AF100 with 14-140 review from b&h site

Thanks Barry. What about the Zuikos? Do they also have many steps in b/w each full stop? Or is it a jump from stop to stop?

Thanks for confirming this information. Maybe I wasn't opening my eyes properly but I couldn't find it in the spec of the lenses, nor could I find this info if I did a search on google.

Barry_Green said:
The 14-140 has many steps inbetween the full steps. But it doesn't adjust smoothly. It's clunky. The iris response is really, really slow, and it moves in visible steps. Which is annoying.
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Thanks. That's great info to have around here. I think this is an important aspect for video, even in a controlled environment.

Is there a way in Auto-Iris to limit the camera at 90% or 110% either from the whole frame or just the center? How does that work?


lpowell said:
The Olympus 35-100mm and 14-35mm f2 lenses allow you to adjust the aperture in 1/3-stop increments via camera controls. Neither of these lenses has a manual aperture ring.
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swanny said:
Are you saying youd rather have the GH2 and TM700 over the AF100?
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Yes, for me, if I had only 1 AF100 vs those 2 for event videography, then I'd rather shoot with a TM700 and GH2, as coverage and quick accurate focus is more important to me than SDOF...

If the budget supports a multi-cam AF100 shoot, or for a commercial or feature film, the AF100 hands down... right tool for the right job (for the right price)
 
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J Bellari said:
Yes, for me, if I had only 1 AF100 vs those 2 for event videography, then I'd rather shoot with a TM700 and GH2, as coverage and quick accurate focus is more important to me than SDOF...

If the budget supports a multi-cam AF100 shoot, or for a commercial or feature film, the AF100 hands down... right tool for the right job (for the right price)
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Out of curiosity, why was it a debate for either the AF100 vs the GH2 and TM700? Why not an AF100 AND TM700 for events. Was it a budget limitation? It just interested me how you grouped those camera's together like that for event coverage.

Does the GH2 focus better or differently, or where you referencing the TM700 for the "quick accurate focus"?
 
Barry_Green said:
The 14-140 has many steps inbetween the full steps. But it doesn't adjust smoothly. It's clunky. The iris response is really, really slow, and it moves in visible steps. Which is annoying.
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I just got a royal lesson in this. I went to the beach today to shoot waves. I couldn't tell the auto iris was on because you just cant see light change in the LCD or EVF. I didn't notice any indicator on the readout either. I did manage to get a couple of usable shots but the auto iris stops in full increments. Really annoying. At the same time I love this lens (considering the price)
 
Where in the world does Panny say the AF-100 is not meant for doc shooting? What garbage? In fact, I guarentee you'll see some of the most beautiful docs and interviews coming from the Af-100... *point to myself* like from right here... We might even be using the Af-100 for filming in Jordan and Turkey later this year.
 
swanny said:
Out of curiosity, why was it a debate for either the AF100 vs the GH2 and TM700? Why not an AF100 AND TM700 for events. Was it a budget limitation? It just interested me how you grouped those camera's together like that for event coverage.

Does the GH2 focus better or differently, or where you referencing the TM700 for the "quick accurate focus"?
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I assume the poster didn't have budget also for a pro 1/2" or 1/3" camcorder available for event videography, and for about the same price as the 14-140 LENS you can easily use the TM700 CAMCORDER for quick accurate focus, due to the small chip...

There are plenty of other options, but the AF100 is not my first choice for event videography where I can't miss focus even once when run-n-gun style shooting...
 
"Until Panasonic introduces a camera with the, "Ridley Scott - Joey Cicio," chip, we'll just have to learn to use our tools, including the mind's-eye as well as the hardware. " -- Ticheli


+ 100

LOL -- you speak the truth too well my friend!
 
Erik Olson said:
This camera is perfect for documentary filmmaking - it has precisely the same feature-set you'd find in Arri 16mm cameras from the 50s through the 90s. There was no auto focus or iris on those. Put the camera in manual modes and shoot the way documentarians have for over half a century... or choose one of the many cameras that do provide the automated crutches to aid in creating less precise work.
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+1:thumbsup:
 
"There are plenty of other options, but the AF100 is not my first choice for event videography where I can't miss focus even once when run-n-gun style shooting... "- This is the sole reason I refuse to use autofocus when shooting run and gun style and events. Any videographer worth the price he is charging will know his equipment well enough to focus on a dime, which gives much better results than having your camera hunt for focus during a shot. Continue shooting in autofocus and I guarantee one of your biggest emotional payoffs will be ruined while the camera checks its focus. The title of camera operator comes with responsibilities one being operating the camera, if you don't want them stick it on a tripod or con some idiot into pointing it around while you enjoy the open bar.

