AG-AC160 firmware update 1.11, have you done it?

[Stephen Crye]

Hi;

Several sources including Adam Wilt at Provideocoalition say that the 1.11 update is not the AVCHD 2.0 update that will enable full 1080 50/60p at ~ 28 Mbps. (check out the comments on his Jan 2012 review of the AC160 and HPX250)

Look for an announcement from Panasonic rep Jan Crittenden at NAB 2012 on Sunday, April 15. Hopefully she will be announcing the actual availability of the update, not just another Tease!

I’m speculating that the unit you demo’d was a brand-new one that had the firmware installed.

Steve

Win7 Pro X64 on Dell T3400, MultiTB SATA, 8GB RAM Vegas 10e (and 11) x64 DVDA 5.2(build 133) Sony HDR-CX550V

[Stephen Crye]

Here is the link to the live stream for the Panny press conference later today at NAB:
https://www.ustream.tv/panasonic

Steve

Win7 Pro X64 on Dell T3400, MultiTB SATA, 8GB RAM Vegas 10e (and 11) x64 DVDA 5.2(build 133) Sony HDR-CX550V

[Karl Gerhard]

Any news of the possible NAB announcement for the 1080/60P update today? Missed the webcast & nothing new on the Panasonic website that I could find.

Thanks,

Karl Gerhard
Group Effort Pro

[Cg Coffyn]

I’m at NAB, but have been in classes. Today, Monday, is of course the first “booth” day. I have lots of questions for the Panny gang, but it will have to wait till later in the convention. So someone else will likely know before me, but I”ll post if I hear anything.

Having switched from Sony cameras for most of my video career, I’m trying to get my head wrapped around the Panny way of doing things, specifically audio on the 160. The manual is just not detailed enough. We do love the camera though, even if some of my friends are shooting/experimenting w/DSLR.

[Stephen Crye]

HI;

Yesterday Panny announced some very interesting new features for the AC160:
https://www2.panasonic.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/prModelDetail?storeId=11301&catalogId=13251&itemId=673003&modelNo=Content04022012052757482&surfModel=Content04022012052757482

From the above press release:

LAS VEGAS, NV (April 15, 2012) — Panasonic has announced the AG-AC160A and AG-AC130A, upgraded versions of its newest professional AVCCAM HD camcorders. Improved functionality in both camcorders includes expanded focus assist and “turbo speed” one-push auto focus function; the AC160A also incorporates acquisition in the 1080/60p and 1080/50p HD recording formats (in new PS mode).

In addition to conventional focus-in-red assist, the expanded focus assist enables the AC160A and AC130A to zoom in on the picture to check focus. The turbo-speed one-push auto focus capability ensures that the camcorders quickly attain focus. The addition of 1080/60p and 50p recording (maximum 28Mbps in PS mode) to the AC160A is of especial value to worldwide customers in broadcasting, sports and scientific analysis, where this mastering-quality format is rapidly proliferating.

The AG-AC160A and AG-AC130A will be available in May at suggested list prices of $5,095.00 and $4,195.00, respectively. Current AC160 and AC130 owners can purchase this suite of upgrades for $300.

The 60p/50p upgrade is free and can be performed by the customer. The turbo-speed one-push auto focus and expanded focus assist upgrades require a hardware change and this need to be done at a Panasonic Authorized Service Center.

The AC160A and AC130A incorporate high-sensitivity 1/3”, full-HD 2.2 megapixel 3-MOS imagers to capture native 1920 x 1080 resolution images, with a new, wider 22X HD zoom lens, the longest in its category. Key features include two SD Memory Card slots for relay or simultaneous recording, compatibility with Panasonic’s new SDHC full Class 10 UHS-1 (Ultra High Speed) Memory Cards, an enhanced viewfinder and LCD display, and DV recording. The higher-end AC160A also includes such top production features as variable frame rate recording in 1080p, Linear PCM audio, HD-SDI output, and switchability between 59.94Hz/50Hz.

I really don’t want to wait until May, now debating if I ought to just get the AC160 now and pay for the Turbo Focus upgrade.

Steve

Win7 Pro X64 on Dell T3400, MultiTB SATA, 8GB RAM Vegas 10e (and 11) x64 DVDA 5.2(build 133) Sony HDR-CX550V

[Cg Coffyn]

He Steve, excellent! Thanks for posting.

