Great review! It helped me decide to buy the AC-90 and is certainly the best video review of this camera on TH-cam. You give clear descriptions and personal input without getting too technical. Subscribed!
The auto focus is very very good. Frankly for what most folk intend to shoot its faster and more accurate than most of the shooters. The problem will come in where you are doing more professional level stuff in a locked down position and you are filming groups of people. It may want to be changing focus (though there is some setting for this) from person to person, whereas you may want it strictly manual so it doesn't change around.
Great vid! I do mostly drum covers and I also record my school choir concerts/private studio concerts. I'm going between an HMC150 and this. REALLY like these clips of the 90. NICE!
Great review. Thanks. I have dealt with a similar to the buttons being too similar, when I was working iMAG for concerts. The camcorders we were using had the manual focus button in front of the view screen, right next to the focus assist. I accidentally hit the FA a few times, so I took a small piece of gaff tape and covered the FA button. I could still press it if I needed to, but the texture would help me not accidentally press the wrong button. Just a suggestion for others with that issue.
I have a NTG2 shotgun and the mic mount fits it perfectly. I think this is a common problem because my friend has a Cannon and his mic is too small for it too. I find I have gotten used to the LCD viewer and its not a problem opening and moving around. I do agree with pretty much everything else you have said. My biggest 2 limitations are low light and lack of built in waveform. Waveform is something I really want because it quickly shows if you white balanced properly (among other things
Hey Dave, Thanks for the fantastic review! I'm a wedding videographer. I don't do any editing, I just deliver the raw footage directly to my clients at the end of the day. I've been shooting with Sony PD-170's and had no problem giving my clients the tapes. I'm wondering if they'll have an easy time playing back the footage on both Mac and Windows? Thanks again :)
Hi Dave, We have just purchased one of these cameras and are extremely impressed with it so far. The one thing we have found (and have done so with other Panasonic cameras we have used in the past) is when in record mode the colour shift drains in front of your eyes when recording. Is this something anyone else has had or experienced. It can be very annoying when it literally bleeds on screen and there is nothing you can do about it. We then match it with the other camera we have at the editing stage and colour correct so they match.
cragleah I've shot multiple long shows with this camera and no issues with that so far, nor have I seen it on other Panasonic cams I've worked with in the past.
***** Thank you for your reply Dave. We are pleased you are not having this problem but we are and so are a few of our colleagues using the same model camera. We still are so impressed with it's performance though we are buying another one. We are wedding videographers so expect quality and we are receiving it except for this annoying 'problem'
Great review. I think some of the annoyances you mention experiencing with the AC90 are pretty minor quibbles. Panasonic seems to be the only manufacturer right now that is offering as many manual controls as it does... this level of control is unheard of and unprecedented in a camera that costs $2000.00. I'm considering getting an AC90 to replace the Canon XA10 that I had - and stupidly sold.
Thanks a lot for your time on this. I've never run a splitter off a vid A/V out, Comp out, or HDMI out. Have you ever split the signal from the A/V or Comp outs? Or split the A/V out to feed 2 streams? My immediate gig in Orlando next week: the hotel AV folks will use an IMAG system to take my feed & send it to a projector, which I believe will use the 480i setting. I'm wondering whether it matters to the HDMI output if the other feed is not HD? Ha! Too many questions!
Low light is good, but in many situations where you just want to use it with available light its not as likely to be usable. It loves light and can produce great images with a lot of light. When you start getting where gain is added (which is frequently) your image detail keeps dropping off. Especially things like skin tone. From the side by side reviews we are talking about 2-3 f-stops between it and "better" low light cameras/lens. 2-3 f-stops is very roughly around 500watts of light.
Thanx for your quick answer. Indeed there is no information in the manual. But in the picture of the LCD you can find in the manual shows instead of the Dolby logo the letters LPCM (linear - PCM) and this is a copy of the German Panasonic Homepage: Für hifidelen Sound werden zudem Stereoaufnahmen im kompressionsfreien Linear-PCM-Format unterstützt. I don't find a way to use this audio mode without any compression. Thanks for your trouble. Best regards from rainy Austria
Great camera! I liked that manual adjustment rings. I watched in 1080 the test videos was crystal clear by the way, does it have electronic viewfinder, how is it?. Thanks Dave. Great review,
Dave love the new cam. Sorry you lost your other one, but i think it was meant to be, if you didn't lose it you would have never got this camera. This is the quality that i in-visioned for Sonic Orb Studios. Good Buy. I watched this in 1080p and looked Chrystal clear. I totally agree with you on the pull out LCD, looked a little clunky while pulling it out.
My Friend ! Thank you so much for this video. i was looking on buying canon xa10, then found about panasonic ag-hmc40 but obviously panasonic ag-ac90 is no brainer !!! Thanks a lot!!! Aloha.
Hey, thank you very much for reviewing this camcorder thoroughly, you're a god-sent. By the way, you mentioned about the rings on the camcorders to be a little stiff and would hopefully loosen up after a good while's use, has it loosened up or is it still a bit stiff?
