List Price: $5,400.00
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Today's Bonus: 31% Off
I love this camera. Every time I pull it out of the bag, which is every day because I'm a news videographer, I feel good. Another opportunity to record great video.
I had the AG-AC130 (and loved it) but decided to spring for the 160A when it came out. So far I've shot everything in 1080 60p. The quality is terrific. I FTP my news video to the station in an MP4 format, so the 28mbps is higher than I need.
I'm using the new expanded focus feature on the 160A instead of the focus-in-red. I find that with EFV detail on, the image sort of "blooms" when you lock it in and that's the best way for me to get crisp images. However, I used to use the focus-in-red function and liked it too. The only thing about focus-in-red is that if you use it at the same time as EVF detail, you get a much wider range of things that appear in focus. If you use focus-in-red, turn off the EVF detail.
I also think the LCD on the 160A offers a better color image. On my old 130A, the color on the LCD had a greenish cast to it so I configured the LCD to operate in black and white. That was good in tandem with the focus-in-red function. But with the 160A, I'm using color in the LCD to give me more peace of mind about white balance. The colors in the LCD are very vivid at 0 settings, so I have dropped the color to -4 and upped the contrast to +4. I wish I could adjust the color settings for the LCD but you don't get that option.
But you get many, many options for adjusting the camera's images and I have played around with them a lot. I was shooting material with the DRS function on, which really boosts the brightness of the image, but you get more noise in the darker areas of the picture. So right now I'm using a BPRESS setting with the mid knee option. Blacks are better and the overall picture is less noisy.
The camera is just the right size not so small that you feel like it's a toy camera but small enough, and light enough, to be portable when you're running around shooting news. The optical image stabilizer is terrific. I use it all the time when I'm hand-holding the camera. I also bought a Manfrotto monopod with a fluid head (costs $245 at B & H) and love using it with the OIS for quick interviews. The shot looks as if it's on a tripod and the monopod is quicker to use than a tripod and more portable.
I can't say enough about the ability to use SDHC cards in this camera, as well as the 130. I'm using Class 10 cards (Transcend, Sandisk and PNY) and all have worked flawlessly. I have used the function that allows you to record simultaneously on two cards, but typically set the camera to relay record so it transfers to the next card if one runs out of space. I just bought an SDXC UHS-1 card, 95 mb/s, (from Amazon) and am waiting for it to arrive. Glad to have the option of using very fast cards with tons of space.
Finally, kudos to Amazon for its customer service. When I bought the 160A on Amazon, the transaction was quick, easy and straightforward. The camera arrived faster than I expected. Plus, I had more peace of mind that Amazon would back me if there was an issue. Amazon sets the new standard for customer service in the 21st Century.
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