Super cheep Af100's floating around :)

It doesn't have tape heads, or a mechanical hard drive, so as David suggests, hrs. is pretty much a non-issue as long as it was taken care of. I mean if was used to film a crabbing series on the ocean then yeah, you may want to pass it over due to salt corrosion. But for regular use, it's a non issue.
 
Thanks for the quick replies. See, I was thinking that too but I wanted to make sure I wasn't missing something...like a camera that was used to shoot "a crabbing series on the ocean". I'll be sure to post my fabulous deal as soon as it becomes available.
 
I am now a happy owner of a gently used AF100. I found a nice deal on Ebay. It was packaged with two SDXC cards and a Nikon adapter so I promptly picked up a Nikkor 28mm f/2.8 from KEH. It works just lovely and I'm eager to get shooting. Thanks again for all of the input, I really appreciate it!
 
I am considering switching from the FS100 to the AF100. I need an all in one solution with waveforms and ND filters. Am I crazy to get an AF100 now, I wonder! Still, nothing has the same features and is cheaper than a C100...
The lack of internal ND's really bothers me. I have a nice variable one, but they are just a pain to operate.

I can now get a outlet (so pretty much new) AF100 for the same price as a new GH4...

One alternative I was considering is the a7S with a Holy Manta ND adapter. At least it will work for my primes.

Do you guys think the af100 will do for doc work? Or is there something I am overlooking, like crappy low light performance...

Does the Atomos Ninja, which I have, make a big difference on the AF100. As comparison, I think the difference is small on the FS100, but noticeable and useful for green screen.
I have seen the long comparison list between Af100 and FS100, more looking for personal insights.

I also noticed the AF100 is used far more then the FS100 when looking for videos online, and there is a larger userbase on the forums. This kind of comforts me (when needing help).
 
I love my af100, more so now than when I first got it. I guess because I know what is does well & what it does not so well. My advice is get the scene file idled in how you like it, don't be afraid of shadows, be careful of highlights, use the waveform, use the sharp part of the lens.

the ninja will help with green screen & heavy color grading but not much useful for day to day shooting. You won't notice a difference unless keying.

i wrote about my experience with the af100 here: http://www.anycamerawilldo.com/best-camera-for-you/
we bought a second one recently and if you are willing to put in some light control effort, the camera will really shine.

also get a speed booster if you get an af100
 
Thanks for this thread. I have been looking and looking and LOOKING for a documentary/event camera for around $2,000, and the Panasonic AF100 seems like the best choice. I have a GH2, which I will think will pair well with the AF100, but I needed something with onboard audio, ND filters, etc. Plus, it would be nice to use my same lenses, which are mostly Minolta Rokkors and Vivitars (which have made me happy, even if they are inexpensive).

I have been looking at the Panasonic HPX170, but I wasn't sure if its 1080P resolution would make me happy after shooting with a hacked GH2. Plus, that P2 media is expensive (though the Firestore recorder is an option). Other cameras, like the Sony FS100, or the XF100, just don't have that "Panasonic look" that I enjoy. (I would love to get an HPX250, but that is a costlier investment as it is). I was ideally look for a higher bitrate/10-bit/4:2:2 camera, but I don't think I will get it at my price range.

Endcredits, which speed booster would you recommend for the AF100? Also, what other gear do you think is helpful for AF100 shooters?
 
I read your af100 page, great info. However you pointed out that pany did not provide focus assist which they actually have. The EV DTL button above the waveform button should be turned on. You then go into the DISPLAY SETUP in the menu. Scroll to the last setting which is EV COLOR and select ON. I set my USER1 button to turn this on as a short cut. When I have EV DTL on, which is normally a focus peak assist in white and useless, I push my USER1 button which has been assigned the EV Color and my focus assist turns a bright red around the subject when I'm in focus. It has changed the game for me, it works awesome. I don't know whether you do this already or not but it has saved my butt so many times.

Lately I've been creating reality shows and I do my own sizzle reels top to bottom. This camera has been great to work with. Here is the latest sizzle reel. The subject matter is about a family that work in the haunt biz in Las Vegas. It leans more toward vivid, blown out footage, not pretty pictures. The images were too good i had to play with the look and feel for this one in post. I got a deal with a company so it did it's job. I love this camera, it can achieve a lot of styles. Here is a link to the sizzle. https://vimeo.com/96956270 pass: myhaunt
 
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Sean,
Great job on the trailer. What a cast of characters.

I also use the Focus Assist on the AF100 (and assign it to User Switch 1). Since I use a DP6 monitor on-board, I turn down the color all the way on the LCD monitor. This allows me to see the red outlining much better.

What I like most about the Focus Assist (with the EVF detail on) is that you can see the range of focus shift as you rotate the lens focus ring. It's an incredible help on time-critical shots. If you want more critical focus, you can toggle the EVF detail off to see only a very narrow area in focus, depending upon your detail settings. Cheers.
 