Great review, thanks. How is the manual white balance and how is it used? Also are there audio meters on the LCD? There important, especially in high volume environments. Thanks again, I know you have had a lot of questions on this product.
I tend to prefer a stiffer focus ring, like the HVX. My HMC40's focus ring (fantastic camera btw) is just really too fast and I tend to overshoot the pull sometimes.
In the German manual there is an explanation of the symbols on page 106. there you can find: Audiosystem Dolby Digital 5.1 / 2ch, Linear PCM 2ch But there is no information how to change from Dolby to LPCM. I hope you can find a way to do so. Thanks one time more.
You could try going with a Panasonic HC-X920K for about $1000.00 (or an HX-XC900, which is being cleared out to make way for the '920, if you want to save more money). It has pretty much the same guts and sensors that the AC90 does, but lacks the extensive level of control and customizability that the AC90 offers.
Also, while this camera, and my HMC-40, does parse the video into 4.9g chunks... when I pull it into FCP for edit, it comes in one piece... no seam, no audio/video click or gap.
Just bought the camera. Very nice sharp image. The most annoying thing about this camera for me is how you set up manual white balance. Very confusing and unintuitive. The manual is not very detailed on how to set up manual white balance. Other than that, once I figure the WB technique out, I am sure I will be very happy with it.
Hi, please answer me to this question: What can I do to have a stereo sound after shooting a clip? Because last movies we made could be heard on only one channel.
I need a camera for my documentary work and one of the pro said not to consider the touch screen. I now shoot with my canon 7D, but for ease of use and battery consideration, I decided to buy a prozumer camcorder. I couldn't afford that much. What is your opinion, friend? Oh, I'm just a new comer in this field with practically zero experience.
I'm a little confused. Does having a fixed lens mean you can't attach another lense onto it? I shoot a lot of action sports and I find my self using a wide angle fisheye lense much of the time. Could I use one on this camera? Thanks
Just got this camera. Thanks for the review. This camera lets me get rid of the clapper with it's two xlr inputs. Just one problem it saves footage in 4 GB chunks and I get a little click when I string them together in post. Is there anyway of saving on one big file? I use 64G dual back up mode memory cards and am new to video. Thanks your review it was great. My rings are not at all stiff but I've never used a "real" camera before
Hi, I'm using the camera for two weeks and I like it. But it makes me crazy that I cannot find out how to use LPCM Audio mode. The AG-AC90 is connected with the NT4 micro from Rode but there is no way to find how to choice LPCM. Can you help me (Panasonic itself hasn't answered yet.) Thanks ...
I shoot weddings with the Panasonic HMC 40 using a monopod ....this camera looks larger than my camera... If its light enough could you see using a monopod with it?
Интересная камера и цена сравнительно не много не нравится выдвижной экранчик плохо выдвигается но в целом мне понравилась, спасибо за видео информацию.
Is there a wired remote control unit for the Panasonic AG AC90? I am looking for a unit to: start, stop and zoom. I've noticed that you can't just use any Panasonic zoom controller on this camera.
+Ken Craig Yes it's got the typical LANC style jacks on the back right panel for focus, zoom, iris, and start/stop control over remote. www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?atclk=Connectivity+Type+%28Servo%29_Mini+Jack+%28LANC%29&ci=1889&N=4028759352+4115872470 I use this unit for some productions: www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/855154-REG/Libec_zfc_5hd_Remote_Zoom_and_Focus.html
Nice review! Very informative! 2 Questions though, does it accept 3.5mm microphones? Also, can you remove the mount for the microphones on the camera itself? Thanks!
1) Being it's a pro camera, it offers only XLR inputs. You can use an XLR to Mono Mini phono adapter if needed. 2) The mic is clipped on with a standard style shock mount. You can remove it with a simple thumb screw. I only use this mount for reference audio. The mic is too far away from the source when you mount the mic on the camera.
I also think it's odd that you can't dial in a specific color temp. You can make adjustments to the Ach and Bch white balance using a menu driven adjustment range that goes from 0 to +/-7...not sure what the scale is based off of though. I thought it was a little mickey mouse for a supposedly 'pro' camera. I have a Canon Vixia HF-G10 and I can dial in a specific color temp, and it was almost half the price of AC90.
Hi David.. I'm confused with 2 cameras, panasonic AG-AC 130 and AG-AC90 which is better for wedding and small conference... in wedding I'm using LED lighting. notice :- job weddings and conferences always be at night
The AC130 is discontinued as is the AC90, but both are replaced with the same model number followed by an A (AC90A and AC 130A). The 130A is a clear winner as it has a larger sensor and is better in low light. The Panasonic HC-X1000 offers a 1/2" sensor allowing easier shallow depth of field, better low light performance, and ability to shoot 4K so it's a nice investment as well if you can afford it.
