Panasonic AG-AF100 and DMC-GH2HK Micro Four Thirds Camera Package

AG-AF100
Head only. 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.

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

DMC-GH2HK

Includes H-VS014140 Lens. Hybrid Touch-Control Digital Camera DMC-GH2 - Featuring Full HD 1920x1080/60i Movie Recording and the Worlds Fastest Level of Light Speed AF *
Pursuing Intuition and Enthusiasm

Enforced by the high-performance of new components and advanced technologies, the creative HD Hybrid DMC-GH2 is now offering an even higher level of creative possibility and intuition for every enthusiastic user to explore realms of not only photography but also of videography at the same time.

The LUMIX DMC-GH2 is the latest member of the New Generation System Camera LUMIX G DSL Micro System. Fully compliant with the Micro Four Thirds System lens standard, the LUMIX G DSL Micro System combines a downsized body with advanced functions that achieve both high performance and operational comfort. Featuring an intuitive touch control, the new DMC-GH2 boasts its worlds fastest* level Light Speed AF of approx. 0.1 second to capture the subject in spur-of-the-moment in sharp focus*. The key components including the sensor and the image processing engine are totally refined to achieve the highest performance of the camera to render a stunning image with high resolution, beautiful gradation and high sensitivity - all worthy of the flagship camera of LUMIX G DSL Micro System, DMC-GH2.

Elevating the potential of movie recording into a "true-hybrid" digital camera
There are always two options to record spur-of-the-moment scenes high-quality photos or movies. The user can simply choose the one that saves precious memories most beautifully with DMC-GH2.The predecessor DMC-GH1, which was substantially the first full HD movie recording interchangeable lens system camera with practical auto focus system. The AVCHD format features almost twice the recording time in HD quality than the conventional Motion JPEG format. A special, dedicated button on the top lets the user instantly start recording movies while shooting photos without ever having to make any extra settings changes. Now the DMC-GH2 can record high-resolution full-HD 1920 x 1080 movies in astonishing smooth 60i, doubling the sensor output from 24p to /60p. The DMC-GH2 also supports 1080/24p native mode with 24 Mbps, the highest in AVCHD format bringing an impressive cinema-like afterimage effect to the movie. The newly added Cinema mode option (selectable in the Film mode) gives a movie rich, cinema-like gradation. Now image recording is more flexible and fun with the DMC-GH2. It is now possible to choose a suitable frame rate for movies among 80%, 160%, 200% and 300% with the new Variable Speed Movie mode. The Touch AF in movie recording also lets users enjoy professional-like pull focusing. Just by pointing at the subject, the focus is shifted to the near subject letting it stand out.

Now the DMC-GH2 can take a 14 megapixel photo (16:9) while recording a movie by just pressing a shutter button. Plus you can save a still frame from any movie during playback.

The Extra Tele Conversion function virtually extends the zoom range up to 2.6x, thus the max.728mm in AVCHD Cinema/FSH mode, max. 1092mm in AVCHD SH mode and Motion JPEG HD / WVGA mode and max.1344mm in Motion JPEG VGA/QVGA mode is available with the LUMIX G VARIO HD 14-140mm / F4.0-5.8 ASPH. / MEGA O.I.S. which offering silent drive focusing developed exclusively for with movie recording.

The DMC-GH2 is capable of image output via an optional HDMI mini cable to an external monitor, which is suitable for professional image recording when serious confirmation of the captured images is required.

* Full-HD (1,920 x 1,080) movies are recorded at 60i (NTSC). HD (1,280 x 720) movies are output and recorded by the image sensor at 60p (NTSC).
** In the high speed burst shooting at 40 fps, the picture size is max. 4-megapixel (4:3), 3.8-megapixel (3:2), 2-megapixel (16:9) or 3-megapixel (1:1).
*Continuous recording exceeding 2GB is not possible when recording motion JPEG. Remaining time for continuous recording is displayed on the screen.
*Use a card with SD Speed Class with "Class 4" or higher when recording motion pictures in [AVCHD]. Also, use a card with SD Speed Class with "Class 6" or higher when recording motion pictures in [MOTION JPEG].
* SD Speed Class is the speed standard regarding continuous writing.