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models compared on this page: Panasonic AG-AC160 and Sony HVR-Z7

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Model

Panasonic AG-AC160Sony HVR-Z7
Picture ?
Manufacturer Panasonic Information about Panasonic

Sony Information on Sony

Name AG-AC160HVR-Z7
European name ?AG-AC160HVR-Z7E
US name ?AG-AC160HVR-Z7U
lowest US price (4748) $5499 $
On the market since October 2011 February 2008
Manufacturers URL  link to Sony
Test preview

[ top ]Panasonic AG-AC160Sony HVR-Z7
slashCAM rating ?Very good
not yet tested
test picture 1200 Lux
Test image 12 lux auto-mode
Video

[ top ]Panasonic AG-AC160Sony HVR-Z7
Video formats ? MiniDV
AVCHD
MiniDV
HDV
DVCAM
Recording Medium SD Card
SDHC card
SDXC card
MiniDV/HDV-Cassette
external flash memory
video resolutions EU ?AVCHD 1920 x 1080/50i
AVCHD 1920 x 1080/25p
AVCHD 1920 x 1080/60i
AVCHD 1920 x 1080/24p
AVCHD 1280 x 720/60p
AVCHD 1280 x 720/50p
AVCHD 1280 x 720/30p
AVCHD 1280 x 720/25p
AVCHD 1280 x 720/24p
AVCHD 1920 x 1080/30p
HDV 1440 x 1080/50i
MiniDV 720 x 576/50i
DVCAM 720 x 576/50i
HDV 1440 x 1080/60i
HDV 1440 x 1080/25p
HDV 1440 x 1080/24p
HDV 1440 x 1080/30p
video resolutions US ? HDV 1440 x 1080/50i
DVCAM 720 x 576/50i
HDV 1440 x 1080/60i
DVCAM 720 x 480/60i
HDV 1440 x 1080/25p
HDV 1440 x 1080/24p
HDV 1440 x 1080/30p
MiniDV 720 x 480/60i
720 MiniDV x480/24p
MiniDV 720 x 480/30p
Max Bitrate ?24 Mbit/s25 Mbit/s
Compression format ? DV
MPEG4
DV
MPEG2
on-board memory ?  
Optics
Optics Manufacturer ?Panasonic
Carl Zeiss
Optical Zoom ?21 x12 x
Wide Angle 16:9 ?28 mm32 mm
Filter diameter ?72 mm72 mm
Image Stabilization ?optical
optical
ND Filter ?33
Exchangable optics ?No
Yes
Image Sensor
Number of sensors ?33
Size of image sensor ?1/3 inch1/3 inch
image sensor effective pixel count 16:9 ?2200000 Pixel 1037000 Pixel
Image Sensor Type ? CMOS
CMOS
Controls
White Balance ?auto
manual
presets
auto
manual
presets
WB-Shift
Focus ?auto
manual
auto
manual
Minimum shutter time ?1/2.0001/10.000
Maximum shutter time ?1/61/3
Apperture control ?auto
manual
auto
manual
AE-Shift
Infrared recording ?  
Expanded Focus ?Yes
Yes
Peaking ?Yes
Yes
Signal Processing
Zebra ? Off
70%
100%
70-100%
70-100+%
Histogram ?Yes
Yes
adjustable sharpness ?Yes
Yes
Adjustable color ?Yes
Yes
Cinegamma ?Yes
Yes
Black Strech ?Yes
Yes
Knee ?Yes
Yes
Colorbars ?Yes
Yes
Misc.
Shot Transition ?No
Yes
Custom Presets ?Yes
Yes
Set Time Code ?Yes
Yes
Configuration

Connections
[ top ]Panasonic AG-AC160Sony HVR-Z7
FBAS ?
synonymous: RCA, composite		 Out
Out
YC ?
synonymous: S-Video		  
YUV ?
synonymous: Component Signal		  Out
HDMI ? Out
Out
DV / HDV (FireWire) ?
synonymous: ILink / IEEE-1394		 In
Out
In
Out
USB ?USB 2.0
No
Microphone / Audio input ? XLR
XLR
Headphones ?3.5 mm mini-jack
Mini-jack
Lanc ?Yes
Yes
Time-code interface ?No
No
Genlock ?No
No
Accessory shoe ? Standard
 
HD-SDI ? Out
No
Misc.
Weight (without battery) 2400 g 
Weight (with battery)  2800 g
Battery type Panasonic CGA-E/625
 