Hey, thanks for the vid. I have this camera, and haven't found the time yet to figure out whether I can feed the a/v out through multiple connections, i.e., HDMI & composite, simultaneously while capturing to the SD cards. I do a lot of corporate event shooting, and they often want to feed a big screen/projector to show the presenter, and I'd like to capture a backup h.264 video on my laptop at the same time through my BMDesign converter. What do you think?
Hey, great review! Did you compared this camera with the Canon XA10? It's very hard to choose between this two... If you can make a comparison it would be awesome!
respected, there is five type of white balance.........i put it on the bch mode in white bal. and then press for balance manualy is it corret method ? there is 2 kelwin mode in camera . its use for out door and in halogen light. one is auto.. and lock. what is the roll for lock mode ?
Hi there, I'm a dummie with all this video production stuff, I was wondering how could you connect this camcorder to a Tricaster 40, which cable should you use for having it in a long distance (150' maybe) Thank you and great review...
very nice, thank you. But I am little bit worried about the image sensor size. I mean its so small...1/4.7"? Well I guess my webcam has a similar image sensor. What was Panasonic thinking by putting such a tiny image sensor in such a "good" camera? Keep the camera handsome but dont worry about the sensor?
that's what i was thinking, the weird thing is that the sensors on the SD900 (i have one of those) are actually bigger than the sensors on the ac90!!?? But the ac90 sensors must be designed better and so forth. Do you think the AC90 is worth twice the price of the SD/TM/HD900 camera? Maybe it is.. But the AC130a is a best by comparison. But it's a lot more expensive :/ Is the 900 worth the cash?
Thanks for your review, liked it a lot, question: would this camera mix well with a canon dslr, i can not find anything, stating you can influence color and sharpness so you can sort match two different camera's. Thanks.
Do you have any auto focus issues with this camera? I purchased this camera and kept it for about a 10 days. On my shoots it would go in and out of focus on subjects while in auto mode. Because of the run and gun style shooting I do I intelligent auto is important. In my Panasonic AG-HMC40 auto was flawless but, after dealing with problems I researched things and found that the bigger brothers to my new cam the AG130 & AG160 suffered from the same focus issue.
Hi there, for someone graduating from consumer cameras, for recording small documentaries and shooting motor sport events, how would you compare this with the Sony NEX-VG30? Any advice would be really appreciated.
hey man, im looking into buying this camera when it come out in the uk, i shoot bmx and mtb, in low light conditions (the woods) and ive heard of mixed reports for the low light capabilities from this camera. excuse the pun but can you shine any light on this? many thanks
I just got one this, but im having trouble putting my video on my computer. I stick the memory card in my computer and it only shows my pictures that iv'e taken not my videos. But it looks like they might be their but they are CPI files, and i dont know what those are. How do you upload and edit your videos? I really need help.
Really considering buying this camera in the next week, its unfortunate that I dont have the money for a ac130 or xf300 etc. But my question is for around the $2000 mark, give or take a few hundred, is this the best camera to get???? I would consider buying a used camera for $2000 as well doesnt have to be new. I will be shooting action sports, wakeboarding, etc. I just dont like the lack of DOF I will get from the sensor size. Thanks in advance, any suggestions are appreciated.
Nice review. Is the HDMI output clean? When connected to external monitor, recorder etc.... Does it's LCD turn off? I was thinking of using this camera for live video streaming. Connect HDMI output to encoder.
Yes the HDMI is just clean signal, no OSD infromation. The output does have about an 1/8 second of delay but it's typical and not too bad. The LCD will stay on with HDMI connected. I've used this cam and an Elgato to stream an event while recording to the SD cards, worked well.
I like that you tell us about both good and bad with this Camera. I´ve just seen this camera on a second hand market here in Sweden (blocket.se , price 1000 euro). My plan is to find a reliable and suitable camera to film my coming TV projekts. If it´s good I maybe buy another one, because I have to shoot a lot of scenes with dialog based on short stories I´ve written. /Reinhold Hellgren
+Ahmed Frikha This camera has standard XLR inputs, with 48v phantom power on or off so you should be able to use a condenser or dynamic mic. Common choice is the Shure SM58
Good review! I use a Rode Stereo Videomic Pro which connects to external mic input on the current cam.( PanasonicHDC-Tm700) I don't see this input listed on any of the specs I found. Is it there? Also is the cam really a major improvement over my current one, enough to warrant $2000 outlay?. Thanks
+Nick Patone be sure you're using quality XLR cables that are balanced. There should be very minimal noise on the audio line with this cam. As far as fixes go in post, try Adobe Audition adaptive noise reduction th-cam.com/video/6QNgT49WVu4/w-d-xo.html
I have a question regarding this camera that I haven't been able to solve by myself and I can't find the answer in the manual either. Is it possible to connect 2 different audio sources to the XLRs inputs 1 and 2, and then get the camera to mix this 2 sources as mono? I want to have mono audio out from any of the connections (hdmi, av, etc.) of the cameras. The situation is as follows: Usually I stream lectures and I plug a wireless receiver from a lavalier mic (the lecturer) in input 1 and also a shotgun mic set on top of the camera goes to input 2. Then I introduce the hdmi output of the camera into my laptop (via a capture card) and I get stereo audio with the lavalier mic on one side and the shotgun mic on the other side. I would like to have those two channels mixed... is it possible?
