Jan feedback on af100

W

wbrock001

Well-known member
Hi Jan,

Since you closed the thread. I can see you are probably in a flurry of frustration...but remember you are a true pioneer. You have not just set the trend, but created it with this camera. So people may be hyper-focused on finding flaws but...

I think the camera is great...the 16-bit uncompressed audio is wonderful. The image is smooth and nicely saturated, the dof is wonderful and easy to achieve. I can put almost any lens on it. I have not noticed any aliasing or moire, and believe me, I've had folks show up with patterned shirts galore and no issues to report. I can find nothing functionally wrong with this camera, there is nothing that prevents great images from being achieved.

Normally I regret being an early adopter, but that trend is reversed with the af100. I just know that I have much more to learn about this camera, but from my perspective this is far superior to anything else within its price range. Or even double its price range. So Panny and Jan, you have hit a home run.

In regard to the criticism that was levied in the closed thread, I just wanted to ask for clarification on what Panny's response will be? Will it be a technical rebuttal, or a firmware update, or a combination of both?

I personally have not found it to be an issue as the images are gorgeous, but like any owner of a great piece of electronics, if someone says they'll do something to make it even better...I'd never turn that offer down.
 
wbrock001 said:
In regard to the criticism that was levied in the closed thread, I just wanted to ask for clarification on what Panny's response will be? Will it be a technical rebuttal, or a firmware update, or a combination of both?
Click to expand...

As I said in that closed thread, I will post something once I have the backing of the factory.

Thanks,

Jan
 
I'm sorry the previous thread by Jan was closed before I had a chance to talk about my AF100. I have been shooting location scout/test footage with my AF100 in preparation for a feature I've been asked to shoot, using the AF100. A combination of settings and the Voigtlander 25/f.95, are delivering absolutely gorgeous images, extremely filmic. And I am using both Cine Gamma and Matrix. I have found that when properly used, the results are really fantastic - especially dynamic range. Yes you have to keep your eyes on noise at times, but the trade off is worth it - the quality is stunning, the light handling amazing. But you MUST expose properly, and monitor with waveform is a must. Thank you TVLogic monitor with superimposed waveform in the corner!

This test footage from my AF100/Voigtlander 25 looks so good the director has had me make DVDs of a compilation for him to present to investors. There's a quality to the rendition of colors that looks far more cinematic and organic than what I've seen of the razor sharp digital look of the Sony F3. I'm very pleased with my AF100.
 
I really haven't had much of a problem with noise with my settings. I am using the Cine V Gamma, but I haven't been using the Cine Matrix. Are you using Cine V or Cine D? I have been looking into the Voigtlander 25mm. When I was checking it out, it was mostly out of stock. I think I might make a slider first now.

Is your feature a narrative or documentary?
 
blackcat said:
I really haven't had much of a problem with noise with my settings. I am using the Cine V Gamma, but I haven't been using the Cine Matrix. Are you using Cine V or Cine D? I have been looking into the Voigtlander 25mm. When I was checking it out, it was mostly out of stock. I think I might make a slider first now.

Is your feature a narrative or documentary?
Click to expand...

Blackcat, I am using both Cine D Gamma and Cine Matrix. There are certain combinations of conditions which produce more noticeable noise in blacks with these settings, but I've found ways of managing it. And often that noise approximates grain in film, which I don't mind at all. Generally though it's very very clean. And the results are really smooth. The film is a narrative feature, and I will be making heavy use of the Voigtlander as it offers the perfect focal length for my shooting style in dramatic work. It's a fantastic lens.
 
Great. Thanks for sharing. I have been thinking about experimenting more with Cine Matrix and Cine D. Though, I think I already have my preferred settings. Do you do anything in post for the noise?
 
The guy who started lensrentals.com had some kind words about the af100...he gives it "the I'd buy that" award...

http://www.lensrentals.com/blog/2011/01/stuff-i-would-buy-if-i-bought-stuff#more-686

Anything new is going to be put under the microscope much more and these forums by their nature are where people post Problems to find answers hopefully. So unfortunately it will be skewed toward negative. People don't generally have the energy to post unless they have a grievance.
 
wbrock001 said:
Anything new is going to be put under the microscope much more and these forums by their nature are where people post Problems to find answers hopefully. So unfortunately it will be skewed toward negative. People don't generally have the energy to post unless they have a grievance.
Click to expand...


I said that in the other thread, and was hopeful that we could have at least one thread where people were talking positively about the camera. And as I said in the other thread, this crap lives on forever. I still have people coming up to me and saying they found blah blah on the HVX200 and it that true?

