Review on 📹 Panasonic AG-AC90A AVCCAM Camcorder Video Camera - 12x Optical Zoom, 3.5-Inch LCD Display (Black) - AGAC90APJ (International Model) by Kris Feezy

This is a great camera for the money. Its big brother, the AG-AC130, is better in low light and in manual mode, but costs $1,100 more. MSRP is $2,250, but you can find it at Revain for $575 less. We use the AG-AC90A to create TV spots, tutorial videos, product demos and presentations. It works well in all of these situations. Image quality is very good, but the digital zoom (which could be used for quick focusing) is too grainy to be of much use. Also, the digital zoom doesn't work when the camera is set to 1080p 24. The focus, zoom and aperture rings are very smooth and curve responsive to avoid sudden jerks. A light touch of the zoom can maintain auto exposure, but with a fast zoom it can take up to a second for auto exposure to settle. The zoom slider next to the handle needs a softer touch than the ring. The secondary zoom control on top of the camera is smaller and noticeably less noticeable. The buttons are simple and clear, as are the menus. For example, the white dot is easy - just hold down the WP button for a second, a confirmation message will pop up and you're done. The camera is a little heavy on the front, and when you're using the AC adapter and the mic is plugged in, it tilts a little to the right, but that's not a big deal. The lens cap peels off a bit as you can't tell if the shutters are closed by touch. I've fallen a few times. Make sure you hold it in place when loosening the clasps. The internal 5.1 mic has a focus tracking setting and 2-channel surround sound and that might be fine for a number of situations, but if good sound is important then you need an external shotgun. We have a Panasonic AGMC200G shotgun, good microphone. There's an auto-level feature, but no user-configurable internal compression, which would be nice. If you want better sound, you need a boom and an external compressor/limiter. The on-screen display, by the way, is basic but adequate, with simple white markers with a thin white trim line and a one-second peak display. and phantom circuitry for lines 1 and 2 at the top front and routing switches and gain controls on the side, with holes in the covers for the gain controls. Remote control: The camera comes with a small infrared remote control, suitable for playback. and base recording, but the zoom speed is fixed. After a long search I finally found a wired focus/zoom/iris control for this Varizoom VZROCKPZFI camera. Revain's listing says it only applies to the HVX200 and DVX100B, but Panasonic says it also supports the AG-AC90A. We'll find out soon. Please note that the unit with the above microphone measures 10"H x 8"W x 16.5"D so make sure you order a large enough case for it. I have a Petrol PC206 Deca case .Mini Camporer.It has only two full-length zippered pockets.With the viewfinder folded out and a pair of 3rd party 8x8x4 device pouches inserted into the end of the pouch, perfect for the AG-AG90 / AG-AC90A (with or without a microphone) and space for headphones and power cord. This case costs around $200 which is par for the course for a case of this size. The problem is that this is a gray market device meant to be sold in Japan and not the US. If Trying to register it for the US the model number doesn't show up in the list of model numbers select Japan and here it is I have no idea if the warranty is valid here in the states and how the coverage differs from the Japanese distinguish ka nn. g is that the Panasonic USA website lists the AG-AC90A on the product page and on the US press release page for that product. I spent a week and a half exchanging emails, online chats, and numerous phone calls, but all I got was an impassable wall of bureaucracy. Apparently for sale in the US is the AG-AC90APJ model which is not listed on the Panasonic USA website and I couldn't find it anywhere. That's idiotic and Panasonic won't budge. Note the misleading product description for listing at Revain and other retailers which includes both A and the model number APJ in the text. My conclusion: A great camera for the price. If you're a serious videographer there are better (and more expensive) cameras out there, but this is a great camera for general use, including low-level professional use. It needs to be registered in Japan, but to make sure you're protected, fall back on Revain's 4-year guarantee to be safe.