AF100 / AF101 - initial report

ropbo said:
Sorry if this question has been posted already but ... what dynamic range do you expect from this camera ?
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Too early to tell. I tested the early prototype and saw 10.5 stops on a backlit step chart, but -- the chip isn't done being optimized. The final might be more, or less, we'll just have to see.
 
I'm going to DV-expo Barry. Any idea if one will be able to pre-order at the event?

We have several project we'd like to shoot with the AF100. Any idea about when we can expect delivery?
 
Barry_Green said:
Just because a lens is capable of covering a larger frame, doesn't mean that it won't work well on a smaller frame! Typically lenses are best and sharpest in the center of the glass, so when you use a lens that can cover a larger frame, on a camera with a smaller sensor, it is said to be looking through the "sweet spot" of the lens..
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Yes, that i know... But i work mosly on music videos so i use a lot of super vide lenses. That's why im concerned about the small sernsor size compared to 5d or dof adaptors. Well, one thing is cool about it... I bet my anamorphic isco 54 will work great on af101 :)

Barry_Green said:
The AF100 has a Cinema Crop Factor of 1.18.
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Thank you :)
 
Enjoyed the video that was in german...he showed the ND filter which made me happy...how cool is that thing? I mean we already knew it had it but it was great to see it pop in front of the sensor like that.
 
Yawn - well this is basically what we expected as the next evolution from DSLRs - Large sensor wrapped in camcorder body with pro features.

Expect this form factor to be introduced by all major camera manufactures. Hardly a DSLR killer, just the first of many in a new line of camcorders.

Let's face it, the output from DSLRs are fine for most final output we deal with today - The WEB. I doubt the internet will be wowed by this device like we were with the first 5D2 video from Laforet. I guess it's to be expected at this point, not much can be considered revolutionary, all will be incremental evolutions.

Yes the sample videos are definitely yawners, you'd think Panasonic would have learned something marketing-wise from the various DSLR launches over the years.
 
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mcgeedigital said:
What do you want? It is a Pre-Production model after all.
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so a pre-pro camera can't shoot amazing footage? put it in the hands of some creative talent and send him/her off!.

Don't give it to someone to shoot some ducks from a tripod.

Or don't shoot anything at all.

This is what smart marketing dictates
 
mcgeedigital said:
I'm sure when the camera is past the prototype stage that there will be plenty of nice footage to be had.
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Well yes.

Still doesn't change the fact that along with Barry's hugely positive report, we were treated to some sub-standard examples from the camera.

An opportunity lost.
 
What is the sensor resolution of AF-100? (How many pixels did they cram into its sensor)
I am hoping it is quite low, or just enough for a 1920x1080 image (a big advantage comparing to HDSLR since it is not intended as a still camera) so that advantage of a full frame camera for a cleaner image is diminished.
 
booggerg2 said:
Well yes.

Still doesn't change the fact that along with Barry's hugely positive report, we were treated to some sub-standard examples from the camera.

An opportunity lost.
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Just look at what the GH1 can do and look at all the great videos from it, and then imagine that in a more pro friendly design, with more features, and what we KNOW will be a better overall imaging system.

Take a look at this video from the GH1 I saw the other day that absolutely blew me away...I was sure it was 16mm film or at least RED until I scrolled down and read the description. Amazing...so we know the AF-101 has the potential to be at least this good.

 
I think Booger is saying that the opportunity was lost to do something interesting or of aesthetic value with the footage, not that the whole camera is a lost opportunity because the first footage was lackluster. This is precisely why Barry didn't post his footy of brick walls and grass.

booggerg2 said:
so a pre-pro camera can't shoot amazing footage? put it in the hands of some creative talent and send him/her off!.

Don't give it to someone to shoot some ducks from a tripod.

Or don't shoot anything at all.

This is what smart marketing dictates
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Yeah. Just wait till Macgregor gets a hold of that camera. Well that's not entirely fair. Macgregor could get a hold of a 1985 VHS camera and make teamsters cry. But you get my point.

What I didn't see in that test footage was any talent, eye, or knowledge of how to dial in the panasonic mojo that comes standard with the H-series HD cameras through the DVX.

What I also didn't see were problems associated with DSLR.
 
Ben_B said:
Just look at what the GH1 can do and look at all the great videos from it, and then imagine that in a more pro friendly design, with more features, and what we KNOW will be a better overall imaging system.

Take a look at this video from the GH1 I saw the other day that absolutely blew me away...I was sure it was 16mm film or at least RED until I scrolled down and read the description. Amazing...so we know the AF-101 has the potential to be at least this good.

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Well other than potentially higher DR, I don't see any of the other imaging improvements would be so evident on the web.

For a more visually critical deliver format, then yes, something like this cam will represent a huge upgrade.
 
booggerg2 said:
Well other than potentially higher DR, I don't see any of the other imaging improvements would be so evident on the web.

For a more visually critical deliver format, then yes, something like this cam will represent a huge upgrade.
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I'm not so sure.

I shot my first webseries in the old days of lonelygirl15 and back then we had the notion that it didn't matter what the hell the video looked like. So we used a really crappy SD camera but very quickly, though, the standard changed and a year or two later people were all shooting HD, lighting well, on and on.

The same will be true as the internet matures. The net is on its way to replacing cable for broadcast and the cable companies are scared to death. What this means is that people are streaming video to their 60 inch plasmas with greater and greater bandwidth.

If you think they wont notice your moire, aliasing and muddy videos you are very wrong.
 
VGurcu said:
What is the sensor resolution of AF-100? (How many pixels did they cram into its sensor)
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We don't know. That specification has not been published yet.

I am hoping it is quite low, or just enough for a 1920x1080 image (a big advantage comparing to HDSLR since it is not intended as a still camera) so that advantage of a full frame camera for a cleaner image is diminished.
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Whether it's high or low, the real question is -- how does it perform? The cameras on display were limited to fixed ISOs of 400, 800, and 1600. Several people put it on 1600 and commented that it looked really surprisingly good. But I didn't have a Canon to compare it against. And in the menus it says it goes up to 3200.

Someone came by with a (hacked!) GH13, and I shot 1600 against 1600, same lens, somewhat similar framing, but I haven't had a chance to dig into that footage yet to see what difference it makes.
 
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