting the most generic look. Maybe someone had doctored that file on some of the cameras.
Click to expand...
Hi, You could reset the scene file to default factory setting. It is pretty good as a starting point and if you are unfamiliar with this camera I would recommend doing that just to eliminate any tweaks that have been applied.
Cheers!
Rod.
 
mainstreetprod said:
Thanks for the tip Rod. Not having a manual- how is a scene file reset done?
Click to expand...
1. Select the menu you want to reset using the thumbwheel
2. press the orange menu button
3. select "scene file" on top of page 1/3 using upper joystick push button marked "push enter"
4. select "load/save/init using upper joystick push button marked "push enter"
5. select init" using upper joystick push button marked "push enter" by pushing up or down to highlight.
6. select "yes" using upper joystick push button marked "push enter"
7. you are done!

This sounds very long winded but I have laid out every single step and it actually takes about 7 seconds to complete. Best of luck. By theway I believeyou ca still download the manuals parts one and two from thee Panasonic site. You should also get a copy of Barry Green's book on the 130/160- very valuable. This is a very fine camera and I use one professionally together with a AF100a. The massive zoom on the 160 is a godsend! Enjoy!
cheers
rod
 
Rod,

I like the recommendation when starting with a cam like the 160 to re-set the default factory Scene settings.

Probably a good idea to set all features back to factory if you are renting or working in an agency where the cams are shared.

If you are a regular user of a shared 160, then take 10 mins to go through your checklist of settings each time you take it out.

Probably difficult for staff journalists when the boss says "You, go handle this event" and the person has to grab whatever they can find.

I agree the Super Zoom is a big deal. I agree no one should leave the house without the manuals (I keep a copy in my backpack that serves as my wallet).

I read Barry's manual a few times every couple of weeks.

I also practice set up in the dark to keep up on what buttons are where.
 
Couple things -

Download the manual! It's a complex camera with a ton of settings. And see if you can get a copy of Barry Green's AC130/160 book - priceless. Message him here on the boards.

I'd take the camera with the settings you like best, and copy those settings to the other cameras (see the manual after you find one!) Or do the manual reset as above. For color casts, there are some deeper color controls, but dialing these in by eye without a good external monitor is iffy - still, the LCD is pretty good and beats the heck out of the previous (HMC 150) screen.

And make sure the gain switches are all set the same - it's very very easy to kick up the gain when the day goes long or you go indoors at an event, and forget you left it up - those buttons are black & tiny.
 
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