Guy Mcloughlin
Forum Replies Created
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The modern upgrade to the DVX100 was the HMC-150 ( I own one ), which has been upgraded again by the new AC-130 with it’s 22x zoom lens.
These cameras function very much like your old DVX100, but use solid-state memory cards, and shoot HD images.
You can find used HMC-150 cameras selling for about $2,000 right now, and the AC-130 sells for about $3,500 new.
If you are a Mac user, you will have to learn how to process AVCHD video footage, which is a little more complicated than editing AVCHD with Adobe Premiere or Sony Vegas Pro under Windows.
The AF-100 is the first large sensor ( Micro 4/3 lens mount ) video camera from Panasonic, but it’s a lot different to shoot with than a DVX100 / HMC-150 / AC-130. The AF-100 does not come with a lens, and requires a lot of 3rd party gear to use as a hand-held camera. It’s a very nice look, but it’s a digital cine camera, which is very different than an ENG style video camera.
Also, the Panasonic GH2 DSLR camera ( less than $1,000 ) also shoots Micro 4/3 video, and there is a free “hack” that modifies the camera to shoot exceptionally good video. ( with image quality that compares to digital cine cameras costing more than $15,000 )
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Any device that can accept HDMI INPUT should enable you to stream video from the HDMI port on your HMC-150.
Unfortunately, there aren’t many devices that accept HDMI INPUT. ( most computers feature HDMI OUTPUT ports, with NO INPUT ports )
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[Richard Angle] “Thank you, Guy. Just so I understand, ALL of the editing programs should have some secondary function other than the typical “import” function available to correctly bring in 4gb segmented AVCHD footage?
Hi Richard,
Yes, most of the new editing programs will have an import utility that will automatically stitch together the 4GB segments back in to their proper lengths, so no frames or audio is lost.
The only popular editor that may have problems with AVCHD files is the older Final Cut Pro ( not the new X version ), but I’ve heard that the ClipWrap utility can sort this problem out for the older Final Cut Pro editor.
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[Richard Angle] “When trying to stitch together multiple .mts files that were broken up due to long recordings, (over 4.1 gigs) there remains a gap of approx 15 audio frames and 1 single video frame with missing audio and video between the broken segments on the timeline.”
Hi Richard,
This is the WRONG way to bring your footage in to your editor. All modern AVCHD cameras record seamless long format footage that is broken up in to 4GB segments, that includes all the meta-data required to rebuild long takes back in to one single file on your computer.
For Sony Vegas, you should ONLY import footage using the DEVICE EXPLORER utility that is found under the VIEW menu. This utility will import all of the 4GB video segments and turn them into single video files of the proper length on your computer. No frames lost, no sound missing.
Device Explorer is your friend. 🙂
– Guy
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…Apparently Juice Designs will be making aluminum base-plates for the AC-130/AC-160/HPX-250 cameras. This is where I bought one for my HMC-150 camera. It’s beautifully made.
Juice Designs Aluminum Base-plates
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Hi Steve,
I think you are going to have a very tough time finding any camera that meets all of your requirements, as there is no perfect camera.
I watched your video in 1080p mode, and everything you demo in your video looks normal to me. I own a Panasonic HMC-150 camera that I’ve used for the past 4 years, and overall I’ve been extremely happy with the results I’ve obtained with it.
As a professional I don’t care if buttons rattle as long as they work reliably. The servo-noise you mention seems to be identical with every other Panasonic prosumer camera that I’ve used ( HVX-200, HPX-170, HMC-150 ), and has never been an issue with audio recording, but then I only use the built-in camera mics for reference. For proper audio recording you need different gear, placed off-camera, and positioned to obtain high quality sound. If I was going to shoot ENG style with the mic on the camera, then I would upgrade to a professional mic that is designed to reject camera noise ( like the Sanken CS-1 ), and I doubt that I would ever hear servo noise in my recordings.
I do agree with the flimsy-ness of the plastic base-plate, which I replaced with a solid aluminum base-plate on my HMC-150. Hopefully 3rd party companies will make aluminum plates for the AC-130 / AC-160 / HPX-250 line of cameras.
