Wildlife with a Panasonic AF100 at DVinfo.net

Henry Gray · November 16th, 2010, 06:50 AM

For years I have filmed wildlife using a Canon XL1s and an XL2 with an XL adaptor and a 100mm to 300mm zoom lens with super results.
Earlier this year I moved into HD with a Panasonic HMC 41 and I am getting some great shots, unfortunatley
the maximum zoom is 490mm which is fine for larger animals ( Badgers Deer Etc.) but I am finding it's
not much use for small birds and animals unless I set up hides and get much closer which is not always
practical.
What do you think of the new Panasonic AF101 as a recording unit and what lenses do you think will be suitable to give me telephoto 35mm equivalent of 500mm to 1500mm.
Canon or Nikon or even a mirror lens to keep weight down.

Sassi Haham · November 16th, 2010, 10:50 PM

I will put some numbers here, maybe they will help.
Canon XL-2 : 7.2 crop factor with 300mm lens 7.2 x 300 = 2160mm
Panasonic : 1.8 crop factor ! so to get 1500mm you need 1500 : 1.8 = 833mm lens !!!
That means you will need the SIGMonster 300mm-800mm !
Sassi

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http://vimeo.com/channels/sasi

Bo Skelmose · November 17th, 2010, 02:35 AM

As I can see thats the problem with the big Cmos cameras. With the sony EX3 1/2" chip and the adaptimax adapter (5x) you only need a 300 mm sigma lens to get the 1500mm lens. You will not be able to use the standard 2/3" lenses if you should need to make anything "standard" with a zoom function.
But offcourse it would be great for nature, keeping those thing in mind. You just need to get a little closer and that has always been the key to great recordings out there.
I would love to hear how it is to work with.

Henry Gray · November 17th, 2010, 02:37 AM

Hi Sassi
Many thanks for the info. I was afraid that I might need a monster lens to give me results anywhere
near the XL2.
Unfortunately due to it's monster size and cost this is not a practical solution so it's back to crawling
through the heather to try and get close up shots.

Gerd Kogler · November 17th, 2010, 06:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sassi Haham

I will put some numbers here, maybe they will help.
Canon XL-2 : 7.2 crop factor with 300mm lens 7.2 x 300 = 2160mm
Panasonic : 1.8 crop factor ! so to get 1500mm you need 1500 : 1.8 = 833mm lens !!!
That means you will need the SIGMonster 300mm-800mm !
Sassi

----------------------------------------------
The birds of Israel on Vimeo

On the XL-2 the crop factor for a 35mm lens would even be bigger, wouldn't it, 7.2 applies for HDV (1080x1440 pixels). Going from SD to 35mm will be a HUGE decrease in magnification!

Kin Lau · November 19th, 2010, 01:46 PM

I've been trying to find a similar solution. I've tried a Sigma 50-500 + 2xTC on my 7D, but it's tough getting good footage with that combo.

I'm very interested with the upcoming GH2 with a 2.6x teleconversion factor for 1080p and a 3.9x factor for 720p. There's also going to be 100-300 lens coming available in the m43 mount and that's going to be a great light and portable combo. I've been using the GH1 (with hack) for a few months, so I think the GH2 should be a great combo.

John Abbey · November 19th, 2010, 07:02 PM

well if you really need to reach out there, I use an older JVC HD100 with a MTF brand nikon lens adapter. the quality is great, and for instance a 100-300 nikon MF zoom now becomes a 700-2100mm zoom. you can pick up these cameras fairly cheap now. I have had mine for about 5 yrs and would never part with it because of the long reach with great nikon glass...

Dan Clark · November 19th, 2010, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kin Lau

I've been trying to find a similar solution. I've tried a Sigma 50-500 + 2xTC on my 7D, but it's tough getting good footage with that combo.

I'm very interested with the upcoming GH2 with a 2.6x teleconversion factor for 1080p and a 3.9x factor for 720p. There's also going to be 100-300 lens coming available in the m43 mount and that's going to be a great light and portable combo. I've been using the GH1 (with hack) for a few months, so I think the GH2 should be a great combo.

Here's a video of the GH2's ETC using the 100-300: YouTube - Panasonic LUMIX GH2 EX Telecon Test. While there's a slight loss of resolution, this look pretty nice when you need the reach.