In six years of working with dozens of cameras I have never taken one of them out of manual focus and iris modes, and I have never missed my shot due to lack of skill using my tools. I apologize if I seem harsh, it just seems ridiculous to me what people come up with to criticize an amazing tool that I would never even take off of manual controls.
 
With luck maybe the "reviewer" will get so frustrated with his choice of the AF-100 that he will sell it to someone who is actually willing to learn to use it.
 
I thought the "AF" meant auto-focus? Hee Hee. Seriously I have never-ever-ever used auto focus,

DCTBradJohnson said:
"There are plenty of other options, but the AF100 is not my first choice for event videography where I can't miss focus even once when run-n-gun style shooting... "- This is the sole reason I refuse to use autofocus when shooting run and gun style and events. Any videographer worth the price he is charging will know his equipment well enough to focus on a dime, which gives much better results than having your camera hunt for focus during a shot. Continue shooting in autofocus and I guarantee one of your biggest emotional payoffs will be ruined while the camera checks its focus. The title of camera operator comes with responsibilities one being operating the camera, if you don't want them stick it on a tripod or con some idiot into pointing it around while you enjoy the open bar.

In six years of working with dozens of cameras I have never taken one of them out of manual focus and iris modes, and I have never missed my shot due to lack of skill using my tools. I apologize if I seem harsh, it just seems ridiculous to me what people come up with to criticize an amazing tool that I would never even take off of manual controls.
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Because the Zuikos cost 3x as much. Each. To cover the range of the $750 14-140, you'd have to buy both the $2300 Zuiko 14-35 and the $2500 35-100. So, yeah, $4800 worth of glass does beat $750 worth of glass, that really shouldn't surprise anyone.
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My statement was made based on reading comments here and elsewhere about the usability of the 14-140 in a documentary situation, not on the cost, which is irrelevant if it's a tool. However, not having used either I should probably have kept quiet.

I do have to say that the manual 1/3 stop increment situation on the Zuikos seriously concerns me. The more I read, the more it seems these lenses just aren't ready for prime-time...

Are there any 4/3 or M4/3 lenses with iris rings?
 
The only ones I know are manual focus.

Voigtlander 25mm .95
26mm 1.4 Toy lens

Mac said:
My statement was made based on reading comments here and elsewhere about the usability of the 14-140 in a documentary situation, not on the cost, which is irrelevant if it's a tool. However, not having used either I should probably have kept quiet.

I do have to say that the manual 1/3 stop increment situation on the Zuikos seriously concerns me. The more I read, the more it seems these lenses just aren't ready for prime-time...

Are there any 4/3 or M4/3 lenses with iris rings?
Click to expand...
 
DCTBradJohnson said:
"There are plenty of other options, but the AF100 is not my first choice for event videography where I can't miss focus even once when run-n-gun style shooting... "- This is the sole reason I refuse to use autofocus when shooting run and gun style and events. Any videographer worth the price he is charging will know his equipment well enough to focus on a dime, which gives much better results than having your camera hunt for focus during a shot. Continue shooting in autofocus and I guarantee one of your biggest emotional payoffs will be ruined while the camera checks its focus. The title of camera operator comes with responsibilities one being operating the camera, if you don't want them stick it on a tripod or con some idiot into pointing it around while you enjoy the open bar.

In six years of working with dozens of cameras I have never taken one of them out of manual focus and iris modes, and I have never missed my shot due to lack of skill using my tools. I apologize if I seem harsh, it just seems ridiculous to me what people come up with to criticize an amazing tool that I would never even take off of manual controls.
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I just offered an option and my opinion.

I don't doubt your belief in your abilities, but I've never
heard of a guy that never missed focus even for 1/4 second after 6 years of event videography
using SDOF with a large sensor interchangeable lens camera...

I think 2/3" and smaller chips intrinsically are better suited to event videography than cameras
with larger than 2/3" chips, but this thread is not about that so I'll keep my opinion to myself...

I'll just turn on the local news (shot on 2/3" and smaller chip sony and panasonic cameras) and tune out this thread...
 
Each to their own I guess but for me if its ON auto focus then its not ON. If I hired a camera op on a documentary and he asked me where the autofocus was - Id think to myself "yeah, not hiring you again".
 
Okay, as an ex-events shooter, I've said repeatedly the AF100 would not be my first choice. Or my second, or my third. It is not ideal for shooting events, it's not made for shooting events. If I had to shoot events, I'd probably rather have the 14-140 than just about any other lens out there, but there is a very good reason that cameras like the HPX170, HMC150, and EX1 are still on the market.
 
The only ones I know are manual focus.

Voigtlander 25mm .95
26mm 1.4 Toy lens
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Otto Focus should be the name of a wrestler...

Hmmm... So, the nearest zoom to what I will need/want (weight, aperture, manual controls) is the Red? It isn't even available yet is it?
 
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