Miguel Moreno you can't have the cam mix the two inputs into a mono track however this is easily done in post or maybe a setting on your live stream encoder (be it adobe flash live or whatever).
Hi, I just tested this camcorder and tried to view the SD card on my pc, but there was nothing in the DCIM folder to view. I was able to watch on my tv with a HDMI cable, but need to be able to edit video on the pc. Any help is appreciated. I used a SanDisk Ultra Plus 32GB class 10 card.
Great video, many thanks for putting it together. I'm seriously thinking about this camera and have a new MacBook Pro but don't know if the Panasonic will connect and be seen on the laptop, unlike any of my Canons. Do you know if this camera is compatible with the Macs ?
It is however you have to be sure you can import and work with AVCHD files. Most of the time, this is not an issue...even more so for Premiere Pro editors.
***** Thanks for the quick response. I am moving from tape to digital so my next question is whether this camera outputs in native Mpeg forgmat. Thanks again.
Hi, can I plug two cables that come from a mixer( I need mixer for reverb) in order to get a stereo sound directly on film. Or how can I annul the exterior Mic in order to have only the sound from inputs jacks?
+Nick Patone use an aux or group send to the L channel (input 1) for mono feed, or two aux sends or group sends form the mixer to the 1/2 inputs. Best to keep things mono in that case as the inputs on the cam are mono as are the Aux or Grouop sends from analog mixers.
hi; what would it be like filming star full night sky wide angle shots and zoom, no one seems to cover this side of modern camcorders and their performance in this area ?
Being the sensor size is so small here, this camera really doesn't handle that too well. I am currently out of state for the holidays but will try to get a followup video covering this subject.
So whats your best pick for filming the star full night skies with a camcorder, without spending 2 or 3 thousand $ even going for a good used model ? Thanks.
Norm Vigas best camera I know that will shoot things like that at a lower than 4 thousand dollar budget is the Sony A7S. www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1044728-REG/sony_ilce7s_b_alpha_a7s_mirrorless_digital.html Philip bloom has a review on it th-cam.com/video/Vb5kuI9YGjA/w-d-xo.html
I was thinking maybe sticking IR950 filter on such a thing too, may help pick others things up in the day or night sky, but does the A7s have night shot, do you know. thanks again Norm.
hello , i m worried about its white- balance set. there is no details in the book.i just buy it..in india. i m wedding photographer...pls. help for white balance setting.
White balance is left to one button. You can hit this to cycle all the settings on board or program a preset for your own via a white balance card. It's quite fast, but nothing compared to a switch with A/B/Preset like the AG AC130A
I just bought this camera and I can't put it down - it's a beauty!
Great review! It helped me decide to buy the AC-90 and is certainly the best video review of this camera on TH-cam. You give clear descriptions and personal input without getting too technical. Subscribed!
Good no no-waffle review. Very useful. Thanks for your time.
Good thorough review. Thanks. This one goes a long way in helping make a decision.
The auto focus is very very good. Frankly for what most folk intend to shoot its faster and more accurate than most of the shooters. The problem will come in where you are doing more professional level stuff in a locked down position and you are filming groups of people. It may want to be changing focus (though there is some setting for this) from person to person, whereas you may want it strictly manual so it doesn't change around.
Great vid! I do mostly drum covers and I also record my school choir concerts/private studio concerts. I'm going between an HMC150 and this. REALLY like these clips of the 90. NICE!
that's one heck of a camera! Nice kit also! I just bought the alesis dm10 not too long ago. almost don't want to go back to my acoustic kit lol
By far the best review on this Cam!, thank you Sir
Great review. Thanks.
I have dealt with a similar to the buttons being too similar, when I was working iMAG for concerts. The camcorders we were using had the manual focus button in front of the view screen, right next to the focus assist. I accidentally hit the FA a few times, so I took a small piece of gaff tape and covered the FA button. I could still press it if I needed to, but the texture would help me not accidentally press the wrong button. Just a suggestion for others with that issue.
Wow looks like a great camera!
I have a NTG2 shotgun and the mic mount fits it perfectly. I think this is a common problem because my friend has a Cannon and his mic is too small for it too. I find I have gotten used to the LCD viewer and its not a problem opening and moving around. I do agree with pretty much everything else you have said. My biggest 2 limitations are low light and lack of built in waveform. Waveform is something I really want because it quickly shows if you white balanced properly (among other things
Hey Dave,
Thanks for the fantastic review! I'm a wedding videographer. I don't do any editing, I just deliver the raw footage directly to my clients at the end of the day. I've been shooting with Sony PD-170's and had no problem giving my clients the tapes. I'm wondering if they'll have an easy time playing back the footage on both Mac and Windows? Thanks again :)
Colour temp can sometimes be corrected in post, if your NLE offers such a feature.
