Panasonic AG-AF100 Professional Memory Card Camcorder

Comments about Panasonic AG-AF100 Professional Memory Card Camcorder:

Great camera, regardless of the price. Strongly recommend getting the Nikon-to-4/3 adapter. Using still camera lens' offer all sorts of depth-of-field options.

We use the EX-1 as well, and this camera is a viable alternative.

Get a shotgun mic for it, though. The built-in is located under the handle, so you'll get rubbing noise.

Comments about Panasonic AG-AF100 Professional Memory Card Camcorder:

Coming from the DVX100, HVX200 and HPX500, this camera was very easy to get used to. I don't usually use auto features on any camera, so getting proper exposure and focus wasn't a problem. I think most of the negative reviews about the CODEC are coming from folks who don't understand the difference between Panasonic's implimentation of AVCHD for professional use and higher bit-rate MPEG2(XDCAM from the EX1)... and seriously, who doesn't know that H.264 and AVCHD are both MPEG4 (All DSLRs)? I also feel that some of these people were really wanting an HPX-170... or something with servo zoom and autofocus. If you don't like manual shooting or having to understand how your camera works, this one is not for you.

Comments about Panasonic AG-AF100 Professional Memory Card Camcorder:

I read many user reviews about this camera before purchasing it. I love (finally) having depth of field control. As many have said, it's not a run/gun camera so it's advisable to have a camera around for that purpose.

I would give it 5 stars except for couple of annoyances that I didn't hear anyone heretofore mention.

1. Auto focus response is way slow. I put the Lumix 14-140mm on it and had it find focus from near to far. It took upward of 10 seconds (!) for the camera to find focus. I put the same lens on my GH-1 that I use for B-roll, and the find-focus was near instantaneous. The salesman I talked to said that the GH-1 was faster in auto-focus because it was a consumer camera. Where is it written that a pro camera should be slower in auto focus?

2. Shutter speed goes in 1 stop increments (60, 125, 250, etc). This is horrible for fine tuning exposure. Again, my "cheapie" GH-1 lets you adjust shutter speed in 1/3 stop increments.

It's possible above issues could be addressed with firmware updates but I'd doubt it. Improvements will probably come with updated models.

Comments about Panasonic AG-AF100 Professional Memory Card Camcorder:

I love this camera. I would buy another.

Comments about Panasonic AG-AF100 Professional Memory Card Camcorder:

i love that i can use any lenses that I want. I love that its small so when I build it up with matte box and everything...it's not going to be so huge. The picture quality I love.

Comments about Panasonic AG-AF100 Professional Memory Card Camcorder:

Pretty much, the only drawback is the lack of pixel to pixel focus assist option. Although the EVF & "red-line" focusing assists are, when used correctly, very accurate.

The AVCHD workflow can be a bit cumbersome but the image quality is outstanding.

Comments about Panasonic AG-AF100 Professional Memory Card Camcorder:

I did a lot of research before buying this camera. The main thing I like about it was the interchangable lenses and the DSLR sensor. This camera is as good as advertised. Easy to use, though it has tons of options that I have not begin to skim. If you get a good lens, which is a must with this camera the image possibilities are endless. I've already bought three lenses: the Sigma 30mm, f1.4, Canon 50mm, f1.8 and the Lumix 14-140mm for this camera. They each have their own specific use but they all work great with this camera! Spectacular for interviews and in low light.

Comments about Panasonic AG-AF100 Professional Memory Card Camcorder:

I'm still a beginner and a bit overwhelmed with the amount of options on the camera. 4 Stars because I miss an easy shot and run option. It is a cam for advanced and I have to become an advanced cam man now. Tripod is almost a must.