I also don’t see much of a vignetting problem with the image in your video. Overall I think you are being way too picky with your assessment of this camera. There is no perfect piece of equipment, so it’s up to the film-maker to master their gear, and learn how to work around any small issues that might pop up.
I suspect part of your problems might be from using the camera in auto-mode. Pretty much all professional cameras are horrible in auto-mode, which is why most pros do almost everything manually. ( autofocus can be handy if the light is good, and the subject is suitable for the AF mechanism )
Even learning how to properly set the image controls with pretty much any prosumer camera is going to take you the better part of a week, to get some idea of how you can modify the video image by changing a dozen or more image settings.
I haven’t shot with a Sony HDR-CX550V, but if it’s like other Canon/Panasonic/Sony consumer cameras that I’ve worked with, it has severe limitations when it comes to image quality, camera motion, audio quality, CODEC compression. Consumer cameras are a great deal for the price, you do get a lot of functionality for the price, but they are very limiting in the hands of a pro that is looking for manual controls for every feature.
If you are looking to produce higher quality videos, I honestly think that you are going to have to pick one camera, and learn how to produce the best quality image you can with it. This may take months, and require lots of little modifications to master all of the features.
Also, audio is a whole other ball of wax, that will take as much or more effort to master compared to mastering a professional camera.
Sorry to hear that no camera has worked out for you so far, but I do think you are going to have to bite the bullet at some point, pick a camera, and learn how to achieve the best quality result with it.
Good-luck.
– Guy
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Hi Steve,
I believe in telling the whole truth about any piece of gear, warts’n’all, as I feel it would be a disservice to this group if you end up censoring your true opinions here.
For example, I currently shoot a lot with modified (“hacked” ) Panasonic GH2 cameras, which produce an excellent video image. They might not be as easy to use as an AF-100 camera, but I don’t mind living with some small inconveniences to achieve great results with a low cost camera.
On the other hand, the GH2 camera takes absolutely horrible JPEG still photos ( the Panasonic JPEG engine is the weakest of the major brands ), and I was ready to stop using it for photos until I tried shooting raw photos and processing them with Adobe LightRoom. Shooting raw images, the GH2 is an OK still photo camera. At some point I will likely buy an Olympus OM-D camera to shoot stills with my Micro 4/3 lenses, as I still feel that Panasonic has a long way to go compared to Olympus.
I would only buy a Panasonic AF-100 camera if the price dropped to less than $3,000, as I feel that this camera desperately needs a sensor upgrade if it wants to compete with the Sony FS-100. I like the overall build of the AF-100, but the image quality just isn’t there compared to the Sony FS cameras.
I am hoping that Panasonic steps up it’s game and introduces a replacement for the AF-100, with a new sensor featuring better dynamic range, lower high ISO noise, and AVC-Intra internal recording. Otherwise I think my only route is to switch to the Sony FS cameras to stay competitive with the market.
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[Stephen Crye] “FYI I sent the AC160 back. Not sure if it is polite to post my criticisms here. I’m still sad about it not working out.
So what were the main drawbacks for you with the AC160 ?
Was it the red color-fringing that you mentioned earlier ?
Panasonic will never fix these issues if we don’t make them aware of them.
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Hi Martin,
Panasonic have announced upgraded “A” versions of the AC130 / AC160 cameras, this upgrade can also be purchased by current owners of these cameras for $300.
The main features of this upgrade are “expanded focus assist” and “turbo speed one-push auto focus function”. If you plan on shooting stage productions, I would definitely wait to buy the upgraded camera.
That said, I have shot a few theatre productions with my Panasonic HMC-150 camera using manual focus, and had little trouble keeping focus as I zoomed and panned across the stage. ( anticipating the actors movements has always been trickier for me, unless I’ve seen the performance a couple of times )
These newer Panasonic AC130/AC160 cameras, are much sharper than my HMC-150, which is more of a 720 HD camera than a true 1080 HD.
If you don’t want to go Panasonic then the other option to consider is a new or used Sony EX-1R which is very sharp, great in low-light, with a good autofocus system. The main drawbacks with the EX-1R are a shorter zoom range, a more expensive camera, and a less ergonomic camera. ( harder to hand hold )
You might even consider renting each of these cameras if you are undecided on which to buy.