AF-100 vs AF-100A in JAPAN as for December 2012
- Thread starter Jiiye
- Start date
Have a nice eternal sleep.
I must be missing something... I needed a discreet camera for a film I'm working on so I bought a Canon XF100 (I used to use an HV40, it died).. It looks pretty much like a consumer camera - it is, unfortunately, a three year old design (a year before the AF100) but I need it now and couldn't wait for the rumored new model...
Point is, relevent to this thread, that tiny little unassuming camera records 50mbps 4.2.2 to internal flash cards - true, its mpeg2, and not the best camera I've ever used (horrible, horrible viewfinder), but the picture is amazingly good when you get it dialed in... It confounds me that with all the room in the AF100 we are stuck with AVCHD and have to burden ourselves with external recorders and cables to meet broadcast specs.
Point is, relevent to this thread, that tiny little unassuming camera records 50mbps 4.2.2 to internal flash cards - true, its mpeg2, and not the best camera I've ever used (horrible, horrible viewfinder), but the picture is amazingly good when you get it dialed in... It confounds me that with all the room in the AF100 we are stuck with AVCHD and have to burden ourselves with external recorders and cables to meet broadcast specs.
Zephyrnoid
Veteran
When I researched the XF100 before buying (heavily influenced by a review by Phillip Bloom, one of the few people I trust on the internet) many people were commenting on an expected XF200, based on the recent release of the HF V20 - V10 up to V20, XF100 up to XF200 - just an unmotivated rumor - but knowing Canon and the fact that the XF100 is 3 years old, it's probable that a successor will pop up in April at NAB... However the V20 is a pretty minor update, so the XF will likely be as well.. It's all guessing.
But the XF100 works for my (admittedly esoteric) purposes now and, again, relative to this thread...
If Canon can offer an under $3000 camera (that includes an excellent lens, BTW - 10x1, perfect for handheld shooting) it is a mystery to me why Panasonic is so apparently reluctant to make a serious successor to the AF100. They have the HPX250, which is 10bit 4.2.2, again with a lens (sadly not so excellent, I have one) in their "price point" range. It just seems that with the clamor for large sensor cameras, the introduction of the BMDCC, and all the Dear Santa Claus wishes here and elsewhere, that they could produce an update in the AF100 box that would blow away the competition. I realize they are having financial issues, and their broadcast cameras are doing well, but this is a much needed niche that needs to be filled.
But the XF100 works for my (admittedly esoteric) purposes now and, again, relative to this thread...
If Canon can offer an under $3000 camera (that includes an excellent lens, BTW - 10x1, perfect for handheld shooting) it is a mystery to me why Panasonic is so apparently reluctant to make a serious successor to the AF100. They have the HPX250, which is 10bit 4.2.2, again with a lens (sadly not so excellent, I have one) in their "price point" range. It just seems that with the clamor for large sensor cameras, the introduction of the BMDCC, and all the Dear Santa Claus wishes here and elsewhere, that they could produce an update in the AF100 box that would blow away the competition. I realize they are having financial issues, and their broadcast cameras are doing well, but this is a much needed niche that needs to be filled.
Zephyrnoid
Veteran
And then there's the Dark Horse. Nikon. With a bunch of cash quietly saved up from years of sidelining themselves vis a vis the video aspect of hybridization, who knows what they will do.
I have always had huge faith in two calibers of player, the first to market and the last to market, everything in the 'middle' is free R&D, beta etc
I have always had huge faith in two calibers of player, the first to market and the last to market, everything in the 'middle' is free R&D, beta etc
Although the DSLR folks love Nikon, those of us in the cine world have had trouble adapting to their counter-intuitive focusing rings - taxes the brain to switch back and forth between cine lenses, or other SLR lenses, and Nikkors.
By the way - trivia alert - When Nikon wanted to compete with Leica in the 50s, they introduced the excellent S rangefinder cameras (I still have an old S-2). The S's had a focus wheel on the deck next to the shutter button. In order to have that wheel turn in the correct direction, clockwise for close, counte-clockwise for infinity, they reversed the direction of the lenses themselves, gear to gear, and for some reason never changed back.
By the way - trivia alert - When Nikon wanted to compete with Leica in the 50s, they introduced the excellent S rangefinder cameras (I still have an old S-2). The S's had a focus wheel on the deck next to the shutter button. In order to have that wheel turn in the correct direction, clockwise for close, counte-clockwise for infinity, they reversed the direction of the lenses themselves, gear to gear, and for some reason never changed back.
Erik Naso
Veteran
There are a few follow focus devices that fix the rotation. Endelkrones focus plus+ looks great in this regard. Personally I'm fine with them as I never went down the Canon route of glass so always had a Nikon or two in the bag, if I got Endelkrones follow focus though I wold probably try an ten myself to the right way.