Hey, thanks for the comments re my article. I also use the Red Peaking function and also bind it to the user 1 button, but when I refer to Focus assist I meant the zoom in for 1:1 resolution like on many other cameras. The Red Peaking works often but I really missed the 1:1 option from my HVX. I found the Red Peaking with EVF detail on gave too many false positives regarding focus and with the EVF detail off its often hard to find so although its good it was disappointing that Panasonic didn't have the Focus Assist option.

That said, I believe they did add it to the AF100A, some one might be able to confirm that though.
 
Hey thanks Hawk. I do everything you are talking about re EVF on/off. I think it's great. What Endcredits was referring to is the zoom 1:1 which would be awesome to have. I have it on my Marshall monitor but I find in run and gun situations I don't use the monitor. The red peaking seems to work great for me. As I get older I'm fighting the battle with my eyes and refusing glasses which is kind of reckless. Only reckless with my own stuff never with a client. I love this cam. Thanks for checking out the sizzle.
 
Yes, I agree the zoom 1:1 would be great to have! I often times wonder why a company drops a function when they know it's important for the user to get the best images possible. It's great marketing in the long run to sell a camera that functions at the highest level within the price point of course. I can't imagine that function costing much since they already have the tech but I'm not privy to the inner workings, there must be good reason for them to do this or otherwise a huge oversight. The LCD is very small as well. Overall I really dig this camera.
 
Very impressed with your AF100 work!
Please tell me what compression routine you used to upload to Vimeo. What resolution and frame rate and what compression program you used
What lens did you use for the bokeh background in the owner interview? If the 14-140, were up very close to the subject with the background way off in the distance?
 
Thanks man. I used my Tokina 16-50mm, onboard ND4, as wide on the aperture as possible with all that light a bit of a *****, probably 2.8 I was running and gunning and flipping to what looked best. The key is to have the lens open as wide as possible to get your shallow depth. Use a MB with another ND if you have to so you can be as wide open as possible. Hard to stay in focus if you are running around though. I'm sure you know all this but in case you don't there you go. I don't own the 14-140. All my lenses are manual Primes and Zooms.
The recipe below is floating out there somewhere I wish I could say I came up with it but I didn't. I found it to work the best for me. It comes out pretty clean and sharp and the file size is very small 200mb at the most.
I cut in FCP 7.

VIDEO EXPORT SETTINGS:

I export using Quicktime conversion.
Click options: Compression: H.264 -
Frame Rate: 30 -
Key frames: Automatic -
Compressor Quality: BEST -
Encoding: Best Quality (multi pass)
Data rate: restrict to 5000 kbits -
Size: 1280x720
Do not check Streaming


AUDIO
Format: AAC
Channels - Stereo
Rate: 44:10 (good for Vimeo upload)
Quality: Best
Target Bit Rate: 320 kps

I hope this helps. Let me know. Cheers
 
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Love my AF100. I owned a F3 after it and now have an F5, but have used it as a back up camera for some events/shoots etc.

I shoot a LOT of racing and motorsports and found the AF100 to be very good.

Here are a few of the pieces I shot on the AF100. ( ALL WITH VOIGTLANDER 17mm and 25mm lenses )( ok a few shots with the PANI 11-17 )

DAVE FOX PROMO SINGAPORE
https://vimeo.com/99510506

HELENE FRANCE "OPPOSITES ATTRACT"
https://vimeo.com/78471198

KPAX RACING DETROIT EPISODE 2013
https://vimeo.com/69420228

KPAX RACING LONG BEACH 2013
https://vimeo.com/66790234

RANDY POBST "ONE on ONE"
https://vimeo.com/51143642



HELENE FRANCE " COLOR OF ROMANCE "
https://vimeo.com/53051961


BTW the camera and the lenses are for sale !
Myles Williams
 
Very nice work Myles Williams. Do you have a certain scene file that you used for these clips or a go to scene file? Could you share? Thanks.
 
greenwood said:
Very nice work Myles Williams. Do you have a certain scene file that you used for these clips or a go to scene file? Could you share? Thanks.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the kind words !

Those are 5DMK2 scene files from ABEL CINE. Very little adjustment in post. My client for motorsports like the look of those lenses too. He is a photographer so when I made the jump from JVC750 to the AF100 he took notice !

My son is starting to get into this some and I feel this camera is a good platform to learn some basics on and he has a very good eye for the "look" so its a coin toss on selling it now. Of course he wants to learn on my F5 ! HA !

Mw
 
I have been reading a bit about some cameras that may be affordable for me. Seems like the AF100 packs a punch and has good functionality vs. BMCC which are great - but cost a bit more, need gear to make it functional etc. Is a used AF100 the best value at the moment to film shorts/features. Lower budget ones of course. I see some Red MXs but they are pretty pricey. Thanks.
 
It's a ridiculously good value right now. You do have to cook it in the camera with the AF100 and be very subtle about changing that in grade so it depends on who's producing and how they see the workflow. I've shot a bunch of shorts with mine and would use it on a feature. We have plenty of them out there now winning awards like our own bgunda's Siddarth.
 
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