AF-100 Wishlist/Suggestion Discussion Thread

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My list as of this point:

1) variable frame rates in 1080p mode

2) center pixel-for-pixel extraction of a 1920x1080 frame. This would probably result in about a patch of the sensor that's about the same size as a 1/2" chip. This would be MASSIVELY AWESOME. It would provide for a perfect-quality mega-telephoto, but more importantly it would allow the use of ENG lenses from a 1/2" or 2/3" video camera to be used. Which means that this camera could be the best of a conventional video camera (EX1/HPX170) and also the best of the digital cinema camera world, in one.

3) re-iterate, let's have adjustable ISO instead of a fixed base sensor rating and adjustable gain

4) It would be cool to have the 1.2:1 aspect ratio instead of 16:9, so we could use cinema anamorphics and get true 2.40:1 imaging.

5) At the bare minimum, frame markings for 2.39:1. And I'd love to see the areas above and below the markings be tinted darker too, so you can still see in it, but it's at lower brightness so the central 2.39:1 is full brightness.

6) Autofocus is a must -- this product is announced to be a video camera as well as a still camera. But here's what I would love love love -- make it able to work with the autofocus systems of the major lens mounts (at least Nikon, Canon, and M43). The lenses already have autofocus built into them, so develop adapters that pass through the electrical contacts to the right places on the lenses, and have the internals of the camera "know" how to control that motor.

7) Adding another voice for a P2/AVC-Intra version. Just like there's an HMC150 and an HPX170, I'd love to see an AF100 and an... um, VC150? (VC for VariCam)

8) While we're at it, slap a "VariCam" badge on this thing. Call it the VariCam AF100.

9) Please maintain everything that makes the HPX170 such a great camcorder to use. Keep the waveform and the vectorscope (but use the HPX370's waveform please!) Keep the zebras and the marker. Keep the magnified focus assist and the phantom power audio and the line/mic switchable xlrs and the battery time readout in minutes; keep the time lapse from the HMC40 and the pre-record function. Keep all the good stuff. No steps backwards please! We've grown accustomed to these features, please consider them necessary.

10) Obviously we want/expect razor-crisp 1080p on par with an HPX370 or EX1, but with none of the aliasing or moire or fixed-pattern noise as can appear on the GH1.

11) Can we please get a composite monitor output port, which can also do double-duty as a timecode in/out jack as on the HMC150? The HMC150 has LTC timecode in/out, and in digi-cine you do frequently use things like timecode slates and separate audio recorders, and since the technology already exists in the HMC150, can it please be imported to the AF100?

12) Focus In Red, with adjustable levels. Basically I want the peaking controls of the HPX370, but with selectable color for the peaking.

13) This should go without saying, but let's say it anyway -- a high-def sharp LCD and VF. The HPX370's are great, can we get something comparable on the AF100?

14) As much family compatibility as possible. The DVX/HVX/HPX170/HMC cameras have a very familiar feel to them and shared componentry, such as the remote controls and (for most of them) the batteries. Lots of folks will be migrating up from one of the prior units, so as much of their gear that they can keep and bring with them, the happier they'll be.

15) I'd love to see dual tripod mounting holes, a 1/4-20 and a 3/8".

16) Can we get a special limited-edition version that's painted green, so we can call it the Green One? :P
 
Oh, plus Logan's list -- those are great items. I especially love the request for recording to both cards simultaneously and for the in-body stabilization! That would be massively awesome if possible.

With all this said (and I know I just handed over an 18-item wishlist) please understand that yes, we do recognize that there's a limit as to what can be accomplished within the given price bracket and time frame. We probably can't have everything. But as many of these items as possible would be greatly appreciated!
 
I'll throw my own item into this thread (which I'll add as soon as I update the first post).

The ability to dial in white balance in Kelvin.
This is a standard now in DSLRs, and something I'd love to see on the AF100.
We asked for it on the HPX170.... hopefully we'll see it this time around?

(fingers crossed)
 
In body image stabilization for sure!

If olympus can do it with a tiny m4/3 camera we should be able to have it in this thing.
 
I'm not sure if it's necessary on such a large sensor, but again I want to mention "white shading". On the JVC HM700 I use at work (sorry, I lobbied for a Panasonic but lost), using different lenses requires them to be white shaded, otherwise you can get horrible cyan and magenta casts on your images.

However, I just realized that's perhaps only a problem with CCDs. Being a CMOS camera, it's probably not an issue. Never mind!
 
Barry_Green said:
16) Can we get a special limited-edition version that's painted green, so we can call it the Green One? :P
Click to expand...

I concur with all of Barry's suggestion but especially this, I want a GREEN digital cinema camera :)

Little joke aside, I really think he's made a good list and I especially agree with everybody who suggests using ISO for exposure sensitivity setting. That's how cinematographers works, without it they will feel less inclined to work with AF100. This is important or the digital cinema marketing angle will not sound as convincing to people coming from film production. And ISO already there in GH1.

Regarding autofocus, see no reason to remove the system in-place on GH1 - it works pretty well. But I have a addition to it:

PROGRAMMABLE FOCUS POINTS

Like this:
Focus on one distance / image part, designate as A with a button press.
Then focus at a second, designate as B.
Have a button to toggle between the two points.

Preferable with also the speed of the focus pull adjustable between as fast as the lens can go to say 5 or even 10 seconds.

