The AVCHD recording format used by the AG-AF100 series includes a professional PH mode with maximum AVCHD bit rate for stunning image quality. Two SD card slots allow continuous recording for up to 12 hours* in PH mode and up to 48 hours* in HE mode with two SD (SD/SDHC/SDXC) cards on board.

The AG-AF100 series records in 1080:59.94i/50i/29.97p/25p/23.98p or 720:29.94p/50p/29.97p/25p/23.98p with its multi HD format.
You can render movie-like images. The Dynamic Range Stretcher, Gamma Select and other image features have also been inherited from previous Panasonic professional camera recorders.

(Wild guess that the 29.94p at 720 should be 59.94p)

The AG-AF100 series features HD-SDI output, XLR audio 2-channel input, and other interfaces that are typically found on professional camera recorders. Time code recording also supports precise video production. In addition to its compact, lightweight body, the AG-AF100 series's professional camera recorder design with grip, handle and large viewfinder firmly support reliable camera work.

Panasonic AG-AF100 (http://pro-av.panasonic.net/en/af100/index.html)

how much?
any lens with package?

XLR audio. Amazing.

The original press release/announcements, etc. showed it with the 14-140mm kit lens from the Gh1. No idea what the plan is now. I've seen the list price ranging from $3,000-6,000. Nothing firm yet.

It's in the pro-av section so XLR and other pro features are expected.

Well likely $6k for the camera and probably more for a lens. Though $6k for cam and lens would not be surprising. WOnder what astock panny lens would be like?

Anyone with a bit of a budget will be opting for a prime rental kit anyway.

Still.. so much for scarlet. lol

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Still.. so much for scarlet. lol
-------------------------------------------------------------------


Something tells me that Scarlet is going to do just fine in spite of the AF100 lol

You mean in spite of the AF-100B since by the time they actually release the dang camera we'll probably already be on the B model. lol

I still have faith in the scarlet but I am also very curious about the AF100.

I am buying a new camera at the end of the year. I would prefer the Scarlet due to the raw footage but I realize RED and their time lines are not very certain.

I like my HMC-150 so the AF100 could be a nice upgrade.

Simon

The AVCHD recording format used by the AG-AF100 series includes a professional PH mode with maximum AVCHD bit rate for stunning image quality.]
It doesn't say what "professional PH mode" actually is? Is it a new, higher, bitrate?

I'm definitely interested to see what kind of low light performance this camera has as well. Exciting stuff here that's for sure.

Press release from IBC: Panasonic Broadcast Blog / AG-AF101 (http://blog.panasonic-broadcast.com/ibc-product-highlights/ag-af101/)

I spoke Jan Crittenden today at the IBC (just around the corner from my company) and she said the list-price would be around 5.000 Us dollars (without lens). Seems very competitive indeed, at least to me.
Shipping will start in december according to her.

I played a bit with the prototype (with a Zeiss Prime 35mm lens, very nice indeed!) and his a good low light performance, it actually will have a sort of ISO value setting, (different from the normail gain settings) but it was not yet implemented on this prototype. (just 70% finished Jan said) Image on the monitor was very good and sharp as hell with a amazing depth of field (also with apertures around t8)

"Panasonic is using IBC to introduce the AG-AF101 (AF100) 4/3 HD camcorder, the world’s first*1 professional HD camera recorder to come equipped with a four-thirds MOS image sensor and is the first model in the Panasonic AVCCAM series to offer the possibility of exchangeable lenses. Optimised for high-definition video recording, the large image sensor on the AF101 enables professional users to achieve cinema-like wide-angle footage with shallow depth of field.

Film and Video Producer, Barry Green commented: "The AF101 promises a huge step forward for cinematographers who want a cost effective camera that delivers the look and feel of 35mm film, but without all the compromises and headaches that come from shooting on DSLRs. It lets filmmakers and video professionals seamlessly achieve the cinematic look they've long sought after, without having to resort to using light-hungry add-on lens adapters, or trying to work around the shortcomings of using a stills camera for a video application.”

The AF101 uses a Micro Four Thirds digital single-lens or cinematic lenses such as prime lens with a conversion adaptor, as well as professional audio input (XLR), giving it the degree of flexibility that professionals require.
The camera can record video in full HD (1080i/p)/720p formats including 1080/24p native mode with Full HD Variable Frame Rate (VFR)*2 function. The video can be recorded on the bigger capacity SDXC memory cards in professional high quality PH mode (up to 24Mbps). Two SD card slots allow relay recording from one SD (SD / SDHC / SDXC) card to another to give large recording capacity of up to 12 hours in PH mode or 48 hours in HE mode*3.

Green added: " Panasonic's kept the professional videographer's needs in mind; this camera has all the necessary connections, controls, and features that working professionals expect and demand from their cameras, and added the ability to achieve cinema-style shallow depth of field. This camera could very well be the embodiment of what independent filmmakers and videographers have been waiting for."

