AF100 / AF101 - initial report

[LoganMackay]

Barry,

Is there in-camera OIS? Or is it a function to control an OIS capable lens only?
Not sure if that ever got answered.

No in-camera OIS.

 

[Barry_Green]

Is there in-camera OIS? Or is it a function to control an OIS capable lens only?

There is no image stabilization in the body; it relies on the lens to provide image stabilization (or not, as the case may be.)

 

[Contact_Therapy]

There is no image stabilization in the body; it relies on the lens to provide image stabilization (or not, as the case may be.)

So there's a button on the camera and a switch on the lens that must both be turned on for OIS to work? It's been awhile since I used an m4/3 lens on my GH1 but I thought all that needed to be done was to use the switch on the lens itself?

 

[powervideo]

I've made it quite clear to them that 10-bit would be a great advantage. However, frankly, I don't expect it, because none of the other AG-series cameras offer it. And the nanoflash wouldn't take advantage of it anyway. But, yes, trust me, lots of nagging has been done. :thumbsup:

Good job Barry. Keep nagging about that 10-bit until the last drop of political capital is gone.:violin:

 

[timbook2]

ohh true: there is an OIS button on camera....I wonder why?

 

[RaviSun3D]

It will be plessure to see the Canons and Nikons work with AF100.

Anyways, Barry, Sorry for long list

1. Are we missing the Wheel menu dial?
2. How big are the ND filters behind the lens? How they work?
3. Does Timelapse have Long Exposure (slow shutter) like EX1?
4. Not to expect this but, can it capture stills, for high quality Timelapse?
5. Any new (working) METADATA features?

 

[ChrisPrine]

ohh true: there is an OIS button on camera....I wonder why?

That stands for Overlay Immense Sandwich. You press that and a graphic of a huge sandwich is superimposed on the video.

 

[Peter J. DeCrescenzo]

Just a guess: The "OIS" switch on the side of the cam body might be a shortcut to the menu to select among the different OIS modes (similar to GH1's menus).

 

[powervideo]

Barry,

Is there in-camera OIS? Or is it a function to control an OIS capable lens only?
Not sure if that ever got answered.

The IOS on the 14-140mm is very impressive in video mode. I used it on all the handhold and Glidecam shots in my last music video. I'm about to buy the 7-14mm (just watching that Aussie dollar ease up) which doesn't have OIS. But neither do my Zeiss Contax primes. I don't think it's a big deal.

I envisage using the AF100 for my commercials and music videos where it is on a tripod, dolly, Steadi or crane so OIS is not as important in those cases.

 

[Barry_Green]

1. Are we missing the Wheel menu dial?

Not sure what you mean. What wheel menu dial? There's a wheel on the back of the camera, which is used for setting frame rate and shutter speed.

2. How big are the ND filters behind the lens? How they work?

Two-stop, Four-stop, and Six-stop. So 1/4, 1/16, and 1/64. They're on a physical wheel, just like on a big broadcast camera.

3. Does Timelapse have Long Exposure (slow shutter) like EX1?

Didn't try the timelapse. Don't know.

4. Not to expect this but, can it capture stills, for high quality Timelapse?

The only stills capability I saw is the ability to capture a 1920x1080 frame grab. It won't do big megapixel stills.

5. Any new (working) METADATA features?

Metadata is exactly the same as on the HPX170/HMC150 etc.

 

[Ben_B]

It will be plessure to see the Canons and Nikons work with AF100.

Anyways, Barry, Sorry for long list

1. Are we missing the Wheel menu dial?
2. How big are the ND filters behind the lens? How they work?
3. Does Timelapse have Long Exposure (slow shutter) like EX1?
4. Not to expect this but, can it capture stills, for high quality Timelapse?
5. Any new (working) METADATA features?

