3 things for an AF successor

4:2:2 out is already enabled on the current AF100.

As for 4:2:2 internal, there is no ruling on that yet. If any successor/updated model is an AVCHD camera, then it will not be 4:2:2, because AVCHD itself is not 4:2:2. But if a successor were to be an AVC-LongG camcorder, then 4:2:2 could certainly be possible.
 
An AF successor needs these three things:

1. Better gamma curves
2. Better gamma curves
3. Better gamma curves

The AF100 is one of the only cameras I try to avoid working with under any conditions due to quite bad gamma curves even after extensive tweaking. Cine V is the best one but they all have quite bad color shifting and oversaturation in highlights. I love the gamma curves of the GH2, the new AF could just use those... I even like the GH2's gamma curves more than Sony's cinegammas. It seems odd that the GH2 delivers significantly better image quality than the AF100 in pretty much every way at less than 1/5 the price.

If a new Panasonic AF camera it wants to compete with the FS100/700, it will probably have to have:

-Better sensor design than the AF100 (FS100/700 have way more sensitivity and less aliasing)
-Better gamma curves (see above)
-120+fps recording (FS700 has 240fps+ but is more expensive but essentially in the same range, some tough competition)

Then again the Sony FS100/700 cameras are tough to compete against on their own territory, so maybe the new AF needs to redefine its position with a desirable codec and let Sony take the image sensor crown. I wouldn't buy it but I know a fair number of people who factor codecs into their camera buying decisions over image quality.
 
I have no idea if this has been posted yet (and I don't have time to go back and check), but for the Mac folks (I'm PC... so USB 3 would be nice) a Thunderbolt port with DisplayPort output. And as an added bonus, since DisplayPort can be converted to HDMI with a simple adapter, it eliminates the need for a dedicated HDMI port as well.
 
This may sound silly to some of you, but what if there was a way to sample a smaller size of the sensor so that it acted as a 2/3" camera? so that when you put a b4 lens on it, it actually covered the sensor?
 
I've thought about this a lot.

More cinematic video modes, looking more like the DVX series or original varicam in colour/contrast etc, maybe some kind of raw/log mode
For me I'd love to be able to record to DVCProHD through a firewire port to my focus fs100! ;)
A cinemascope mode for higher speed video that only records the cinemascope data, possibly creating smaller files too!

Would really like to see Panasonic make a comeback.

love

Freya
 
One thing I find really strange about Panasonics strategy, is that having forced everyone in this sector down the DVCProHD P2 route with the HVX200/HPX171, they then abandoned it all with the AF101. Seems it would have made sense to have a higher and low end model. Would be great if people could continue to use accessories they have already purchased for their panasonic setups too, like DVX/HVX batteries, my fs100 firestore, P2 cards etc. Then there is an advantage to staying with Panasonic over switching brands. Something that records both AVCHD and DVCProHD would be great! More codec options!

I think Panasonic are presently in a nightmare situation tho with the blackmagic camera at one end and the fs700 at another.
I'm not sure what Panasonics selling point is going to be? Maybe they can emphasize high sound quality somehow!

love

Freya
 
1.) better sensor (better DR, resolution, highlight handling, etc. + better lowlight)
2.) 4"+ 1080p LCD (pixel match) with better focus peaking + focus assist zoom
3.) Better internal recording options (ProRes, AVC-Intra/Ultra)

Oh, and it should be easier to get better slow-motion since that's just processor/bandwidth which has improved so much that the GoPro3 can do 120fps... so I would certainly expect that as an option as well. Up to 120fps constant, 240fps burst, with plenty of intervals in between. And please bring back the scene file rotating dial control.


 
along with other things:

focus assist zoom
ability to record sound while in VFR mode (might be getting key audio while filming that slow-mo...)
ability to record to both cards at once
 
Having owned an AF100 and then selling it but keeping my Gh2, I feel that there are a lot of great things about the AF100 but a lot of shortcomings. This is equally more so now that I just rented the FS700.... man that camera is AMAZING. It has the same horrible Sony menu and everything is in a different spot so nothing is consistant. The LCD sucks and the ergonmics are pretty bad, but man did they listen to their customers. The super slow mo is a game changer and the focus in YELLOW is the best thing ever... Kills the AF100 for sure.

So I think Panasonic just makes the FS700 but better... Easier controls just like panasonic is great at and you'll have a clear winner. Make it sharper too and a minimum of 120 FPS, or bursts to 480 and 240. I can tell you that my client went nuts seeing the footage.... and I had acess to the AF and others for free, but man Sony got the FS700 right....
 
Soooooo Panasonic lots of great input here for your next large chip camera. I guess it will be on display at NAB this year, right???????
 
Justyn said:
Having owned an AF100 and then selling it but keeping my Gh2, I feel that there are a lot of great things about the AF100 but a lot of shortcomings. This is equally more so now that I just rented the FS700.... man that camera is AMAZING. It has the same horrible Sony menu and everything is in a different spot so nothing is consistant. The LCD sucks and the ergonmics are pretty bad, but man did they listen to their customers. The super slow mo is a game changer and the focus in YELLOW is the best thing ever... Kills the AF100 for sure.
Click to expand...
Justyn said:
So I think Panasonic just makes the FS700 but better... Easier controls just like panasonic is great at and you'll have a clear winner. Make it sharper too and a minimum of 120 FPS, or bursts to 480 and 240. I can tell you that my client went nuts seeing the footage.... and I had acess to the AF and others for free, but man Sony got the FS700 right....
Click to expand...


If this comes true then +1 for orders!
 
Okay Panasonic, you've got the micro p2 cards out, and tons of great suggestions, how bout building some damn cameras.
 
AF100B - In the name of building a small, balanced shoulder rig, I'd like to see:

- a relocatable viewfinder. At this point, I'd settle for the one we have now but with the ability to disconnect it from the back position. I would just need a short viewfinder coil cable included so I can put it where I need it.
- a jack that outputs focus magnification control in addition to start/stop, focus and iris.
- a Vocas or Westside AV wood hand grip with start/stop & focus magnification buttons built in.
 
And here we are: the new models have been announced and NO word about any progress on the development of the AF 200 or whatever its being called.... No mention if its even going to be continued..... I am quite disappointed! Panasonic started a sort of revolution and chickened out while others followed (especially Canon with C100-500 or Sony FS 700). The idea of a large single sensor movie cam, started by Panasonic and dropped, while Arri shakes out an absolutely overweight "shoulder" model. Panasonic: whats up???
 
The facts are these: “AMSTERDAM. 13 SEPTEMBER 2013 — In response to the growing worldwide demand for 4K production, Panasonic Professional Camera Solutions is prioritizing the development of the 4K VariCam camera recorder. The VariCam will be a highly practical camera, boasting features and performance suitable not only for 4K cinema, but also HDTV content production. The camera is set for launch in 2014. Panasonic has also unveiled the development of the new Ultra P2 cards at IBC."
In other words, for the year 2013, Panasonic could not get the ball into the endzone. They could not stretch and get a 4K product to market in 2013, and they couldn't outflank and get a gee-whiz great non-4K product to market in 2013. BMD stretched and may well yet get their 4K Cinema Camera (first promised for July) out in September or October. But Panasonic's announcement makes it look like they are a solid year away from shipping 4K, and they are absolutely nowhere in terms of anything meaningful for the AF100 platform.

On balance, I'm disappointed. Other companies ended up building the cameras that I'd hoped to buy from Panasonic as I built my business.
 
4k Varicam is hardly the logical upgrade from an AF100. What happened to the camera that should've come out in the middle? The AF100A is/was a joke.
 
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