Canon 7D vs Pasonic AF100 - Skew, DR, etc..

After viewing the first walk around clip all I can say is the curves just don't look similar. On some things, the exposure looks matched, but on others, you can clearly see one is darker (7D) than the other which of course knocks out the details really fast, which I have noticed on my 7D, although in general, the AF100 seemed to have more detail in most shots. But them you go over the couch and the couch is much darker on the 7D which I feel reveals a lot more detail.

So far, I am pretty happy I get similar results to my 7D, and better colors IMO in low light. Also, I use similar settings as you PaPa and I think the noise matches pretty well.

Thanks for the rough tests.
 
one more rough test

7D

7dll.jpg





AF100

af100ll.jpg


and individual links so you can tab back and forth.

7D
http://img89.imageshack.us/img89/3396/7dll.jpg

Af100
http://img843.imageshack.us/img843/609/af100ll.jpg
 
Yeah, the curves look quite different. It's really hard to get a grip on what exactly is more in terms of dynamic range, and what the native gamma curve uses. I'm sure you could get a very similar image from the 7D with a little post adjustment, and the same vice versa, but where does the DR gain come in to play?

I'm seeing a little aliasin on the AF100 stuff at the top of the lamp. It seems to be resolving detail there that he 7D is not due to it blowing out. That's interesting.

Also the AF100 does exhibit more halo'ing. And my detail is at -6. wonder if we'll find the optimal settings for that.
 
Danielvilliers said:
I am more and more incline to think that the af100 dynamic range is not very good. I might be crucified for it, but the highlight handling is not very good. It contributes to a very videoish look to my eye until now. There are some test on provideocoalition that shows the Canons more into the 10+ stop dynamic range and I more and more inclined to believe them, more so that they have a full details and test of other camera like the Alexa and different Reds.
Click to expand...

Same here. A very talented friend of mine is testing the AF100 as well. The results I'm seeing I likened to a videoish look. The GH2 and 5DMII produce a very good overall tonal image. The GH2 also in my findings is sharp as hell and produces a cleaner image. Still, more testing needs to be done until the final word on this. The Af100 is an awesomely built production tool for the money that I've ever seen; that is for sure! Well not true. Having seen Scarlet posted recently, that is the awesome camera for the money if it goes for 6K, that I have ever seen to date.

Pappas
http://www.pbase.com/Arrfilms
http://www.PappasArts.com
 
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I see more banding on the AF100 as well, but at the same time, the 7D has more noise on the wall. Also, that's a lot of colored aliasing on the picture frame on the 7D. I do see the aliasing on the top of the light.

I'll need to do some more tests with mine. I run with Detail -7 but I think it is so much cleaner than my 7D that the noise isn't there to help dither the banding.
 
PappasArts said:
The GH2 also in my findings is sharp as hell and produces a cleaner image. Still, more testing needs to be done until the final word on this. Pappas
http://www.pbase.com/Arrfilms
http://www.PappasArts.com
Click to expand...
I agree with both of these statements. So far I've been more wowed by the GH-2 than the Af100. But...I'm almost sure as time goes by and folks become more familiar with their AF100 we will start to see the difference.

And yes grimepoch...I was going to mention the banding on the AF100 as well. What's up with that?
 
PaPa said:
Some quick and dirty tests. Nothing very setup, just some real world tests letting the cameras show their weaknesses and strengths. Both cameras are always 5600k balanced (preset)
Click to expand...

Thanks Jonathan for doing these tests and posting them.

Pappas
 
I wish I had my hands on a GH2. Would love to do some side by side with the GH2 and AF100..

maybe i'll pick one up...

Just played back the footage in premiere pro, boy does it look good but boy,, the banding.. It's quite bad :( Guess that's 8 bit for ya.
 
Unfortunately I can't afford to have such beauty in my hands. If anyone owns an AF100 and GH2, now is your time to chime in!
 
Not that much improved?

I'm curious as to why the banding/halo'ing is so much worse than on the little 7D...
 
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PaPa said:
Not that much improved?

I'm curious as to why the banding/halo'ing is so much worse than on the little 7D...
Click to expand...

7D is 48mbs vs AF100's 24mbs. You can talk about "this codec is more efficient, blah, blah blah" all you want. But when one codec has 2x the data rate... what ever "efficiency" benefit one codec has over another starts to drown out. The Panasonic people will tell you differently, but that's cause they work for Panasonic.
 
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PaPa said:
white clipping looks almost identical when i click back and forth from premiere to youtube, so i think it's a fair assessment, plus much work made with the AF100 will most likely be straight to web so it is an important test.
Click to expand...

I agree with your methodology here. The clips were edited on the same timeline and compressed as one. The YouTube component is not relevant in this particular case. I would however like to have to have seen the GH13 or GH2 compared to the Af100.
 
I too would very much like to compare the AF100 to the GH2. If only i could get my hands on one.
 
Overall I have to say I'm disappointed with AF100 footage so far.

Out of the box it doesn't have the same mojo that the Canon DSLRs have.

It's good that it seems that Scarlet isn't too far off now. Working units at NAB, I think we might see it until the end of the year.
 
I pulled an AF102 straight out of the box today.

Lit my subjects and exposed them correctly.

Did not touch a single other setting at all apart from WB & BB.

Results ...blew me and my test crew away.

When the day comes that we believe that great cinematographers actually walk into a room and use ambient light to get the awesome results that they do... I will believe that the tests shown above have any validity.
 
PappasArts said:
... The Af100 is an awesomely built production tool for the money that I've ever seen; that is for sure! Well not true. Having seen Scarlet posted recently, that is the awesome camera for the money if it goes for 6K, that I have ever seen to date.
...
Click to expand...

2/3rd's is going to limit composition compared to m4/3.
 
Shooter said:
I pulled an AF102 straight out of the box today.

Lit my subjects and exposed them correctly.

Did not touch a single other setting at all apart from WB & BB.

Results ...blew me and my test crew away.

When the day comes that we believe that great cinematographers actually walk into a room and use ambient light to get the awesome results that they do... I will believe that the tests shown above have any validity.
Click to expand...

OK, where's the footage?
 
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