Comments about Panasonic AG-AF100 Professional Memory Card Camcorder:

Lots of previous reviews cover the pros & cons of the AF100. After months of devouring "AF100 Test Footage" on Vimeo and YouTube, I was worried I might be disappointed; however the camera exceeded my expectations. The picture quality is amazing, the 1080/24p has a beautiful cinema look. Color representation is outstanding; vibrant colors, deep rich blacks. And then there's the ability to utilize the shallow depth-of-field. Sound quality is underrated on the AF100 and having balanced XLR inputs with phantom power is HUGE. The AF100's on-board mic, while not very directional, is impressive, picking up clear sound from quite a distance. Post workflow using the AVCHD on-camera files is a breeze, simple Log & Transfer through FCP 7 and I was editing a couple of hours worth of footage in less than an hour. Much has been made about the low bit rate, although I haven't seen anything I've shot yet that suffered from the low bit rate, even on my 65" plasma. Granted, I have not tried chroma keying or any serious color correction...

Which is a con of the camera. If you expect to shoot a lot of fast motion, effects shots, green screen; or are shooting for broadcast or to go back to film, the low bit rate won't cut it. Luckily, if you are doing anything that intensive, you'll likely be adding an external recorder like the Ki Pro Mini, NanoFlash or Ninja/Samurai. Also, after a month, I'm finding the viewfinder eyepiece placement is horrible, useless when trying to use a shoulder-mount, meaning you'll end up adding another EVF, as well. Last major issue is not having any kind of automatic zoom control, finding zooming with the Lumix lenses can be very clunky.

One aspect of the AF100 that does not seem to get a lot of credit is the professional functionality of the camera. I work in a broadcast HD television environment, so I brought my AF100 in to go over with my camera operators and video engineers, all of whom were impressed, especially by the inclusion of most of the professional handles they would expect to find on our expensive studio or ENG cameras. One of my video engineers began with a, "isn't that cute" attitude, but as he kept pointing out, "see, on a professional camera, you'd have _______," and I was able to show him where the AF100 had it, he was more and more impressed. Having multi-step selectable Zebras, selectable (24/30p) HD-SDI out, timecode options and all of the master ped, knee, gamma, H&V detail and chroma adjustments available on our studios MCPs wowed him. By the time I showed him the Waveform/Vector, he was sold. Another video engineer friend was interested in the AF100 for a possible secondary/hand-held camera for a top-rated sitcom and, after getting some time with my AF100, he's convinced it can hold its own in any environment - broadcast, digital projection or even back to film.

All of the professional functionality of the AF100 does come with one warning - be ready to learn. Unless you are used to working with fully professional HD cameras, you'll need to spend a little time learning all the ins-and-outs. You'll also need to spend some time on photography/cinematography, if you are used to running in full autos on typical video cameras. The AF100 requires constant attention to the white/black balances, as well as focus, but the ability to create beautiful imagery with all that manual control makes the AF100 a true winner!

Comments about Panasonic AG-AF100 Professional Memory Card Camcorder:

I bought the Panasonic to shoot low budget commercials and short films. I previously owned a Panosonic AG-DVX100a. The first thing I noted was, despite being made of plastic, the camera was very sturdy and the buttons were laid out very logically in a similar pattern to my old DVX, so for me there was a very low learning curve for the basics.

With respect to performance, the image looks great, the picture is very sharp and the colour quality is excellent. The camera is also very user friendly, specifically, I love that it has a waveform and vectorscope and that there are some very useful focus assist tools at your disposal.

If you are working with a small (or no) crew, I recommend buying the companion Lumix 14-140 lens as you will get a very broad range and it will autofocus. I think Panosonic read the market well and designed a very professional camera for under 5k which can help us independents put together quality products.

Comments about Panasonic AG-AF100 Professional Memory Card Camcorder:

I waited a long time before I bought this camera. Wondered if it were fast and strong enought to shoot events, and rigid and sharp enough to shoot filmstyle. It deliveres both with awesome quality. This is the first camera I've ever really, really enjoyed using.

Comments about Panasonic AG-AF100 Professional Memory Card Camcorder:

I am a documentary filmmaker, and live action music & stage shows. Crystal clear image during movement in low light is out standing. The four ND settings and the files are more than thinking about just a static shot makers.
When not using Pana glass, The only thing is the lens you need to have a better way of getting the zoom on the camera without adapters.

