Re: Panasonic ag ac90 - Uk customer delays
 

@Phil, yes, sure - is there any other CVP? ;-)
I ordered from UK because it's 20% cheaper than anywhere in Germany.
Like many things are... the German's have crazy high retail margins...

Re: Panasonic ag ac90 - Uk customer delays
 

Initially I was told that panasonic would be shipping to suppliers on the 22nd and CVP would receive on the 25th but I will let you know if I hear anything my end via email etc.

Will you be using your AC90 for a hobby or paid work?

Re: Panasonic ag ac90 - Uk customer delays
 

Well, currently I do produce image films for SMB, but I'm not professional enough to shoot or cut myself so I hire freelance teams. But I'm very interested in filming and after reading some books on professional filming, I'd like to start training myself by i.e. documenting the camera team producing my films. So I guess you could call it a hobby that I hope to convert to professionalism when I'm good enough ;-)

Re: Panasonic ag ac90 - Uk customer delays
 

Thats how we all start, a hobby into a small obsession (some call it profession ha)

I have been using 2 Tm900 so this is the next step up before I get ready for a much bigger purchase (Mike has the 130 which is very nice indeed)

Re: Panasonic ag ac90 - Uk customer delays
 

One thing baffles me - the AC90 has even smaller chips than the TM900, so how is it better in low light? Does the backlit perk help them do better in dark environments? Also, can you get a nice DoF with it or will everything stay ultra sharp like it does on the TM900? If not, I don't see how you can justify paying twice as much than for a TM900. Sure, better color accuracy and stabilization, but those weren't bad to begin with on the TM900. I film weddings with JUST that little camera and everyone stands in awe of the video quality. The only reason I'd want to get an AC90 would be to not have to explain to everyone that the tiny TM900 does a much better job than they might think!

Re: Panasonic ag ac90 - Uk customer delays
 

To be honest, one of my reasons for buying the AC90 was just that - it looks more like a "serious" camera. Anything smaller than that, and we look like amateurs in 99% of people's views. My other main reason was the focus etc. rings and other manual controls (audio level etc.)

I'm afraid the DOF will be quite deep, meaning it will be hard to get nice focus effects. Thats the main price we pay when buying a 2000€ camera instead of a 4000€ one.

Re: Panasonic ag ac90 - Uk customer delays
 

Bad news unfortunately, CVP saying delivery delayed till 5-6th march so i will be luck if its not 2 weeks today now!!

I asked what the delay is and they are guessing 'production problem, hope you have better luck than me Ethan

Re: Panasonic ag ac90 - Uk customer delays
 

Well I didnt get any email update from CVP yet but I doubt they'll fulfill my order before yours...
Damn :-( I was so looking forward to it...

EDIT: I got my "postponed" email now, too... I hope "06/03/2013" means March 6th and not June 3rd ;-)

huh? ;-)

Re: Panasonic ag ac90 - Uk customer delays
 

I dont blame CVP although they shouldn't advertise 7-10 day delivery if they don't yet stock or have secured the camcorders.

My first project to use this camera is on 21st march so I have a little time to get prepared as long as it arrives next week :-)

PS I hate waiting for anything ha

Re: Panasonic ag ac90 - Uk customer delays
 

It said "Often > 2 weeks" when I ordered. I hate waiting too... but 500€ savings over a German buy makes waiting much easier :-)

I wonder, is this the first-ever delivery into UK? Or could these cameras be bought before but are currently sold out everywhere? There must be hundreds of cameras on backorder?

Re: Panasonic ag ac90 - Uk customer delays
 

Update: I just got an email from another UK supplier where I had previously asked for availability:

"Unfortunately our supplier are unable to confirm a due date for the AG-AC90 at present. There's a delay from the manufacturer. As soon as we have a revised date this shall show on the website..."

I hope CVP has a confirmed date and is not just blindly postponing week by week...

Re: Panasonic ag ac90 - Uk customer delays
 

I emailed 'Holden' on the 5th february and this is the worrying response they sent me:-

"We have quite a lot of these on back order, which we need to process before we can ship new orders. It’s likely that new orders for AC-90s will not be fulfilled until mid/late March."

