Panasonic AG-AF100 Professional Memory Card Camcorder

Comments about Panasonic AG-AF100 Professional Memory Card Camcorder:

Let me first start off by saying: This camera is ONLY [$]!!!That's pretty important. Yes, it's not as awesome as an Alexa, or have the frame rates of a Phantom Flex, or the 4k of a Red Epic. Then again, I don't believe any of those cameras start for under $60,000. That's an extra 0 in there. Why do I bother mentioning this obvious fact? Because many people don't get that. They want this to be something it's not.What it IS is awesome. I worked with the 7D and 5D for the past 2 years while waiting for Canon to step up their game. Instead, they came out with a $16k over price camera that is nothing I need. I needed PROPER audio. None of this recording to a Zoom H4n with a bad pre-amp and 14k hum. No longer do I have to have a monitor for critical focus, lum values, zebras etc. I get all that in one complete package. Like a real camera.This is a real camera. It's a camcorder with a giant sensor. Yeah, it's no FF35. But who needs that for corporate work? For interviews? Commercials? Possible run and gun?What I do with this: everything.I shoot interviews; some locked down others run and gun style. I shoot corporate training videos, seminars, commercials and even indie films. Some of these you'll want an external recorder for. I's annoying, but it takes the footage to a new level. Not much of a level, but better color grading and meeting broadcast requirements.Overall:Great camera. Proper Audio. Zebras. HDMI, SDI out. Time lock. NO MOIRE!!! Well, much less moire. It's not perfect, but it blows my 7D out of the water.Cons:No focus magnification. The DSLR's had this and it's great. Yes, you can use Peaking but it's not for critical focus on my Zeiss primes. 1:1 or 2:1 pixel mapping would be amazing. Preferably up to 5:1. I understand this may be a limitation to the fact the sensor only has the right amount of pixels.Codec limitations. It's a beautiful codec don't get me wrong. It looks amazing. But, for the sake of being picky it'd be nice to have 4:2:2 and a option between Mbps rates. Say, 25, 35, and 50 (broadcast minimum.) I know I can do this on an external, but it'd be nice to do on camera. SD cards are fast enough to handle 50Mbps so why not?CANON MOUNT! Or better selection of M43 lenses. I'd love to see a 14-140 4.0 or 2.8 lens. I don't care if it costs 2k or weighs a small truck. Otherwise I'm using a Canon ENG lens. Ain't perfect, but it works.Better viewfinder. The EVF for the GX1 is nice. Make it something more like that, but bigger. Or remove it all together and make it an detachable. Think DP4 or similar view finders. Or move it to the front and give us a faux shoulder pad like the EX3 and the XL series.

Comments about Panasonic AG-AF100 Professional Memory Card Camcorder:

Great Camera

Comments about Panasonic AG-AF100 Professional Memory Card Camcorder:

very noisy MIc preamp, a lot of hiss.

unacceptable

Comments about Panasonic AG-AF100 Professional Memory Card Camcorder:

I am looking video camera but with dslr image quality under $7K, and then I got panasonic hpx200, jvc hm700, sony fs100 and this camera. Hpx200 have good image, but cannot change the lens and also must buy expensive p2 card. jvc hm700 great over shoulder camera with native quicktime mov format, so easy to edit but small sensor with 1/3 ccd. sony fs100 is the best camera with large sensor (super 35mm), but the camera body not conform to use (small button, bad handling, the body from plastic! NO ND Filter), and it only have one screw handle. Finally I found AG AF100 and I raw ag af100 footage from youtube. That it! Video camera with dslr quality, cheap memory, strong body, have xlr audio connection, and have ND filter.

Comments about Panasonic AG-AF100 Professional Memory Card Camcorder:

This camera captures an excellent image! The dynamic range is comparable to the Sony version. However, the only draw back I noticed from an editorial stand point, is that the camera's media format only allows for clip size around ~4GB. This means that (for simple math) if you were to record 10 minutes, the camera would break it up into two 5 minute clips. Which doesn't sound like an issue, unless you are working on a multi-cam edit and you need to sync cameras.

Another issue I noticed, again from an editorial stand point as I was not the shooter, is that when the operator zoomed all the way out, I noticed a frame jitter on the edges. Again, not sure if this was operator error or camera.

Either way, I would buy this camera for sure!

Comments about Panasonic AG-AF100 Professional Memory Card Camcorder:

I use this as a low-cost manual cinema camera, and so far it's working out really well. The chip yields a pretty pristine image even in very low light, and there are tons of parameters you can control. I use this with Nikon primes (and a few zooms) with a $25 f-mount adapter, and I control the aperture manually either from the lens or via the adapter for g-series lenses. Recording onto SD cards gives good results, but the HD-Sdi out makes hi-quality recording onto a Hyperdeck Shuttle or other recorder a breeze and the quality is fantastic. My faster Nikons give great DOF options, but for keeping focus a proper hi-res monitor is necessary. A good follow focus helps too. There are limited options for auto-focus lenses as of now, and there isn't even a zoom rocker on the camera, so no zoom control I guess. Maybe with a Varizoom remote? In all, this camera seems to be aimed more at filmmakers, so the manual controls are really useful. With a proper rig and the right lighting you can make beautiful images with this camera.

Comments about Panasonic AG-AF100 Professional Memory Card Camcorder:

Use this in my video production company. It is an excellent camera and we used it first time this past weekend. Flexibility of the use of an existing set of lens I owned with an adapter. Those look for "film look" will not be disappointed. I still use standard video cameras for "run and gun" but this camera will no doubt be in much demand by our clients.John Jenkins [@],edgemarketing[@]

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.