Our friend Dracore which is following the NAB event in Las Vegas told us that Panasonic is “expecting the AG-AF100 to be available in December“. The Panasonic rep gave him the contact info to submit suggestions which may/may not make it into the final product.
I collected your suggestions and created a poll.
I am sure Panasonic will take care of the suggestions of professionals filmmakeras more than the suggestion of our readers. We have also to consider that most of you are photographer more than videographer. So let’s give you some rules:
1) Vote if you really have some experience with video.
2) Vote if you are one of the potential buyers of the Panasonic AG-AF100
[poll id=”28″]
14 Responses
Still want to have 21:9 (2.35:1) and 2K native aspect ratios option from its 12MP sensor, because cinema movie making will definitely makes use these aspect ratios only (I have to emphasize, 16:9 is only used for HDTV video production, not for digital cinematography)
Raw ouput is apparently included (says eoshd.com)
strange list….
# Higher Bitrate (better coded)
– AVCHD is apparently a pretty good codec, even better than some higher bitrate codecs since it has variable sample sizes. Not only that but offering uncompresed HDMI out as well as SDI-out which is also uncompressed and can interface with many different storage devices that can either store uncompressed or any other codec you’d want, I don’t see the point…
# RAW recording
– I guess some might want this.
# 4:2:2 colour
– Some senior members at DVXuser already think this is supported in the SDI out.
# 1080 60p.
– This would be nice, I wonder if the GH-1 sensor can handle it though, if not, it doesn’t seem feasible for the first gen.
# Interface app for full camera control on external device, like a laptop or touchpad.
– Could be neat
# Full Manual control on focus, aperture and zoom ring
– this is confusingly worded, probably won’t get a lot of votes since everyone assumes it’ll have full manual controls 🙂
# Variable frame rates 1-120 (or higher at lower resolution).
– 1-24 is feasible, though higher than that might be a limitation of the sensor used, and if we need a new sensor, the price would likely go up (since it’s not mass market device), and a delayed launch date, sounds bad for a first gen device.
# Down scaling rather than pixel binning (solves aliasing, moire).
– Pixel binning would not cause aliasing, line skipping does, pixel binning if it was possible on NMOS would be fantastic, you’d get great signal to noise without aliasing. The positive of down scaling would be great detail and also making use of the whole sensor surface area for low light as well.
# Timelapse and slow frame rate/varicam
– Could be neat
# 720 120p.
– Can the sensor read out at 120p? Remember this is a still camera sensor being used…
# API which allows the development of applications
– Could be interesting, though limited in use if manual/legacy glass is used, seems it’d be more useful on a GH2
# Weather sealed
– Sure though no mFT lens’ are weather sealled, is even the FT to mFT adapter sealed? 🙂
# Retain ability to still capture 12 mp stills
– theres going to be a trade off here, if they use line skipping then you’ll get the aliasing again. Though, if they focus on video, they can keep the line skipping (even though that’s a compromise), and reduce aliasing.
# USB 3.0
– Sounds good, though being SDHC/XC you can just pop out the memory card and use a dedicated memory card reader, it’s must safer (no cable to trip over as you are tethered, and no worry about batteries running out while transfering). I must admit, SDXC’s compatibility with current memory card readers/computers may make this more a nessessity though as the camera would act as the reader…
# Better body design
# 21:9 (2.35:1) and 2K native aspect ratios
– Not sure why we’d want this as a native ratio… If you think about it, if this was the native ratio (the sensor shape), then given the size of the image circle, you’re giving away most of the sensor/lens real estate. remember 1:1 is the most efficient use of a circle. The area for 16:9 is much less, and 21:9 even more so. I’d much prefer a more square format such as 16:9, or even retain the oversized GH1 aspect as native, so you could do anamorphic, or target different aspect ratios at shoot time with the frame guides in preview.
Thanks joesiv!
Better body design makes no sence to me, this was after all a mock up
@joesiv
Maybe I have mistyped the 21:9 or 2K as “native” in my first comment. It really does not matter what is the native aspect ratio of the sensor, what I mean is there should be aspect ratio selection with “native aspect ratio” extracted from its 12MP sensor (I think Panasonic will use GH1 or GH2 sensor anyway), ie. 1.78:1/1.85:1/2.35:1 aspect ratio selection from the camera for preview and recording format. This should be a software feature rather than a hardware feature, so this should be a must for a digital cinematographic video camera, and differentiate itself from GH2 or HD camcorders.
Thanks joesiv.
Great post!
Based on the results it’s pretty clear people want some frame rate magic. Having 60 fps at 1080p would basically seal the deal for me. A burst mode with even higher fps would also be fantastic!
The biggest issue for me, which is not listed on this poll, is the elimination of skew/jello caused by the slow rolling shutter. My hope/expectation would be to have *substantially* less skew than a GH1 or 7D.
Since it’s not known how the sensor in this camera works or whether there is line skipping, pixel binning, or downscaling happening, it’s hard to say how/if higher fps might be possible. Unless this is a native 1080 sensor, it should be possible to use windowing to get higher fps modes while maintaing 1080p output resolution, right?
Ditch the 12mp sensor and have a sensor with native resolution equal to the max video capability (i.e. in this case 1080). That would be some sweet low light performance. No need for this thing to use a still camera sensor.
Manual features is definitely a given and I agree that it really didn’t need to be on the list and besides, it would have put 1080 60p on top where it belong. I would like to thank everybody who help rank 1080 60p so high on the priority list. Their may still be a technical hurdle but if their isn’t, as least they’ll be a better chance that it’ll get 1080 60p if it’s possible. Panasonic has been working on heating techniques so you never know.
As far as the compression is concerned, AVCCAM is significantly better than what was used in the GH1 so you wont see the codec breaking up as much and it’s been tested to be better than XDCAM EX although that’s arguable. As far as uncompressed, it may not offer it internally but it has an HD-SDI output so if you hook it up to an external source, you can get uncompressed.
Where’s the servo zoom?
@Nick & marcram
EOSHD has mentioned the details of AG-AF100, basically using the same sensor as GH1 (of course to save cost), built-in low-pass filter and downscaling implemented. Although there are many expectations with the new video camera, I think the basic hardware components will not be changed.
My #1 request would be the ability to shoot 2K with Super 16 PL mount lenses (and even regular 16 lenses).
That would involve some cropping on the sensor, but even then the camera would be downsampling from its native resolution.
That would open-up a whole world of relatively light, fast and sharp lenses that can be used with cine-style accessories (follow focus, mate boxes, etc).
Wireless HD video monitoring would also be very handy, allowing you to shoot untethered while still having someone there to make sure the focus is bang-on. An added bonus is the fact that it would keep the director away from the camera :).
Timelapse using the full 12MP and raw would be good.
Having a wireless waveform monitor would make this a real professional tool. There’s nothing worse than finding out you’ve blown a highlight after it’s too late.
I wish Panasonic wouldn’t release this as a AVCCAM record only.Why not have a version that can shoot directly into P2 cards and record 10 Bit Intra 100
Panasonic make those modifications and I assure you as a Cinematographer/Videographer of 23 years,that they will fly off the shelv’es.
A kit with different screw on Mounts would be icing on the cake.
(Nikon,Canon,PL Cine)
Cheers Rick