Where's the New Panasonic Large Sensor Camera?

Wow, Panasonic is a really responsive company! We ask them for a new camera, and a few days later they announce the AF100a! :beer:

Funny how a lot of people think it's too little too late. Probably so for current AF100 owners, but maybe new buyers will be attracted to it if the price is similar to AF100. At least it's a step in the right direction.
 
Sumfun said:
Now that Sony's NEX-EA50H is on sale for $3,599 (with lens!), the AF100 is no longer the only large sensor camcorder in this price range. I hope Panny comes out with something new soon.
Click to expand...

But can the EA50H be compared to AF100?? I mean to me it looks like more an amateur camera in a prosumer-ish form factor...
 
At least they got the viewfinder in the right place. Ergonomically speaking this is the way all cameras need to be designed including the FS700. I don't understand why they didn't go with the new design on it. Have to give credit to Sony. They really cranked out a lot of cameras this year thats for sure.
 
Stephen Mick said:
Perhaps for your needs, but not mine. I much prefer the ergonomics of a C100 or AF100 to something like this, but I like to travel light.
Click to expand...
I shoot handheld a lot so for me adding all the rig pieces just to get the camera on my shoulder is a pain. I too like to travel/shoot light. The F5 is more like the camera design I would like to have.
 
I'm with Erik - why someone can't put out a standard eng style shoulder mount large sensor camcorder is beyond me. A JVC 750 style form factor with a micro 4/3 or S35 sensor would get my money immediately.
 
I really liked to handle the AF100 but when I tried the NEX-EA50 this weekend it felt like a camera I would like to travel with and shoot fast. I'm not totally convinced about the IQ on the NEX-EA50 but pretty much everything else suited my taste.
 
Personally I think the NEX-EA50 is just another close-but-no-cigar option. The viewfinder, although a side mount, pushes your head way too far back. You do have to hand it to Sony though, they really want to win this fight.

However, I too like the ergonomics of the AF100, because it's very light, and if considered a modular box, can be set up well for both tripod and handholding.

The argument above about the design of the Canons is interesting to me. In 1965 Eclair introduced the NPR and that configuration was copied and improved upon by every film camera manufacturer from Bolex to Arriflex to Cinema Products to Panavision. They weren't wrong either, it's just better. The new breed of cameras seems to emulating the design of a DSLR, or worse, the IPad. I don't want to shoot a film with an IPad.
 
Last edited:
Mac said:
Personally I think the NEX-EA50 is just another close-but-no-cigar option. The viewfinder, although a side mount, pushes your head way too far back. You do have to hand it to Sony though, they really want to win this fight.

However, I too like the ergonomics of the AF100, because it's very light, and if considered a modular box, can be set up well for both tripod and handholding...
Click to expand...

Yeah, but it looks like a wedding/event shooter's dream... semi-shoulder mount and large chip with a servo zoom long lens. It may not suit my own needs (is there a wave form or zebras?), but I bet Sony sells a ton of these in the wedding/event market.
 
Erik Naso said:
I didn't know the AF-100 was ergonomic. :Drogar-Shock(DBG):
Click to expand...
About as ergonomic as any other DVX-ish form camera. But without tally buttons in the right places.

Hopefully auto-tooting isn't frowned upon, but here's my thread about my minor ergo-mods: http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?275454-Homemade-Ultracheap-ultralight-ENG-Doc-rig

Since that, I switched to a used CPM shoulder rest (lighter, slightly shorter, clamped on to the single rod affixed to the side) and now use the DP6 as a structural part of the hand rig by screwing the Israeli arm into the DP6's side and mounting a simple handle underneath. The whole thing weighs less than 9 lbs with a 14-50 lens, I can reach the focus/zoom wheels with either hand, and the COG is still held far below the shoulder... takes VERY little effort to steady it. It's ruined me to conventional tinker toy shoulder rigs that mount the camera completely above the shoulder.

The frustrated entrepreneur in me wants to market a refined version, but the pessimist in me doubts the AF100 user base is large enough any more to make it worthwhile.
 
Wasn't gonna post in this thread, but I finally caved...

It's been said before (but then many posts are not only repetitive but often redundant...:shocked: ), but I'd love to see some sort of mashup of the AF100 and HPX250. M4/3, AVC-I, 4:2:2, etc...

I'll probably update/upgrade in 10-12 months or so after another year of cranking up the cost-to-earnings of the AF100- there will probably have been 3,297 camera releases in that time at the current rate.

Sony not only makes a million products, but evidently 50,000 cameras. Panasonic, slightly fewer electronics, cameras (and now lenses), Canon- only cameras and glass, I guess?

The C100 caught my eye, with the exceptions of on-board 4:2:0 and no slow mo/time lapse. Next year, we'll see...

Loved "Hammertime"- articulating what has been said often, and often repeatedly, about "it's not the tool..." :grin:
Though "Hammer-peepers" doesn't have quite the same ring to it... "Hammer- haranguers"?

And while I'm at it, I guess I can throw out "Gibson vs Fender" for the players out there... :violent5:
 
Mac said:
The new breed of cameras seems to emulating the design of a DSLR, or worse, the IPad. I don't want to shoot a film with an IPad.
Click to expand...

We just shot a 90 minutes TV-Movie with two C300, next to everything hand held, while the AG-AF was used for "additional material". We came to the conclusion that form factor of the Canon is slightly nuts if one works our way. The AG-AF is somewhat better because it is so much lighter.

It's also beyond me that in the 21th century cameras would come out that would not have the Eclair/Aaton/ARRI form factor. Human design has not changed since 1965 as far as I know and will not in the foreseeable future. But, yes, Ford also produced the "Edsel" at one point in their history... ;-)
 
tipota said:
It's also beyond me that in the 21th century cameras would come out that would not have the Eclair/Aaton/ARRI form factor. Human design has not changed since 1965 as far as I know and will not in the foreseeable future...
Click to expand...

When you put it like that it's quite obvious that the camera manufacturers are pushing something that is unnatural. Who is responsible or why for the currently prevalent camera form factors. Is this all thanks to DSLRs? And if so why? Who ever really liked the DSLR form factor for general shooting?? Except amateurs offcourse... If you ask me the new Sony F5 and F55 are a big step in the right direction regarding form factor.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top