The Panasonic AG-AC160A AVCCAM HD Handheld Camcorder is an
upgraded version of the AG-AC160. The upgrade consists of the addition
of 1080/60p and 50p recording (max. 28Mbps in PS mode), expanded focus
assist functionality, and a "turbo speed" one-push auto focus function.
60p/50p capture capacity gives you excellent control over slow-motion.
Shooting in 60p, you can play back 24p for a 2.5x slow-motion effect.
With expanded focus assist you can zoom in on an image to check focus.
And one-push auto focus affords the option of very quickly attaining
focus in circumstances requiring on-the-go focusing.
As for other features, the AG-AC160A is a high-definition workhorse of a
professional handheld camcorder that integrates seamlessly with a wide
range of current broadcast video systems in place around the world. With
an integrated 22x zoom lens and a 1/3-type 3MOS three-element imager,
the camera captures AVCHD video to two SD/SDHC/SDXC card slots as
1080p60, 1080p30, 1080i60, filmic 1080p24, and 720p60.
But that's not it for frame rates: for creative slow-/fast-motion
effects, overcranking and undercranking are possible at a variety of
rates between 2 and 60 frames per second. For worldwide compatibility,
the AC160A also captures a variety of 50 Hz video signals for easy
integration with PAL projects and video systems.
The AC160A features Panasonic's professional-level PS implementation of
AVCHD. It's a top-quality choice at a max rate of 28 Mb/s; several other
data rates will conserve card space as you capture hours of HD video.
For projects that require standard-def capture, the AC160A has you
covered with DV recording, which can then be output via its 6-pin IEEE
1394 (FireWire) port. For high-def output, the HD-SDI terminal puts out
HD signals including 1920 x 1080 at 24PsF.
The AC160A offers a bevy of other professional-level features, including
dual XLRs with phantom power, SMPTE time-code generation, gamma
settings for seven different scenarios, and manual control rings for
iris, zoom, and focus. To monitor the status of all settings, and to
perform critical focusing functions, the AVCCAM camcorder features both a
high-quality 3.45" LCD screen and a full-color LCoS 0.45" viewfinder
with 1,226,000 dots (852 x 480 x 3 [RGB]) of resolution.
(Current owners of the AC160 can simply have the upgrades added to their
cameras. The 60p/50p capacity upgrade is free and you can perform it
yourself, but the other two additions would include a hardware
modification and are offered for a total of $300 at a Panasonic
Authorized Service Center.)