The camera recorder is equipped with interfaces that of a professional video camera, including HD SDI output, XLR audio 2ch (48 V phantom power source compatible) inputs. Time code recording feature is also available to deal with professional video operations.

Engineering samples of the camera recorder will be displayed at the Panasonic Stand #11.E60 at IBC in Amsterdam. Available in December with a tentative RRP of 4,900 euro. Excl. VAT

*1:Research by Panasonic (as of September 2010)
*2: variable frame rates available in 1080p, selectable in 20 steps from 12p to 60p at 60Hz and 20 steps from 12p to 50p at 50Hz. Playback is available at 1080/24p, 1080/25p or 1080/30p. Playback at 1080/60p and 1080/50p are not available on this product.
*3: using 2pcs of 64GB SDXC memory cards"

Barry Green interview at IBC Amsterdam with AF-101/100:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjhpwWUTCao

Panasonic's European Technical Product Manager introducing the AG-AF101.

YouTube - Panasonic AG-AF101 Luc Bara (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aB1UqGmZdcg)

It doesn't say what "professional PH mode" actually is? Is it a new, higher, bitrate?

David,

AVCHD PH mode is up to 24Mbps, uncompressed audio. It compares favorably to XDCAM EX and even XDCAM 422 at 50Mbps as far as compression, not color space or frame structure.

Given an MPEG 2, 4:2:0, Long GOP codec at 50Mbps, theoretically, AVC, h.264 based codecs could provide similar quality with the same specs at a more efficient bit rate, as low as half that of MPEG 2. This remains to be seen with AVCHD PH mode, but I have no reason to think it wouldn't compare favorably to XDCAM EX at up to 35Mbps.

Unfortunately, for those wanting to record outboard onto AVC-Intra or ProRes or some other 10-bit codec, the AF100 most likely only provides 8-bit color depth from the HD-SDI output.

Jeff Regan
Shooting Star Video (http://www.ssv.com)

Initial report from Barry Green on the AG AF101/100, "This prototype isn't finished yet, so I can't say some things definitively, but I can say this – I'm done with shooting on DSLRs. This thing is the bomb."

AF100 / AF101 - initial report (http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?t=222673)

So it's safe to say thing thing will be a game changer. Kinda makes me wish I'd have waited to hear more about this camera instead of buying my HMC40. Oh well, at least I know what my next upgrade will be.

Paul,

I agree the AF-100 is going to be a game changer.

As for the HMC40 vs the AF-100; the HMC40 is around $2,000 street price, we don't know for sure, but the guess is that the AF-100 is going to be around $5,000 --> $6,000 street price. That's a big difference in cost.

DV Expo is coming soon, September 29 - 30 and I'm sure that the AF-100 USA price will be announced.


Bob Diaz

I went over to Panasonic today and got my hands on the AF100. I have to say I'm very impressed. The big things I looked for were skew, moire, and noise.

I'm happy to say that it preformed very well on all fronts. A fast pan of the camera showed very minimal skew, less than or equal to other popular video cameras. Moire was very minimal, and will apparently be even less in the final version of the camera. Noise levels were very low overall, though I was only able to test 400 and 1600 ISO (the camera will go from 200 - 3200). We looked at a number of different charts, can't say much about that but one this is for sure..it's not the same senor as the GH1 at all, it's much better.

It is very much the Panasonic camera that we all know, with all the Cine Gamma modes and vivid colors. Functionally it is very similar to an HMC150. The VF & LCD look just like those found on the HPX370, but apparently these will also be improved before release. Removing the top and side handle is a nice feature, and with so many mounting points I'm sure we'll see this camera configured in multiple different ways.

We are all excited about this camera, and it will be selling for under $6k for sure. The AF100 will be showing at the Createasphere expo in NYC on Tues-Wednesday, so they may announce pricing then.

BTW We have had several clients asking so we've opened a pre-order list. We do not have official pricing yet, but we can put your name on a list right now. We'll match anyone's price on the camera when it ships. Email Christy <christy@abelcine.com> with the subject "AF100 Pre-order" and we'll put you on the list. Once pricing is announced we will add it to our website for Pre-Order as well. We have about 4 people on the list so far.

Also we have the Ki Pro Mini on our site - AJA Ki Pro Mini Ultra-Portable Digital CF Recorder :: Portable Players/Recorders :: Video Players/Recorders & Accessories :: Post Production Tools :: Equipment Sales :: Abel Cine Tech (http://www.abelcine.com/store/AJA-Ki-Pro-Mini-Ultra-Portable-Digital-CF-Recorder/) - which could be a nice combo.

Andy

It's official, $4995.00 is the US price for the AG-AF100. Take a Canon 5D, add monitor, support arms/rails/handles/shoulder pad/counterbalance, viewfinder loop, double system sound recorder, and you're at the AF100 price(or more) and no easy way to use PL lenses!