I will try ringing panasonic direct again tomorrow to see if they can shed any light here

Re: Panasonic ag ac90 - Uk customer delays
 

Hi Luc

The backlit chips on the AC90 makes a big difference and also it has NR circuitry so the gain is cleaner..it's a bit softer but a lot cleaner! Remember the lens is bigger and faster plus you have XLR audio and a whole heap of features that the 900 does not have. Hence the price difference.

You cannot get effectice shallow DOF with tiny sensors but you can get 'pseudo DOF' using the zoom...With the 1/4.7" clips the 90 has almost everything in focus.

Chris

Re: Panasonic ag ac90 - Uk customer delays
 

Hi Phil, any luck?

I looked around for alternative sources but the cheapest I could find was in Holland for 1594 EUR plus VAT, almost 300€ more than at CVP or other dealers in the UK...

Re: Panasonic ag ac90 - Uk customer delays
 

Initially I found this

Panasonic AG-AC90 AVCCAM Handheld Camcorder

I phoned them, they said it was the UK version and can deliver it.. but members on here say you should be careful with this supplier

Re: Panasonic ag ac90 - Uk customer delays
 

PS just phoned panasonic to see if their shipments are delayed, hang fire as they are calling me back soon

Re: Panasonic ag ac90 - Uk customer delays
 

Yeah they say "Brand New AND In Stock" but further down "(7-10 working days)" so I bet they dont really have stock of their own but just quote their distributor's standard lead time.

Re: Panasonic ag ac90 - Uk customer delays
 

Panasonic have told me Broadcast and Video Technology from Holdan. Tapeless workflows, editing software, professional camcorders and media delivery tools have them in stock BUT they are much more expensive (£1451 + vat which is another £300 on top)

Panasonic says they are their preferred supplier

I have emailed them back confirming that a shipment is due to arrive to CVP next week

Re: Panasonic ag ac90 - Uk customer delays
 

I wouldn't touch them with a bargepole!

Re: Panasonic ag ac90 - Uk customer delays
 

I wouldn't be surprised if Panasonic conveniently delivers first to (preferred) resellers that don't do pricedumping, and hold off supplying discount resellers for as long as they can find excuses.

I suppose you mean "asking for confirmation that..."?

Re: Panasonic ag ac90 - Uk customer delays
 

Hi Ethan, yes but they have not responded yet.

We can only go off the emails CVP sent us stating that their suppliers have confirmed delivery for next wednesday 6th

Lets keep our fingers crossed hey :-)

Re: Panasonic ag ac90 - Uk customer delays
 

Funny, I thought Holdan were the UK distributor, not a distributor. Hmmm.

I note that my Panasonic AC130A went from Panasonic Japan, to Panasonic UK (showing their address), then to Prestons, then finally to me. Holdan didn't seem to be in the loop at all.

But previously, my HMC41 was despatched direct from Holdan when I ordered through Prestons.

Re: Panasonic ag ac90 - Uk customer delays
 

Not sure Mike, but I know one thing, when you want the newest cutting edge technology you certainly are made to wait round for it.

Is there any reason there are no good reviews on this camera yet in your opinion?

Re: Panasonic ag ac90 - Uk customer delays
 

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Re: Panasonic ag ac90 - Uk customer delays
 

I'm not sure, Phil. Come to think of it, I've bought an AC130A, it's been around at least a year longer than the AC-90, and there's not that many reviews of the AC130/160s either! I'd guess that it's down to the specialist nature, there's very few of these things sold. We get one or two reviews, such as HD Warrior, Adam Wilt etc., but not many.

Compare this to the more consumer-oriented cameras, there's shed-loads of unboxings and reviews of them on Youtube.

Re: Panasonic ag ac90 - Uk customer delays
 

yeah when i bought my tm900 & sd900 there where lots of reviews, but maybe the pro series camcorders get less..

GOOD NEWS by the way, my AC90 has been despatched and should be here monday :-)

Re: Panasonic ag ac90 - Uk customer delays
 

At last. Let's hope it lives up to expectations!