Hi Dave, We have just purchased one of these cameras and are extremely impressed with it so far. The one thing we have found (and have done so with other Panasonic cameras we have used in the past) is when in record mode the colour shift drains in front of your eyes when recording. Is this something anyone else has had or experienced. It can be very annoying when it literally bleeds on screen and there is nothing you can do about it. We then match it with the other camera we have at the editing stage and colour correct so they match.
cragleah I've shot multiple long shows with this camera and no issues with that so far, nor have I seen it on other Panasonic cams I've worked with in the past.
***** Thank you for your reply Dave. We are pleased you are not having this problem but we are and so are a few of our colleagues using the same model camera. We still are so impressed with it's performance though we are buying another one. We are wedding videographers so expect quality and we are receiving it except for this annoying 'problem'
i confused to choose canon xa20 or panasonic ac90 or sony nex vg30....please give me a suggestion ( sory my english is bad)
Great review. I think some of the annoyances you mention experiencing with the AC90 are pretty minor quibbles. Panasonic seems to be the only manufacturer right now that is offering as many manual controls as it does... this level of control is unheard of and unprecedented in a camera that costs $2000.00. I'm considering getting an AC90 to replace the Canon XA10 that I had - and stupidly sold.
my question is, does the camera offer 'auto' setting for XLR Audio? Manual setting most of the time is not usable.
Thanks a lot for your time on this. I've never run a splitter off a vid A/V out, Comp out, or HDMI out. Have you ever split the signal from the A/V or Comp outs? Or split the A/V out to feed 2 streams?
My immediate gig in Orlando next week: the hotel AV folks will use an IMAG system to take my feed & send it to a projector, which I believe will use the 480i setting. I'm wondering whether it matters to the HDMI output if the other feed is not HD? Ha! Too many questions!
Low light is good, but in many situations where you just want to use it with available light its not as likely to be usable. It loves light and can produce great images with a lot of light. When you start getting where gain is added (which is frequently) your image detail keeps dropping off. Especially things like skin tone. From the side by side reviews we are talking about 2-3 f-stops between it and "better" low light cameras/lens. 2-3 f-stops is very roughly around 500watts of light.
Thanx for your quick answer. Indeed there is no information in the manual. But in the picture of the LCD you can find in the manual shows instead of the Dolby logo the letters LPCM (linear - PCM) and this is a copy of the German Panasonic Homepage:
Für hifidelen Sound werden zudem Stereoaufnahmen im kompressionsfreien Linear-PCM-Format unterstützt.
I don't find a way to use this audio mode without any compression.
Thanks for your trouble.
Best regards from rainy Austria
Great camera! I liked that manual adjustment rings. I watched in 1080 the test videos was crystal clear by the way, does it have electronic viewfinder, how is it?. Thanks Dave. Great review,
Dave love the new cam. Sorry you lost your other one, but i think it was meant to be, if you didn't lose it you would have never got this camera. This is the quality that i in-visioned for Sonic Orb Studios. Good Buy. I watched this in 1080p and looked Chrystal clear. I totally agree with you on the pull out LCD, looked a little clunky while pulling it out.
Nice camera and great review!
My Friend ! Thank you so much for this video. i was looking on buying canon xa10, then found about panasonic ag-hmc40 but obviously panasonic ag-ac90 is no brainer !!!
Thanks a lot!!! Aloha.
Hey, thank you very much for reviewing this camcorder thoroughly, you're a god-sent.
By the way, you mentioned about the rings on the camcorders to be a little stiff and would hopefully loosen up after a good while's use, has it loosened up or is it still a bit stiff?
What files and formats are we dealing with??? And what sizes?? - thx for posting this video!!
awesome camera !
Great review, thanks. How is the manual white balance and how is it used? Also are there audio meters on the LCD? There important, especially in high volume environments. Thanks again, I know you have had a lot of questions on this product.
Can I hook this camera up to an iPad with a cable so I can send it to the web . Also what’s the difference between live and record?
I tend to prefer a stiffer focus ring, like the HVX. My HMC40's focus ring (fantastic camera btw) is just really too fast and I tend to overshoot the pull sometimes.
In the German manual there is an explanation of the symbols on page 106. there you can find:
Audiosystem
Dolby Digital 5.1 / 2ch,
Linear PCM 2ch
But there is no information how to change from Dolby to LPCM.
I hope you can find a way to do so.
Thanks one time more.
Can we take a live video output from the camera, so that we can use it in mixing boards during wedding???
You could try going with a Panasonic HC-X920K for about $1000.00 (or an HX-XC900, which is being cleared out to make way for the '920, if you want to save more money). It has pretty much the same guts and sensors that the AC90 does, but lacks the extensive level of control and customizability that the AC90 offers.
have you used XLR audio? I see there is no 'auto' setting for the XLR. I own a HMC80 which XLR audio works great on auto setting.
