Panasonic AG-AF100 4/3-Inch Sensor Camcorder

Starting with a Best in Class 4/3 MOS imager, this camera makes images that have that shallow depth of field for which customers have been clamoring. But unlike the DSLRs, Panasonic engineering know-how has resolved the aliasing and moir that has haunted the DSLR shooter. So the concept of bringing this camera to the market was based on what Panasonic heard and saw customers doing. They were purchasing DSLR cameras because they liked the look of the image, but then agonized over all of the workarounds that that had to go through to come out with a successful High Definition recording.

Terminology is that the sensor is 4/3 which means an inch and 1/3, which is obviously a little more cumbersome to say. This is the diagonal measurement and in this application, in spite of the fact that the imager is 4/3 in 4:3 aspects, it is still 4/3 in 16:9. The mount that the camera uses is a micro 4/3 mount which means that there is no mirror in the way like a typical DSLR, and thus the mounting is fairly shallow. You can take advantage of all of the adapters that have been made to adapt lenses to popular Micro 4/3 still cameras.

So there are two issues to come to understand here. The first is how close is the 4/3 imager is in size relationship to 35mm film. The 4/3 imager measures 32.5 across and 35mm fil (movie film, sprocket to sprocket) measures 35mm. In other words, very close. If someone wants to determine what the crop factor would be from a standard 35mm film lens, use .8 as your multiplier. If they want a crop factor for 35mm still lenses that crop factor would be 2X.

The second issue is which lenses can be used on the camera and the list is well, impressive. 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. Please keep in mind that when you do start to put larger lenses on the cameras you need to support the lens with rails and a matte box.

AG-AF100 Features:

4/3 Best in Class MOS imager, with fast imager scanning which translates to low skew in picture quality with optical and low pass filters for elimination of aliasing and moire

Records 1080/60i/24P 30P(Native) and 1080/50i , 25P(Native), 720P/60 or 720P/50

Variable frame rates in 24P, 30P and 25P, in1080 up to 60P or 50 dependent on 60Hz or 50Hz mode

Uncompressed 4:2:2, 8 Bit HD-SDI output and HDMI output

Six Built-in Scene files, which of course the customer can customize, selectable from a menu rather than a scene file dial

Built-in gamma curves like HD Norm, HD Low and High, Cine-like D, Cine-like V, B.Stretch, with 4 selectable color matrices like Norm 1 and Norm 2, Fluorescent and Cinelike

Color Phase and Saturation, Pedestal and Detail image control

Exchangeable scene files, for instant/easy matching between multiple cameras

Syncro-scan shutter in Video Mode (1/24.0, dependent on frame rate, to 1/250; in Film Mode variable shutter angles from 1 to 360 degrees

Two card slots for relay recording which means with 2 32GB SDHC cards, 6 hours of record time and automatic clip spanning across the two cards

SDXC Card compatibility, 64GB cards means 12 hours of PH Mode, 48 hours in HG Mode

Downconverted standard-def composite output

HD Video and Full Audio monitoring during record and playback with high-quality audio preamps at the input

Audio outputs, both line level and headphones

Two professional XLR audio inputs, line/mic selectable with phantom power as menu selectable item with full manual audio level control and the ability to disable all Audio Gain

Uncompressed 48KHz 16 Bit audio recording capability in PH mode

High resolution LCD and Viewfinder

Timecode and timecode synchronizing for simple multiple-camera shoots via video out connection

Dynamic Range Stretch in all modes, and frame rates

Focus assist that can be used while recording, color on peaking and focus bar

Two sets of zebras that user can set for their style of shooting

Two manual black and white balance choices and preset White Balance at 3200 or 5600K

Waveform monitor and vectorscope, for more accurate monitoring of Broadcast Safe Levels

Spotmeter "marker" for instant feedback on key subject exposure value

Built-in optical neutral density filters, 2 stops, 4 stops and 6 stops

Black and White Recording Mode

Pre-record and an intervalometer function for up to 24 hours

Different aspect ratio markings in the viewfinder/LCD 90% "safety zone" against the 16:9 for making sure your framing will be visible on all TVs, and 2.35, 1.85, 14:9, and 4:3

High quality AVCCAM PH mode, full production codec, I frames B frames and P frames, also has HA Mode and HE Mode(note these last two are 1080i only)

Autofocus during record with the H-VS014140 Lumix Lenses, with face recognition technology

Marker ability to mark clips "good" or "no good"

Programmable User Buttons with options like Delete last clip, Focus Assist, Rec Check, Capture, ATW Lock and Shot Mark

Smart Battery interface, record times up to 4 hours with 5400mA battery

Metadata - assign user clip names to the clips that get shot

Wireless infrared remote controller

Professional Color bars and 1000Hz tone for communicating levels to the edit suite

Remote iris/stop/start control interfaces, standard communication protocol as with all Panasonic Professional camcorders

Professional Body Color, similar to other Panasonic Professional cameras like the VariCams

3-year AVCCAM warranty upon registration in PASS network