Jeff Regan
Shooting Star Video (http://www.ssv.com)

So I've been hearing we're not going to be able to use EOS lenses on these cameras CORRECTLY.

I understand they will work and record an image but we won't be able to control iris. Please tell me that isn't true... I don't want to wait around longer for Canon to get off their butt and make a competitor.

There is no way the Panasonic will be able to control the aperture in Canon EF lenses. Even if Canon would allow them permission to do so, it wouldn't be a logical option for the camera. Until someone invents a third party go-between module that allows for aperture control, you'll just have to carry around a cheap EOS film body as an aperture controller. Just put the lens on it, select the aperture, hit the DOF preview button, and remove the lens while you have it pressed down. The diaphragm stays closed to the desired f-stop and you can then use it on your Panasonic.

Glad I've been buying Nikon manual primes for the last... well since the 5Dmk2 came out. :)

how much?
any lens with package?

TapeWorks Texas is now taking orders (first come - first served) on this camera! Details on lenses has not be defined by Panasonic, our sale price for the body only is $4795.00 and we have been told that Panasonic will be Shipping in December!

Visit Panasonic AG-AF100 Micro Four Thirds CineCam(Cinema Camcorder) (http://tapeworkstexas.com/panasonic_ag_af100_micro_four_thirds_cinecam_cinema_camcorder_.html) for all of the juicy details.

Also - check out http://panasonic.biz/sav/broch_bdf/AG-AF100.pdf

There is no way the Panasonic will be able to control the aperture in Canon EF lenses. Even if Canon would allow them permission to do so, it wouldn't be a logical option for the camera. Until someone invents a third party go-between module that allows for aperture control, you'll just have to carry around a cheap EOS film body as an aperture controller. Just put the lens on it, select the aperture, hit the DOF preview button, and remove the lens while you have it pressed down. The diaphragm stays closed to the desired f-stop and you can then use it on your Panasonic.

Currently the lenses that do not have adapters are the Canon EOS and Nikon AF lenses as these do not have external iris rings. Virtually every other lens has an adapter including, Nikon, Canon, Olympus, Minolta, Leica, and even PL mount lenses. As we get closer to the delivery of this camera there will be more bulletins which will cover some of these desired accessories.

We know for sure that Autofocus during record with the H-VS014140 Lumix Lenses, with face recognition technology will be available, so they do have electronic lens control setup for the Lumix Lenses - I'm sure that there there will be an adapter for the EOS series (but I'm a glass half full kind of guy.)

Well it's shaping up well on paper. It appears like Panasonic have really targeted the product well, with a good compromise of features. Plus some pretty handy features to make our job easier.

But the one thing that really remains now - how does the footage look? I couldn't imagine (pre-)ordering a camera that I haven't seen the quality of. It should be good, it's impressed a lot of people, but I'm waiting for samples before I'm convinced.

It's a good step though, hopefully the other manufacturers will stop trying to hybridize 2 different things with conflicting criteria.

Someone else said on another site that the AF100 is not an event camera. I agree so doesn't that let out many of the folk reading about it?

Cheers.

Same has been said about DSLRs, but we are seeing many of them used on red carpet events.

Here's a great interview with Jan Crittenden Livingston Panasonic AG-AF100 at DVExpo on Vimeo (the AG-AF100 product manager) who really nails the point this is not a DSLR killer - it wasn't meant to be. What is is though is a great video camera that give a DSLR like solution (shallow depth of field) as a complete system.

@ Andrew - totally understand wanting to wait, as soon as I can get my hands on some of the footage that was shot by the Panny Crew in Amsterdam I'll let you know. Seeing is believing - and Jan showed the result of their shoot with side by side comparisons.

HI Andy,

Is this a camera you plan on putting in the rental dept?

Brad thanks for posting the video with the Panasonic Product Manager.

Of serious note, something I haven't seen posted before is the camera does overcranking to 60 frames per second in 1080. This is huge news to many who have been stuck with doing overcrank in 720 mode when the rest of your footage is 1080. The Panasonic individual says it will shoot up to 60 frames in either 1080p24 or 1080p30. Her statement on the matter begins at the 4:02 mark in the posted video.

She also mentions 3 ND filters at 2, 4 and 6 stops of light. Many would have expected only 2 NDs. She reiterates the price point as being below 5 grand USD. Finally the codec has I, B and P frames making it a more robust codec variant in the LongGOP family of codecs.

Of serious note, something I haven't seen posted before is the camera does overcranking to 60 frames per second in 1080 .


Yes there are 20 steps between 12 frames and 60 frames over 24P or 30P.


She also mentions 3 ND filters at 2, 4 and 6 stops of light. Many would have expected only 2 NDs.


For those that are tuned to the video reference it would be 1/4, 1/16, 1/64.

She reiterates the price point as being below 5 grand USD. Finally the codec has I, B and P frames making it a more robust codec variant in the LongGOP family of codecs.

List price is $4,995. Delivery is in December.

Best,

Jan