af100 highlight prototye test: What do you think?

[Barry_Green]

And I'm skeptical of the claim that the AF100 will outperform the GH2 when used properly. I want to believe that. I want to feel that if I spend close to $5,000 on a camera that it is going to be a wise investment compared to a GH2 (which I will also purchase).

Well, go ahead and believe it. There is nothing -- NOTHING -- that a GH2 can do better than an AF100, except stills. When it comes to image-making, the AF100 has every good thing the GH2 has, and more, and with none of the problems.

I'm not certain the AF100 is the undeniable winner in all cases.

I am. In fact I guarantee it. I dare anyone, anywhere, at any time, to produce footage with a GH2, that can't be done equally well or better on the AF100.* It simply can't be done. The AF100 has the more appropriate sensor, it has better video-oriented processing circuitry, more controls, more image settings, and ... is just better.

But in the meantime, $800 or $900 for a GH2 is getting me really excited with its 24mbps 1080 24p, its creamy-looking 800 ISO, its sensor-crop mode allowing use of my c-mount lenses, and it's clean HDMI out.

Agreed, and I anxiously await its release as well, so I can get rid of the GH13 and use something that won't freeze up on recording. But I still assert, forcefully so, that the AF100 will always, always do at LEAST as well, and most likely better.


*excepting something to do with the extended tele crop, because the AF100 doesn't have that feature; it was a tradeoff of aliasing vs. extended tele.

 

[Barry_Green]

You folks are so fickle...lol.

Here's my wild assumption...it's all on purpose. Yup. It's a strategy by Panasonic to show us the worst of the worst up front. Then just before actual release date they release the most visually stunning footage one has ever seen in a DV camera. All to make a point...that there is no perfect camera/shooter....but with some tender lovin care ....this can come awfully close. <<<<Imagine that!!


ok...that was stooopid!!

That isn't any sort of strategy, but I wouldn't be surprised if that's pretty much actually how it all plays out.

 

[Yak]

.... There is nothing -- NOTHING -- that a GH2 can do better than an AF100,....

Well the GH2 can fit into a coat pocket

 

[Barry_Green]

Well frankly I make tests like this all the time. But I would never dream of posting them anywhere.

Exactly.

Usually I do this HD-SDI to a calibrated monitor and scopes. To test new cameras or lenses, etc.

Exactly.

The tests are really stress tests, and it is how you tune the camera. I also use color charts etc. This is how you figure out how to set up a camera for a certain look. But why publish these shots w/o any comments or even notes at all.

EX-AC-TLY.

I doubt Panasonic is behind this.

I would be shocked if they were.

Look, it's possible that the OP posted this because everyone's clamoring about highlights, and he wanted to show blown highlights. But the fact of the matter is that it's just pouring more fuel on a fire that is much ado about nothing in the first place.

I also go out of the studio with a new camera and shoot a bunch of different settings w/o scopes etc, and then go back and look at different results, to figure out the best PP's. But I would never show this to a client or put it up on the WEB. What is the point?

This is exactly the procedure. That's what folks do. Posting this on the web has served no purpose but to stir up a lot of frenzy that's going to ultimately result in nothing more than sales of antacids.

Wait for real footage.

 

[Barry_Green]

It's not only that, but the AF100 footage seems to have Sharpness or Detail turned up. It's much more video-ish. I know it's impossible to tell from Vimeo footage, but that's my intuitive response. Perhaps we just need to dial down the Detail on the AF100 to get a more filmic look.

Yes, you do. The AF100's detail circuit seems to be a little more noticeable than it is on the HVX/HPX170/HMC150 series. Whether that's due to the shift to CMOS, or to the shallow DOF making the edge enhancement more noticeable, I don't know. But I do know that my testing has shown that I definitely prefer the detail set lower on the AF100, as compared to the others.

 

[Barry_Green]

Well the GH2 can fit into a coat pocket

Sigh. Yes, of course it can. One of the reasons why I want to get one. Especially triply more now that I have the pancake lens...

But you know what I meant. I meant footage-wise. People sing the GH2's praises and condemn the AF100, and it's just ... preposterous. It's just crazy to me. The AF100 is everything the GH2 is, and 10x more. Anything (footage-wise) the GH2 can do, the AF100 does better. It has all the power of the GH2, none of the problems, and lots more control and options. Maybe that's the problem -- maybe the GH2 has easier "foolproof" settings and looks better out-of-the-box? But you can make an AF100 match a GH2 if you want.

 

[Paul Vicente]

the more i read, look and try to figure out a good lens configuration for the AF100 whit the crop factor and the adaptors ... the more ...

oh no.....

 

[Yak]

The Coat pocket comment was a reference to the "Red pocket camera" that never was. I agree there is nothing that the GH2 can do better than the AF100 as far as video recording goes.

