Panasonic Finally Shows $10,000 Micro Four Thirds Camcorder
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Panasonic has stopped teasing us with rendered mockups and whispered details for its forthcoming Micro Four Thirds camcorder, the AG-AF100, and has finally released details and photos. Let’s get the shocker out of the way first. It’ll be $10,000.
Why so much? Because it packs in a lot of pro features. Those thinking that this would be anything like the video-shooting Micro Four Thirds stills cameras will be disappointed: the only thing the cameras have in common is the large image-sensor and the lens-mount.
The range of shooting options is almost ridiculously large. You can record in anything up to 1080p (or 1080i) in AVCHD format, with options for the high-bitrate PH-mode. Frame-rates run from 12p up to 60p and sound is 2-channel Dolby Digital. The footage is captured into two SD-cards, and gives up to 48-hours of recording time depending on what quality and size you capture.
A video-camera isn’t a standalone unit. It needs to hook up to all sorts of other gear, and the Panasonic has all the right jacks. HD SDI-out and XLR-input join HDMI, USB, RCA audio-out and a detachable handle and grip for putting the camera into the center of a big rig, and the lenses can of course be changed just like on an SLR.
In fact, it’s these lenses that will likely be the most attractive feature of this camera. Because autofocus is almost never used in professional shooting, and because any number of amazing Leica, Nikon and other lenses can be put onto a Micro Four Thirds camera with cheap adapters, the lens options are almost endless. Fisheyes, super-zooms and fast primes can all be mounted and give filmic images at budget prices. Add to that the fact that by video-camera standards, $10,000 is pretty cheap, and Panasonic might be onto a winner.
Available December.
AG-AF100 product page [Panasonic]
AG-AF100 product page [Panasonic]
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