Is it still worth getting the AF100

J

johnstewart

Member
I like the look of the AF100 but is it getting too old to buy now? When was it first released? There are a lot of big censor cameras being released now for around 2000 dollars but they require a lot of add ons, rigs, external monitors, audio connections, etc. The censor on this camera looks good, and also whatever lens you use could be kept of other models.... just wondering if its still worth buying? The other cameras like Sony A7s or Cannon 5D, are around... but seem to require a lot of extra gear to work for video. Was there one version of this camera or several versions? Thanks John
 
There was one main version, introduced at the end of 2011. Then there was a slightly updated version, the AF100A, which added a few new features but wasn't a substantially different camera. The AF100A added things like magnified focus assist and 1080/60p recording and 10-bit output on the SDI port.
 
Barry_Green said:
There was one main version, introduced at the end of 2011. Then there was a slightly updated version, the AF100A, which added a few new features but wasn't a substantially different camera. The AF100A added things like magnified focus assist and 1080/60p recording and 10-bit output on the SDI port.
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Must have been end of 2010. I got mine in late June, 2011, and it had already been widely available for a few months then.

- Greg
 
I wouldn't pay $2k for one today, but there are heaps going for sub one grand secondhand. A great bargain! Especially if you've already got m4/3 lenses.

Nothing else can quite compare at that low price if you want an interchangeable lens camera with a large sensor in a camcorder style form factor.

Only close competition in that price point is:
Sony FS100, but will still be more expensive and is lacking in various ways such as no NDs and no SDI.
Sony F3, a vastly better camera but is two or three times more expensive and is much heavier.
Canon C100 mk1, most expensive of them all yet with a rather lackluster spec sheet (but Canon fanboys will still love this option anyway, meh).

Personally, I own a Sony F3. But hope to pick up an AF100 as well if the price is right (hoping for near half a grand, if I'm patient and spot a cracker of a deal).
 
Thanks very much IronFilm. I agree, second hand they are very good value. A lot of the big censor new cameras are 4-5k. cheers John
 
greytail said:
How do you find out how many hours this camera has?
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Press the MENU button, scroll all the way down to OTHER FUNCTIONS, select that and then scroll down to OPERATION TIME and select that.
However, this camcorder in not tape-based, so there are no record/playback heads to wear out. The only moving part would be the internal ND filter wheel, which probably won't wear out.
Even though I've "moved on" to a Sony FS7, I still occasionally use my old AF100. It's such a pleasure to use. Those Panasonic engineers seem to understand how I like to shoot. :happy:
 
Hi John, when the af100 came out it was lauded as the best thing since sliced bread for the money. Nothing has changed, only a bit of technical sales fashion and improvement on newer models. It is still capable of amazing results in the right hands, although it will bite your ass big time if you get exposure wrong. With current secondhand prices where they are it has to be the bargain of the century.
So get one if you are prepared to be its master rather than its slave (it is a poor master!)
cheers!
Rod
 
Times have moved on but I still like the looks of a lot of AF100 footage.....in fact I like it better than some of the newish offerings.....go figure!

Cheers - Tye
 
I guess it depends what your gonna use it for - as a production company we have 2 and use them for 2-3 shoots a week, corporate events, promos, case studies, training films etc, never had any complaints, I get great images from the AF's with the Olympus 12-40/40-150 and Voigtlanders and clients are always happy with the content we produce.
But f i was a freelancer I wouldn't buy one, I'd buy a C100/C300.
 
Hi I have the same question so I considered it logical to bump this thread. I currently have a hacked GH2 and an AC90 and I do all sorts of shoots from corporate to event coverage as a freelance shooter. Recently I have discovered that I would like to shoot more full event coverage and that my GH2 has a too different look to my AC90. Should a AF100/AF101 be a logical buy at this current time? I found one selling locally at $1000 (to which I could still haggle down possibly).
 
I just pulled the trigger on a used AF 100. Not the A Version, but with the 50p/60p upgrade (1.24.00). I wanted this camera since many years, but always bought GH2/GH3/GH4 because they were simply cheaper, hackable or just better codec equipped..

But NOW! I pulled the trigger for 750 bucks with 3 batteries. And thats absolutely a no brainer, i think!

In my opinion, its still worth getting an AF 100. If you dont need 4K/UHD and have collected some lenses and adapters for M4/3 like me, why not?

The only alternative would be the JVC LS300, which is great for sure. And a great offer now! But still 4x the price (with batteries etc..) than a used AF 100.

And to be honest, i like the little bit "oldschool" look of the AF100 more than the "video-camera"- look of the LS300... The AF 100 looks more like a Sony FS5, but as i said more "oldschool". Love it!
 
Looking into getting one myself, mainly for price point, internal NDs and XLR inputs, and it's looking like a good option, especially for sub 1K. Plus the lens choices, native and adapted.

Can you get a decently flat image (not expecting log) to work with in post? Anyone have any good settings?
 
I can only speak from my own experience but with AVCHD 420 footage I think its better to get the look in camera,
whilst you can get great images - the footage is not so flexible when grading and comes apart fairly easily,
I lower the Chroma levels and lift the Master Pedestal to give me a little more leeway but it cannot be pushed around so much
 
TubEfingers said:
I can only speak from my own experience but with AVCHD 420 footage I think its better to get the look in camera,
whilst you can get great images - the footage is not so flexible when grading and comes apart fairly easily,
I lower the Chroma levels and lift the Master Pedestal to give me a little more leeway but it cannot be pushed around so much
Click to expand...

+1

In addition ref OP - "Is it still worth getting an AF100" - if you can find a AF100A for sale (good price), I would strongly consider it.
 
While grading AVCHD is limited, you can record ProRes HQ on an external recorder like the Black Magic Video Assist (and get an excellent monitor too) or to a Atomos recorder. The AF100 will output a nice 8-bit (AF100A 8/10-bit with last bits dithered to u,prove highlight roll off) 4.2.2 with imitate based in camera gamma/log settings. While not a true log file, the ProRes HQ is less compressed than the AVCHD and allows tweaking image in post.

I second getting a AF100A over the original model. You can get a true 1080p24 file from the SDI using 1080PSF24 setting, which the VA will remove the pull down to get a 1080p24 file.
Also, you can record 1080p60 via the HDMI output for slow motion effects when grading in a 1080p24 timeline.
Cheers
 
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