Battery capacity 5800 mAh 
Charger ?external
external
Remote control Yes
Yes
Size
Height  176 mm
Width  199 mm
Depth  439 mm
Relative Size ?0153
Viewfinder
Viewfinder available ?Yes
Yes
Color Viewfinder ?Color
Color
Viewfinder format ? 16:9
Viewfinder pixels ?1226000 Pixel 1226880 Pixel
Display
Display available ?Yes
Yes
Color display ?Color
Color
Display size 3,4 Inch3,2 Inch
Display format ?16:916:9
Display pixels ?921000 Pixel 921600 Pixel
Touch Screen ?No
No
External controls
Manual Zoom ?Rocker
Ring
Rocker
Ring
Manual Focus ? Ring
Ring
Manual Aperture ? Ring
Ring
button
Focus switcher ?Yes
Yes
ND Filter ?Yes
Yes
Exp Lock ? Yes
Gain ?Yes
Yes
White balance ?Yes
Yes
Push AF ?Yes
No
Audio Levels ?Yes
Yes
Custom Keys ?
synonymous: User buttons		36
Audio

[ top ]Panasonic AG-AC160Sony HVR-Z7
Audio Formats ?Dolby AC-3 Digital 2 channel 48 KHz
2 channel PCM
MiniDV: 2x48kHz 16bit PCM
MiniDV: 4x32kHz 12bit PCM
HDV: 2x48kHz 16bit MPEG 1
Microphone ?external XLR
external XLR
Audio Control ?auto
manual
auto
manual
Audio levels ?Viewfinder
Screen
Viewfinder
Screen
Still

[ top ]Panasonic AG-AC160Sony HVR-Z7
Recording Medium ?No
Memory Stick Duo
Medium included ?No
No
Effective pixels ? 1037000 Pixel
Resolutions ? 1440x1080
Standard ? JPEG Exif 2.2
Flash ? No
Misc.

[ top ]Panasonic AG-AC160Sony HVR-Z7
Specials  A memory card recorder for Compact Flash (CF) memory cards is included in delivery
Product Shots

[ top ]Panasonic AG-AC160Sony HVR-Z7
View 1
View 2
Test results

Test pictures
[ top ]Panasonic AG-AC160Sony HVR-Z7
luminance resolution
chrominance resolution
lens distortion
test small ISO image
noise / internal microphone
test picture 1200 Lux
Test image 12 lux auto-mode ?
Test image 12 lux optimized ?
slashCAM rating
Lowlight ?Good 
Resolution ? Excellent  
Color performance ?Very good 
subj.Picture impression ?Very good 
Optical Zoom ?Satisfactory 
Wide Angle ? Excellent  
Configuration / image ? Excellent  
Configuration / sound ? Excellent  
Handling ?Very good 
Portability ?Satisfactory 
Photo function ?Poor 
Optics ?Very good 
Dynamics ?Very good 
Conclusion slashCAM
slashCAM rating ?Very good
not yet tested
Total score ?
(maximal 570)		465 
Pros + Good ergonomics
+ largest zoom range in its class (22x)
+ records on low price SD cards
+ overall concept is consistent
 
Cons - SDI-out 8-bit only
- colored peaking could be stronger
- only 3 custom keys
 
Conclusion The Panasonic AG-AC160 is a fair alternative for those who neither need an AVC-Intra workflow or a multi-camera synchronization -- those extras are provided by the sister model AG-HPX250 only.The AG-AC160 focuses on the essential functional and ergonomic features of filming -- no gimmicks or undersized keys (apart from the audio buttons) distract from its main objective.Definitely a persuading operating philosophy.The highlights clearly are the immense zoom range and very well balanced overall concept.Panasonic has a broad experience with this kind of camcorder design and it shows.The Panasonic AG-AC160: an AVCHD camera with few weaknesses but many pro features which put the main focus on filming, and all this for a fair price tag of 3.990 Euro net - what more could you ask for? 
More information

Reviews and Forums
[ top ]Panasonic AG-AC160Sony HVR-Z7
slashCAM Review
AG-AC160 Review
HVR-Z7 Review
external reviews/tests provideocoalition.com
blog.abelcine.com
provideocoalition.com
Forum posts  Mike Tapa adapter for Sony HVR Z7 - experiences?
Sony LA-100W adapter DSLR Lenses on Z7 HDV camcorder
Canon xl h1a or SonyHVR-Z7E
HDV Capture Failed: HVR-Z7E
SonyHVR-Z7E
The camera menu HVR-S270U/HVR-Z7U
New HDV Sony HVR-Z7E and HVR-S270E


Please consider that these data have been entered into this database by human beings.Also, the technical information provided by the manufacturers are at times contradictory, incomplete and sometimes even incorrect.Although we take great care checking all information, we can not gurantee for its correctness.Should you find this data to have some omission or error, please let us know! Mail:



update am 24.Mai 2012 - 06:23
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