Comments about Panasonic AG-AF100 Professional Memory Card Camcorder:

I use this for Feature Film-making, Documentaries, Music Videos and Events. This camera is Light weight for handheld use, excellent picture quality, tack sharp, great in low light, See Zacutos 2011 Shootout for is real rating compared to similar cameras of it's kind.Bang for the buck this is simply the best cinema style camera to date. The camera competes well, and can be compared to cameras costing 10 to 20 times more to own. Sony F35, Sony F3, Red One, Arri Alexa.I love going into the Menus and configuring custom looks and image control in the camera. This gives much control over the image you can get out of this camera. You can sharpen the look further or soften it, change the coloration and etc. I made a configure to match my Canon 5D MK II and I inter-cut between the Sony EX3, 5D and AF100 all the time. It is not as extensive as the Sony EX3 type configurations, but there is a lot of control there. I use all these file formats to workflow FCP-7 to ProRes/Transcode, so nice, so great looking footage you get, all three cameras work together for me like paint brushes to an Artist. I own two Sony EX3's, love the EX3 for Events coverage type stuff. I own a Canon 5D Mark II, and love it or it's field of view and ability of maximize the shallow depth of field effect. I've hot on all kinds of expensive gear, but this AF100, has the best of all worlds in a very affordable professional video camera package. I use the AF100 no add on gear, just the camera and a $50 20mm and 50mm Nikon Prime. LOL! Man! this does a lot for [$] weighing only 3 pounds!For long nature hikes, I put this in a small backpack, strap on some small light weight sticks, and go. And 1080p at 60fps for in camera butter smooth slow motion, is soooooooo nice, and so easy to do on this camera, mmmmmmmmm.My Canon 5D MK II cost me $2500 plus in necessary add on gear, $5000 totalling $7,500. Pricey, with all the accessories I needed to make the DSLRs work. (Matte-boxes ND filters, Special audio rigs with XLRs, and gear, View finders and/or external monitors with peaking, and focus assist, HDMI to SDI converters, special batteries or all that extra stuff, and Shoulder rigs, cases to put of that stuff in, and etc.) weight 7 pounds., and awkward to use all that stuff strapped and bolted together. LOLWith this AF100 I can use fully decked out too, or go naked and stripped down. I am preferring Naked and fast these days. Hope this helps someone.I LOVE THIS CAMERA! Best camera investment I've ever made.

Comments about Panasonic AG-AF100 Professional Memory Card Camcorder:

I really like this camera, although I wish it was a little less expensive as you need a few accessories to get it up and running which quickly add up.

The button layout is pretty much identical to the HVX200 which is a plus for me.

Having 2 slots for SDXC cards is amazing!

The cameras sensor is pretty big and the SDI out is very useful for when you need that higher quality output to an external recorder.

Shoot35 makes a baseplate for the camera that works well and a lot of other companies have products specifically for this camera.

It also features none or very little of the bad stuff that DSLRS have like moiré, color shimmering, aliasing or rolling shutter.

If this camera was around the $3000 mark, I think it would sell like crazy.

Comments about Panasonic AG-AF100 Professional Memory Card Camcorder:

great for scenic work!

Comments about Panasonic AG-AF100 Professional Memory Card Camcorder:

Great camera to buy if you own your own DSLR glass. The crop factor is lame for getting wide shots in small rooms but overall it's a winner in it's class for a "DSLR" video camera.

Comments about Panasonic AG-AF100 Professional Memory Card Camcorder:

I bought the AF100 as a sizable upgrade from my aging but well loved Panasonic DVX-100B. I was tempted by Sony's FS100 as well, but in the end I could not be happier with my investment. Before I go any further, let me say this camera isn't for everyone - in fact I'd say it's for a very specific group of people. If you're looking for an all-around ENG style camera to shoot run-and-gun style events with, you'd most likely be much better off with Panasonic's HPX line of cameras or something similar.