Good job bud. This review was super useful to me.
Also, while this camera, and my HMC-40, does parse the video into 4.9g chunks... when I pull it into FCP for edit, it comes in one piece... no seam, no audio/video click or gap.
Just bought the camera. Very nice sharp image. The most annoying thing about this camera for me is how you set up manual white balance. Very confusing and unintuitive. The manual is not very detailed on how to set up manual white balance. Other than that, once I figure the WB technique out, I am sure I will be very happy with it.
can you give a tutorial on connecting this camera to a mixer?
Hi, please answer me to this question: What can I do to have a stereo sound after shooting a clip? Because last movies we made could be heard on only one channel.
many thanks,Dave
What about its ability to adapt to other lenses? Eventually i will look for a fisheye lens for it, would that be possible?
I need a camera for my documentary work and one of the pro said not to consider the touch screen. I now shoot with my canon 7D, but for ease of use and battery consideration, I decided to buy a prozumer camcorder. I couldn't afford that much. What is your opinion, friend? Oh, I'm just a new comer in this field with practically zero experience.
How do I enable video out on this camera? I tried both hdmi and the included wire and only got audio to work.
I'm a little confused. Does having a fixed lens mean you can't attach another lense onto it? I shoot a lot of action sports and I find my self using a wide angle fisheye lense much of the time. Could I use one on this camera? Thanks
Just got this camera. Thanks for the review. This camera lets me get rid of the clapper with it's two xlr inputs. Just one problem it saves footage in 4 GB chunks and I get a little click when I string them together in post. Is there anyway of saving on one big file? I use 64G dual back up mode memory cards and am new to video. Thanks your review it was great. My rings are not at all stiff but I've never used a "real" camera before
Hi, I'm using the camera for two weeks and I like it. But it makes me crazy that I cannot find out how to use LPCM Audio mode. The AG-AC90 is connected with the NT4 micro from Rode but there is no way to find how to choice LPCM. Can you help me (Panasonic itself hasn't answered yet.) Thanks ...
I shoot weddings with the Panasonic HMC 40 using a monopod ....this camera looks larger than my camera... If its light enough could you see using a monopod with it?
Интересная камера и цена сравнительно не много не нравится выдвижной экранчик плохо выдвигается но в целом мне понравилась, спасибо за видео информацию.
Can I use a lavalier mic with this camera.thanx
I know this is a "hand held" but what kind of tripod mount does it have, if any?
Do you have any similar cameras to this that could be found for a lower price? This one is great but its a little over my budget.
Is there a wired remote control unit for the Panasonic AG AC90? I am looking for a unit to: start, stop and zoom. I've noticed that you can't just use any Panasonic zoom controller on this camera.
+Ken Craig Yes it's got the typical LANC style jacks on the back right panel for focus, zoom, iris, and start/stop control over remote.
www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?atclk=Connectivity+Type+%28Servo%29_Mini+Jack+%28LANC%29&ci=1889&N=4028759352+4115872470
I use this unit for some productions: www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/855154-REG/Libec_zfc_5hd_Remote_Zoom_and_Focus.html
Nice review! Very informative! 2 Questions though, does it accept 3.5mm microphones? Also, can you remove the mount for the microphones on the camera itself? Thanks!
1) Being it's a pro camera, it offers only XLR inputs. You can use an XLR to Mono Mini phono adapter if needed. 2) The mic is clipped on with a standard style shock mount. You can remove it with a simple thumb screw. I only use this mount for reference audio. The mic is too far away from the source when you mount the mic on the camera.
Does it look and feel professional?
I also think it's odd that you can't dial in a specific color temp. You can make adjustments to the Ach and Bch white balance using a menu driven adjustment range that goes from 0 to +/-7...not sure what the scale is based off of though. I thought it was a little mickey mouse for a supposedly 'pro' camera. I have a Canon Vixia HF-G10 and I can dial in a specific color temp, and it was almost half the price of AC90.
Hi David..
I'm confused with 2 cameras, panasonic AG-AC 130 and AG-AC90 which is better for wedding and small conference...
in wedding I'm using LED lighting.
notice :-
job weddings and conferences always be at night
The AC130 is discontinued as is the AC90, but both are replaced with the same model number followed by an A (AC90A and AC 130A). The 130A is a clear winner as it has a larger sensor and is better in low light. The Panasonic HC-X1000 offers a 1/2" sensor allowing easier shallow depth of field, better low light performance, and ability to shoot 4K so it's a nice investment as well if you can afford it.
I wish hmc80 had 3 rings like this camera
Is this camera compatible with Adobe Flash Media Encoder 3.2, I will be using this camera for Live Streaming.
Is the image quality better then the XA10?
Hey, thanks for the vid. I have this camera, and haven't found the time yet to figure out whether I can feed the a/v out through multiple connections, i.e., HDMI & composite, simultaneously while capturing to the SD cards.
