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models compared on this page: Panasonic AG-AC160 and Canon XL H1A

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Model

Panasonic AG-AC160Canon XL H1A
Picture ?
Manufacturer Panasonic Information about Panasonic

Canon Informationen zu Canon

Name AG-AC160XL H1A
European name ?AG-AC160XL H1A
US name ?AG-AC160XL H1A
lowest US price (4748) $ 
On the market since October 2011 June 2008
Manufacturers URL  link to Canon
Test preview

[ top ]Panasonic AG-AC160Canon XL H1A
slashCAM rating ?Very good
Very good
test picture 1200 Lux
Test image 12 lux auto-mode
Video

[ top ]Panasonic AG-AC160Canon XL H1A
Video formats ? MiniDV
AVCHD
MiniDV
HDV
Recording Medium SD Card
SDHC card
SDXC card
MiniDV/HDV-Cassette
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
MiniDV 720 x 576/25F
HDV 1440 x 1080/25F
video resolutions US ? HDV 1440 x 1080/60i
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
 Canon
Optical Zoom ?21 x20 x
Wide Angle 16:9 ?28 mm39 mm
Filter diameter ?72 mm72 mm
Image Stabilization ?optical
optical
ND Filter ?32
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 1560000 Pixel
Image Sensor Type ? CMOS
CCD
Controls
White Balance ?auto
manual
presets
auto
manual
presets
Focus ?auto
manual
auto
manual
Minimum shutter time ?1/2.0001/16.000
Maximum shutter time ?1/61/3
Apperture control ?auto
manual
auto
manual
AE-Shift
Infrared recording ? No
Expanded Focus ?Yes
Yes
Peaking ?Yes
Yes
Signal Processing
Zebra ? Off
70%
100%
70-100%
Off
70-100%
Histogram ?Yes
No
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-AC160Canon XL H1A
FBAS ?
synonymous: RCA, composite		 Out
In
Out
YC ?
synonymous: S-Video		  In
Out
YUV ?
synonymous: Component Signal		  Out
HDMI ? Out
No
DV / HDV (FireWire) ?
synonymous: ILink / IEEE-1394		 In
Out
In
Out
USB ?USB 2.0
No
Microphone / Audio input ? XLR
XLR
Cinch
Headphones ?3.5 mm mini-jack
3.5 mm mini-jack
Lanc ?Yes
Yes
Time-code interface ?No
 
Genlock ?No
 
Accessory shoe ? Standard
Standard
HD-SDI ? Out
 
Misc.
Weight (without battery) 2400 g3435 g
Weight (with battery)  3750 g
Battery type Panasonic CGA-E/625
Canon BP-950G
Battery capacity 5800 mAh5200 mAh
Charger ?external
external
Remote control Yes
Yes
Size
Height  226 mm
Width  220 mm
Depth  496 mm
Relative Size ?0246
Viewfinder
Viewfinder available ?Yes
Yes
Color Viewfinder ?Color
Color
Viewfinder format ? 16:9
Viewfinder pixels ?1226000 Pixel 215000 Pixel
Display
Display available ?Yes
Yes
Color display ?Color
Color
Display size 3,4 Inch2,4 Inch
Display format ?16:916:9
Display pixels ?921000 Pixel 215000 Pixel
Touch Screen ?No
 
External controls
Manual Zoom ?Rocker
Ring
Rocker
Ring
Manual Focus ? Ring
Ring
Manual Aperture ? Ring
Menu
Focus switcher ?Yes
Yes
ND Filter ?Yes
Yes
Exp Lock ? Yes
Gain ?Yes
Yes
White balance ?Yes
Yes
Push AF ?Yes
Yes
Audio Levels ?Yes
Yes
Custom Keys ?
synonymous: User buttons		3 
Audio

[ top ]Panasonic AG-AC160Canon XL H1A
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
HDV: 4x48kHz 16bit MPEG 2
Microphone ?external XLR
Stereo internal
external XLR
Audio Control ?auto
manual
auto
manual
Audio levels ?Viewfinder
Screen
Viewfinder
display
Still

[ top ]Panasonic AG-AC160Canon XL H1A
Recording Medium ?No
SD Card
Medium included ?No
16 MB
Effective pixels ? 1560000 Pixel
Resolutions ? 1920x1080
1440x1080
848x480
640x480
Standard ? JPEG Exif 2.2
Flash ? No
Misc.

[ top ]Panasonic AG-AC160Canon XL H1A
Specials  optional upgrade for NTSC recordingsimulataneous video signal at RCA and BNC output
Product Shots

[ top ]Panasonic AG-AC160Canon XL H1A
View 1
View 2
Test results

Test pictures
[ top ]Panasonic AG-AC160Canon XL H1A
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 ?GoodGood
Resolution ? Excellent Very good
Color performance ?Very goodVery good
subj.Picture impression ?Very goodVery good
Optical Zoom ?SatisfactorySatisfactory
Wide Angle ? Excellent Satisfactory
Configuration / image ? Excellent Very good
Configuration / sound ? Excellent Excellent
Handling ?Very goodVery good
Portability ?SatisfactorySufficient
Photo function ?PoorSufficient
Optics ?Very goodGood
Dynamics ?Very goodVery good
Conclusion slashCAM
slashCAM rating ?Very good
Very good
Total score ?
(maximal 570)		465405
Pros + Good ergonomics
+ largest zoom range in its class (22x)
+ records on low price SD cards
+ overall concept is consistent
+ Excellent resolution in brightness and color
+ interchangeable lenses
+ 4 audio channels for HDV
+ Very well equipped
Cons - SDI-out 8-bit only
- colored peaking could be stronger
- only 3 custom keys
- unergonomical on the shoulder
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?The Canon XL H1A has excellent CCDs, which in some aspects tap the full resolution potential of HDV.In combination with very good dynamic behavior and the consistent colors this provides a very good image impression.The standard lens is not satisfying: for less distortion and chromatic aberrations as well as for more wide angle pros need to go for an additional (more expensive) optics.
More information

Reviews and Forums
[ top ]Panasonic AG-AC160Canon XL H1A
slashCAM Review
AG-AC160 Review
XL H1A Review
external reviews/tests provideocoalition.com
blog.abelcine.com
www.camcorderinfo.com
Forum posts  Canon xl h1a or SonyHVR-Z7E
buy a Canon XL H1a
Canon XH A1 and XL H1A + I Mac G5?
Canon XL H1A, or XH A1
Canon XL H1s XL H1a - nothing new in the East


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 - 14:40
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