OTHER: Panasonic Broadcast US announces new member to the AG-AC AVCCAM camcorder family

Wide angle included, XLR in, Better LCD and EVF, Lens 1.5, 1080 60P, Better sensor, Dual card slot,
Have to see on weight and size
Sounds like a Great camera.
 
ELN614 said:
8 years ago I got a 7.2 megapixel 1/1.8" chip in my still camera for around $500. fast forward I can get 20.9 megapixel 1" in a still camera for around $650 (In 6 months I am sure it will be had for $500)

now video:
8 years ago I could buy a DVX100 1/3" 3-CCD chip video camera for about $2800. Fast forward to today I can buy a 1/3" 3-CMOS chip camera for about $3900. (AC130)
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A few years ago I got a Apple to do video editing because they had better software I felt at the time and I thought they would be in it for the long haul.

Well fast forward to now, they dump any real version of video editing software to a consumer grade version and it can only be had at their app store. They drop any real high end products in place of selling and consumer ipad, ipod, ijunk (IMO).

So what does this have to do with cameras, same principle, they produce to the mass's a product that is cheap (consumer video cameras) and they make a great return on it. They are unable to make the same return on only a smaller group of higher end products so the prices are higher. Nice thing about a free market is you can buy what ever you want when ever you want as long as you have the funds, and any manufacture will make what you want IF you are willing to pay for such an item. When consumers are demanding lower cost products the market comes back with such product.

My day job is working for a International Corp, and as I am told Image us as a Zoo Keeper and getting paid for cleaning up after the animals the more we pick up the more you make. So we don't want to pick up after the few Elephants, we want to pick up after all the small animals as there is a much bigger pile in the end and they wont trample us either....( this was a nicer way of telling the story but I think you understand) Im just getting old, I need a drink. . .
 
I have to disagree with categorizing this as being a "consumer" product. This camcorder is too large for typical consumer usage. And things like XLR audio inputs or manual control rings for focus, zoom, and iris are simply not associated with consumer camcorders.

So many seem to be focusing on the size of the new sensor. It seems that folks are assuming that the camcorder is going to give poor image results solely based upon that. Since this is both a brand new sensor and camcorder, should we not wait until we can view actual output? I've got to think that the product team at Panasonic would never replace the HMC40 with a camcorder that produces video that is inferior in quality. When I was shopping for a camcorder last year, the main things that turned me off to the HMC40 was its lack of manual controls, and complaints about poor image performance in low light. But people raved about how well it performed in daylight.

Now if Panasonic's marketing claims that they have improved low light performance are indeed true, then it would seem to me that the AC90 is a HMC40 user's dreams come true. Especially with the addition of 1080/60p

If the image quality is at all comparable, then I think that an AC90 would compliment a AC130 or AC160 very nicely. For my main complaint with the AC130 is that it is too big and bulky to comfortable use handheld for any significant length of time. And its image stabilization is inferior to what my Canon Vixia HF G10 has. If the AC90 is lightweight with good ergonomics, and has great image stabilization ( as Panasonic claims it does ), then it would seem to me that it would have the potential be a great camcorder for handheld shooting.
 
rzr,
I totally agree with you. they'd rather build a million vs a few thousand. Also, the cost of design, etc... is spread out the anticipated number of them sold. But when you compare years ago to today.. it just doesn't match up.
 
LanceOregon said:
I have to disagree with categorizing this as being a "consumer" product. This camcorder is too large for typical consumer usage. And things like XLR audio inputs or manual control rings for focus, zoom, and iris are simply not associated with consumer camcorders.
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You are correct, I do not view this as a consumer product, this is a much higher product. My point was they sell low end product to the mass's because they make allot from it. Then they sell higher end products to only a few and the costs and choices are much more limited on price and features, because they do not make as much. The problem is you really know what you want because you know more about what you do, so it makes it tough for someone like you or me to buy a product that do-sent really meet what we were hoping for at a certain price point. So we wait and hope the next go around will be closer to what we want. I agree, I went round and round before I made by purchase because I wanted certain features at a certain price. I finally just made the jump a few months back and am learning to live with in the limits of my new product. Its not exactly what I wanted, but in my price point and timing I am making it work. :-)
 
ELN614 said:
rzr,
I totally agree with you. they'd rather build a million vs a few thousand. Also, the cost of design, etc... is spread out the anticipated number of them sold. But when you compare years ago to today.. it just doesn't match up.
Click to expand...
I know the only way I can let the manufacture know is with my spending. I try to hold out but at times they win. :-)
 
Well, there are folks who look down on 1/3 inch sensor camcorders too. But I've been happy with output from my AC130, despite its small sensor size.

This recent sample is only 720p, as I mainly posted it and other clips on Facebook. But folks were raving about the quality of my video, compared to videos made by consumer camcorders.

Please don't ask me to explain this video. It would take quite a long story for me to make any sense out of our city's annual Slug Queen Competition.



 
Hi Lance

Nice images there and no, I won't ask you what they are doing it sounds too complicated. In the older days the only camera considered "pro" was a Betacam and in the digital age certainly nothing under 2/3rds chips and a 25K price tag was considered pro. It's really hard to draw a definate hard line between "consumer" and "professional" .... gosh, I use a GoPro Hero as a 3rd camera high up on a light stand at weddings to give me a semi-aerial shot...That's a $300 camera and I often use the footage..in fact a lot of broadcast people use them for shots you couldn't do with a huge camera!!
Definately lets see what new users think of the AC-90 before condemning it simply due to chip size ...I'd definately love one on my stedicam!! I'm sure some eager HMC40 owners will buy the 90 and then we will get some feedback and actual footage with comments!!