I do a lot of corporate event shooting, and they often want to feed a big screen/projector to show the presenter, and I'd like to capture a backup h.264 video on my laptop at the same time through my BMDesign converter. What do you think?
1) how to share visuals from other model cameras like pd-170 & pd- 177. please answer as soon as possible thank u...
Hey, great review! Did you compared this camera with the Canon XA10? It's very hard to choose between this two... If you can make a comparison it would be awesome!
Thanks, and no I did not compare to the XA10 being I do not own one, wish I did though! :)
respected, there is five type of white balance.........i put it on the bch mode in white bal. and then press for balance manualy
is it corret method ? there is 2 kelwin mode in camera . its use for out door and in halogen light. one is auto.. and lock. what is the roll for lock mode ?
Hi there, I'm a dummie with all this video production stuff, I was wondering how could you connect this camcorder to a Tricaster 40, which cable should you use for having it in a long distance (150' maybe) Thank you and great review...
very nice, thank you. But I am little bit worried about the image sensor size. I mean its so small...1/4.7"? Well I guess my webcam has a similar image sensor. What was Panasonic thinking by putting such a tiny image sensor in such a "good" camera? Keep the camera handsome but dont worry about the sensor?
@SonicOrbStudios Thanks I got that, but doesn't open, says there is no application to open it. Do you use a certain program or software?
Please help i want to buy the Panasonic AG-AC90, can i connect it to my TV and also record live at the same time thank u.
that's what i was thinking, the weird thing is that the sensors on the SD900 (i have one of those) are actually bigger than the sensors on the ac90!!?? But the ac90 sensors must be designed better and so forth. Do you think the AC90 is worth twice the price of the SD/TM/HD900 camera? Maybe it is.. But the AC130a is a best by comparison. But it's a lot more expensive :/ Is the 900 worth the cash?
Thanks for your review, liked it a lot, question: would this camera mix well with a canon dslr, i can not find anything, stating you can influence color and sharpness so you can sort match two different camera's. Thanks.
Does this to camera do full HD slow motion?
Do you have any auto focus issues with this camera? I purchased this camera and kept it for about a 10 days. On my shoots it would go in and out of focus on subjects while in auto mode. Because of the run and gun style shooting I do I intelligent auto is important. In my Panasonic AG-HMC40 auto was flawless but, after dealing with problems I researched things and found that the bigger brothers to my new cam the AG130 & AG160 suffered from the same focus issue.
Great video. Very helpful. Thank you!
I have a panasonic HVX 200. But I hate using P2 cards. I considering selling it and getting the Panasonic AG AC90. What do you think?
Can It Be connected and transfer data through WiFi?
Hi there, for someone graduating from consumer cameras, for recording small documentaries and shooting motor sport events, how would you compare this with the Sony NEX-VG30? Any advice would be really appreciated.
this review is even better than bhphotoandvideo
Great review. balance pros and cons.
Thanks for watching
were can I buy one
hey man, im looking into buying this camera when it come out in the uk, i shoot bmx and mtb, in low light conditions (the woods) and ive heard of mixed reports for the low light capabilities from this camera. excuse the pun but can you shine any light on this? many thanks
I just got one this, but im having trouble putting my video on my computer. I stick the memory card in my computer and it only shows my pictures that iv'e taken not my videos. But it looks like they might be their but they are CPI files, and i dont know what those are. How do you upload and edit your videos? I really need help.
Really considering buying this camera in the next week, its unfortunate that I dont have the money for a ac130 or xf300 etc. But my question is for around the $2000 mark, give or take a few hundred, is this the best camera to get???? I would consider buying a used camera for $2000 as well doesnt have to be new. I will be shooting action sports, wakeboarding, etc. I just dont like the lack of DOF I will get from the sensor size. Thanks in advance, any suggestions are appreciated.
Nice review. Is the HDMI output clean? When connected to external monitor, recorder etc.... Does it's LCD turn off? I was thinking of using this camera for live video streaming. Connect HDMI output to encoder.
Yes the HDMI is just clean signal, no OSD infromation. The output does have about an 1/8 second of delay but it's typical and not too bad. The LCD will stay on with HDMI connected.
I've used this cam and an Elgato to stream an event while recording to the SD cards, worked well.
***** Mahalo for the quick response and information! Aloha!
***** your HDMI on the macbook is output only, you'll need an input capture card like the one Blackmagic sells (Intensity series are what I use)
Outstanding review. Thanks.
