FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DENVER CINEMATOGRAPHER RICH LERNER INVESTS IN
PANASONIC’S NEW AG-AF100 LARGE IMAGER HD CINEMA CAMERA TO SUPPORT DIVERSE PRODUCTION ROSTER


SECAUCUS, NJ (February 10, 2011) – Denver-based Director of Photography Rich Lerner recently purchased the new Panasonic AG-AF100 large imager HD cinema camcorder for production assignments ranging from documentaries to independent films to commercial spots. His first AF100 project was a music video, Diaphanous Breeze, for an original composition written and performed by pianist Lisa Downing.


Lerner was DP for the Academy Award-winning short documentary, A Story of Healing, and DP on the national Emmy Award-winning documentary, The Urban Elephant, for the series Nature. He has shot several projects with Panasonic camcorders—most recently the feature thriller Juncture with the AG-HVX200 P2 HD handheld and a documentary profiling “engineers without borders” with the AG-HPX170 P2 HD handheld—and has invested in the company’s camera products for more than a decade.
Targeted at the film and video production communities, the AF100 delivers film-like shallow depth of field and the wider field of view of a large imager, with the flexibility and cost advantages of a growing line of professional quality, industry-standard micro 4/3-inch lenses, filters, and adapters. The full HD 1080/720 production camera offers superior video handling, native 1080/24p recording, variable frame rates, professional audio capabilities, and compatibility with SDHC and SDXC media.
Lerner said the impetus for the AF100 purchase was a challenging location shoot in Hawaii last summer where he used two different HDSLRs. “Based on my familiarity with Panasonic cameras and the initial AF100 specs, I just knew it would be easier working with a camera that had been optimized for shooting video,” he said. Lerner bought his AF100 from Abel Cine Tech (New York, NY).
“Indeed, there are huge benefits with the AF100,” he continued. “Professional interfaces like uncompressed 4:2:2 HD-SDI out and HDMI out are standard. There are two switchable XLR inputs built-in and full audio monitoring, both lacking in an HDSLR. You get the range of controls a cinematographer relies on: exposure, adjustable zebras, pedestal and detail, a vectorscope and waveform monitor, and so on. Also, the configuration and body style are familiar.”
“The AF100’s eye focus is superior, with a high-quality LCD sidefinder and viewfinder,” Lerner noted. “There’s no struggling with focus, as there is with HDSLRs, which is very important for documentary work. Because the camcorder has an interchangeable micro 4/3-inch lens mount, I can utilize the film-style lenses that I already own, which is highly cost-effective.”
On the Diaphanous Breeze, Lerner interspersed performance scenes with time-lapse footage of clouds. He shot with the image-stabilized Lumix G Vario HD 14-140m micro 4/3-inch superzoom lens, and worked with the AF100 on a slider. “The footage is really pretty,” he said. “Considering its feature set, the AF100 is turning out to be impressively affordable.”
Lerner will shoot his next assignment, the pilot episode of a dramatic series, with the AF100.
For more information about cinematographer Rich Lerner and to view the Diaphanous Breeze music video, visit his website, www.richlernercine.com.
About the Panasonic AG-AF100
The AF100 incorporates a large 4/3-inch, 16:9 MOS imager (with an imaging area just slightly smaller than 35mm cinema film) that minimizes skew with fast imager scanning, and incorporates an optical low pass filter for elimination of aliasing and moiré. The camcorder records 1080 at 60i, 50i, 30P, 25P (Native) and 24P (Native), and 720 at 60p, 50p, 30p, 25p and 24p native in AVCHD’s highest-quality PH mode (maximum 24Mbps). The AF100 also records in AVCCAM’s HA (17Mbps) and HE (6Mbps) modes, 1080i only. Ready for global production standards, the camcorder is 60Hz and 50Hz switchable. Equipped with an interchangeable micro 4/3-inch lens mount, the AF100 can utilize an array of low-cost, widely-available still camera lenses as well as film-style lenses with fixed focal lengths and primes. Variable frame rates (VFR) are available in 1080p, selectable in 20 steps from 12p to 60p at 60Hz and 20 steps from 12p to 50p at 50Hz. The camcorder has a built-in stereo microphone and features two mic/lines, switchable XLR inputs with +48V Phantom Power capability. For more information, visit www.panasonic.com/broadcast.


About Panasonic Solutions Company
Panasonic Solutions Company empowers people whose jobs depend on reliable technology. The company delivers collaboration, information-sharing and decision-support solutions for customers in government, healthcare, education and a wide variety of commercial enterprises. Products and services within the company’s portfolio include Panasonic Toughbook® mobile computing solutions, projectors, professional displays (including both plasma and LCD), and HD and 3D video acquisition and production solutions. As a result of its commitment to R&D, manufacturing and quality control, Panasonic is known for the reliability and longevity of its products. Panasonic Solutions Company is a Division of Panasonic Corporation of North America, which is the principal North American subsidiary of Panasonic Corporation (NYSE: PC).



All brand and company/product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of the respective companies. All specifications are subject to change without notice. Information on Panasonic Solutions Company’s full line of products can be obtained by calling 877-803-8492 or at www.panasonic.com/broadcast.


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