Here's hoping this can stay on the positive side.
 
blackcat said:
Great. Thanks for sharing. I have been thinking about experimenting more with Cine Matrix and Cine D. Though, I think I already have my preferred settings. Do you do anything in post for the noise?
Click to expand...

Yes, Blackcat, I do have something for noise in post. I use Neat Video, an After Effects pluggin for about $100 I bought a couple years ago. It's outstanding. For those few clips where I find more noise than I like, I can let it do an autoprofile to sample the noise. Though I usually dial it back considerably because it aims for no noise, which can have adverse effect on the image. So then I might add an Avid color correction to bring the blacks down just a bit. The result is very clean. Some of the location test footage was shot in twilight, at 3200 ISO, with the 25/.95 wide open. Basically night vision with that lens and the AF100. With both Cine-D and Cine Matrix, this of course generated noise. But a pass in Neat Video and dropping the blacks just a tad resulted in really nice looking footage, especially given the extreme condition it was shot.
 
bhdfield,

I use almost your exact setup. Voightlander 25mm is my main lens - love it. I shoot Cine-Like D but use Norm2 for my color matrix.

I was wondering what made you go with the Cine matrix?
 
Love the AF100!

Love the AF100!

Jan_Crittenden said:
Here's hoping this can stay on the positive side.
Click to expand...

Jan,

I, along with many others in the U.S., express gratitude and appreciation for Panasonic's AG-AF100. I was on the waiting list and got mine in early January. The images are gorgeous and ideal for digital filmmakers. This is an innovative and breakthrough product that has responded to the changing demands of the marketplace. Well done!

DC in NC
 
there are 40 pple in the filmmaking thread and 180 in here...haha....wait dvxuser has other sections besides this section???
 
All my test footage has been great, so this Saturday and Sunday I have my first job with the AF100 and we'll see how it does. Given I have shot in similar conditions, I am not worried. I'm actually excited to be using it on something other than me pixel peeping. In addition, the director wants to utilize the 1080p60 overcranking, which of course, is REALLY nice. Once you get to know the AF100, and test it in the conditions you are going to shoot in, it is not hard to get a great image.
 
Can't wait to see your results Rick! We start a feature doc on Drug Addiction late this month on the AF100. Pretty stoked.
 
discostock said:
Jan,

I, along with many others in the U.S., express gratitude and appreciation for Panasonic's AG-AF100. I was on the waiting list and got mine in early January. The images are gorgeous and ideal for digital filmmakers. This is an innovative and breakthrough product that has responded to the changing demands of the marketplace. Well done!

DC in NC
Click to expand...
+1
 
Steve Kahn said:
bhdfield,

I use almost your exact setup. Voightlander 25mm is my main lens - love it. I shoot Cine-Like D but use Norm2 for my color matrix.

I was wondering what made you go with the Cine matrix?
Click to expand...

It's interesting you ask that. For some time, especially on faster paced corporate jobs, I'd gone with gamma and matrix setups specifically for avoiding noise issues. Then I started looking again at the Cine-D gamma for the narrative feature I will be shooting. I looked closely its effect on dynamic range. I found it certainly increases it. I also found that with the addition of my new TVLogic monitor, I could much more reliably, and precisely, monitor the video levels. I began to realize that I had previously been over exposing the Cine Gamma, and found very nice results in bringing it down. Here are some examples of my Af100, Voigtlander, and settings. Great dynamic range as brights and shadows still show a lot of detail. Nothing more than natural light. btw - I guess you have to be logged in to see all 4 photos.
AF Dyn Range 1.jpgAF Dyn Range 4.jpgAF Dyn Range 3.jpgAF Dyn Range 2.jpg
 
Last edited:
I completely agree! I use cine-d exclusively. (Especially after Barry pointed out how to kill chroma to help protect highlights in out of control situations.) But, without a doubt great dynamic range.

I was wondering about your color matix though. As I said, I really like Norm 2 but that Cine matrix looks good although definitely more noisy.
 
Jan,

I work for a NASA/JSC Contractor on the Engineering and Science contract. We have the AF 100 and are shooting in Flight Simulators and Docking Sims which are very dark. (ISO 400 I get F.05 on the light meter) We purchased this camera. (Kudos to James Long at Panasonic) for shooting in these dark testing environments. So far so good. The footage looks clean at ISO 1250. Like i said in another forum, I feel it is a "business decision" not a "resolution chart" decision. We are very "manage by objective" minded here and the camera meets our objective at a good price. We are happy with our "business decision". When the project is complete I will post some links.

Cheers
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top