I sold my AF100 and I feel fine

You don't think they get silly at times?
You ought to read some of the silliness being posted on Reduser as of late.
Even sillier than some of the threads being posted here.
If a tool isn't right for the work you need to do, grab a different tool.

And if you hadn't noticed, I was interested in the discussion, and asked what I thought was a very valid question early on but got no response from the OP.

All the Best!

Dave
 
The AF100 seems to finally be catching on here in the Midwest, with Ad houses and producers specifically requesting it more and more recently. However two jobs this week requested examples of blown highlights I had shot with the camera, and any ENG type work in addition to my normal "locked off" reel. Long story short: The camera is a great tool, but it does have shortcomings...as do all cameras. A skilled dp who has mastered exposing highlights is able to achieve fantastic results with this camera, and producers have taken notice. The camera is only one half of the equation, and any camera needs an operator who knows how to get the best out of it, and if you can't get the best out of the AF100, or you can't shoot it within your needs you are 100% correct to sell, move on, and post your experiences just like Mr. Bloom with his epic.

I think so many people started shooting with DSLR's who were never technically trained in the film/video world. It was just so easy to slap any lens on a 5D which was ONLY auto to start with and achieve great shallow DOF, exposure, colors, "highlight handling" that it became expected (among the indie community of internet forums) for a camera to do 80-90% of the DP's job. Any serious cinematographer who has been trained to light (with light meters and monitors) will get great results from any camera you touch, and I believe a lot of negative reviews come from people who have never loaded a film magazine (meaning they have not been FORMALLY trained... if you go through film school without doing this you need your money back). My first year I shot on a WWII era bolex, produced stunning images, and I was working with a camera that didn't even have a viewfinder! A "cheap wobbly" lcd would have been a godsend! And the AF100 not suitable for live action ENG... you all need to go watch "When We Were Kings" someone probably should have told the oscar winning documentarian he was using "the wrong tool for the job" when he travelled to Africa with manual prime lenses and beautiful grainy 16mm film. It's more about who's behind the camera and what it's pointed at than the camera itself. While these types of honest reviews are helpful, those considering this camera or any other should be encouraged to pick one up and see what YOU can do with it... and for a lot of people that is little more than what the camera is capable of on its own... I miss shooting film.
 
That brings up a good question to me, are there people who like the EVF where it is?

With both the AF100 and FS100, when using with a shoulder rig, I want the sensor to be close to the side of my head so the pivot of the image works around me and not in front of me. Not to mention, the INCREDIBLE amount of weight on your arms the farther out the camera goes to get your eye to the eyecup. (including all the other add ons being used).

I use an add on EVF when shooting shoulder on both the AF100 when I had it and the FS100. Worked WAY better. (And getting the camera further back made it so much more enjoyable to use). However, button placement on both cameras is a pain when used on a shoulder rig and I've not bought a remote start yet.
 
The last camera that I owned which had an EVF that I used was the XL-1. Granted, all it had was the EVF, but I agree, "handicam" EVF placement has been such an idiotic design flaw that still clings to this day. Modern cams should have optional or detachable EVFs that can be placed anywhere.
 
The AF is a handheld camera and all of them are pretty poor. Shoulder cameras are much more convenient and comfortable and when you kit the AF with a shoulder rig and EVF it works fine. Not perfect but workable.
 
editman said:
The AF is a handheld camera and all of them are pretty poor. Shoulder cameras are much more convenient and comfortable and when you kit the AF with a shoulder rig and EVF it works fine. Not perfect but workable.
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I can only assume the reason for the EVF placement is for using the AF100 handheld with no equipment as you mention (same with FS100) which I tried very hard to use (The FS100 is MUCH worse given the HORRIBLE handle design and poor weight distribution from the handle). At least the AF100 naked the ergonomics are much more stable, but, I don't shoot with my right hand in the 'cupping the equipment' position. For both I used a different handle I attached that was more up and down.