Re: Panasonic ag ac90 - Uk customer delays
 

Fingers crossed hey, I will attempt to put something up next week if I can

I am really interested to see the difference between the AC130 and the AC90, would it be that larger sensors produce better footage all round?

Re: Panasonic ag ac90 - Uk customer delays
 

I wasnt notified :-( I guess mine isn't coming yet...
What time did you get your email?

Re: Panasonic ag ac90 - Uk customer delays
 

I was notified this morning and despatched today.. Ethan am sure yours will be despatched too over the next 5 days.. maybe I was high up the list ordering on 1st feb.

Either way at least we know supplies are coming in :-)

Re: Panasonic ag ac90 - Uk customer delays
 

Finally arrived Mike... Ethan you will not be disappointed :-)

Re: Panasonic ag ac90 - Uk customer delays
 

Unfortunately no good news for me...

"We have been accepting orders for this camera since its announcement at the end of last year.

We have recently receive a small delivery cameras from Panasonic - fortunately for your friend their order would have been placed early enough to secure a camera from this delivery. I hope you can appreciate and understand our list of pre orders are being fulfilled strictly in chronological order.

Since the camera was announced last year, unfortunately we've only received a few small deliveries. I'll speak to Panasonic tomorrow morning to see if they can shed any light on when our next delivery is likely to be and if this will contain the camera for your order."

Re: Panasonic ag ac90 - Uk customer delays
 

Hi Ethan, I am sure they are catching up with orders as quick as they can but I waited over a month for mine (who said Internet banking was fast ha).

If you can hold out then sit tight, it's worth the wait. But you know Holdans have stock at a much higher price if you wanted it now..

I have just gone through the same thing ordering an imac 27" top spec, but at east apple allowed me visibility to getting built, shipped, delivery status etc..

CVP were great with me, although stating 2 weeks delivery is unrealistic, they offered alternatives but some members on here told me to wait if I can (they were right)..

I don't do unboxing videos, but if I can get the time to put up a video or two this week I will

PS I phoned Panasonic a few times to get updates on shipments

PPS Mike was right, the unit came via Holdan ltd, good call Mike

Re: Panasonic ag ac90 - Uk customer delays
 

So Holdan has their own stock and sells direct, but as a distributor doesn't deliver to their resellers?
Hmmm :-(

Re: Panasonic ag ac90 - Uk customer delays
 

I'm not sure... I mean, my AC130 came from Panasonic and not from Holdan. It could be different for different models of camera.

Phil - I can assume you're like a kid in a sweetie shop now. Let us know what your impressions of the camera are, I hope it doesn't disappoint. By all accounts, it packs a lot of punch for its price, and certainly looks the part.

Re: Panasonic ag ac90 - Uk customer delays
 

Hi Mike, you are so right, I am actually even attempting to turn off the auto mode and playing with the manual modes.... vertical learning curve comes to mind. I was trying to do simple things like focusing on a near object whilst blurring the background then vice versa.. lets just say i was fumbling badly lol

The stabilising function is damn good for sure

The AC90 is exactly what i need, not over complicated for my first pro model.

Now I just need to film something!!

Re: Panasonic ag ac90 - Uk customer delays
 

Finally got feedback: "Delayed until the end of March".
I guess they only get one small shipment per month, eh?

Re: Panasonic ag ac90 - Uk customer delays
 

Yes, I can imagine that's a Panasonic thing though, apple do the same to create a bigger demand.

It took 5 weeks all in all for mine to arrive so sit tight.

I have a little job to do tomorrow so i will see if I can upload something from the AC90

Re: Panasonic ag ac90 - Uk customer delays
 

Took the AC90 along today to help a friend promote his new business (care home for children).. Its a rough cut but I was able to take all the footage (including the slider) with the ac90, upload and edit (plus upload to vimeo 720p) from concept to completion in 4 hrs.. Not had time to upload 1080 yet.. includes logo animation at beginning and end too

All settings were on auto (i need to study manual more)..

Re: Panasonic ag ac90 - Uk customer delays
 

thanks for posting your video.
i'm interested in this camera but i haven't seen that much interesting footage. did you use extra lighting? were you using gain? are you happy with the performance?