Chris
 
Lance , Nice to laugh every once in a while, cute clip,
Chris This seems a quality small chip camera , as you know is important to have different tools, I think like if I want a lot of depth and good image quality
This chip could work great, in fact the plus of this Panasonic small chip cameras is its great quality despite of using a small chip.
If I want a large chip will go for the GH2 .
 
Hey Felipe

I used to have 2 x DVC20 cameras that had 3 tiny 1/6th chips in them and yes, I did weddings with them..admittedly only SD 4:3 but put onto a 50" plasma screen they footage looked really good. Chip size for me is not a big deal!! I'm back using 1/4" chips now in the HMC82's and seriously the AC-130's with the bigger chips DID give me a very small advantage at wedding receptions in the late afternoons but as soon as the sun went down the 1/3rd chips still needed the same amount of lighting as the 1/4" chips so there was really no big advantage for me...if the 1/3rd chips had made a dim and dark wedding reception look like daylight, I would have been happy but we know that doesn't happen!! As you say if you need to film without lights inside a dark cave at midnight then you need the huge sensors and fast lenses that DSLR's can offer!! If the autofocus on this new camera in fact DOES work and doesn't give issues like the 130 then I'm getting one as a 3rd camera for my stedicam footage ... I almost bought an HMC40 when the PAL models suddenly vanished off my supplier's price list (obviously to make way for the new one)
I would be over the moon if they brought out an upgraded shoulder mount camera but I don't think that's going to happen!!!

Chris
 
Yes Chris, but the only thing I'm missing in this camera compared to the HMC40 is size and weight, I love to have that quality in such a small package as in the HMC40
But Soon we will have a weight and size numbers.
Shoulder cameras are nice I like them a lot too. However no experience with them.
 
Hi Felipe

Nothing as yet from Panasonic about size and weight but based on the AC series I would say it will be a tiny bit larger than the HMC40 but still manageable ...the AC160 is a bit bigger than the HMC150 in physical size however Panasonic seem to have made their cameras lighter too but certainly lighter than the AC130 but due to the extra bits and pieces it may be a fraction heavier. The specs will more than likely be available just before release so that's 6 weeks time.
Shoulder-mount and handheld is purely a matter or personal choice I think...I started back in the VHS days in the early '90's with a Panasonic M5 and always owned SM's cos I like the stability for handheld and I prefer a little more weight which also helps stability when handheld. I shoot better handheld video with an 8lb camera on my shoulder!!

Chris

Full camera specs will be posted here the moment they come out I'm sure!!
 
I was at WEVA, great event. Been a member for 5 years now Did not see this cam but noted a lot of interest in the AC160 Panasonic had there.
 
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ChrisHarding said:
Hi Guys

There is a video out on YouTube featuring Jan at WEVA and showing off the AC-90.

For Felipe's question she says it's "about 3 lbs" since you wanted to know the weight??? They are talking about November as a release date.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3RrwrXYTA0

Chris
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Thank you Chris, I'll say is about twice the size and weight from the HMC40 without the handle, As well has about twice the features, I think will be nice to have it but will be nice also
to keep the HMC40.
 
Felipe Henao said:
Thank you Chris, I'll say is about twice the size and weight from the HMC40 without the handle, As well has about twice the features, I think will be nice to have it but will be nice also
to keep the HMC40.
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The size and weight are far, far closer than that. Even Panasonic says on their official spec sheet that the HMC40 with the handle and XLR unit, as well as a battery, weighs over 3 lbs. So it would appear to me that the AC-90 is indeed quite close to the HMC40.
 
LanceOregon said:
The size and weight are far, far closer than that. Even Panasonic says on their official spec sheet that the HMC40 with the handle and XLR unit, as well as a battery, weighs over 3 lbs. So it would appear to me that the AC-90 is indeed quite close to the HMC40.
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Being larger and heavier it also has wide angle and XLR So seems like a dream camera, what I haven't seen is the mini jack for audio for those times when you don't want to carry an XLR mic but
for example a Sennheiser MKE 400 without an XLR adapter
 
Hi Felipe

The new AC series have no 3.5mm jack at all...I never have used mine as the sensitivity is fixed at -70dba so you are stuck with that!! Both my Rodes are rewired for XLR (simple to do) and my Azden receivers also are wired now for XLR ....it's an offshoot from domestic cameras so I very much doubt whether it would be included as it's un-necessary for pro use .....even the curent HMC40 is sold at B&H with the XLR adaptor. I think if you bought one you would certainly want the huge advantage of XLR so you would simply rewire any mics that were still on 3.5mm ... I certainly would!!

Chris
 
ChrisHarding said:
Hi Felipe

The new AC series have no 3.5mm jack at all...I never have used mine as the sensitivity is fixed at -70dba so you are stuck with that!! Both my Rodes are rewired for XLR (simple to do) and my Azden receivers also are wired now for XLR ....it's an offshoot from domestic cameras so I very much doubt whether it would be included as it's un-necessary for pro use .....even the curent HMC40 is sold at B&H with the XLR adaptor. I think if you bought one you would certainly want the huge advantage of XLR so you would simply rewire any mics that were still on 3.5mm ... I certainly would!!

Chris
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Sure Chris XLR is far superior, I'm actually using for the HMC40 The Juiced link rm333 and is fantastic, since I bought my camera 3 years ago when was just released and Panasonic was not giving for free the XLR Adapter
I'll just use the XLR adapter from the Sennheiser MKE 400. I also own the Azden xlr Shotgun but sometimes is sort of large for some places, that is why the MKE 400 is very handy for those occasions .
 
So how will the Auto/Manual/Infinity focus button work? Hopefully it doesn't force you to pass through infinity focus whenever you switch from manual to auto!
 
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