Buying used AF100, any gotchas to look out for?

D

duel90

Member
I'm meeting a guy about a used AF100 on Wednesday, and I was wondering if some AG-AF100 users could tell me common faults, or parts of the af100 that wear more than others?

I've really fallen for the m43 format after purchasing a GH3, and would love to move to a fully fledged camcorder but I've got no idea what to look out for when inspecting the camera, has anyone got some tips or tricks?
 
Hook up an electronic m43 lens and make sure that the aperture control wheel controls the iris.

Check the focus.

Bring an SDHC card and make sure everything records and plays back properly.
 
check for broken or bent lens contact pins. Check the viewfinder hinge for cracks or slop. Make sure the side LCD is clear and the sensor window is clear... in addition to the above
 
These are great tips, thanks mcbob, mcgeedigial!

Will definitely bring a lens and a memory card. Would never have thought of contact pins and aperture ring.
 
My tip - in one year's use of an AF100, I have quite simply never got an image out of it that looks as nice as the image from a GH2.

It has been particularly obvious when running both at the same time. I have done a series of 16 films with a talking head, using the 2 cameras for alternative angles, and have had plenty of time to fine tune the AF101 settings/exposure etc. We're half way through post production and we're tending to use only the audio from the AF100 and the pics from the GH2 - making the camcorder a rather expensive and cumbersome audio recorder!

The GH2 is less adjustable and can be accused of being overly sharp - but my honest appraisal of the AF101 after a year is that all of that adjustability has amounted to nothing for me. It has been a constant fight against soft presentation, noise, unforgiving dynamic range, ghastly skin tones and - it's Achilles' Heel - a mind of it's own when it comes to white balance.

So, I'd agree with you that the MFT system is a nice one, with some lovely compact lenses. I just think you already have the best MFT camera - the GH3. Be careful what you wish for...

Ben.
 
Thanks for the offer there Erik ;) unfortunately I think shipping from san Diego to London would be quite pricey! Haha

These are fair warnings bengiles and I appreciate your advice. But I think the advantages for me will lie in the form-factor, built in nd's, xlr and undercranking all of which the gh3 doesn't cover.
 
I also have the AF and GH2, and while the GH is a bit sharper- it doesn't make up for rigging that has to happen to make it comfortable to use as the AF.
 
oh dear,
I am planning on getting a 102A to go with my 160a. It is the next stop for me. why the despondancy with the 100 series? It seems like the best bang for buck out there ATM. ND filters/ 4/3, interchangeable lenses, no moire, infinitely programmable via scene files, (and Barry's book!) what more could anyone ask for a camera costing not much more than a consumer handicam!! When I am producing work as good as some of the af100 stuff out there I will look for something to push any talent I might have, a little further. I just hope I live long enough !!
Cheers!
Rod
 
I think the main issue has been the "flat" craze that took over from the shallow DOF craze that also made our little AF100s "useless". I stopped trying to shoot in a log mode fashion a while back and feel so much better about what i get out of the AF100. Check out the images that were recently posted in the work thread; great detail, colour and sharpness. I even used Cine gammas and Matrix at a recent corporate event that was being live screened through out the building and it looked great. I couldn't go back to DSLRs now, I live my GH2 but it doesn't get much video use now just time lapse and stills.
 
I'm in London and I'm selling my AF100.
I'm off to China and you can have it.
Fairly used, low operational hours.
Babied product.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top