Panasonic AC160 or new JVC GY-HM650? at DVinfo.net

Lee Mullen · April 19th, 2012, 10:09 PM

Looking at the specs for these two, they seem close. Would you get the AC160 with the firmware update or wait for the HM650 later in the year?

Lee Mullen · April 22nd, 2012, 05:24 AM

Wow over 100 views and no comments........

Tim Polster · April 22nd, 2012, 07:15 AM

The JVC is just specs at this point. You would need to wait for the reviews and a side by side tryout to make a real decision. Anything else right now is just forum fodder!

Randy Johnson · April 22nd, 2012, 12:32 PM

From what I see the JVCs are much better in low light actually comparing back to the old DV cam days so if you need low light performance that will be a factor for you.

Noa Put · April 22nd, 2012, 03:13 PM

Quote:

From what I see the JVCs are much better in low light

Like Tim said, I would first have to see it before I believe it.

Chris Harding · April 22nd, 2012, 07:59 PM

Hi Randy

I had a quick look over the specs and I wouldn't say much better!!! The sensors seem much the same and only the lens is a tad faster...my 130's have handled everything I have thrown at them so far so I think it will not come down to whether one camera is a lot better than the other but simply whether you are a JVC man or a Panasonic man!! I had one JVC back in the early 90's!!! After that it has been only Panasonics up to date! Now if the JVC had a shoulder mount and genuine EVF up front like the Sony EX-3 then I would be very tempted to look at it!!!

I still manage nicely with my 130's with my DIY rig under the cams and using a loupe on the LCD to create a better place EVF. I only use the original EVF when the cam is on tripod and it's still really tiny..the JVC has the same layout so no real advantage there for me... if you put the 650 on a shoulder frame, I wonder how convenient that front mounted LCD with an eyepiece on it would be????

Chris

Glen Vandermolen · April 22nd, 2012, 09:16 PM

The HM600/650's advertised low light performance is F11 @ 2,000 Lux at 0 gain. For comparison, the EX1 is F10, and the new HPX600 is F12. It can outperform the 1/2" EX1 in low light. That's pretty significant for a 1/3" chip cam.
Plus, it can record in multiple codecs - XDCAM EX, AVCHD. That's pretty darn impressive. And the HM650 can be monitored and controlled wirelessly on a tablet or smart phone.

Of course, we'll all know more later this year. But if you need a camera now, the JVCs won't be available until October at the earliest.

If you need a shoulder mount cam, consider the JVC HM700 series or the Panasonic HPX300/370.

Lee Mullen · May 3rd, 2012, 07:04 AM

How does the 160 stand up with the EX1 and XF300??

Eric Olson · May 3rd, 2012, 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jalan Salur

How does the 160 stand up with the EX1 and XF300??

I think the AC160 and EX1 are switchable between PAL and NTSC while this is a $1000 upgrade for the XF300.

Lee Mullen · May 3rd, 2012, 09:11 PM

The EX1 has a good selection of settings in the interval mode, but it appears the 160 is quite restricted in what times you can choose ? Is that true?

April 19th, 2012, 10:09 PM	#1
Lee Mullen Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Western Australia Posts: 576	Panasonic AC160 or new JVC GY-HM650? Looking at the specs for these two, they seem close. Would you get the AC160 with the firmware update or wait for the HM650 later in the year?

April 22nd, 2012, 05:24 AM	#2
Lee Mullen Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Western Australia Posts: 576	Re: Panasonic AC160 or new JVC GY-HM650? Wow over 100 views and no comments........

April 22nd, 2012, 07:15 AM	#3
Tim Polster Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Arlington, TX Posts: 2,231	Re: Panasonic AC160 or new JVC GY-HM650? The JVC is just specs at this point. You would need to wait for the reviews and a side by side tryout to make a real decision. Anything else right now is just forum fodder!

April 22nd, 2012, 12:32 PM	#4
Randy Johnson Trustee Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Newark, Delaware Posts: 1,067	Re: Panasonic AC160 or new JVC GY-HM650? From what I see the JVCs are much better in low light actually comparing back to the old DV cam days so if you need low light performance that will be a factor for you.

April 22nd, 2012, 07:59 PM	#6
Chris Harding Inner Circle Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Perth, Western Australia Posts: 8,441	Re: Panasonic AC160 or new JVC GY-HM650? Hi Randy I had a quick look over the specs and I wouldn't say much better!!! The sensors seem much the same and only the lens is a tad faster...my 130's have handled everything I have thrown at them so far so I think it will not come down to whether one camera is a lot better than the other but simply whether you are a JVC man or a Panasonic man!! I had one JVC back in the early 90's!!! After that it has been only Panasonics up to date! Now if the JVC had a shoulder mount and genuine EVF up front like the Sony EX-3 then I would be very tempted to look at it!!! I still manage nicely with my 130's with my DIY rig under the cams and using a loupe on the LCD to create a better place EVF. I only use the original EVF when the cam is on tripod and it's still really tiny..the JVC has the same layout so no real advantage there for me... if you put the 650 on a shoulder frame, I wonder how convenient that front mounted LCD with an eyepiece on it would be???? Chris

April 22nd, 2012, 09:16 PM	#7
Glen Vandermolen Space Hipster Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Jacksonville, FL Posts: 1,596	Re: Panasonic AC160 or new JVC GY-HM650? The HM600/650's advertised low light performance is F11 @ 2,000 Lux at 0 gain. For comparison, the EX1 is F10, and the new HPX600 is F12. It can outperform the 1/2" EX1 in low light. That's pretty significant for a 1/3" chip cam. Plus, it can record in multiple codecs - XDCAM EX, AVCHD. That's pretty darn impressive. And the HM650 can be monitored and controlled wirelessly on a tablet or smart phone. Of course, we'll all know more later this year. But if you need a camera now, the JVCs won't be available until October at the earliest. If you need a shoulder mount cam, consider the JVC HM700 series or the Panasonic HPX300/370. Last edited by Glen Vandermolen; April 22nd, 2012 at 10:46 PM.

May 3rd, 2012, 07:04 AM	#8
Lee Mullen Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Western Australia Posts: 576	Re: Panasonic AC160 or new JVC GY-HM650? How does the 160 stand up with the EX1 and XF300??

May 3rd, 2012, 09:11 PM	#10
Lee Mullen Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Western Australia Posts: 576	Re: Panasonic AC160 or new JVC GY-HM650? The EX1 has a good selection of settings in the interval mode, but it appears the 160 is quite restricted in what times you can choose ? Is that true?