New Panasonic AG-AC160A & AG-AC130A Camcorders Announced at NAB

A pair of updates to existing camcorders put Panasonic’s AG-AC130A and AG-AC160A on a slightly higher plane than their predecessors. This month Panasonic is expected to make available these two improved models, which both feature an expanded focus assist function and a one-push “turbo” auto focus function.

These are somewhat workmanlike updates, but extremely useful ones. For establishing focus, whether in auto or manual operation, any help is welcome. These three-CMOS, AVCHD-recording camcorders are, after all, very much workhorses as far as handheld professional HD camcorders go. They have wide-angle-to-telephoto 22x zoom lenses built in, with manual rings. They’re versatile, lightweight, relatively affordable, and up to snuff for most pro video projects—even many broadcast assignments. But for the AC160A, there’s a somewhat more blockbuster feature that Panasonic has added.

New for the AC160A only is true 1080p60 recording mode, which for many videographers could seal the deal for that model. The ability to shoot 60p and play back at 24 fps makes it possible for the shooter to capture super-smooth slow-motion footage at a 2.5x rate. This is a feature that many slightly higher-end camcorders offer, and that many such camcorders do not. (The new AC160A also offers 50p recording.)

This new format also entails the inclusion of a new AVCHD shooting mode: PS, with a maximum rate of 28 Mb/s, takes the top spot formerly held by the PH format (24 Mb/s max). That lighter compression in PS mode should pay dividends in the post-production suite, giving editors and effects artists clips that withstand more processing than lower bit-rate formats might allow.

Good news also for current owners of either the earlier AG-AC130 or the AG-AC160—these improvements will be available as a hardware upgrade from a Panasonic Authorized Service Center for a $300 charge. And even better, AC160 owners can perform a free software upgrade themselves to add the 60p/50p recording formats.

New buyers of the AC160A and AC130A get all the new functionality out of the box, of course. Though similar to its sibling, the AC160A offers some significant features that the AC130A does not have. Besides the aforementioned 1080p60/50 shooting modes, the camcorder also features variable frame rate recording, HD-SDI outputs, Linear PCM audio recording, and “WorldCam” capability (50/60 Hz switchable operation).