You can see the ND filter in action here at 1:20.

http://www.videoaktiv.de/Praxis+Tec...llung-und-Testszenen-der-Panasonic-AF101.html

 

[RaviSun3D]

Not sure what you mean. What wheel menu dial? There's a wheel on the back of the camera, which is used for setting frame rate and shutter speed.

I mean controlling menu with Wheel Dial (like Canons, and Sonys) instead of Joystick, for fast navigation. It was in official suggestions list too.

 

[Steve Kahn]

The only stills capability I saw is the ability to capture a 1920x1080 frame grab. It won't do big megapixel stills.

Would it be safe then to assume we are dealing with a native 2k chip?

 

[SantaCruzMichael]

Weight

Weight

Do we have any information on the weight of the body yet?
I'm contemplating what my steadicam rig might be with this baby.

I'd love to know what it weighs without the top handle and side strap...

 

[Erik Olson]

...While I couldn't record it, I did have the chance to point the earliest prototype at a backlit DSC chart and counted 10.5 stops. But that may change -- they may tighten it up to reduce noise, or they may expand it, or it may stay where it is. We will see.

Was the DRS working yet? If so, was it running during your evaluation?

 

[svecher]

It has full electronic connection with Panasonic and Olympus m43 lenses, and also with 4/3 lenses when using the Lumix 4/3->m43 adapter. Autofocus and auto-iris are enabled, and the lens will report back to the camera what its zoom position is. And, the remote control ports will let you control focus and iris and record start/stop.

Are we talking about electronic focus controls a'la IntuitFocus, but using [supported] lense's own motors instead of external one + a clunky rubber strip turning the focus ring? That's pretty awesome!

In the next couple of months you should see press releases regarding adapters for the other types of lenses that provide equal performance for Canon and/or Nikon. So, before the camera ships, we should have a comprehensive solution available that provides full electronic control of all functions of those lenses.

All functions, including auto-focus? That's unreal news !!!
Makes me wonder, however, how that will be achieved by a third party adapter. Current Panasonic mFT bodies have a hard time implementing auto-focus on most FT lenses, including Panasonic's own. It's great to hear your confirmation that AF100, in prototype form at least, is an improvement in that area, however slow or noisy it does it at the moment.

 

[Erik Olson]

Those ND filters look to be about an 1¼ in diameter.

 

[Contact_Therapy]

Just a guess: The "OIS" switch on the side of the cam body might be a shortcut to the menu to select among the different OIS modes (similar to GH1's menus).

I thought you could only switch modes when taking stills? Doesn't the GH1 OIS drop to Mode 1 every time you try to record video?

If that is the case, that OIS button seems pretty redundant when you can just use the switch on the lens to do the same thing: toggling on & off.

Unless the AF-100 takes stills...

 

[SPZ]

Hey, that would be fun to have as an option though. Who wouldn't want to see Vitaliy work his magic and give us a 50-megabit 4:2:2 codec?

I think the GH1 pretty much requires Vitaliy's PTool hack to make it a workable product. I don't think it's necessary for the AF100, but I sure wouldn't turn it down if he was able to provide it!

I agree. Vitaliy already made the GH1 (first generation chip and processor) turn up the AVCHD encoding to a constant, previewable 40Mbits per sec. And, of course, a 50 plus Mbits per ec Mjpeg, with the possibility of enabling 4:2:2. If these options were unlocked for the AF100, I would certainly go for it. maybe its time to start a donation fund for vitaliy to atempt surgery on one of these!

 

[IVHM]

Would it be safe then to assume we are dealing with a native 2k chip?

Barry's post from earlier:

Well, yes, sort of. Depends on what you mean by "full raster". If you mean "is it a 1920x1080 sensor" then probably not. It's probably a 4.5K or 5K chip, so far more than the native raster of the recording format. However, it's a Bayer-pattern sensor so you'll reduce that res somewhat.

I think the question you're asking is: is it gonna deliver a crisp sharp "full HD" picture in all modes? The answer, according to what I used, is "yes."