Panasonic AG-AF101 Review

Great little test and enjoyable to watch but....

I am really hanging out to see this camera tested with some more dynamic action in the shots where the operator has to "chuck it around" a bit.

eg a fight scene, fast drama, car rig, dolly shot, steadicam shot, sport action shot

Most of the shots (when they even do a pan at all) have been "lazy pans" and I am seeing a lot of clips without camera movement. It seems to me its like the camera is being used by stills photographers not quite used to the fact that film operators actually move the camera and dont just let the scene occur in front of the lens.

I want to see if it strobes, streaks , wobbles, distorts ....

I want to see what happens to the "bokeh" when it is moving quickly in the scene

I am sure it is going to look great but do want to know this is not an enhanced "still camera"

Whatever...so far I am loving this camera and what I am seeing. I already have one on order ( subject to a final confirmation)
 
Yep thats more like it. (Alfa footage)

Look forward to seeing some steadicam where its chucked a round (as you can with steadicam)
 
Did I miss what lens was being used to shoot most of the video?

I'm referring to one on the cam in the initial introduction before they go out for the day shoot.
 
As much as I liked Leos test - I still want to see some some locked off interview style shots
that are properly lit. Most of the stuff I do is commerical, industrial and usually lit.
I have not done "run & gun" in years.
Isn't it coming up on summertime in Australia? Maybe they can shoot babes at the beach in 1080 60p.....
 
Great images.

But what this review makes clear so far is that the 14-140mm produces some pretty bland images.

Indeed. I was considering just getting it with my GH2 but I think I'll save my money and just get a GH2 body instead.

I think my Initial batch of lenses will be:

Tokina 11-16mm 2.8
Tokina 16-50mm 2.8
Voigtlander 25mm .95
Zeiss ZF.2 50mm 1.4
Zeiss ZF.2 85mm 1.4
 
Just when I thought I'd seen the weirdest of British humor!

Looks good - some nasty video clipped highlights in one shot (hey, it IS a video camera) but nice overall.
 
I'll take that over film grain and the film workflow. I just need to find a use for my old changing bag...
 
Just when I thought I'd seen the weirdest of British humor!

Looks good - some nasty video clipped highlights in one shot (hey, it IS a video camera) but nice overall.

How could you tell that? ie what did you view the footage on?

BTW: I kind of think that the term "video camera" has been redefined in recent years. Its almost a derogatory term the way some use it!

I also think that "film"has been re defined as a word and will take on a new meaning from hereon as less and less people will have ever experienced shooting "film". The film experience maybe from watching actual "films" but bear no connection to the process by which they were made.
 
With DSLR video we had a new kind of look. Not video - not film - but rather something inbetween.

Can't you pretty much say this about ANY camera? I mean, when I look at GH1 footage, it looks totally different than 7D footage, which looks totally different than Nikon footage, which looks totally different than <insert camera here>. *Look* is such a subjective subject, I don't try and quantify cameras with that anymore since most of the filmic look happens during edit.
 
Can't you pretty much say this about ANY camera? I mean, when I look at GH1 footage, it looks totally different than 7D footage, which looks totally different than Nikon footage, which looks totally different than <insert camera here>. *Look* is such a subjective subject, I don't try and quantify cameras with that anymore since most of the filmic look happens during edit.

What I ment was that in DSLR cameras we get shallow DOF and real 24/25p in 180 degree shutter if we like and with a soft image that doesn't look like video or film. It has it's own look. Many of film features but still video. Then each camera from Canon/Nikon/Panasonic has their unique colours that give them a different look. It's how I look upon it. Film is film and video is video and then this now two year old bread of hybrid cameras has their genre.
 
Editman. The Af-100 will smoke the 5d any day of the year. The codec in this camera is just far more advanced using I P and B frames. The look will just depend on how it's set up. Now, if this camera acts like my HVX200, there are so many different ways to achieve a look.
There is just too many judgements made of this camera while we've only seen footage from less than 10 PRE-PRODUCTION units out there. In many cases, the users got LESS than a day to shoot with the AF100. Why don't we wait until this bad boy is in the hands of 1000's of users then lets start comparing footage.

Oh and ya, I don't really know the last time I watched a FILM were I thought to myself, "if only that actors eyebrows weren't aliasing".. Filming at f/1.4 on a 5d really does't look like FILM to me. It has it's own unique look, yes. Compared to a 1/4in. chip, yes. But go watch some movies and tell me just how many times you see eyelashes ONLY in focus. Plus, I'm getting quite bored of seeing 5d footage shot where the filmmaker is SEARCHING for focus, in and out in and out in and out. I have a 5d (mostly for my stills studio). I MORE than excited about getting my hands on the AF100. To me, it's the perfect balance between my 5d and HVX. I can't wait to make my DOF adapter a coin jar!
 
Back
Top