AF-100A. Panasonic’s One Camera Line Up
I while back I wrote an article if you should buy the AF-100 . It had some nice rebates that made the camera very affordable. Since then the newish AF-100A has arrived and for me this camera doesn’t warrant an upgrade if you already own an AF-100. I started thinking about what an amazing year 2012 was for large sensor digital cinema cameras. It was a real break out for Sony and Canon. They have several cameras that are really nice. I was lucky to try out the Canon C100 for a week and I liked it a lot. Sure it has some faults but I think every camera does. No such thing as the perfect camera for everyone.
Sony added three new s35 models that should be available early 2013 to a very large line up of s35 models they already have, and Panasonic has one camera. Yes one large sensor camera to offer. I can’t believe it. Panasonic introduced the first real large sensor camera two years ago for users that wanted to get away from DSLR video shooting. I for one wasn’t enjoying the idea of using a 5D MKII because I need audio capture and dealing with an audio recorder wasn’t an option in the broadcast environment I work in. B-Roll was fine in fact great! When the AF-100 was announced I pre-ordered one. I never pre-order, well almost never, I did just that for the GH3. I love my AF-100. This camera changed everything for me. It really did. No way could I shoot a promo or commercial with an ENG camera again, and to be honest I haven’t in the past two years. I won several Emmy awards as well as a few Telly’s all with the AF-100 and a couple spots with the Sony F3. I do feel the camera’s inspired me, and especially the AF-100.
Now What?
Two years have passed and I still like the AF-100. In fact today it’s an even better camera because of the new Lumix lenses that came out a few months ago. The Lumix G X VARIO 12-35mm/F2.8 and the Lumix G X VARIO 35-100 are so good! If you have an AF-100 or a GH3 you have to have those two lenses. It makes the AF-100 a new camera. To bad it took two years for them to come out.
So here we are with the updated AF-100A with basically the same sensor and a few updates but for me it’s to little to late. I have no idea what Panasonic is thinking about doing with MFT for pro users. The GH3 is a great camera and the image is very good at a very competitive price and the new models have substantial improvements not just added features to the current model. The AF-100 has some nice features but image quality is king and the other guys are beating them at it.
It’s not to late for Panasonic to introduce a new model in the pro MFT lineup. Lenses are a huge plus with so many that work with it via adapters, and the light weight MFT system is a big plus, but I like most people we update our cameras every two years, and today the choices are better elsewhere even if it cost a couple of grand more. It’s worth it. At least it is for me. We probably won’t see a new MFT cinema camera for a least another year. I hope I’m wrong.
Here is one of my favorite pieces I shot with the AF-100. I was still learning the ins and outs of the cam when I took it into Bryce Canyon. Good times!
What do you think? is Panasonic going to come back? or is it game over.
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Filed in: AF-100 • Camera News • Micro Four Thirds
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Erik, it truly is a shame. Like you, I preordered two AF100’s for our rental inventory. They were popular with clients in the beginning, but by the end of the 2011, it was clear we needed to offer another large sensor option, one with more resolution, more sensitivity, S35 sensor, better codec. I was told by very good sources that there was an AF100 successor in the works, one that used P2 cards and AVC-Intra, I had even been told of a large sensor Varicam that was due early in 2012 by other sources.
Then I heard that Panasonic had canceled the P2 AF100 successor, and large sensor Varicam due to money issues with Panasonic and natural disasters in Japan. Was even told that they weren’t allowed to even OEM a Super 35mm sensor, much less develop one. NAB was a big disappointment for the absence of the above cameras. I bought a Canon C300 PL as soon as I returned from NAB.
I think it will be hard for Panasonic to catch up to Sony, who has doubled down on S35 cameras and Canon who have made a serious commitment to the sector(4K Varicam prototype not withstanding).
