"Irrational Exuberence" for the AF100?

B

BVX

Well-known member
The concept is right, the features numerous, the preliminary footage promising, the price very reasonable. I'm almost a believer now too, ready to order. But I can't help but wonder - am I the only one thinking that you should still never buy the first version of anything, but instead wait until the complaints filter in and the inevitable bugs are worked out? I'm thinking of how the HPX300 was found to have enough problems that required a new model to quickly replace it. And the AF100 of course is not just a new camera but a whole new type of camera. Then there is the thought that maybe it's being rushed out the door to meet the year-end promise and beat the competition to the new niche for PR rights. From a concept under glass at NAB to 75% last month to 100% ready for the assembly line in the next month or so? It just seems like a bit of a leap of faith.
 
I know what you mean. I bought the original DVX100 and HVX200, to later have improved versions later. Things will always be improved. I always tell people the best time to buy something is when you you need it.
 
bgundu said:
I know what you mean. I bought the original DVX100 and HVX200, to later have improved versions later. Things will always be improved. I always tell people the best time to buy something is when you you need it.
Click to expand...


Exactly. Not sure? Don't buy.

I don't see how enthusiasm for a camera with these features, that has been well reviewed, and from an established and respected camera company can be called irrational.

Did the DVX improve to the A and B? yep. But the original was great. Same with the HVX.
 
Not a leap at all when you consider Panasonic's track record of delivering what the end user wants.

I have had the DVX-100, HVX-200, HPX-500 (still have), and I have been nothing but pleased with what Panasonic has delivered.

Don't like the 4:2:0 8 bit?

Get an Aja Ki Pro Mini or wait for the AF-200.
 
Get a new camera if you have some work to do and need a new camera.
Otherwise don't do it.

Simple as that.
 
It's not the perfect cam, but the AF-100 will beat my HVX/Brevis setup. The days of 35mm adapters will soon be over and I personally can't wait!
 
I too am looking forward to not having to use my Brevis setup. I was one of the very first customers of the Brevis and it's been very good to me in delivering good quality. But I used to spend hours prepping for shoots because there was so much tweaking. I'm also looking forward to working with a lighter camera. (I must be getting old!)
 
I bought the HVX200 within two months of it's release when they were hard to come by and I loved that camera... just as I loved the HMC150. I think you get what's best at the point you need it and most of the time you'll get about 2-3 years before you have to get something else. Or atleast that's been my way for the past decade.
 
Sometimes you just need to buy now since your project is next summer, you cant shoot whit the 2015 camera in 2011... even if the 2015 cam will be like 100x better !
 
dcloud said:
maybe he meant first released cams? like early batches could still have bugs?
Click to expand...

Thank you - yes that is exactly what I was getting at. Prototypes vs. mass-production. Just like how the carefully hand-assembled Ferrari on the test track isn't always exactly what rolls out the factory that first day.
 
BVX said:
Thank you - yes that is exactly what I was getting at. Prototypes vs. mass-production. Just like how the carefully hand-assembled Ferrari on the test track isn't always exactly what rolls out the factory that first day.
Click to expand...

If you can wait. Do so.

But if you have jobs/work/films to shoot then ... you've got to shoot.

Panasonic is not Ferrari, though. The chip is a second generation chip. The camera body / codec has been passed down from previous legacy cameras. I wouldn't call this camera exotic. It will be mass produced. It will be fixed if there are issues.

Will the AF100a be better than the AF100? Probably. Slightly.

Can you afford to wait? If I could I'd wait too.

EDIT: the trick... if you don't wait: never look back. Never look at the AF100a or AF200 or Scarlet with lust in your eyes unless you're planning to buy.
 
Last edited:
For many a $4800.00 price tag is high; for working professionals accustomed to paying far more for a camera, it's really insignificant and could be regarded as an expendable item. If a new and improved model comes along in a year, buy it. Sell the old one or keep it as a reserve or B-camera. All of the other bits in your kit, plates, rods, follow focus, matte box, and most of all lenses, will continue to soldier on with the new camera.

I've paid more for film stock for a single job! I wonder how many kids of Kodak employees I put through college on a Leo Ticheli scholarship!

At this price point, if you bought a new AF body every year and sold the old one for half what you paid, it would still cost you only $200.00 per month! You can earn $200.00 a month with your camera, can't you?

Every once in a while something really special comes along; this, ladies and gentlemen, is one of those times.

Good shooting and best regards,

Leo
 
Ticheli said:
For many a $4800.00 price tag is high; for working professionals accustomed to paying far more for a camera, it's really insignificant and could be regarded as an expendable item. If a new and improved model comes along in a year, buy it. Sell the old one or keep it as a reserve or B-camera. All of the other bits in your kit, plates, rods, follow focus, matte box, and most of all lenses, will continue to soldier on with the new camera.

I've paid more for film stock for a single job! I wonder how many kids of Kodak employees I put through college on a Leo Ticheli scholarship!

At this price point, if you bought a new AF body every year and sold the old one for half what you paid, it would still cost you only $200.00 per month! You can earn $200.00 a month with your camera, can't you?

Every once in a while something really special comes along; this, ladies and gentlemen, is one of those times.

Good shooting and best regards,

Leo
Click to expand...

The more you talk, the more sense you make :beer:
 
BVX said:
It just seems like a bit of a leap of faith.
Click to expand...

Apart from what others have posted already my decision to pre-order was based on the decision for the MFT concept. At this point in time I think MFT has established itself as a standard and it is about to grow. Zeiss starting to develop for this "slot", the new Voigtlander lens comes, Olympus producing wonderful stuff, adapters are around that allow me to use PL mount Zeiss' or other, more exotic lenses - old and new.

This with a camera with a nearly 35 mm movie film gate size sensor. Just big enough to not look too "video"ish and still can be handled focus wise. So what I have already invested in and will even more so in the foreseeable future is a "family" of lenses and other gear. I invest in MFT.

What do I buy with the actual camera? I know it sounds a bit smug, but basically I get me a throw-away sensor (No, I will not really throw it away but sell it in two years maybe, okay, so wait a bit ....). And I will keep my lenses and my gear and buy the next, better "sensor in a box" that produces the 12 K 250 Mbit 4:4:4 with 120 p (yes: and 25 p ;-)) that will be the standard then.

This may be a bit risky now but as I believe MFT will stay great and become even greater..... and me being an early adopter .... it all seems to fit my needs.
 
Last edited:
I got one of the very first DVX100s and the zoom control wouldn't do a ramp up-down, I made the DIY zoom controller and could get it to move slowly and smoothly, I had to edit within a zoom if I wanted one, but there will always be workarounds... we just have to come up with them as needed.

Later versions of the DVX fixed that glitch and added other "improvements", but I've heard it from more that one source that the original ones had the best "image quality". I don't know about that, but it still works great and I never updated or replaced it... I just used it and used it and used it.... I have several projects to complete before the AFX arrives, and I'm OK with that.

I am happy that I got the #4 AFX in my region and I won't have to wait for who knows how long. There will be the expected firmware updates, but I don't imagine there will be substantive physical changes for quite a while.
If you can imagine what it must be like at Panasonic right now... just think back to some of the all nighter crunch deadlines that you've made.... they'll do it. But, even if they have to delay... I wouldn't mind if it becomes necessary.
It's not like hearing over and over that Scarlet is just around the corner, but they "reserve the right to change blah blah blah...." It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas! I think there's a song in there somewhere.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top