CAMERA NEWS: A hands-on sneak preview of Panasonic's AG-AF100.

Yesterday, I managed to get a private and up close pre-release look at Panasonic's new and potentially game changing HD video camera, the AG-AF100. Aimed directly at the Canon HDSLR market, the AF-100 is a prosumer full function video camera with an micro 4/3 inch interchangeable lens mount.

Based off of it's highly popular older brother the HVX-200 and subsequently the HMC-150, the AF-100 adds even more professional features for a low price ($4995 body only):

Sensor: 4/3-inch, 16:9 CMOS image sensor.

Record Formats: 1080/60i, 50i, 30p, 25p and 24p (native) and 720/60p, 50p, 30p, 25p and 24p (native).

Codec: AVC/ H.264 Hi Profile AVCHD.

Lens Mount: micro 4/3

Interfaces: HD-SDI out, HDMI, time code recording, built-in stereo microphone and USB 2.0.

Audio: two XLR inputs with +48V Phantom Power capability, 48-kHz/16-bit two-channel digital audio recording and supports LPCM/Dolby-AC3. 

Storage: dual SDHC/SDXC media slots. 

All that has pretty much been known from previous press releases and showings. So here's some observations I'm able to make after getting my hands on the prototype camera:

- The camera is shipped with a micro 4/3 lens mount but additional adapters can be purchased to support most  major lense brands, Nikon, Minolta, Olympus etc, as well as PL mount cine style lens.

- If I understood correctly, so far Canon EOS lenses are not supported as the mounts would penetrate too far into the camera and adapters have yet to be developed.

- An optical lo-res filter is built in to deal with anti-aliasing.

- The camera is 60Hz and 50Hz switchable, for global shooting.

- Waveform and vector displays are now added.

- Dynamic Range Stretch can now be enabled in all modes.

- Black & White mode is added.

- When in Film Camera mode, Gain Settings have ISO Equivalents noted.

- Image Sensor ISO Equivalence: 320

- Three programmable User Buttons can now be individually de-activated.

- Safety Zones for multiple Aspect Ratios have been added.

- White Balance can now be "dialed in" via a programmable function dial on the back of the camera. The traditional white balance system found on the HVX and HMC is still available on the AF-100 as well.

- A 32GB SDHC card will get you 3 hours of footage.

- Focus On Red: a feature similar to Sony's EX series "peaking" a red graphical overlay appears indicating what portion of a frame is in focus. Graphic overlay colors cannot be changed but ability to calibrate it's sensitivity will most likely be added.

- Expanded Focus as found on the HMC has been dropped.

- Internal ND filters now have a dial instead of a switch.

- Switching between CAMERA & PLAYBACK modes is significantly faster.

- A proper mount has been added for tape to eye measurement out.

- Battery mounts are HMC style, so shooters with a bunch of HVX bricks will be out of luck.

- The power switch has been moved to just under the LCD, as the side (and top) handgrip can be removed from the camera.

So is this a 5D/7D killer? There is no doubt that this is a full function video camera with dedicated buttions and menu systems. Even with a low base price of $4995 for body only, that still puts it at double the price of a 5D body. Add in lenses, support, and cards and the price only goes up. When it comes down to it, it's all about price. I don't know if it's a killer but it's sure to take a bite out of Canon's market.