Panasonic AG-AF101

4/3 HD Camcorder Now Updated to AF101a (AF100 Now AF100a)

AG-SFU100G Upgrade List price: £163+VAT
Upgrade adds 1080/60p & 1080/50p HD recording formats (PS mode (maximum 28Mbps)) and substitutes 2.39:1 aspect ratio marking for the current 2.35 marker.

What we think:

Now featuring optional 1080 50p recording, the AF101's large sensor delivery full 10-bit 4:2:2 SDI output for very high quality pictures. Where it stands apart from DSLRs and other large chip cameras is in its ergonomics: it handles like an ENG camera so will be familiar to operate and fast to use compared with other cinematic systems.

Features:

• 3 year manufacturer warranty
• 4/3 type sensor with digital still camera technology
• Interchangeable Lens Micro Four Thirds mount
• Variable frame rate recording
• Recording media
  SD Card 2x slot
• Recording format
  AVCHD
  PH (21 Mbps *Max.24Mbps), HA (17Mbps), HE (6Mbps), HA, HE only for 1080i/59, 94 and 1080i/50
• Support video format
  1080i/50, 25p, 1080/59, 94i/29, 97p/23, 98p
  720/50p, 25p, 720/59, 94p/29, 97p/23, 98p
• Cine-like Gamma
• HD-SDI Output
• XLR audio 2 channel input
  
• USB 2.0

 

The AF101 is designed to allow production industry professionals to achieve a cinema-like HD results much more easily than would be possible using other equipment.

The AF101 is the world*1 first professional HD camcorder to come equipped with a four-thirds MOS image sensor. Optimised for high-definition video recording, the large image sensor on the AF101 enables users to achieve cinema-like results with full artistic control over depth of field. This cost effective camera delivers the look and feel of 35mm, without all the compromises and headaches that come from shooting on DSLRs.

The AF101 utilises Micro Four Thirds lenses or, with the correct conversion adaptor, can accept prime or photographic lenses.

The camera can record video in full HD (1080i/p)/720p formats including 1080/24p native mode with Full HD Variable Frame Rate (VFR) function.

Video can be recorded onto the new larger capacity SDXC memory cards in professional high quality PH mode (up to 24Mbps). Two SD card slots allow relay recording from one SD (SD / SDHC / SDXC) card to another to give recording capacity of up to 12 hours in PH mode or 48 hours in HE mode. The camera is also equipped with HD SDI output and XLR audio 2ch (48 V phantom power source compatible) inputs. Time code recording feature is also available.

*1: As of November 2010 (based on a Panasonic survey).