Here's a moon shot by the same fellow: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NBX94meEi0. For you jaded folk, this may evoke "Ho hum. Seen better." My reaction was "Holy #$@# Batman!"

Regards,

Dan.

Markus Nord · November 22nd, 2010, 03:29 AM

It's not that fast... But a good zoom
http://www.syopt.co.kr/common/pdf/f=...0F8.0-16.0.pdf

I don't know the price but I'll gona try it on my 7D ASAP

November 16th, 2010, 06:50 AM	#1
Henry Gray Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Selkirk, Scottish Borders, Scotland, UK Posts: 60	Wildlife with a Panasonic AF100 For years I have filmed wildlife using a Canon XL1s and an XL2 with an XL adaptor and a 100mm to 300mm zoom lens with super results. Earlier this year I moved into HD with a Panasonic HMC 41 and I am getting some great shots, unfortunatley the maximum zoom is 490mm which is fine for larger animals ( Badgers Deer Etc.) but I am finding it's not much use for small birds and animals unless I set up hides and get much closer which is not always practical. What do you think of the new Panasonic AF101 as a recording unit and what lenses do you think will be suitable to give me telephoto 35mm equivalent of 500mm to 1500mm. Canon or Nikon or even a mirror lens to keep weight down. __________________ henry g

November 17th, 2010, 02:37 AM	#4
Henry Gray Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Selkirk, Scottish Borders, Scotland, UK Posts: 60	Hi Sassi Many thanks for the info. I was afraid that I might need a monster lens to give me results anywhere near the XL2. Unfortunately due to it's monster size and cost this is not a practical solution so it's back to crawling through the heather to try and get close up shots. __________________ henry g

November 22nd, 2010, 03:29 AM	#9
Markus Nord Major Player Join Date: May 2007 Location: Vastervik ,Sweden Posts: 639	It's not that fast... But a good zoom http://www.syopt.co.kr/common/pdf/f=...0F8.0-16.0.pdf I don't know the price but I'll gona try it on my 7D ASAP __________________ www.nordproduktion.se https://vimeo.com/nordproduktion

November 16th, 2010, 10:50 PM	#2
Sassi Haham Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Yaad, Galilee Posts: 117	I will put some numbers here, maybe they will help. Canon XL-2 : 7.2 crop factor with 300mm lens 7.2 x 300 = 2160mm Panasonic : 1.8 crop factor ! so to get 1500mm you need 1500 : 1.8 = 833mm lens !!! That means you will need the SIGMonster 300mm-800mm ! Sassi ---------------------------------------------- http://vimeo.com/channels/sasi

November 17th, 2010, 02:35 AM	#3
Bo Skelmose Major Player Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Denmark Posts: 495	As I can see thats the problem with the big Cmos cameras. With the sony EX3 1/2" chip and the adaptimax adapter (5x) you only need a 300 mm sigma lens to get the 1500mm lens. You will not be able to use the standard 2/3" lenses if you should need to make anything "standard" with a zoom function. But offcourse it would be great for nature, keeping those thing in mind. You just need to get a little closer and that has always been the key to great recordings out there. I would love to hear how it is to work with.

November 19th, 2010, 01:46 PM	#6
Kin Lau Major Player Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Ottawa, ON Posts: 385	I've been trying to find a similar solution. I've tried a Sigma 50-500 + 2xTC on my 7D, but it's tough getting good footage with that combo. I'm very interested with the upcoming GH2 with a 2.6x teleconversion factor for 1080p and a 3.9x factor for 720p. There's also going to be 100-300 lens coming available in the m43 mount and that's going to be a great light and portable combo. I've been using the GH1 (with hack) for a few months, so I think the GH2 should be a great combo.

November 19th, 2010, 07:02 PM	#7
John Abbey Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: The Great Northwest Posts: 133	well if you really need to reach out there, I use an older JVC HD100 with a MTF brand nikon lens adapter. the quality is great, and for instance a 100-300 nikon MF zoom now becomes a 700-2100mm zoom. you can pick up these cameras fairly cheap now. I have had mine for about 5 yrs and would never part with it because of the long reach with great nikon glass...