Panasonic AG-AF100 is online

[Crosby!]

http://members.cox.net/monika_a2/PanasonicAG-AF100.jpg

The AVCHD recording format used by the AG-AF100 series includes a professional PH mode with maximum AVCHD bit rate for stunning image quality. Two SD card slots allow continuous recording for up to 12 hours* in PH mode and up to 48 hours* in HE mode with two SD (SD/SDHC/SDXC) cards on board.

The AG-AF100 series records in 1080:59.94i/50i/29.97p/25p/23.98p or 720:29.94p/50p/29.97p/25p/23.98p with its multi HD format.
You can render movie-like images. The Dynamic Range Stretcher, Gamma Select and other image features have also been inherited from previous Panasonic professional camera recorders.

(Wild guess that the 29.94p at 720 should be 59.94p)

The AG-AF100 series features HD-SDI output, XLR audio 2-channel input, and other interfaces that are typically found on professional camera recorders. Time code recording also supports precise video production. In addition to its compact, lightweight body, the AG-AF100 series's professional camera recorder design with grip, handle and large viewfinder firmly support reliable camera work.

http://pro-av.panasonic.net/en/af100/index.html

[cgbier]

What sense does it make to put the handstrap on the body when the lenses are heavier? That thing must be an ergonomic nightmare.

[lmbsoares]

Seems like a pretty nice camera, with GH1's sensor and less aliasing issues and pro audio, too bad the rumored price is 6000$. But that should shake up the competition, and that's always good!

[cgbier]

For 6k you get a Sony EX-1.... no exchangeable lenses, but more of a video cam than this hybrid.

[Crosby!]

For 6k you get a Sony EX-1.... no exchangeable lenses, but more of a video cam than this hybrid.

Yep, just need to add a 35mm adapter, rails, and...oh wait, that's going backwards, bulkier, and economically upwards. :hv20-smilie03:

Every tool has a purpose and audience. Personally, I like the GH1 for what I'd use the AF100 for, especially for $6k (for $2-3k...maybe), but there are people that don't. They want a video camera form factor, XLR, decent internal audio, etc. From the looks of some of the GH1 and Canon DSLR rigs people have already put EX1 type money into those setups. Obviously, a EX1 isn't what they wanted.

As for the hand strap, not all lenses are heavy and not everyone will use it but, if it didn't have a strap, people would complain. I'd like to see what the facts actually are when it's on the street and tested. Could be an awesome camera. Already seeing EX1, GH1 and 7D footage intermixed which in itself is amazing.

The AF100 and Sony NEX VG10 are welcome game changers in version 1.0, wait until version 2.0 gets here. :hv20-smilie77:

[cgbier]

The problem is not that it HAS a strap, but where it is situated. How is that supposed to balance different lenses that have different weights? Look at them Leicas... those boys are heavy. If they had put the strap where it belongs (see Canon XL), I'd think about it.
That 4/3 sensor is nice (I love my Olympus and look sharply at the P-2). But for 6k that thing looks too cheesy. Even though marketing has put all the "pro"-alluring bells and whistles into it.

That concept is not new. There cameras already with exchangeable lenses. Panasonic and Sony just used DSLR sensors and a DSLR lens mount. I think the idea is great, but falls way short in bot cases due to ergonomics. It is more marketing driven than anything else.

[dop16mm]

Am I the only one that has noticed that the viewfinder doesn't tilt. Is this not supposed to be a pro cam?

[zephyrnoid]

What sense does it make to put the handstrap on the body when the lenses are heavier? That thing must be an ergonomic nightmare.

Red flag. You said the 'E' word, and that's my turf. My guess is that the hand strap allows for control of the body as the lenses are being changed, but holding a camera like this at eye-level without adding shoulder stabilizers etc, involves the right hand cinched in the strap ( as it often is with me and my bloated HV20 rig) combined with left-hand control of balance. I doubt we can ever loose the strap completely, though I bet it's removable.

[cgbier]

I'm not arguing against the strap, I argue against its position for balancing. There are oftentimes (run and gun) situation where you have to hold the cam with only one hand. It works perfectly with cameras that have the hand strap moved forward to the lens (Canon XL) or it is integrated into the lens (basically any "real pro" cam).
The the handstrap has to sit as close to the center of gravity as possible, and with exchangeable (quality) lenses this is the lens or close to the lens.

[zephyrnoid]

I'm not arguing against the strap, I argue against its position for balancing. There are oftentimes (run and gun) situation where you have to hold the cam with only one hand. It works perfectly with cameras that have the hand strap moved forward to the lens (Canon XL) or it is integrated into the lens (basically any "real pro" cam).
The the handstrap has to sit as close to the center of gravity as possible, and with exchangeable (quality) lenses this is the lens or close to the lens.