 

[Barry_Green]

The Coat pocket comment was a reference to the "Red pocket camera" that never was. I agree there is nothing that the GH2 can do better than the AF100 as far as video recording goes.

Ah, your wit is fast, and your avatar is indeed a Yak. Well played.

 

[bhdfield]

Barry, just curious. Are you currently, like right now, doing testing on a production model? I understand you can't say what you're seeing yet if you are indeed. Just curious.

 

[VGurcu]

This obsession with how the af-100 handles highlights is indeed ridiculous.
Anytime you send out someone to shoot exteriors with video on a sunny day without a crew, they are going to have a lot of problems with highlights, I don't care how good the roll off or highlight compression is.People are freaking out about highlights like its some deficiency with this camera only.

Finally somebody who shoots & knows.
If I have one take(event videography) on a sunny day, I dont care if some hotspots are on the background, or if i lost some detail in overexposed(oxymoron?) areas etc. If your human subject is in shadow with a sunny background and if you expose for that background good luck in post trying to bring up dark skin tones... That is what the Japan sample footage was all about; event recording in one of the most difficult shooting conditions. What do I care if some background hand rails or some leaves in sunny patches have no detail???
Over %90 kids posting on these forums have no clue what they are talking about, or lack the necessary experience needed to comment on any imagery, let alone judge a camera, or operator.

 

[ustein]

Since I follow this thread I look at all TV videos and find the same highlight artifacts everywhere. Did not see them before

 

[dustylense]

Finally somebody who shoots & knows.
If I have one take(event videography) on a sunny day, I dont care if some hotspots are on the background, or if i lost some detail in overexposed(oxymoron?) areas etc. If your human subject is in shadow with a sunny background and if you expose for that background good luck in post trying to bring up dark skin tones... That is what the Japan sample footage was all about; event recording in one of the most difficult shooting conditions. What do I care if some background hand rails or some leaves in sunny patches have no detail???
Over %90 kids posting on these forums have no clue what they are talking about, or lack the necessary experience needed to comment on any imagery, let alone judge a camera, or operator.

even more, over 90% (actually 99.999999%) that post here or anywhere will never see a single one of their projects on the big screen where people will pay money for that viewing. Come on guys!!!! This is a $4,900 ($4,795 at B&H) camera! Thats a steal for most of the samples I've seen.
Better yet, how about all you pixel peepers NOT buy the camera so that more are on the shelf when I order one leaving less delay for it to be in my hands! The camera is going to ROCK!

 

[Barry_Green]

Barry, just curious. Are you currently, like right now, doing testing on a production model? I understand you can't say what you're seeing yet if you are indeed. Just curious.

At this moment I don't have one. But will shortly.

 

[Barry_Green]

Thank heavens that sanity seems to be coming back to this thread! :thumbsup:

 

[John Caballero]

even more, over 90% (actually 99.999999%) that post here or anywhere will never see a single one of their projects on the big screen where people will pay money for that viewing. Come on guys!!!! This is a $4,900 ($4,795 at B&H) camera! Thats a steal for most of the samples I've seen.

There you go! But what about the You Tube and Vimeo videos 99.999999% of the people complaining and making Barry's existence unbearable look like with the "blown highlights flaw"? LOL! The are way too many "experts" in this internet era. We have to be thankful so far that Panasonic is making this huge effort to bring an affordable large sensor cameras to us. But thanks God there are so many more expensive options for those that the AF100 won't do the job. So far the AF100 looks very good for those that can see the possibilities an understand the technology. The others just complain.

 

[Rolf Silber]

Since I follow this thread I look at all TV videos and find the same highlight artifacts everywhere. Did not see them before

Maybe that has to do with the theory of morphic fields as explained by Rupert Sheldrake... once introduced by the AG-AF highlight artifacts multiply on their own and become apparent to us.... may have to do with quantum theory or blown out highlights are a sure sign that the universe will end on the 4th of march.... or the 5th...?

I really do not know why somebody posts such a "test" and I do not know why he writes he has shot something with a 50mm Zeiss while he is zooming like mad. Unless Zeiss has managed to snuggle a zoom lens into a fixed focal one.... if you want I call them (I speak German) and Rupert Sheldrake and find out... all things are connected as we know. Somehow.

Great. The sooner people will cancel their pre-orders the sooner I get my camera.

 

[dvbrother]

Well, go ahead and believe it. There is nothing -- NOTHING -- that a GH2 can do better than an AF100, except stills. .

Thanks, Barry. You've restored my enthusiasm. And voicing your observation that the detail needs to be reduced to a lower setting than the HPx and HVX makes me realize I'm not crazy for noticing the AF100's sharpness. I didn't want to be perceived as a clueless criticizer for saying it. So, I'm happy to know I can control that on the AF100.
I think the dual combo of an AF100 and GH2 (for stills and as a B camera) is going to be fantastic!