This would vastly enhance the use of the shorter DOF can AF100 provide for solo run-n-gun shooters. And for micro-budget indi-film productions that can't afford a experienced focus puller.
 
I'm not that into the programmable focus points... I had similar on my FX1 and I might have set it up half a dozen times... It just wasn't worth it to program. Programming the two focus points and speed between them is a hassle... Besides, if you have time to do it to program, just hit the record button and tada... You have the shot.

I just never used it enough to see it as a valuable feature.
 
Barry_Green said:
Oh, plus Logan's list -- those are great items. I especially love the request for recording to both cards simultaneously and for the in-body stabilization! That would be massively awesome if possible.

With all this said (and I know I just handed over an 18-item wishlist) please understand that yes, we do recognize that there's a limit as to what can be accomplished within the given price bracket and time frame. We probably can't have everything. But as many of these items as possible would be greatly appreciated!
Click to expand...

Please include as many of Barry list as possible most if not all of his requests already exist on older Panasonic products so we Know it can be done. "just Do It" please, Please, PLEASE
 
Martti Ekstrand said:
Regarding autofocus, see no reason to remove the system in-place on GH1 - it works pretty well. But I have a addition to it:

PROGRAMMABLE FOCUS POINTS

Like this:
Focus on one distance / image part, designate as A with a button press.
Then focus at a second, designate as B.
Have a button to toggle between the two points.

Preferable with also the speed of the focus pull adjustable between as fast as the lens can go to say 5 or even 10 seconds.

This would vastly enhance the use of the shorter DOF can AF100 provide for solo run-n-gun shooters. And for micro-budget indi-film productions that can't afford a experienced focus puller.
Click to expand...
this is exactly what i was trying to say with the touch LCD. not relegating the controls to a touch UI but enhancing the experience

its like what martti said but we're pushing it further

touch focus pulling
e.g.
tap on point B will automatically pull focus from point A to point B

focus tracking
e.g. being able to pull focus while a subject is moving. if you have your subject walking towards or away, the camera will track the face/object and keep it in focus.

focus assist
being able to pan the picture during magnification instead of just a magnified center.

check this video for an example
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhP6oPU_iYc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01q7gr2_TQQ around 0:50

on another note yeah like others said, colored peaking helps too :)
 
If the AF100 has good compatibility with other lenses, which it sounds like, it would be amazing to be offered a body-only purchase option, at the same time as the option with the kit lens.
 
Martti Ekstrand said:
?

Please explain. Camera would automagically pull focus at a given cue and somehow know both this and the distances by means of artificial intelligence?
Click to expand...

Okay.... on the Sonys that have the very thing you are describing it works like this...

Push button A... Set focus.
Push Button B... Set focus on other object.
Go into menu... set time between execution of button A/B.

Go to "Execute"... Now.. click record, and Execute.


Or... Click record.
Pull focus from point A to Point B with marks on FF wheel.


Which sounds quicker?
 
Just because Sony made a bad implementation of such a function doesn't mean Panasonic will. Are we having this thread to shoot down each others ideas?
 
Agree with most of the suggestions on the first page of this thread.
GH1 style EVF with histogram, aspect markers etc.

I'd also like to ask, if there is to be a kit lens offered and it is the Lumix 14-140, that this be modified so that the zoom is smoother. I don't know if that is a suggestion that should be passed on to the Lumix division or this would be something that Panasonic Broadcast could achieve. This lens in it's first shipment at least, was way too sticky to work well for smooth zooms IMO. Maybe a 14-140 MKII :-)
Personally I'd like a body only option, hopefully it will ship this way, but thought I'd ask anyway..

Jan, thanks for taking the time to participate in this thread. It's hard to please all the people all the time and with the amount of different needs from user to user, probably impossible. Hopefully a few of the suggestions in this thread, will make their way into the final version.

Oh and pretty please, make the top handle removable!
 
touch focus pulling
e.g.
pressing on point B will automatically pull focus from point A to point B
Click to expand...

The Panasonic G2 has touch focus pulling, though I don't think it works quite like you're suggesting. I only ever used the A to B point focusing on the FX1 a couple of times, but if this can be done well via the LCD, then it could be useful in some situations. How well it works is going to depend on the lens I guess.
 
AdrianF said:
The Panasonic G2 has touch focus pulling, though I don't think it works quite like you're suggesting. I only ever used the A to B point focusing on the FX1 a couple of times, but if this can be done well via the LCD, then it could be useful in some situations. How well it works is going to depend on the lens I guess.
Click to expand...
why not? have you seen the youtube video? it works well and pretty smooth

yes it only applies to micro four third lenses with the 14-140 HD lens by panasonic

if you stick a manual lens on it, it wont work. but attaching a 20mm 1.7 on it would be great
 
Hello!

I know most of these features have been asked already, I'm just adding my +1 too;

Crop sensor option; true 1920x1080 out of the chip.
User scene files. ( I know this is probably already in the camera)
Iso setting rather then gain.
Kelving White balance setting.

MOST IMPORTANT; NO FIXED NOISE PATTERN.

I can't even Panny to admit my camera is wrong when I see LOTS of it a like 800 iso in a regular lighted interior.
 
why not? have you seen the youtube video? it works well and pretty smooth
Click to expand...

It does seem to work well for what it does. But I'm not sure that this can be stored, thereby recalling the same focus points, which is what I thought was being suggested here.
 
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