Thinking about dumping my AF100

It's funny .. but recently, our 5D rentals have been tailing off while the AF100 have been going up.
IMHO, there's significant lag between what's hot at NAB and what people ask for current
productions. Right now, were seeing Scarlet with AF100's as "B" as being frequently
requested.

An occasional C300, FS100 request.

If Panasonic comes out with an S35 sized sensor near the AF100's price-point, they'll be
hitting the nail on the head.

IMHO, I'm not all that keen to dump our AF100's .. they do the job and they're paid off .. and they
continue to have a lot of utility for many different kinds of productions.

Hell, we still rent HPX200's out frequently .. once people know to ask for a certain camera .. that
ride lasts a while. I think the AF100 is in that camp.

jeff
 
Mestizo Devon said:
I've owned both the Af100 and Fs100 and I fell in love with the image right away, it just looks better to me, BUT! I REALLY missed the ND, waveform, and SDI.
You need to pick whats most important to you.
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I am in the same boat. I love the image out of the FS100 (minus HL handling) but I REALLY miss the ND and waveform. The SDI I could live without, but I did like it when I had it. The histogram is just NO replacement for the waveform.
 
The best thing that could happen for us AF owners/users is the scenario of Panasonic updating the AF100 with; a new sensor that works like the C300 sensor but in m4/3 size, put in 1:1 focus assist, add 10-bit 4:2:2 output and high bit 4:2:2 internal recording. Done.
 
I'm a little surprised that so many people have been more excited about the 5DMkIII and D800 than about the EOS-1D X and D4. Wouldn't it make sense to wait until both of the latter two are on the market before buying a new camera at this stage, especially given the allegedly superior ISO performance?
 
Also, both the D4 and EOS-1D X fit into the sub $7k range, so I would think they would be definite contenders (though from your earlier comments, it sounds like the Nikon option would fit more naturally with your lens range).
 
jmarkham said:
If Panasonic comes out with an S35 sized sensor near the AF100's price-point, they'll be
hitting the nail on the head.
Click to expand...

editman said:
The best thing that could happen for us AF owners/users is the scenario of Panasonic updating the AF100 with; a new sensor that works like the C300 sensor but in m4/3 size, put in 1:1 focus assist, add 10-bit 4:2:2 output and high bit 4:2:2 internal recording. Done.
Click to expand...

An updated version of the AF could be the answer for me, I'll wait until after NAB to make the final decision on my purchase to be sure.

Per Lichtman said:
Also, both the D4 and EOS-1D X fit into the sub $7k range, so I would think they would be definite contenders (though from your earlier comments, it sounds like the Nikon option would fit more naturally with your lens range).
Click to expand...

Yeah I do like the specs on the D4. A friend of mine is getting his today or tomorrow and we're getting together next week to run it thru it's paces. He wants to check out my Hyperdeck and I want to check out the D4.
 
Brian@202020 said:
Yeah I do like the specs on the D4. A friend of mine is getting his today or tomorrow and we're getting together next week to run it thru it's paces. He wants to check out my Hyperdeck and I want to check out the D4.
Click to expand...

I would be curious to hear your experiences with it on the video side. The D3s blew the IDMKIV away at the higher ISO (both stills and 720P video). The RAW files for the stills side show the D4 keeping pace with the D3s (though adding the 204,800 ISO option), so it will be interesting to see whether Canon has made more progress improving their high ISO or Nikon has made more progress developing their 1080P video.

Either way, for night documentary shooting in particular (like the homeless project I worked on recently) they should really raise the bar.
 
Erik Naso said:
I couldn't shoot full time with a DSLR. Just can't see going backwards. Is the new breed really that good? or is it just "new". As Berry saaid I would trade up for an F3 or C300 but not for a DSLR.
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Amen.

In fact, now that I have the Hyperdeck shuttle I think I'm set until the next Panasonic bundle-of-joy arrives. Its not even about IQ (although even for broadcast none of my clients have any issues with AF100 material), its mostly about utility, and for me it is especially about utility in stupid locations. The GH2 has its moments, but a naked AF100 is awfully damn compact and when you consider the step up in features its a reasonable tradeoff. Somewhere I have MRI images of the damage to my right shoulder from all the Betacams, HDcams I lugged for years, the AF100 is teensy.

Playing the NAB card seems a little hokey. The only direction anyone is going with cameras is 4K raw, and while it is inevitable it also seems unlikely anyone will be rolling out a sub $7K camera that will do those things this year (or at least delivering this year). I would maybe wait until fotokina, the GH3 will probably make some waves.
 
A pal and I built a 12v outboard power supply/bat into a small pelican case with xlr connectors for 7.2 and 12v, I can run the camera or shuttle or both, but that's just for off the sticks or slider. Handheld I'm using in-cam codecs, for the percentage of time I shoot handheld this is ok for me at the moment.
 
editman said:
The best thing that could happen for us AF owners/users is the scenario of Panasonic updating the AF100 with; a new sensor that works like the C300 sensor but in m4/3 size, put in 1:1 focus assist, add 10-bit 4:2:2 output and high bit 4:2:2 internal recording. Done.
Click to expand...

Might buy me some of those .. AVC100 too :)
 
I understand all this dreaming. But honestly, couldn't you just use a decent external recorder t oget good 4:2:2 color?
 
You are sorely tempting me.... I am upgrading from an HPX170 and do not want the 5D mk iii.... The lenses look sweet too...
 
There has been much discussion that the AF100 is not so great in low light. What has been your experience with the Kiron f2.8 glass? I love my 170 but I have grown weary of the poor resolution, which only gets worse trying to push it in low light levels. Really $3600 buy it now? ...damn my fingers are twitching....
 
I sold mine primarily because I didn't see the lens selection I needed to make long term use of it worth the investment given the future I wanted camera wise. That's not a dig at the 4/3 format either, I just wanted to go in a different direction. The other big reason was I wasn't shooting with it. My AF100 didn't make me a single dime after I bought it, and by no fault of its own. I just didn't find any work, and life went in another direction and at the end of the day it just lost value sitting in a bag in-between tests and some random fun a time or two.

Something great is coming at NAB...for sure, I just don't know what. Whether to get rid of your AF100 should be a business decision. If it's still making you money and will continue to, why sell it? If it's not, then by all means get rid of it. I'm currently selling a ton of gear I don't use, because times are tough and I'm tired of seeing $ sitting around in the form of gear and not dollars.
 
ksteiger said:
There has been much discussion that the AF100 is not so great in low light. What has been your experience with the Kiron f2.8 glass? I love my 170 but I have grown weary of the poor resolution, which only gets worse trying to push it in low light levels. Really $3600 buy it now? ...damn my fingers are twitching....
Click to expand...

If you use Ablecine's "Clean" settings, you can easily be clean at 1600 ISO. At 3200 you get a little noise, but it's definitely usable. That is miles better than the HPX170. Yep, $3,600 "Buy it Now". In case you are unaware once someone bids, the "Buy it Now" option disappears. Just an FYI ;)

The Kiron glass is great for interviews. That's what I used it for. I like the Kiron, but I'm not sure what I'm going to get to replace the AF100 yet, so I might not be able to adapt the OM lenses to whatever camera I get. I figure I might as well bundle the two OM lenses with the AF100 for people that want to get a package and not have to get an additional lenses if they don't want to.
 
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