The question is, is the $300.00 upgrade worth it? I think I’ve figured a way to get a really good focus, even in low light, though I”m used to the zoom in focus from our previous Sony camera. So I did really like that. The auto quick focus sounds great, but I’ve never had that in a pro or prosumer camera. I know these things are getting better, but is that accurate enough and in lower light (which I often film in) to be usable. Time will tell, but anybody have a thought?

I’ll update the firmware for sure though. Really nice that we can gain features this way and enhancements.

[Stephen Crye]

I ordered an AC160 (not the 160A) yesterday. B&H had a lower price that 2 weeks ago and I decided to go for it.

I’m leaning toward getting the $300.00 upgrade, but I’ll have to see how the focus is. I really, really hate not having expanded focus.

So … what is your focus secret?

BTW I called Panny pro support and they saw the press release but still have no idea when the AVCHD 2.0 firmware will be out! Kind of disturbing. The engineer promised to send me an email, will post an update here when I know more. This upgrade is critical for me, I won’t buy any AVCHD 1.0 cam for any reason.

Steve

Win7 Pro X64 on Dell T3400, MultiTB SATA, 8GB RAM Vegas 10e (and 11) x64 DVDA 5.2(build 133) Sony HDR-CX550V

[Stephen Crye]

Panny Pro support just replied, the answer was a little terse:

“This upgrade will be available end of may. Keep watching our website.
https://pro-av.panasonic.net/en/index.html ”

Seems like a long, long way away! I might have to return my AC160 before then and re-buy one later (perhaps an AC160A), end of May will be outside the B&H return window for this purchase. Can’t risk any problems, if the upgrade has side effects, etc.

Nervous,

Steve

Win7 Pro X64 on Dell T3400, MultiTB SATA, 8GB RAM Vegas 10e (and 11) x64 DVDA 5.2(build 133) Sony HDR-CX550V

[Cg Coffyn]

Once you get the camera and register it w/Panny you will be notified automatically when firmware updates are available. Not helpful to you now though.

Focus, OK, let me see what I can remember since I don’t have the camera in front of me.I’ve only shot one short project on it and some b roll for another thus far.

Like you I”m sure, but I was always taught to zoom in focus on every shot, z-out… In doco work I’ve found that very impractical lots of times. Never did doco stuff in my early days. So in the 160p I keep the focus assist on, the classic highlights turn red when in focus, then, with that kept on, there is this other button, evf detail or something like that. It seems to look kind of like adding an unsharp mask in photoshop as the edges suddenly look super sharp AND in low light, where the red highlight thing doesn’t usually work very well, it works great and I see the red highlights even in low light AND a crisper image when in focus. I know some would hate all that, but I’m pretty darn picky about my focus and composition and seeing all the readouts around the viewfinder. I’ve turned most of them on. There is a button on the side so you can quickly turn all that off, which i’ve used a lot thus far. Let me know if that’s not clear. Sorry I”m kind tired after a late night at the Supermeet.

[Stephen Crye]

Thanks;

I appreciate the tips, but not sure if they would work for me. I’ve been burned using “peaking” before. (I’m simplifying here but you know what I mean). And the problem with “zoom in to focus and back off” won’t work while you are rolling, only before you start, and then ONLY if the lens is parfocal or close – any back-focus problems will bite you.

That reminds me – every notice any back-focus problems with the AC160?

Last night, as I was on UPS watching the slow ground progress of my AC160, I had another worry. One thing many people complained about with the AC160 is the lack of magnification on the viewfinder eyepiece. What if the new AC160A has fixed that? In that case, I will be burned by buying the AC160 and paying the $300.00 for the TurboFocus upgrade.

Also fretting about the possibility that the AC160A might someday be eligible for some kind of an upgrade that just won’t work on the original AC160, even after the $300 TurboFocus hardware upgrade.

If Only I Had a Crystal Ball and could predict the B&H discount on the AC160 once it is available!

Oh, well.

Here’s a link to the new Brochure for the AC160A:
https://pro-av.panasonic.net/en/sales_o/broch_pdf/ag-ac160a.pdf

Steve

Win7 Pro X64 on Dell T3400, MultiTB SATA, 8GB RAM Vegas 10e (and 11) x64 DVDA 5.2(build 133) Sony HDR-CX550V