The AF100 was made specifically for people who shoot the old fashioned way - that is with prime lenses, depth of field charts, and light meters. Since I learned to shoot on film cameras, the AF100 fit my shooting philosophy perfectly. It can be adapted to other uses, but be forewarned, it will not perform as well in an ENG-type scenario due to lack of in-camera image stabilization and a shortage of dedicated video lenses. In fact, the Lumix 14-140 is the only real option as far as video lenses go (full communication with the camera body), and filming in low light proves very difficult with it due to the slow aperture - especially at longer focal lengths.

That said, the AF100 absolutely excels at its intended purpose - a true digital cinematography camera at a very low price point. The value of the ability to adapt a variety of lenses (Canon, Nikon, M42, etc) with little more than an adapter ring cannot be understated. Lens versatility combined with the large sensor allows for the extreme flexibility in depth of field normally attributed to a DSLR without any of the drawbacks of shooting with one of those devices.

The camera is not without its flaws, such as having to assign three preset ISO settings to the gain switch instead of being able to shuffle between them at will, but these things end up being more nuisances than problems. The number of good things about this camera far outweigh the bad, and I could go on for quite a while, but other reviews out there go far more in depth than I could here.

Bottom line? ENG shooters beware, but digital cinematographers will find no better option in this price range to satisfy their needs.

Comments about Panasonic AG-AF100 Professional Memory Card Camcorder:

Much has been written about the strengths and weaknesses of this camera, and I won't repeat most of it. [@] is a great source of information. I come from an ENG background and still feel most comfortable with shoulder-mount camcorders. But the AF100 fills a unique niche. I bought it to complement my Panasonic HMC80, which still excels for handheld and spontaneous work with its servo zoom and form factor. But the HMC struggles in low light and doesn't allow full depth of field control. The AF100 does well exactly those things the HMC80 has problems with -- it is great in low light, works best on a tripod, and allows creative use of DOF effects with the appropriate lenses. For interviews, staged demonstrations, scripted instructional videos and narrative work where there is time and space to plan and set things up in advance, it will produce some of the best images possible. I am having a blast playing with my old Olympus OM lenses on this camera, and hope one of the 3rd-party adapters for my dozen or so Canon EF lenses will be available soon. The Lumix 14-140mm and 7-14mm zooms, although slow, provide a good "backbone" set of lenses and work well with the camera's automatic functions. Although I'd seen and read plenty about this camera before ordering it, the small size and light weight still surprised me a bit. Although it isn't ergonomically perfect for handholding, I still can't resist picking it up and trying to do some run'n'gun stuff with it. I appreciate that it shares memory cards, batteries and the same editing workflow with my HMC80, which makes operating both cameras together simpler and cheaper. There are a huge number of settings to create different looks and effects in the camera, and I am just scratching the surface after two weeks, beginning to get it "dialed in" for the look I want. My only major gripe -- echoed elsewhere -- is that highlight handling is not as smooth as I have seen on other cameras, making exposure more fussy and difficult than it needs to be. A true 1:1 pixel mode in the viewfinder would also be useful for focusing.This is NOT a camera for every user and every purpose -- it is designed for a specific type of shooting, and in my opinion, works best as a partner with other types of cameras (ENG, traditional handhelds, DSLRs, POV cameras, even big studio rigs) to help expand your production capabilities. Using it well requires real study and effort, but can be rewarded with fantastic images and sound unprecedented at this price point.

Comments about Panasonic AG-AF100 Professional Memory Card Camcorder:

Our company is producing Spanish-language content such as: drama, comedia y documentales.

Comments about Panasonic AG-AF100 Professional Memory Card Camcorder:

I have owned the F100 for several months now. The camera does it all.
After purchasing several low cost manual SLR prime lenses from my local camera store and adding a V-Mount battery adaptor, the package blows every other camera away.