So there's no AF100 Successor - Now what?

I was afraid of that, oh well... I will not spend money on any camera with a standard EF mount, not today, not tomorrow! A Cine locking EF mount perhaps...
 
I was afraid of that, oh well... I will not spend money on any camera with a standard EF mount, not today, not tomorrow! A Cine locking EF mount perhaps...

Nothing is confirmed by any credible source yet. At all. Tomorrow is the first opportunity for actual credible knowledgeable people to speak to what the camera is and isn't, what it does and doesn't have, etc.
 
Well, my lens mount guess proved correct, standard, loose, inaccurate Canon still camera lens mount, too bad!

Not a AF100 replacement after all, and with a EF mount, no PL glass either, without klutzy adapters.
Another expensive Prosummer and Pro wedding/dipocumentsry/corporation type inhouse production camera at under $8K, meaning $7995, or thereabouts.
This camera is going to have a hard time competing with the Blackmagic Ursa Mini Pro, which is $2K less, records Raw now, and ProRes, and has interchangeable lens mounts which include ps the PL mount.

The AF100 MFT concept is dead, as the market demand is for larger sensors, like Super 35, with the nutty idea, the higher the resolution sensor, the better. But a good HD or UHD resolution sensor, with 12-14 bit depth recording to robust codecs like ProRes, or Raw DNGs is much better than a 8-10 bit 4K sensor recording to highly compressed codecs like AVCHD, etc. But the consumer is being convinced they need higher resolution, not increased bit depth. So we all loose in the end.

The best we can hope for is windowed mode for these larger sensors, like the Blackmagic 4.6K sensor, that has a high bit depth (14-bit) with a HD, 2K (both of which will allow S16 lens coverage) and UHD window a MFT lens could cover. Add an interchangeable lens mount camera, with optional recording codecs, and everyone wins.
 
Last edited:
The best we can hope for is windowed mode for these larger sensors, like the Blackmagic 4.6K sensor, that has a high bit depth (14-bit) with a HD, 2K (both of which will allow S16 lens coverage) and UHD window a MFT lens could cover. Add an interchangeable lens mount camera, with optional recording codecs, and everyone wins.


Yeah I am holding out hope for an URSA Mini 4.6K MTF camera, like they did with their BMCC EF => BMCC MFT releases.
 
Yes, I was also, but not likely to happen as the MFT mount is physically too small in diameter to accommodate the 4.6 sensor diagonal measurement, and most MFT lenses are not going to cover full gate sensor size either. The Veydra Mini Primes from 25mm Up will cover the 4K window, but just barely. BM is going to need a cut down 4K verson of the 4.6K sensor, or come up with a new 4K MFT camera, when they find a suitable sensor. Not able to mount a MFT mount on the existing UM Pro either, due to the short FFD on the MFT Mount, which is less that the Pro’s Lens Turret flange distance.

Same issue with the new EVA1, FFD is too long (44mm) for MFT mount, and sensor size is too big for a MFT lens image circle, even in MFT crop mode used by the digital zoom, the sensor are used is actually larger than the MFT sensor image circle.

Cheers
 
Last edited:
So all things considered, the EVA1 is gong to be the closest replacement for a AF100 size wise and IQ improvement, and given that Wooden Camera has a PL mount for the EVA1, you can step up to SLR Magic APO lens set to use in the EVA1 with either EF or PL mount. Also with the WC PL mount, we are opened up to using the new Angénieux EZ zooms also, in addition to other excellent PL lenses. This is a game changer for me.
 
So with the new announcement of the GH5S, with a video designed sensor, and MFT mount, it comes closer to a AF100 replacement than the EVA1 does, which is closer to a VariCam. Too bad Panasonic doesn’t offer the GH5S sensor/video processor in a body closer to the AF100 with pro audio support/connectors and BNC video connections, like the AF100 had.
Cheers
 
So with the new announcement of the GH5S, with a video designed sensor, and MFT mount, it comes closer to a AF100 replacement than the EVA1 does, which is closer to a VariCam. Too bad Panasonic doesn’t offer the GH5S sensor/video processor in a body closer to the AF100 with pro audio support/connectors and BNC video connections, like the AF100 had.

