AF100 / AF101 - initial report

Barry_Green said:
Gas in California was $3.09 a gallon a couple of weeks ago. In Texas, it was $2.49.
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1 liter of gas costs about 1.40 euro here in Holland and France, that is $2.00. A gallon is 3.79 liter so a gallon costs $7.58 here in Europe. Now you know why we're all driving in tiny cars around here :-)

About the price differences for cams between USA and Europe; if you import a cam from the USA (either by mail or by a personal round trip flight) you have to pay 19% VAT and about 6% importing duties over the purchase amount. So let's say the AF100 costs $5000, that is about 3500 euro, plus 25% makes 4375 euro. Professionals claim the 19% VAT back from tax department and will end up paying 3710 euro.
In Holland (http://www.videobewerken.nl/products/Panasonic-AG%2dAF101.html) the AF100 costs 5299 euro including 19% VAT thus 4453 euro nett for professionals. So for pros the difference between USA and European price is about 700 euro. For me this isn't worth importing it from the USA for and risking huge problems when having to apply for warranty repairs etc but I can imagine for others it would be worth the trouble.
It would be fair though if prices in Europe and the USA would be the same. Even European products are relatively cheaper in the USA than in Europe.
 
Barry- congrats on 40,000 posts!!! :2vrolijk_08:

Of course, you'd only have a mere 20,000 if not for constantly responding to Pixel Peepers!!!

Seriously, do you keep an extra-large bottle of Extra-Strength Excedrin handy???
 
groveChuck said:
Barry- congrats on 40,000 posts!!! :2vrolijk_08:

Of course, you'd only have a mere 20,000 if not for constantly responding to Pixel Peepers!!!

Seriously, do you keep an extra-large bottle of Extra-Strength Excedrin handy???
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:) Sometimes answering the same question does get a little ... redundant... :thumbsup:
 
Homunculus said:
now just imagine if you charged for this service. even a penny per post, that's 40,000 pennies. can someone help me with the math here? oh well 400$ better than nothing...
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That's why I write the books. Sometimes folks want all the answers all in one place, that they can carry around with them, and not have to go hunting through 40,000 posts. The book sales have been good enough to afford me the ability to continue answering all these questions, researching the equipment, doing the reviews, etc. It's all good. :thumbsup:
 
Barry_Green said:
That's why I write the books. Sometimes folks want all the answers all in one place, that they can carry around with them, and not have to go hunting through 40,000 posts. The book sales have been good enough to afford me the ability to continue answering all these questions, researching the equipment, doing the reviews, etc. It's all good. :thumbsup:
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So I guess that says that the AF-100 is going to be the topic for your next book, right? :2vrolijk_08:


I'm still waiting for someone to post, "Barry, I just found out that if you leave the lens cap on, the camera just records black video!!! Is Panasonic going to fix that major defect???" :laugh:



Bob Diaz
 
I don't know if this has been discussed already.
I am hoping the viewfinder will be detachable like the handle. It is located too far in the back if I am doing handheld with a shoulder rig. It allows me to keep the center of gravity of the whole camera rig on top of my shoulder.

It is ideal if I can attach the EVF on a Noga arm and position it on the right hand side of thr camera, just like the RED One. Is it too late to ask?

With its current design, I have to use a LCD loupe in this situation. Isn't it a shame when we already have a functioning EVF but we can't use it for handheld?
 
AF100 viewfinder is not detachable. Redrock and Zacuto are coming out with seperate small electronic viewfinders/monitors that connect via hdmi to camera. Finders can be attached to camera with Noga/Zacuto etc arms anywhere you want. This may solve your situation.
 
For my work, I find the EVF very rarely employed. Outside in bright light, I throw a black hood over my head and use the LCD, unless it's on something like a camera car where the wind is a problem; in that case the EVF is essential. I've come to rely more and more on the LCD; in the studio I almost never attach the EVF unless my assistant need the LCD. Of course detachable and positional is much better, just not that important in a little camera like this.

Good shooting and best regards,

Leo
 
Well I guess you just got a bad habit.
I would compose and do alot on LCD, but I would always check if everything's fine on the EVF.

That was in the DVX days, now that I use the GH1, and that i ALWAYS rely on the EVF, I think i'm gonna keep doing this with the AF-100
 
The EVF is really very good on the AF100; I've become far more accustomed to using the LCD but when working with the AF100 I find I'm using the EVF more and more than I normally would on another camera. And the EVF is awesome for those times when you forget your reading glasses... :)

As others have said, the EVF is not detachable/removable. That's one of the first things I asked for too, but ... I don't think any handheld camera has that. If you really need a repositionable EVF, monkeyking hit that nail on the head, the Redrock or Zacuto would be the thing to consider.
 
Rabot said:
Well I guess you just got a bad habit.
I would compose and do alot on LCD, but I would always check if everything's fine on the EVF.

That was in the DVX days, now that I use the GH1, and that i ALWAYS rely on the EVF, I think i'm gonna keep doing this with the AF-100
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I have many bad habits, but this is not one of them.

Good shooting and best regards,

Leo
 
Barry_Green said:
As others have said, the EVF is not detachable/removable. That's one of the first things I asked for too, but ... I don't think any handheld camera has that. If you really need a repositionable EVF, monkeyking hit that nail on the head, the Redrock or Zacuto would be the thing to consider.
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Thx Barry for making that request. While using a third party EVF is a viable option, it is just a shame to have a good built-in EVF while I just can't use it when I need it the most - that's when I need to pull my own focus while doing handheld. The extra bulk of a second EVF is what I want to avoid when I am in handheld mode.

Panasonic was able to think outside of the box and made the handle detachable. No other small-form camera does that. They will make the camera that much more perfect if only they took one step further and make the EVF detachable too.

Perhaps if enough people ask for it, they will consider it for their next camera?
 
I didn't want to make a whole new thread for this ignorant question:

Does the AF100 have a mechanical shutter like a DSLR? I know that it doesn't record with one...

...I'm asking because I have to shoot some huntin' videos, and it won't do well if the camera has a shutter that could open and close - make a noise...yada yada.
 
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