Barry_Green
Moderator
A few things that we've discovered about the AF100, that may not be obvious. If you're scratching your head wondering why something isn't working, try looking here.
1. Wondering why some certain function isn't working? Some features disable other features, and one of the most notable of those is having the HD-SDI 24PsF output set to ON. I strongly recommend to everyone to leave 24PsF set to "off" unless they know exactly what they're doing. It can disable the HDMI output, it disables variable frame rates, and it disables autofocus, so lots of people are going to be scratching their heads as to why all these functions quit working on their cameras, when in reality all they have to do is turn 24PsF to "off" and all that stuff comes back.
2. NEVER set VFR to ON unless you know exactly what you're doing, and ALWAYS turn it to OFF immediately. When VFR is set to "ON", the AF100 will NOT record audio. At all. Even though the level meters are bouncing around and the headphones are passing an audio signal, it will not be recorded. Even if you're shooting at 24p at 24fps, audio will not be recorded as long as VFR MODE is set to ON. Turn it off and leave it off. And, I highly highly recommend everyone to leave OTHER DISPLAY set to ALL; that way if you ever do leave VFR mode on, you'll see in the lower left corner that it will display your frame rate as "24:24p" instead of just "24p", and that will let you know that you have VFR on. (if you want to clear the screen to see the frame, use the DISP/MODE CHK button to quickly erase all of that stuff).
3. The function knob can be used to set a variable white balance, but sometimes it stops working. Why? Because the function knob can also be used to set an AREA for the autofocus/autoiris/Y GET system. If you have the AREA mode active, it'll remove the ability to use the function knob for the white balance. You can restore that functionality by cancelling the AREA mode. You do that by holding the function knob in (pressing it in like a button) for over two seconds.
4. How can you see the JPG frame captures you've taken when using the CAPTURE button? When in playback mode, use the SLOT SEL button, and it'll bring up not only a choice of whether to use the card in slot 1 or slot 2, but it'll also let you choose whether you want to view video clips or stills.
5. Why is your autofocus lens saying "MF ONLY" when you put the autofocus switch to "Auto"? A number of potential reasons, but the first two things to look at are: do you have VFR mode set to on, or do you have SDI 24PsF set to on? If either of those are on, it will disable any autofocus capability on any lens. Second, some lenses aren't 100% compatible with the focus mechanism on the AF100. Sometimes you can get full-time autofocus (like on the 14-140), sometimes you can only get push-autofocus (like on the Olympus 14-35).
6. Can I have the viewfinder and LCD on at the same time? Maybe. Depends on your combination of settings. First, go turn EVF MODE from AUTO to ON. That will let the EVF (Electronic ViewFinder) stay active when the LCD panel is open. Second, look at your SDI output setting -- you cannot have EVF, and LCD, and SDI all at the same time. You can only have two of the three. That's why the SDI OUTPUT menu item even exists at all, is to turn the SDI off when you're using the other outputs. With SDI OUT set to ON, you can have the LCD and the HDMI, or you can have the EVF and the HDMI, but you can't have the LCD, EVF, and SDI all at once. It just can't do it. You have to pick. Note, HDMI is always active and outputting, UNLESS SDI 24PsF is set to ON. That will disable the HDMI output.
7. Focus advice - the EVF DTL is absolutely mandatory for using the LCD panel for focusing. However, there's a better way to go, IMO -- that's to put the viewfinder in black and white mode (turn EVF COLOR to OFF) and then assign the USER1 button to "FA", which stands for "Focus Assist". That will turn on the red highlights around any areas that are in crisp, sharp focus. It makes focusing a breeze, on anything that has sharp in-focus edges. However, if you're in a situation where there's only soft edges and nothing sharp for it to focus on, it won't find any sharp edges and won't be able to highlight it in red. There are two things you can do in that case -- A) turn on EVF DTL, which will add peaking and make the red focus assist much more generous. I don't like doing this though, I think it provides a bit too much margin of error for my taste, but hey -- it does work, and you should be aware of it. Instead, I prefer B) keep a little flashlight with you and reflect it off your subject's eyes. That will give a nice pinpoint that the red focus assist will latch onto and will assure you of getting pinpoint perfect focus.
8. Black balance frequently. It helps keep your blacks true and avoids some noise in the dark regions. To black balance, just hold down the white balance button on the front of the camera. You don't need a black card or anything, the camera has its own shutter/iris that it closes, thus assuring that no light will reach the sensor. It only takes a couple of seconds, so do it frequently. Can't black balance? Probably because the PREREC function is on. The camera can't black balance during a recording, and prerec counts as recording, so -- turn prerec off and you'll be able to black balance.
9. Why is the camera telling you "Can't record VFR to this card"? You need a Class 6 (or faster) card for recording variable frame rate footage. And if you're using a Class 6 or faster card and it's still telling you that, then sorry to break it to you, but you probably have a counterfeit card. Google "fake SDHC card" and prepare to be shocked at just how widespread the problem is. Buy a genuine card from an authorized reseller and you'll find that it does work.
10. Are you hearing echo in the headphones? Go to "AV IN/OUT SETUP", then scroll down to "HP MODE" (Headphone mode), and then change it to "LIVE".
11. The highest quality audio (in PH mode) is LPCM - linear pulse code modulated, uncompressed audio. The default is for AC3 audio -- which is compressed. You can choose either, but some editing programs or playback programs may not be able to play back LPCM clips. If you're finding that your clips will play back in an AF100, but not in an HMC150, that might be why.