You are not alone in those sentiments. Although I think an included EVF would make the EVA1 more desirable.
 
Really, if you're looking for an AF100 successor, as someone who went to the GH5 line it actually kits out very well now.

$2500 GH5s (or GH5)
$500 Xume Adaptors on every lens + Variable ND Filter used together
$400 Panasonic XLR Unit
$500 Small HD Focus (you can even power the camera from this unit!)
$300 MovCam Cage
$100-$600 Select your mounting options (Dual Cage Grip, Shoulder Mount, etc.)

TOTAL: $4300-$4800

Sure, I'd love to see a body with built in XLRs and built in ND filters, and maybe a few physical switches in an AF100 successor someday... but really, this is VERY close and hardly even a step down ergonomically (I've found things I personally prefer about this sort of setup). For all intents and purposes, it's basically the same, with the bonus of being modular + a VND vs set NDs (just buy Xume + a high quality filter).
 
That is what my thinking is

GHS body
Video Devices PixE with LR (XLR and mic preamps) 5-inch model (already have) get ProRes recordings.
Alternative SmallHD 501 to use when recording internally
Sound Diveces MixPre D (XLR and mic preamps w/line out to camera’s audio line input)
Wooden Camera GH 5 Cage

I have everything except GH5D and the cage. So looking at under $3K.
Cheers
 
Last edited:
Steven Soderbergh made Unsane with a iPhone 7 plus. For companies like Panasonic the whole camera business is changing. More films on small screens and the new generation are watching other kids eating Tide Pods on youtube.
For me I'd like to use something besides my GH3 and get back to the run and gun type camera. My DVX100b was so much easier. Now to find something along that line on a budget!
 
It might be time to give up on a successor for the AF100 and just add a rigged up GH5 to your kit.

Rigged GH5 .jpg

Accessories to Rig The Panasonic GH5 and The Olympus 12-40mm f2.8 Lens for Studio Shoots

Movcam Cage Kit
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/sear...&N=0&InitialSearch=yes&sts=ma&Top+Nav-Search=
$315.00

Cine Ring for Olympus 12-40mm Lens http://www.cordvision.com/product/62mm-cine-ring-80mm-od/
$29.00 each

Genustech Matte Box Lite
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/co...EAiREAQYASABEgKL5PD_BwE&is=REG&m=Y&sku=833598
$195.00

Edelkrone Follow Focus One http://www.provideocoalition.com/edelkrone-new-follow-focus-jib-rig-stand/
$200.00

Lens Gears https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/748784-REG/Redrock_Micro_8_003_0107_microLensGears_Kit_4.html
$178.00

Lensstraps for Pulling Focus
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Follow-Focus-Alternative-for-all-DSLR-Cameras-/271005028377
$19.99
 
3D print gears are not a smooth as cut gears, getting custom cut FF gears is worth the extra cost. Everything else is a compromise in quality. Cordvision makes two types of hand cut FF gears, $45-50, you install yourself. Duclos gears are not much more, but you need to send your lens in. Top,of,the line are the new FF gears from Zeiss, designed for their new lenses, but they fit a variety of lenses, and come in three size ranges.
Cheers
 
I think the GH5S would be a better AF100replacement contender, and was considering getting one, until Blackmagic announced their new “Pocket Camera” 4K, which uses the same sensor as the GH5S, but adds ProRes and Raw recording in camera. It also features a full HD 5-inch Monitor,which unfortunately is fixed on the camera back, but is very useable. Optimized for video and a Cine type shooting, this comes closest to a new MFT Cine type csmera, which like the AF100 has XlR mic inputput, pro audio recording 24 bit/48Hz and can record to external drives via its USB-C port — all for less than $1400!

It would be grand if Pannasonic would put the GH5S sensor back into a AF100 style case, with a full HD monitor, SDI/HDMI inputs, and two XLR mic inputs, whith one switchable to AES line input for usingmwith external mixers like the MicPreD. Add updated UHS2 SD cards or like BM’s new camera, One SD and one CFast slot. Keep all the previous AF100 features. But Doing this might cut into the EVA1 sales, so probably will not happen. The Pro Camera division (which the AF100 was in) came out with the $8K EVA1 instead.
Cheers
 
Back
Top