PanasonicAf100
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Panasonic AF100 Micro Four Thirds video camera ships today, right on schedule
As you probably know, we're big fans of DSLR video around here at Engadget. From shooting product demos, to producing the Engadget Show, if we shot the video, it was likely done with one of these single-lens cameras: they're convenient and capable of beautiful moving images but often leave much to be desired by way of form factor when it comes to video. While Canon and Nikon are slapping on articulating LCDs and calling it a day, Panasonic has upped the ante with its new AG-AF100 camera. Teased way back in April, Panny just dropped a press release announcing that its newest piece of video hardware is now being delivered, making a nice late holiday gift for any wannabe filmmakers that you really, really like. Basically, the AF100 is what happens when you stuff the innards of a DLSR into the body of a video camera and slap some interchangeable lenses in front of it. Listing at $4,995, the AF100 rocks a Micro Four Thirds sensor that records to dual SD cards in AVCHD and outputs 8-bit uncompressed 4:2:2 video to an external recorder via an HD-SDI connection. It also attempts to solve the audio issues plaguing DSLR video shooting (namely, the difficulty of getting pro-level audio to play nice with a camera designed only for imaging) with its two phantom-powered XLR audio inputs and built-in stereo microphone. Panasonic is also claiming to have lessened aliasing and the dreaded "jellycam" found in DSLR video with an optical low pass filter and faster scanning, while still boasting the wide viewing angle and shallow depth of field that movie-makers (and Vimeo users) know and love to death. We'll be doing a full review of the AF100 as soon as we can get our hands on it; in the meantime, head on past the break for the full PR.
Panasonic confirms December 27 ship date, $4,995 price for AG-AF100 Micro Four Thirds video camera
The headline pretty much says it all here -- Panasonic has now finally cleared up that its AG-AF100 Micro Four Thirds video camera will begin shipping on December 27th, and pack a suitably professional price tag of $4,995. In case you've forgotten about it since it's debut way back in April, the camera offers a slew of fairly high-end features including native 1080/24p recording, variable frame rates, and professional audio capabilities -- and, while $5,000 isn't exactly cheap, it will let you keep costs down somewhat by supporting a whole range of standard Micro Four Thirds lenses, filters and adapters. Head on past the break for the complete press release.
Panasonic announces AF105 Micro Four Thirds camcorder, interchangeable lenses not included
The splicing of video and stills cameras continues unabated today, as Panasonic has just outed a serious-looking piece of photographic hardware. The AF105 (AF100 in Europe) is the world's first camcorder to offer a Four Thirds-sized sensor and provides 1080/60i or 1080/30p AVCHD video recording skills, while matching up to the growing selection of glassware for the company's Micro Four Thirds mount. SDHC and SDXC storage cards are accepted and there's a note that "cinema" lenses can also be fitted on via an extra adapter. The price is set at ¥837,900 (about $9,960) and launch is expected this December. Update: We've now got video of the AF100/105 and a tentative European price of €4,900. American pricing can probably be expected somewhere around the $6,000 range. Thanks, James!