Ok. I understand. Indeed, balance is the key

[Daniel Rutter]

That is one ugly looking camera...

But I'd totally use it.

[cgbier]

Zephyrnoid, when I studied mechanical/logistics engineering, ergonomics was my pet class ;)

[zephyrnoid]

Zephyrnoid, when I studied mechanical/logistics engineering, ergonomics was my pet class ;)

That's odd.... mechanical/logistics engineering were the ENEMY in our human factors classes :hv20-smilie84:

[Timbit]

Maybe it's just me, but it looks too bulky. I'd like to see something with a little more streamline to it. :)

[cgbier]

LOL, nope, if a person needs too many movements to fulfill a task or a tool is too clumsy to be hold for an 8-hour shift, the engineer has made a mistake. Efficient logistic is based on effective ergonomics to a good part.
I was designing order pick lines. The human was the center of these designs.

[Crosby!]

Am I the only one that has noticed that the viewfinder doesn't tilt. Is this not supposed to be a pro cam?

Looking at the better AG-AF101 picture (http://www.hv20.com/showthread.php?38913-Panasonic-AG-AF101), the viewfinder on the AF100 may tilt but we can't see it in the image(s) we've seen so far.

[Crosby!]

Hmm. I was a hair confused. The AF101 and AF100 are the same camera, AF100 is the U.S. model number. However, looking at the picture of the AF100 at the top of this thread and on the Panasonic site make them look like two different cameras. If they're the same then the other pictures I've seen are mock ups or prototype as this looks like a different beast entirely. I read $5,000 without lens.

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_xYMkl-Jw6Fc/TIkLMu-tWrI/AAAAAAAAA1E/0ODuLqvUf2E/s1600/panasonicaf101_2546bl.jpg

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_xYMkl-Jw6Fc/TIkLjCmgH_I/AAAAAAAAA1U/YJmUvUms-2E/s1600/panasonicaf101-2548bl.jpg

http://urbanfoxtv.blogspot.com/2010/09/new-panasonic-af100af101.html

[dop16mm]

I'm guessing that the picture at the beginning of the thread is a molded plastic mock-up where as this is a functioning prototype. The look may evolve some more in the next couple months. It may be ugly but if it takes beautiful pictures for the right price I want it.

[Crosby!]

It's growing on me. Looks more like $5k than it did before, too.

[Crosby!]

"Panasonic is using IBC to introduce the AG-AF101 4/3 HD camcorder, the world’s first*1 professional HD camera recorder to come equipped with a four-thirds MOS image sensor and is the first model in the Panasonic AVCCAM series to offer the possibility of exchangeable lenses. Optimised for high-definition video recording, the large image sensor on the AF101 enables professional users to achieve cinema-like wide-angle footage with shallow depth of field.

Film and Video Producer, Barry Green commented: "The AF101 promises a huge step forward for cinematographers who want a cost effective camera that delivers the look and feel of 35mm film, but without all the compromises and headaches that come from shooting on DSLRs. It lets filmmakers and video professionals seamlessly achieve the cinematic look they've long sought after, without having to resort to using light-hungry add-on lens adapters, or trying to work around the shortcomings of using a stills camera for a video application.”

The AF101 uses a Micro Four Thirds digital single-lens or cinematic lenses such as prime lens with a conversion adaptor, as well as professional audio input (XLR), giving it the degree of flexibility that professionals require.
The camera can record video in full HD (1080i/p)/720p formats including 1080/24p native mode with Full HD Variable Frame Rate (VFR)*2 function. The video can be recorded on the bigger capacity SDXC memory cards in professional high quality PH mode (up to 24Mbps). Two SD card slots allow relay recording from one SD (SD / SDHC / SDXC) card to another to give large recording capacity of up to 12 hours in PH mode or 48 hours in HE mode*3.

Green added: " Panasonic's kept the professional videographer's needs in mind; this camera has all the necessary connections, controls, and features that working professionals expect and demand from their cameras, and added the ability to achieve cinema-style shallow depth of field. This camera could very well be the embodiment of what independent filmmakers and videographers have been waiting for."

The camera recorder is equipped with interfaces that of a professional video camera, including HD SDI output, XLR audio 2ch (48 V phantom power source compatible) inputs. Time code recording feature is also available to deal with professional video operations.