I also believe there is so much downward pricing pressure due to DSLR’s and the Black Magic Camera, that Panasonic would have to think long and hard about jumping into this arena at this point–the days of expensive cameras are dwindling.
hi erik
you are the af100 (or af101 here in europe) guru! how can you lose the faith??? seriously, though, i look at it another way. the af100 is an awesome camera and used prices are very attractive. my approach is to use it for non-broadcast jobs where the image quality is fantastic and for the viewers on the web etc is indistinguishable from the c300 etc. for broadcast jobs i’ll hire a ‘run and gun’ camera with a servo zoom etc (sony pmw200/xf305 for example.) i am very tempted by the c100 but it over-priced and the lenses are expensive. does look neat though.
the gh2 or gh3 combo with the af100 is wonderful. the pictures look great for the money and with super fast voigtlander lenses in low light shooting actuality, well, it’s like watching an arthouse movie…which i like alot.
i wish panasonic would pull their finger out and deliver another mft pro camera and don’t let can canon and sony occupy the territory.
if you do spurn your af100 where do you go? c300? nothing else has built nd so i guess that’s the natural choice?
Harry that’s the thing. I dont want to buy into another system really. I would prefer a high end AF-100 similar to what Jeff wrote in his comment. It’s a shame Panasonic only has one choice in MFT digital cinema. I wont be buying a new camera for a while and will continue using my AF-100 until the right camera comes out that fits my needs. When the Black Magic Digital Cinema Camera is in stock I will probably pick one up but that camera is like a DSLR. Needs lots of bits to get it to work properly. The C300 is to expensive for me to own personally and the C100 even though I liked it a lot it has some missing features, so no rush I guess just feel a little disappointed with the AF-100A.
If I didn’t own a camera today then I would buy the C100. The image is really good and C-Log is nice.
c100/c300 is the way it’s going here. there are alot of af100’s for sale. it’s pricey going for the c100: the body is pretty expensive here in europe and then there are the lenses…i think i’ll need to get:
canon 24-105 (f4)
canon 70-200 (f2.8)
canon 16-55 (f2.8)
and eventually a tokina 10-16 (f2.8)
and a ninja 2
that’s quite a big layout…there are alot of folks buying canon so i doubt the prices will stay as high as they are at the moment. prefer to stay mft but i agree with you guys it’s not the way the wind is blowing.
thanks. i enjoy reading your blog…
That’s a good plan. You might want to add a fast prime like the Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L USM. I like this one as well. the Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM. So many choices. I love lenses!
it’s an addiction!
if you had to choose three lenses to start a c100 kit what would they be?
24-105?
Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L USM?
Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM?
or with is there a wider angle needed given the c100 crop?
Canon 24-105 IS is a must lens. So versatile even though it’s not fast it covers a nice range.
Canon 85mm 1.4 is super sharp wide open. Read the reviews on it. 5 stars. It’s like a 50mm on s35 sensor. Pricy but I believe in paying for good glass. Out last any camera. Maybe find a used one to save some money.
Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM. Another 5 star lens.
Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM. I’m interested in this one as well since it does have IS and that comes in handy for handheld especially in this range. It wont work on full frame cameras but will on the C100. No crop factor so you get the full EF-S lens. Right? This is one of the few consistent f2.8 non L lenses Canon makes. Still not cheap but several hundred less.
Canon 70-200 f4L IS. You could get this instead of the 35mm but that depends on what you shoot. I think the 35mm would get more use.
Tokina 11-16 is a very good lens. Could get this instead of the 16-35 but that leaves a gap.
I’m a relatively new MFT shooter (GH2’s) and am very much on the fence about the AF100 / AF100a vis-a-vis the current competitive industry offerings. I really like the cam (lower DR sensor and “iron-like” form factor notwithstanding), the price point and Erik’s impressive body of work, but I hesitate to invest in outdated technology that is being surpassed in quantum leaps by the competition.
I am leaning toward Sony now since Canon seems disturbingly overpriced for the feature set offered. I was really hoping for a GH3 sensor (or better) in a new and improved AF200, but that apparently isn’t in the cards for the foreseeable future.
Decisions… decisions…
Hi Chris. Thanks for stopping by the blog.
If you have MFT lenses already maybe a used AF-100 would work for you. You can find good deals on them now on DVXuser’s marketplace. Then you can see if the camera does what you need. If not sell it and buy something else. The new AF-100a is still a bargain and has many features that aren’t available on more expensive cameras, but your right. The sensor and the tech is old. as you said.
Decisions… decisions…
Thanks, Mark. I like your suggestion. Your work certainly shows what the AF is capable of producing when properly used. Take care!