12. Can't update your firmware from a Mac? Try reading this thread.
1. Wondering why some certain function isn't working? Some features disable other features, and one of the most notable of those is having the HD-SDI 24PsF output set to ON. I strongly recommend to everyone to leave 24PsF set to "off" unless they know exactly what they're doing. It can disable the HDMI output, it disables variable frame rates, and it disables autofocus, so lots of people are going to be scratching their heads as to why all these functions quit working on their cameras, when in reality all they have to do is turn 24PsF to "off" and all that stuff comes back.
2. NEVER set VFR to ON unless you know exactly what you're doing, and ALWAYS turn it to OFF immediately. When VFR is set to "ON", the AF100 will NOT record audio. At all. Even though the level meters are bouncing around and the headphones are passing an audio signal, it will not be recorded. Even if you're shooting at 24p at 24fps, audio will not be recorded as long as VFR MODE is set to ON. Turn it off and leave it off. And, I highly highly recommend everyone to leave OTHER DISPLAY set to ALL; that way if you ever do leave VFR mode on, you'll see in the lower left corner that it will display your frame rate as "24:24p" instead of just "24p", and that will let you know that you have VFR on. (if you want to clear the screen to see the frame, use the DISP/MODE CHK button to quickly erase all of that stuff).
3. The function knob can be used to set a variable white balance, but sometimes it stops working. Why? Because the function knob can also be used to set an AREA for the autofocus/autoiris/Y GET system. If you have the AREA mode active, it'll remove the ability to use the function knob for the white balance. You can restore that functionality by cancelling the AREA mode. You do that by holding the function knob in (pressing it in like a button) for over two seconds.
4. How can you see the JPG frame captures you've taken when using the CAPTURE button? When in playback mode, use the SLOT SEL button, and it'll bring up not only a choice of whether to use the card in slot 1 or slot 2, but it'll also let you choose whether you want to view video clips or stills.
5. Why is your autofocus lens saying "MF ONLY" when you put the autofocus switch to "Auto"? A number of potential reasons, but the first two things to look at are: do you have VFR mode set to on, or do you have SDI 24PsF set to on? If either of those are on, it will disable any autofocus capability on any lens. Second, some lenses aren't 100% compatible with the focus mechanism on the AF100. Sometimes you can get full-time autofocus (like on the 14-140), sometimes you can only get push-autofocus (like on the Olympus 14-35).
6. Can I have the viewfinder and LCD on at the same time? Maybe. Depends on your combination of settings. First, go turn EVF MODE from AUTO to ON. That will let the EVF (Electronic ViewFinder) stay active when the LCD panel is open. Second, look at your SDI output setting -- you cannot have EVF, and LCD, and SDI all at the same time. You can only have two of the three. That's why the SDI OUTPUT menu item even exists at all, is to turn the SDI off when you're using the other outputs. With SDI OUT set to ON, you can have the LCD and the HDMI, or you can have the EVF and the HDMI, but you can't have the LCD, EVF, and SDI all at once. It just can't do it. You have to pick. Note, HDMI is always active and outputting, UNLESS SDI 24PsF is set to ON. That will disable the HDMI output.
7. Focus advice - the EVF DTL is absolutely mandatory for using the LCD panel for focusing. However, there's a better way to go, IMO -- that's to put the viewfinder in black and white mode (turn EVF COLOR to OFF) and then assign the USER1 button to "FA", which stands for "Focus Assist". That will turn on the red highlights around any areas that are in crisp, sharp focus. It makes focusing a breeze, on anything that has sharp in-focus edges. However, if you're in a situation where there's only soft edges and nothing sharp for it to focus on, it won't find any sharp edges and won't be able to highlight it in red. There are two things you can do in that case -- A) turn on EVF DTL, which will add peaking and make the red focus assist much more generous. I don't like doing this though, I think it provides a bit too much margin of error for my taste, but hey -- it does work, and you should be aware of it. Instead, I prefer B) keep a little flashlight with you and reflect it off your subject's eyes. That will give a nice pinpoint that the red focus assist will latch onto and will assure you of getting pinpoint perfect focus.
8. Black balance frequently. It helps keep your blacks true and avoids some noise in the dark regions. To black balance, just hold down the white balance button on the front of the camera. You don't need a black card or anything, the camera has its own shutter/iris that it closes, thus assuring that no light will reach the sensor. It only takes a couple of seconds, so do it frequently. Can't black balance? Probably because the PREREC function is on. The camera can't black balance during a recording, and prerec counts as recording, so -- turn prerec off and you'll be able to black balance.
9. Why is the camera telling you "Can't record VFR to this card"? You need a Class 6 (or faster) card for recording variable frame rate footage. And if you're using a Class 6 or faster card and it's still telling you that, then sorry to break it to you, but you probably have a counterfeit card. Google "fake SDHC card" and prepare to be shocked at just how widespread the problem is. Buy a genuine card from an authorized reseller and you'll find that it does work.
10. Are you hearing echo in the headphones? Go to "AV IN/OUT SETUP", then scroll down to "HP MODE" (Headphone mode), and then change it to "LIVE".
11. The highest quality audio (in PH mode) is LPCM - linear pulse code modulated, uncompressed audio. The default is for AC3 audio -- which is compressed. You can choose either, but some editing programs or playback programs may not be able to play back LPCM clips. If you're finding that your clips will play back in an AF100, but not in an HMC150, that might be why.
12. Can't update your firmware from a Mac? Try reading this thread.
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