What I learned from the AF100

Great article. I agree, the AF100 has it's fair share of weaknesses but I still find it difficult to come by a camera that matches it's ease of us and features in all other categories. Despite how much better image some other products provide, it's not yet worth the trade off in usability for me. and there is something very satisfying about getting the most out a tool. I've learned a lot, and have a lot more yet to learn.
 
EndCredits said:
I started a wee film making blog, focusing on the positive can do attitudes and the like.
I made a post about the wee AF100 and what I had learned while using it.
Anyway thought it might be of interest to some of you. I don't profess to be an expert, just my experience.

Ive used examples from some DVXuser regulars like Eric Naso and Joe Ensley as they have been quite inspiring with their attitudes and skill.

If you have any feed back, I'm keen to hear it.
Anyway take a look, let me know what you think : http://www.anycamerawilldo.com/best-camera-for-you/

And if you get a chance take a look around the rest of the site: http://www.anycamerawilldo.com/
It'll be growing it as I go along adding bits and pieces to it :)
Click to expand...
Nice! Blogging is fun and also very time consuming, but it's worth it to me when I get positive feedback that I actually helped someone. I got some good advice from a blogger when I first started out. They said you have to have YOUR voice. Thats a big deal. Keep it going. Sharing what we learn is the best part of blogging and l learn so much from all of you. Thanks. DVXuser is a great community.
 
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So I have been continuing to shoot all sorts of things with my wee AF100 and last year I started a short film project with some friends that proved amazingly difficult. It should not have been so difficult but I made a lot of bad decisions. It was such an un-fun experience I didn't follow up on the rest of the soot with as much urgency as I should have. Any way my friend Matt recently wanted a shot at doing the edit from what we had shot. And it turned out quite good. So we are gonna finish the project. I also look at what we did and think that using a different camera really would not have added anything, the wee AF100 was perfectly capable.

Here is our 1st rough edit of the to nights of shooting:
You can read about the shoot here

We have recently picked up a 2nd AF100 for super cheep and using that for our corporate work. My friend wrote and directed a comedy short late last year that he is currently finishing. I shot it on the AF100 and was quite happy with it. So I'll share that up here as soon as I can :)

Also thanks for your comments Eric, and good advice :)
 
Just reread my last post here & hadn't followed up, so...

Here is the Short shot on the AF100 I was referring to:

Here is a bit about shooting the window shot: http://www.anycamerawilldo.com/tell-a-few-visual-lies/

I'm still putting our AF100's to work regularly :)
Sad that our AF100 section of DVXuser has slowed down so much but there really are so many new cameras out there now and so affordable. It will be interesting to see what becomes the 2nd bargain. At the moment I reckon the AF100 is still the pick but the F3 surely will drop to a very affordable price soon, even the C100 is getting super affordable.

If anything the low cost of replacement has ment I am more willing to take on situations where the camera could be at risk more so than previously. Losing any mechanical sympathy can be a liberating thing and lead to some interesting shots. I think that's something renters sometimes benefit over owner operators.
 
Brilliant work Jackson! Just confirms my strapline- It is the artist not the paintbrush. I am doing more with my AF102 these days, using my AC160 as the backup and second camera. Both great "paintbrushes!"
Cheers!
Rod
 
Thanks guys. We have recently shot a couple of music videos for a friend of ours on the AF100, perfect camera for a tight setup.

I reeeeeeally wish Panasonic would make a new AF100 with the GH4 sensor in it. I know the GH4 can get that bolt on block for XLR and all that but the lack of an ND wheel and a nice shape makes it a little lack luster. You think if Panasonic did simply rehouse the GH4 into the AF100 body for a reasonable price it would be very popular??? Oh well, can only hope
 
Great blog Endcredits,

I have an AF100 and I got fed up with the amount of debating I always saw; arguing that one camera has better Dynamic range than the Af100 or that you could see slight grain at certain ISO's.

My argument has always been, if your audience is moaning about the slight grain in the shadows or that they couldn't quite see the bottom of the chair leg in the far left corner then you've got serious issues with your film. I mean how bored could the audience be to notice that? Blair Witch had terrible footage but still captivated the audience.

And yes you're spot on with regards to the fact that the skill is in lighting the scene properly, not relying on the camera. I'm also an animator and it always makes me cringe when I hear people asking what software was used, on a good animation. As if the software is the secret to producing amazing animations. It's the principles that matter and that will never change...in till robots take over the world.

Out of interest what rig do you use with your Af100. I'm still just using it as is but would love to get a monitor and recorder. But obviously you then need a rig to put it all on.

Finally can I link your blog on my blog www.22dayslater.com as I'd love other to see it.

Many thanks,

Peter
 
Just looking into the options for an outboard drive and monitor, would you say the Atomos Sumarai would be a better option as it combines a field monitor and hard-drive?
 
Thanks TubeEfinfers, I think I may get one, either that or the new Shogun so it's future proof...or will that not work with an AF100?
 
Hey Bubblegummonster, thanks for the comments re the blog :)
Sure thing, link away.

I use a SmallHD dp6 on the hot shoe with an edlekrone evf holder. Its magic. I tried the original Atamos samurai but sold it as the screen was terrible. The new models are supposed to be much better. I can use the dp6 and the AF100 with out any more than that but if I want to add more I just put on the redrock rails that I have had since I got the AF100 when it came out. I then mount my hyperdeck shuttle & battery pinch off of that. I generally build it up as per the job but try to keep it as small as I can.

The benifits of the Hyperdeck are that it has both hdmi & SDI and loop through for both. It uses the SSD's that I use in my BMCC as well so that's a plus :)

Here is a shot from before I got the edlekrone evf holder:

photo.jpg
 
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