I like that you tell us about both good and bad with this Camera. I´ve just seen this camera on a second hand market here in Sweden (blocket.se , price 1000 euro). My plan is to find a reliable and suitable camera to film my coming TV projekts. If it´s good I maybe buy another one, because I have to shoot a lot of scenes with dialog based on short stories I´ve written. /Reinhold Hellgren
Very Nice Camera and Great Video :))
Hi, i just search the support of microphone for this camera .. i have this camera but not the support
+Ahmed Frikha This camera has standard XLR inputs, with 48v phantom power on or off so you should be able to use a condenser or dynamic mic. Common choice is the Shure SM58
Good review! I use a Rode Stereo Videomic Pro which connects to external mic input on the current cam.( PanasonicHDC-Tm700) I don't see this input listed on any of the specs I found. Is it there? Also is the cam really a major improvement over my current one, enough to warrant $2000 outlay?. Thanks
Great Work!
what is the video format - we use VEGAS PRO for editing
+Curt Coller Video: MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 and yes you can edit in vegas pro
Hi, how can I get rid of the buzz on the clip after I shoot with this camera?
+Nick Patone be sure you're using quality XLR cables that are balanced. There should be very minimal noise on the audio line with this cam. As far as fixes go in post, try Adobe Audition adaptive noise reduction th-cam.com/video/6QNgT49WVu4/w-d-xo.html
Great review, thanks for posting!
I have a question regarding this camera that I haven't been able to solve by myself and I can't find the answer in the manual either. Is it possible to connect 2 different audio sources to the XLRs inputs 1 and 2, and then get the camera to mix this 2 sources as mono? I want to have mono audio out from any of the connections (hdmi, av, etc.) of the cameras.
The situation is as follows:
Usually I stream lectures and I plug a wireless receiver from a lavalier mic (the lecturer) in input 1 and also a shotgun mic set on top of the camera goes to input 2. Then I introduce the hdmi output of the camera into my laptop (via a capture card) and I get stereo audio with the lavalier mic on one side and the shotgun mic on the other side. I would like to have those two channels mixed... is it possible?
Miguel Moreno you can't have the cam mix the two inputs into a mono track however this is easily done in post or maybe a setting on your live stream encoder (be it adobe flash live or whatever).
Hi, I just tested this camcorder and tried to view the SD card on my pc, but there was nothing in the DCIM folder to view. I was able to watch on my tv with a HDMI cable, but need to be able to edit video on the pc. Any help is appreciated. I used a SanDisk Ultra Plus 32GB class 10 card.
+Kim Corl
From what I know the videos are in folder Private > AVCHD (doing this from memory, don't have the camera card in front of me.)
+Sonic Orb Studios Thanks! I found it!
Great video, many thanks for putting it together.
I'm seriously thinking about this camera and have a new MacBook Pro but don't know if the Panasonic will connect and be seen on the laptop, unlike any of my Canons.
Do you know if this camera is compatible with the Macs ?
It is however you have to be sure you can import and work with AVCHD files. Most of the time, this is not an issue...even more so for Premiere Pro editors.
*****
Thanks for the quick response. I am moving from tape to digital so my next question is whether this camera outputs in native Mpeg forgmat. Thanks again.
*****
ha, ha...forgmat, I am so funny
***** It shoots AVCHD format, it's files end in .mts and the codec is MPEG-4 AVC (h.264)
Hi, can I plug two cables that come from a mixer( I need mixer for reverb) in order to get a stereo sound directly on film. Or how can I annul the exterior Mic in order to have only the sound from inputs jacks?
+Nick Patone use an aux or group send to the L channel (input 1) for mono feed, or two aux sends or group sends form the mixer to the 1/2 inputs. Best to keep things mono in that case as the inputs on the cam are mono as are the Aux or Grouop sends from analog mixers.
if wireless is possible - does the cam plug deliver phantom power
+Curt Coller XLR connections do offer phantom power, not over wireless though as 48v phantom power can only be sent over a cable.
I shoot weddings, how is the video in low lighting?
Thanks
Can you set focus to manual and still have iris and wb set to auto? When I tried it I had to switch to manual and all three were set to manual.
you for sure can put any three into auto or manual mode independently. Do not use the instant auto switch near the back of the camera.
hi; what would it be like filming star full night sky wide angle shots and zoom, no one seems to cover this side of modern camcorders and their performance in this area ?
Being the sensor size is so small here, this camera really doesn't handle that too well. I am currently out of state for the holidays but will try to get a followup video covering this subject.
So whats your best pick for filming the star full night skies with a camcorder, without spending 2 or 3 thousand $ even going for a good used model ? Thanks.
Norm Vigas best camera I know that will shoot things like that at a lower than 4 thousand dollar budget is the Sony A7S. www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1044728-REG/sony_ilce7s_b_alpha_a7s_mirrorless_digital.html
Philip bloom has a review on it th-cam.com/video/Vb5kuI9YGjA/w-d-xo.html
I was thinking maybe sticking IR950 filter on such a thing too, may help pick others things up in the day or night sky, but does the A7s have night shot, do you know. thanks again Norm.
Norm Vigas Not sure exactly, but my guess is it does not have night shot.
hello , i m worried about its white- balance set. there is no details in the book.i just buy it..in india. i m wedding photographer...pls. help for white balance setting.
White balance is left to one button. You can hit this to cycle all the settings on board or program a preset for your own via a white balance card. It's quite fast, but nothing compared to a switch with A/B/Preset like the AG AC130A