AC90: Weird Ghosting when played through monitor

MAR-10

MAR-10

Active member
So I'm just starting to try out my AC90 before taking it out to work.
Tonight I shot a fake interview using ambient light from the living room.
While recording, I get a weird "ghosting" effect on my DP6 monitor through HDMI .
When I import the footage into Avid, I see the same problem on my Client Monitor (HDMI via Matrox 02 mini) but on the computer monitors the footage looks great.
I can't figure out this one... any help?


Here are my settings:
A MCU approx 8' away from subject.
1080p24, Shutter 1/50, 13db, manual everything, no OIS and on a tripod.
 
Tried every possible thing. Different distances, lighting, iA, rested to factory settings.
I think there is a problem with my camera.
When a subject is in close up (zoomed in or in proximity to the camera) their movement leave a trail effect.

I will call Panasonic tomorrow.

Has anyone else experienced that problem?
 
I can see the problem you're referring to, there is something odd going on. I can see it above your head to the left. A distinct outline of where your head was in the previous frame.

Usually when the compression falls apart or can't keep up, you see squares of breakup or increased blockiness over the whole frame.

I have a 150 and a 160 and haven't seen anything like this on my cameras.

I can see it on my desktop as well as through a Blackmagic card to an SDI input on a monitor. I can't offer much advice, but at least you're not hallucinating, there is definitely something strange going on.

I zoomed in in photoshop and boosted the contrast to better see what's going on, the arrow points to the line above your head if others want to have a look.

(And completely unrelated, I have the same hanging lamp as you in my dining room)

GhostingCU.jpgGhosting.jpg
 
Yeah, there's nothing right about that file. An AC90 shouldn't look anything like that. Is that a camera-original file? If so, then yeah, I'd say you need to have it looked at by the service department or maybe if it's absolutely brand new, they can exchange it for a new one.
 
Thanks for the feedback. Glad to know it not my eyes or brain messing with me.
With all the different cameras I've owned, I have never seen such an effect.
I'm looking forward to hear back from Panasonic.

BTW my kids call that lamp the "boob lamp" :)
 
Thank Barry. Yes this is the MTS coming straight out of the AC90.
I purchased the camera from B&H at the end of last November, but I just started playing with it. it has 26 hours now.
 
I've been noticing this as well. Same settings (minus the 13 db, I believe my shoot was at 0). Haven't thought to call Panasonic yet. I'm still very new at all this and have been trying to figure out if it's an issue on my end. Is it possible that it could be a memory card issue? I'm using a SanDisk Ultra 64 GB SDXC card...
 
It won't be the memory card. Camera turns the image into data and then it is stored on the card. Assuming this problem appears everywhere it is played then it would be happening before it turns into data. If it only happens on one monitor then I would blame the monitor.
 
Well here's the way to know -- if it looks fine when played out BY THE CAMERA, through HDMI, to an HDTV, then you do not have a camera problem, or a footage problem, or an SD card problem. If it looks good from the camera to a TV, then the FOOTAGE is good. If it only looks bad when used on the computer, then that's where the problem lies. If it only looks bad when played through some particular playback program, then that program is where the problem lies. Or if it only looks bad on a particular monitor, then that's where the problem lies.

But if it looks bad when played back from the camera, on a TV, then the camera would need servicing.
 
I sent mine in to Panasonic in CA last week, they will receive it on Tuesday. I will post an update when they get back to me. I hope they send me a new one since this one was defective from day 1.
 
Has anyone ever had to ship their camera out to Panasonic under warranty?

I'm having such a hard time. They have had my camera for more than 10 days and I still can't get an update.
When I call them, it feels like I'm calling a repair shop in someone's basement. They can never find my camera or case number even when I provide the RA number.
Today, they called me asking for sales receipt (which I had included in the box and emailed 3 times) and a description of was is wrong with the camera (which I had included in the box and emailed 3 times). They also pulled a "we left you a message last week..." which isn't true!

Good thing I have other cameras to work with!
I really hope this ends well!
 
my experience here in NZ was exactly the opposite. I had a lens and servo assembly on my 160A replaced under warranty and although there was a bit of a wait getting the parts from Japan, when they arrived I sent the camera off and it was back in 5 days.

I hope it works out for you, best of luck.
Rod
 
I heard back from the Panasonic service centre today.
They are telling me that they can't do anything since this Ghosting/Trail image is normal for this particular camcorder.
Not sure what to do next...
 
I reckon it's something to do with 24p mode. I had a quick look at the specs of the ntsc version and it seems that it's not native 24p (correct me if I'm wrong). I have the pal version and the 25p is awful. It's in a 50i wrapper and I get artifacts ranging from wierd twitching of foreground items (almost like auto focus hunting, but was using manual focus at the time), interlace artfacts and even wierd flickering in detailed moving backgrounds (standing in front of trees blowing in the wind, again while using manual focus). I changed to using 50i or 50p modes and it's like a different camera. Unfortunately the pulldown modes appear to be a bit average, it may be better for you to shoot in 60p and develop a better pulldown technique than the camera uses.
 
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