New Panasonic AG AF-100A Release In November

It’s not a new model but an update to the AG AF-100. The new camera will only be available in Japan November 15th. No release yet for USA. In Japan it’s called the AG AF-105A.

I wish a new version came out but it’s been less than two years since the AG AF-100 was released and Panasonic doesn’t replace a model that fast so If you own an AF-100 now this might not have enough for you to move side ways to. Focus magnification assist and 10bit 4:2:2 out of SDI is a nice upgrade as well as new AVCHD ver 2.0 (AVCHD Progressive) standard in its new PS mode (average approx. 25Mbps, maximum 28Mbps) for recording, playing and outputting (via HDMI only) Full-HD progressive (1080/59.94p, 1080/50p) images.

One thing I don’t like is external recorders and to take full advantage of the 10 bit out you need to use one. I want to know if the sensor is the same as the current model. If so then some issues with highlight clipping will still exists and overall have the same image. I’ll have to wait and see how good the image is before making up my mind if it’s worth it. Hopefully soon we will see some image comparisons but I don’t expect much of a difference.

I’m probably going to pass on this one and see what comes out around NAB. Then I will plan for an upgrade since I’ve had my AF-100 the day it was released. I sure hope we get a MFT rock star camera because I do like the format.

Here is what Panasonic announced.

Panasonic Introduces The AG-AF100A Series Micro Four Thirds Camera Recorder Featuring Full HD Progressive Recording And 10 Bit 4:2:2 Camera Live Output Via SDI Terminal

Osaka, Japan (November 5th, 2012) — Panasonic Corporation will release the new AG-AF100A Series Memory Card Camera Recorder in November 2012.

The AG-AF100A Series is the professional HD camera recorder with a Micro Four Thirds mount. As with the conventional model AG-AF100 Series, AG-AF100A Series can use a wide range of lenses* including Micro Four Thirds compatible DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) lenses and Cinema lenses with a mount adapter. AG-AF100A Series also features two-channel XLR audio input terminals and more functions to meet the professional needs.

In addition to the professional high quality PH mode (average approx. 21Mbps, maximum 24Mbps), AG-AF100A Series complies with the AVCHD ver. 2.0 (AVCHD Progressive) standard in its new PS mode (average approx. 25Mbps, maximum 28Mbps) for recording, playing and outputting (via HDMI only) Full-HD progressive (1080/59.94p, 1080/50p) images. The PS/PH modes support uncompressed 16 bit LPCM 2-channel audio recording.

The AG-AF100A Series can newly output HD signals with 10 bit 4:2:2 quality via the camera’s live output function and record onto the external devices, such as P2 Recorder, compatible with 10 bit high quality recording through SDI. P2 Recorder also syncs Rec Start/Stop with the AG-AF100A series trigger.

The AG-AF100A Series is newly equipped with the expand focus assist function, which enlarges the center of the displayed image, and 2.39:1 (cinema scope size) safety zone marker.

The AG-AF100A Series will be available in November 2012 at an open price in Japan.

Filed in: AF-100 • Micro Four Thirds • New Release