I think one problem is, there are probably MANY different ways people like to hold the camera. Sony tried to give people that with the FS100, but failed miserably. The AF100 allows you to take off the handle, there are just no good aftermarket replacements yet IMO for what I wanted. The C300 seems to have a great handle to me from the pictures, but until I use it, I really don't know.

One thing I understand is probably NO camera will EVER match everything I want, because we all want different things. That's something tough for a manufacturer to consider. I see them wanting to add modularity, but at the same time, understanding that the more modular something is, the more weight and cost go into the design. While I love that the Epic is modular, it sure is heavy as well.

What excites me is to see where the cameras go from here. Over the past two years I've personally been AMAZED at how far they've come.
 
Actually, the Epic is lighter than other cameras in its class. The fact that it's made of metal helps with stability and durability as you add various components to it. Mostly likely a built-out Scarlet or Epic would weigh less than a Red One. My full AF100 setup is fairly heavy too when compared to the barebones setup.

I don't know of anyone that finds the way you need to hold the camera to use the EVF at the back like comfortable. The natural way would be to get the camera next to your head and/or on the shoulder, with EVF on the side. Canon pretty much had it right with the XL1, and could have taken it a little further even.
 
Mike@AF said:
Actually, the Epic is lighter than other cameras in its class. The fact that it's made of metal helps with stability and durability as you add various components to it. Mostly likely a built-out Scarlet or Epic would weigh less than a Red One. My full AF100 setup is fairly heavy too when compared to the barebones setup.
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That's one of the things that I find interesting about the Epic. The side handle design is very similar to a DSLR setup and I've seen pictures of people holding it that way and shooting a little with it. Yet, when you see a fully kitted out Epic, it DEFINITELY doesn't look like something you are going to hold in your hand, so that side handle is kind of pointless. The weight of the camera with the LCD on top, side handle and battery, and a lens on the front seems just a bit TOO much for hand held (I'd say that is minimal setup). You'd be getting tired in to time.

But, that said, I'll know in a few weeks. Getting together with some local film makers here where one has an Epic-X so I can get some hands on time with it.

It is true, when my AF100 was fully kitted out it started to get heavy. Same as my FS100. I just like the option of going small and light if I need it.
 
In the early 1980s nearly all of the film camera manufacturers, even Panavision, switched to "shoulder mount" designs. A side finder is not only better for hand holding, it's better on a tripod as well, because you can steady moves with pressure from the side of your face.

I use the Z-finder and it works on the Af (as long as I don't toast it). But, yes, it would be nice if it came that way.

After acquiring the 250 I looked around at my arsenal of Panasonic cameras (HPX500, HVX200, AF100 and HPX250) and thought, ya know, Panasonic has all the pieces to make one perfect camera but instead they keep pushing out new close-but-no-cigar issues.

And before someone spouts that BS again that there "is no such thing as a perfect camera" let me say that I bought an Aaton super16 camera in 1984 that I still own, and for 20 years considered it a perfect camera - it IS possible folks.
 
My Zacuto Baseplate weighs as much as the AF-100. It works great but why so heavy? I have a pretty solid handheld rig now but boy is it heavy. Definitely heavier than a ENG camera.

On sticks it’s awesome!
 
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Rick Burnett said:
That's one of the things that I find interesting about the Epic. The side handle design is very similar to a DSLR setup and I've seen pictures of people holding it that way and shooting a little with it. Yet, when you see a fully kitted out Epic, it DEFINITELY doesn't look like something you are going to hold in your hand, so that side handle is kind of pointless. The weight of the camera with the LCD on top, side handle and battery, and a lens on the front seems just a bit TOO much for hand held (I'd say that is minimal setup). You'd be getting tired in to time.

But, that said, I'll know in a few weeks. Getting together with some local film makers here where one has an Epic-X so I can get some hands on time with it.
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They and some different 3rd party companies have all kind of accessories for just the exact situations. You can really build a handheld/shoulder mount rig any way you want.
 
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