The AF100 has still got it: Cinematic Documentary (India)

F

filmguy123

Veteran
Am happy with the images it's producing. Shot this cinematic style documentary in India earlier this year. Going back for the follow-up story next month.

https://vimeo.com/63946714

All on AF100. Primarily Nokton 25mm and Olympus 12mm, but some others as well. DvTec MultiRig Pro + Warp Stabilizer
 
Wow... really great. I admit being pulled in by the story and the images representing it but I did pull back and notice a few things. Really nice work with that rig. I started to watch and had to go back to your post because I wanted to see how you were moving the camera so beautifully. Great focus pulls. Great images. As you say, that AF100 can really deliver. The sunset scenes with the workers in sillouette, the beautiful images of the children are wonderful. Pretty darn good cut too! Nice!
 
Excellent Work! Very cool to see how Christ is impacting those people. The heart of the story was communicated with much love!
 
Thanks for the great and kind feedback, everyone! Constructive criticism is also welcome :)

I fell in love with the story while I was there, and I know it challenged the way I think about a lot of things. Not to mention it made me question the things that motivate me in comparison to the simple, pure love that motivates those who have built this school. I could just sense it while with them, and as much as I love our cell phones and internet and complex lives, there was so much to be said for their simplicity, love and focus. It's interesting, because we see poverty, but many of them define poverty not as a lack of monetary resources (only to the extent of having their needs met), but primarily they define it as a lack of justice, lack of relational fulfillment, a lack of love, and a lack of purpose/identity/mission. The irony is by that definition, many wealthy westerns could potentially be considered "poor" by them. Anyway, I could go on and on but suffice to say it was a great story to get to be a part of.

Can't wait to go back next month for the follow up story. As much as I want a super35 sized camera, the m43 format is really conducive to travelling, regional flights, etc. Would love to see an AF200 with a greatly improved m43 sensor and a bunch of added features, alongside an s35 format. I'd be pretty tempted to get both.
 
filmguy123 said:
As much as I want a super35 sized camera, the m43 format is really conducive to travelling, regional flights, etc. Would love to see an AF200 with a greatly improved m43 sensor and a bunch of added features, alongside an s35 format. I'd be pretty tempted to get both.
Click to expand...

I had much that same "aha" moment working a job these past few weeks with a lot of travel... I was able to fit a full kit for lit 2-camera interviews into a carry-on and a backpack (along with clothes & laptop & other bits). I considered the camera space for the same range lenses with even a C100 kit, and probably wouldn't have been able to pull it off the same way.

Re: the S35 desires, I think I've now completely satiated that by adding the Nikon Speedbooster to my kit. Effectively makes the AF a Nikon-mount S35-sized sensor cam, and one stop more sensitive.
 
mcbob said:
Re: the S35 desires, I think I've now completely satiated that by adding the Nikon Speedbooster to my kit. Effectively makes the AF a Nikon-mount S35-sized sensor cam, and one stop more sensitive.
Click to expand...

So true! I keep forgetting about this. With speedboosters (especially as they continue to roll out for more mounts) and an improved m43 sensor with more DR, sensitivity, better highlight handing, etc... and higher res... 3K-4K recording, for reframe and recrop in post for doc work... and the ability to record better codec (AVC Ultra, ProRes if lucky)... and a built in 1080p pixel perfect LCD like cell phones for accurate focusing with built in screen... that would pretty much be the ultimate camera for travel and documentary!

mcbob said:
I was able to fit a full kit for lit 2-camera interviews into a carry-on and a backpack (along with clothes & laptop & other bits).
Click to expand...

Impressive! What's your travel kit? I have a ThinkTank v2 international airporter roller and SwissGear ScanSmart 1900 backpack, and a Scottevest to fill pockets when weight restrictions are an issue
 
I hear the OP in his request for constructive criticism and so i'll bring the only possible negative comment. The footage is STUNNING! However, the plight of the people is being portrayed from the vantage point of superior camera work, gorgeous images, and everything looks so darn BEAUTIFUL! It is very difficult to imagine the toil and strife in the lives of these people when they are so beautifully filmed and everything looks so rich and crisp. It's almost with the exception of the woman who was attacked by a bear, that they live in this beautiful place...how could it be so bad? lol. But you can imagine from the stories. So there is your constructive criticism. The beauty and expert quality of the piece may distract from the ugliness of their existence. But i'm more than likely wrong...lol
 
Really great images! I was on the fence for a long time weather to go with the AF100 or not. Your videos show what the Pana can put out in the right hands. It´s just not all about resolution and chip size. It´s about color science or "mojo". The AF just has it.
So, great job!
One thing: Since you seem to shoot on your own, how do you pull of so many different camera movements? Dolly, jib, steadi? How big is your luggage?
 
Spartacus - thanks for the compliment! I agree with you, the AF100 is a great camera. While I am ready for an upgrade, I love what Panasonic does, so I am holding out and hoping for a new camera from them this year. But all in all, Panasonic's combination of features/user interface/overall imaging is hard to beat. The color rendering is something I get a lot of comments on, and have found in a market flooded with DSLR look videos that it actually helps stand out. And I think people are finally over the whole super shallow DoF craze... it's just getting obnoxious now.

I do shoot on my own, I use a DVTec MultiRig Pro for support and try to stay in shape and shoot as steady as I can. The images look pretty smooth after that, and then I use Adobe Warp Stabilizer to smooth them out perfectly. Has worked well for me, especially when you have to move quick and pack light!

I take all fragile gear in a ThinkTank Airport International V2 carry on bag, and take a max size/weight checked bag (I think it's a 28" spinner, whatever the biggest allowed as checked baggage is). And a backpack for my personal item.
 
The only thing I dislike picture wise is the harsh highlight clipping on peoples faces. This is really awful. It's a shame Panny didn't deliver a log gamma to the AF100. Or at least FilmRec.
 
KINOKS said:
The only thing I dislike picture wise is the harsh highlight clipping on peoples faces. This is really awful. It's a shame Panny didn't deliver a log gamma to the AF100. Or at least FilmRec.
Click to expand...

While that would be a great feature, that was my fault on some of those shots for over-exposing their face, or not having someone around to hold a diffuser when light hits the side of their face too harshly.
 
A diffuser was a necessity in those shot, absolutely. But I'm not here to debate what you should or might have done:) I'm just saying that the AF100 clips harshly. And that if you would have shot the same thing with an F3 or C100...using a log gamma, those highlights wouldn't look so nasty, if they would have of clip at all (with the F3).
 
I think I'll start posting nitpicks in the C100 forum about the lack of progressive VFR in their videos, or recommending good chiropractors to F3 shooters... Or maybe not, as it might be non-productive and annoying to repeatedly point out issues of which those cameras' users are keenly aware.
 
Great work, again! There is something very special in the way the AF100 renders color. We don't get to talk about it much but it is the most frequent compliment I get about my work with it. Man, you sure do know how to wield that rig! Nice...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top