Engineering samples of the camera recorder will be displayed at the Panasonic Stand #11.E60 at IBC in Amsterdam. Available in December with a tentative RRP of 4,900 euro. Excl. VAT

*1:Research by Panasonic (as of September 2010)
*2: variable frame rates available in 1080p, selectable in 20 steps from 12p to 60p at 60Hz and 20 steps from 12p to 50p at 50Hz. Playback is available at 1080/24p, 1080/25p or 1080/30p. Playback at 1080/60p and 1080/50p are not available on this product.
*3: using 2pcs of 64GB SDXC memory cards"

Barry Green interview at IBC Amsterdam with AF-101/100:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjhpwWUTCao"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjhpwWUTCao

[Crosby!]

Initial report from Barry Green on the AG AF101/100, "This prototype isn't finished yet, so I can't say some things definitively, but I can say this – I'm done with shooting on DSLRs. This thing is the bomb."

http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?t=222673

[Crosby!]

Panasonic's European Technical Product Manager introducing the AG-AF101.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aB1UqGmZdcg

[Lawrence189]

Why can't I just have the camera for free though?

[dcloud]

Cant wait to get mine! I could have it this week or next week at best. So excited

[Jergling]

Is it just me, or did that thing shrink since the last time I saw it?

[dcloud]

maybe properly furnished in production.. the ones in the old cams are hand built together
the real thign looks so much better than the renderings

just got the LUMIX 20mm 1.7
pretty solidly built. smooth focus wheel. tiny as hell. cant wait to try it out on the af100 soon

Rainbow imaging nikon g to m43
built wise, feels like it could bend if i had really heavy lenses. The apperture control feels very rough and not smooth. the pin to lock the nikon lenses feels flimsy. i think this adapter would at the least 6 mos and brake down. That novoflex would be mine once my af100 starts getting back the money ive spent... i guess ill settle on this for the first few months

[cgbier]

Dcloud, do you have already a collection of G Nikkors? If not, you can save a lot of money by going with AF-D or AIS. Optically, they aren't worse. I like the colors of the older lenses with older coating a bit better. The modern antiglare coating seems to hamper color rendition a bit.

[dcloud]

i have both and i need to be able to control the apperture specially on the tokina 11-16 since its the best fast wide lens available.
the 35mm 1.8 g is very tempting too its the best portrait lens i could get for the af100. its really cheap too!

[dcloud]

Ive got the cam. havent had the time to play around with it yet but its pretty awesome :D

[cgbier]

Ok, that's an argument. I always liked Tokina. They had Q/C problems inbetween, but their optics are great.
(You know that Tokina was founded by disgruntled Nikon engineers?)

[dcloud]

didnt know that :D I wish they made mounts for other cameras too.

[dcloud]

After several days of playing with it i would say... F*ck dslrs. hahaha!
I've never had any hassles, everything is so convenient and so easy to use. Ive shot without a tripod and footages still looks great and focusing was easy!
Awesome camera at lowlight.

[Gillvane]

After several days of playing with it i would say... F*ck dslrs. hahaha!
I've never had any hassles, everything is so convenient and so easy to use. Ive shot without a tripod and footages still looks great and focusing was easy!
Awesome camera at lowlight.

Post some footage please.

[cgbier]

Tell us more http://www.spassbahner.com/newforum/wcf/images/smilies/sabber2.gif

[paperkut12]

Post some footage please.

What he said.

[dcloud]

ok heres some test footage ungraded, however its the First time i tested it on a production

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VAqiKy6AO_Y
the night shots are shot with a nikon 50 1.2 at f2, ISO 1250 with only 2 lamps and some christmas lights


ill try to upload some footage on an unlisted url so my clients wont know i uploaded em :P

ill post more footage once i get to shoot my own stuff.

quick stuff i love
XLR.. finally able to record audio without worrying about syncing.
ND filters.. no hassles ever. changing lens is so fast
20mm 1.7 + iso 800 is awesome. perfect for walk around on dimly lit locations. for medium shots, just the right amount of DOF.

[cgbier]

Looks nice! Does that thing have any helpers for manual focus, like e.g. Sony and JVC's color peaking?

[jet]

too compressed to tell much from the video but the color was pretty week video like for a cam that price,and i own some pana kit.

[dcloud]

well the color is at low saturation for post color grading purposes
heres a screen shot of a current one im doing
http://i51.tinypic.com/2zqgej9.jpg
i tweaked the color in post.. may have oversaturated the red skirt
color peaking, YES

[cgbier]

Cool, thanks!

[dcloud]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ej4uZaaTujM&hd=1
once again compression killed the quality

[drapeama]

That is one ugly looking camera...But I'd totally use it.

Late to the reply, but, what's matter isn't the look of the equipment but rather the quality it can produce.
I wouldn't be affraid to use a pink-teletubbies-version of an HV40. It would be funny to see it thought.

Back to the topic, that really look like a solid pro-summer camcorder. Almost any type of lens can fit on that beast? That's a very nice feature.