@peternap

Unless you really need it, don't get it. You might be disappointed with the picture. It doesn't have the ultra-fine detail the GH2 has. The AF100 has a stronger anti-aliasing filter which robs it of resolution. Also, the red channel blows out very quickly, causing highlights on skin tones and turn yellow. Yeach! You have to be very careful with the exposure to prevent it. But, if you're OK with those two things, then it is a nice camera. But with the GH3 just around the corner, well...

If we don't see new successor of AF100 at this PhotoKina, we'd see a lot more used AF100 for sales.

I don't care about the gossip. I'm just saying there might be a good opportunity for those looking for AF100 deal. The Photokina is less than 2 months away.

I'm glad you said that Lee. I considered Ralph's warning very carefully, read all the old comments from last year, read hours onthis forum, watched videos.....and pulled the trigger on it a little while ago. It should be here on Wednesday. It's far from a perfect camera but I think it has a lot of potential for many of the things I do. It won't replace the GH2's but I'm keeping them anyway.

I feel like I did back in the old days when I made the jump to large format and bought a Rapid Omega. It was the best LF camera I could afford in addition to my old Nikon. It's new territory with a new learning curve.

I have a big event to video on the 2nd but I'm not going to bother taking the AF, I doubt I'll have the hang of it by then and this will be hectic. (Farmers protest and they're actually handing out pitchforks).

The biggest thing I want it for now is a series of legal seminars I've been hired to video over the next year. Hopefully this will be the A camera I don't really have right now.

@peternap

I just saw this thread for the first time -- I'm sorry I couldn't respond before you pulled the trigger on the AF100. Seriously, test the hell out of your AF100 while you're still in the return window period -- because I recommend returning it.

Buy a "cage" and matte box for one or two GH2's -- and you'll get a pro look and save about two thousand dollars. Or wait two or so months and dump the cash into two or so GH3's.

The AF100 was only mildly impressive when it came out, and in terms of picture quality it's going to be nothing but frustrating relative to the images you've become accustomed to from a hacked GH2. Really -- the AF100 was the most lukewarm received "pro" camera in modern history -- entirely because of the images it creates. Features -- great. But, you're not selling camera features, you're selling images.

Furthermore, if you're filming legal seminars you want an AC130/160 form factor -- like two or three of them.

I'm telling you with all my heart -- send that damn AF100 back. Relative to an HVX200A it was mildly impressive. Relative to a hacked GH2 the images are profoundly mediocre.

Regarding consumer customer service -- you simply treat these GH2's as disposable units. Yes, "Panasonic Solutions" (pro division) service is better -- they won't lose your camera -- but it will still take them eight to twelve weeks to get something, repaired or not, back to you.

@Onionbrain I'm going to give it a pretty harsh workout before the return period expires. It seems to be one of those cameras people love or they hate, I have rails for both GH2's and a cage and mattbox and follow focus on one. Both have H4N's. It's bulky though.

@sugarbelly Actually, I am known for my disposition.

It's a little late to save that relationship even if someone else did intervene. I just spoke to them and my camera will be here on Thursday. I could have sworn I heard her ask someone for the Holey Water in the background.

The internet connections in and out so we're getting ready to have another storm. Off grid is great in storms, I never lose power. Being in the boonies isn't great for the net though.

@LPowell

In a general sence I agree with very much of your point. I think it was four years ago when I declared "coring' to be "evil" and was mocked by BG. I'm also a big fan of significantly reducing V-Detail.

I very seriously evaluated the AF100 shortly after it was released, and I've got years of experience on the Panasonic pro line. Relative to an HVX200 -- it's amazing. Relative to a hacked GH2 it'll be pure frustration. Also, the lack of expanded focus assist on a camera designed to be used with manual focus primes is just pure insanity.

On paper or on an HPX3700 Cine-D is the "cinestyle" dream. On anything below an HPX2700 it's just too damn noisy. You've cranked the master pedestal down pretty darn far -- I expect that's exactly to combat Cine-D noise (I don't remember if the AF-100 had that revised master pedestal numerical scale which started on the HPX170 replacing the old HVX200 scale -- in which case maybe you don't have it cranked down too far).

Beyond that, yeah, your settings make sense. I never really noticed much of a noise difference between Norm1 (NTSC) and Norm2 (PAL), but I remember that was the big rage shortly after the camera was released.

I guess my real point is that, in 2012, about two months before the release of the GH3 -- with mature GH2 hacks producing 150 Mbps intraframe mpeg-4 streams -- I just can't imagine spending three thousand on an AF-100 -- and I certainly couldn't recommend doing so to @Peternap -- one of the nicest guys in this forum.

@Onionbrain I'm looking over the AC130. Why is that better for the seminars?

@peternap

The correct answer is a full blown essay. The AC130 or AC160 are ENG cameras that do everything DSLR/DSLM cameras don't do, and vice versa. For any kind of event coverage -- an ENG camera is superior on so very many levels.

In a general sense -- I'd rather have an AC160 and two GH2 cameras than an AF100 and two GH2 cameras. The former empowers you with supreme versatility, the latter is a collection of similar limitations.

I'm happy to chat on the phone with you about it -- but the best answer is to go rent before you buy. It'll take you exactly ten minutes to discover why an AC130/160 is better for any kind of run-and-gun and/or event coverage.

I think, topic totally derailed, as it is about AF100 now.

sad to see that af100 is more used than GH2... http://www.worldstarhiphop.com/videos/video.php?v=wshhLW455Pl6tpOT0m0A

the video has not been released yet, will do it.