AG-SFU100 Software Update

M

MikeTexas

Member
Is there any video available for preview using this new PS mode? Any more details on the 28Mbps PS mode, or other changes besides the aspect markers?
 
The press release only mentioned these two things:

1) "Acquisition in the 1080/60p and 1080/50p HD recording formats (in new 28Mbps PS mode)"

2) "Substitution of the 2.39:1 aspect ratio marking for the current 2.35 marker."

$250, availability in May, I think.
 
well, its great news, but i dont like the idea of paying for the software update......, as we already payed for cam...... also i really think there could be more mbps for us, at least the new SD cards allow it, and i would not mind getting 4:2:2 internally, that would definitely worth the extra money!

as i understand the auto focus lenses will do better job now with 1080 50p?

about the aspect ratio - what does that mean? hope its something better then we have now.....

but also it would be nice to see a new 4/3 Camcorder from pany .... big brother for example - with all these new camcorders from other brands , its kind of seems like we all left behind.... i dont think that 50p covers the range of offers from other brands, even i know their price is higher
 
Can someone enlighten me on what this thread is about please.

I have been away and must have missed some announcement.
 
dcloud said:
no thanks panny.
Click to expand...

For me, it's well worth the $250 upgrade price to have 1080 60p/50p.
For "things that go fast" .. and you want to do broadcast stuff, 60p
is pretty much a requirement.

I mean, we've been asking them to bring enhancements to the AF100
without having to buy new gear .. and now they've done it.

I'm very pleased.

Bravo Panasonic!

jeff
 
Sorry to be dumb, but can someone explain why I should buy this upgrade when I already have 50 fps on my AF101? Is it just so I can record audio as well, or does it do something else that my current 50 fps doesn't?
 
The 2.39:1 marker in the AF100’s viewfinder/LCD monitor will be valuable for narrative and documentary shooters, as it is a standard aspect ratio for presenting films in movie theaters.
Click to expand...

This is just the frame marker in the viewfinder. As it stands, the widescreen frame lines in the viewfinder are 2.35:1, which hasn't been the aspect ratio since the 1970s. Filmmakers call widescreen "235," and Panasonic took them literally. Once the AF100 was released, they got many complaints from professionals, because widescreen is 2.39:1, and the AF100's frame lines were wrong.

So, they're fixing the frame marker lines in this update.
 
TomLenham said:
Sorry to be dumb, but can someone explain why I should buy this upgrade when I already have 50 fps on my AF101? Is it just so I can record audio as well, or does it do something else that my current 50 fps doesn't?
Click to expand...
What you have currently is 50p overcranking for slow-mo. What the new update does is bring the camcorder up to AVCHD 2.0 spec, so it adds 1080/50p for "live" recording (including sound) at 28mbps. It gives the same motion look as 1080/50i, but with pure progressive footage and no interlacing artifacts.
 
I can't see any situation when I would need 50p. I shoot 95% in 1080p25 and the few procent left is for timelapse and overcrank 50fps in a 25p container. But that's just me and I'll keep my $250. Question is if the new PS 28mb/s works for all types of recording? If so how much visual difference will one gain over 24mb/s?
 
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Barry_Green said:
What the new update does is bring the camcorder up to AVCHD 2.0 spec.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the clarification Barry. 50p doesn't offer anything particularly interesting for me - isn't the bigger news the implementation of AVCHD 2.0? Does that bring quality improvements?
 
If they added expanded focus like the ac160a hardware upgrade, id be all over it like a fatgirl on cake.

Or id rather buy an af100A
 
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editman said:
I can't see any situation when I would need 50p. I shoot 95% in 1080p25 and the few procent left is for timelapse and overcrank 50fps in a 25p container. But that's just me and I'll keep my $250. Question is if the new PS 28mb/s works for all types of recording? If so how much visual difference will one gain over 24mb/s?
Click to expand...

totally agree! its not enough for the PAYED update! in fact if its all they were able to come up with in terms of answer to other brands, maybe its time to make a move and change the brand.... yes the price is still a plus, but what sony offers now is very tempting!
 
This should be a Free maintenance update. Not a paid upgrade!

Panasonic, do you really want to muck with your client base because you were late to the game with a couple of things that should have been in the camera in the first place???
 
If the camera has to be returned to Panasonic and be updated I can see some merit to a $ fee to cover shipping and such but if it's just a plain FW update it should be free. Jan stated long ago that everything in the AF camera was hard coded in chips and that no FW could change things. Now there's minor changes but not clear if it's a pure FW or hardware mod.

Panasonic could keep the AF100 current and up to date with the competition if they would offer sensor and functionality updates for a sum of cash. Nothing wrong with the form of this little camera.
 
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