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PANASONIC AF-100 User Guide

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OPTICSManaging how light reaches the camera’s sensor is the most important part of shooting and can be accomplished through a variety of methods.

ND Filters

A Neutral Density or ND Filter is a filter that reduces or modifies intensity of wavelengths of light as it passes through it.This is adjusted via the knob at the front of the camera, which has 4 settings on the Panasonic AF-100. 1 is the lowest setting (Clear), while 4 is the highest and darket filter (1/64).

Gain

Gain is a setting which artificially boosts signals to create a brighter image. It can help in low light situations, but also usually results in a grainy image. Gain settings are displayed as ISO levels, and will be listed as “200 ISO” for example. A high ISO means a brighter image, while a lower ISO results in a darker image.

This is adjusted via the GAIN switch on the left panel of the Panasonic AF-100.

Shutter Speed

Shutter Speed controls the amount of time the camera’s shutter stays open to allow light in. A Faster shutter speed results in less light, but generally crisper images and less motion blur. A setting of 1/6000th of a second is extremely fast and would result in a darker image. A shutter speed of 1/24th of a second is slower and allows more light to pass through.

This is adjusted via rolling the Dial Selector on the back of the camera. If needed, press the Dial Select Button and change the Dial Selector mode from Frame Rate to Shutter Speed.

Aperture (Iris)

Aperture controls the size of the opening that lets light in. A smaller aperture lets less light in, and results in a darker image. A larger aperture allows more light in and results in a brighter image.

When using the lens adapters with the Panasonic AF-100, aperture is controlled via the Aperture Ring on the adapter. When using the Lumix lens, aperture is adjusted via the knob on the bottom left hand corner of the camera and is not adjusted via the lens.

Frame Rate

Frame rate refers to the number of frames recorded per second while shooting. A low frame rate means less frames, resulting in choppy movement. A higher frame rate will result in very smooth movement, but often has an unnatural feel to it. Film is traditionally shot at 24fps (frames per second) and, when transferred to NTSC television, is slowed to 23.976fps. Filming at a higher frame rate is useful when your footage needs to be slowed down. Due to the higher number of frames, it can effectively be slowed to 40% and still remain at 24fps.

This is adjusted via rolling the Dial Selector on the back of the camera. If needed, press the Dial Select Button and change the Dial Selector mode from Shutter Speed to Frame Rate.

Optical Image Stabilization (O.I.S.)

Optical Image Stabilization is a feature built into the Lumix lens, and is used to stabilize your image when doing handheld shots. It compensates for unwanted hand movements, which tend to be accentuated when fully zoomed in. A slight movement of the hand will be greatly exaggerated when zoomed in, and O.I.S. helps to diminish this.

This feature is turned on via the switch on the left side of the Lumix lens. When set to “OFF” your image will not be stabilized.

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LENSESDepending on the type of shot you want, there are several different options in terms of lenses that are at your disposal. Below is a list of our current collection of lenses, listed from very wide angle to very narrow.

Nikon 10.5mm (f/2.8)Fisheye, distorted ultra wide angle

Tokina 11-16mm (f/2.8)Ultra-wide angle lens with shallow focal length

Nikon 12-24mm (f/4)Wide angle lens with moderate focal length

Lumix 14-140mm (f/4-5.8)Large focal length, does not require lens adapter, O.I.S. equipped

Sigma 17-70mm (f/2.8-4.5)Moderate focal length, versatile

Tamron 28-75mm (f/2.8)Moderate focal length, versatile

Nikon 50mm Prime (f/1.8)Fixed focal length, medium focus distance, ideal for portaits

Nikon 85mm Prime (f/1.8)Fixed focal length, close focus distance, excellent depth of field

Nikon 18-55mm (f/3.5-5.6)Versatile but relatively short focal length

Nikon 18-105mm (f/3.5-5.6)Very versatile, good for both extreme close ups and wide shots

Nikon 105mm Prime (f/2.8)Fixed focal length, good for high-detail macro shots

Nikon 80-200mm (f/2.8)Extremely good zoom capabilities, only useful in certain situations

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LENS ADAPTERS

AUDIO

The Panasonic AF-100 is compatible with a variety of external lenses. With the exception of the Lumix, the other lenses require an adapter in order to attach them.

In addition to the internal stereo microphone, the Panasonic AF-100 comes equipped with two-channel XLR audio input terminals with a 48V phantom power supply.

Novoflex AdapterHas a blue aperature ring. The Nikon 85mm lens is not compatible with this adapter.

Nikon Pixco AdapterHas a black aperture ring.

Nikon FOTGA AdapterHas a ribbed black aperture ring.

To properly attach a lens to the Panasonic AF-100, you must first remove the sensor cap. Select a lens adapter and line up the red dot on the adapter with the red dot on the camera. It can only be attached one way, so if you have difficulty putting it on, use the other side. Gently press in, and turn clockwise until it clicks and locks into place.

Next, select your desired lens and remove the rear lens cap. Most lenses with have some sort of dot or line indicating the correct spot to line up with the adapter. Once properly aligned, press in gently and turn counter-clockwise until it clicks and locks into place. If you are using the Lumix lens you will not need an adapter and simply have to line up the red dot on the lens with the one on the camera.

There are a variety of ways to record audio with the Panasonic AF-100. The most common and recommended way is via an XLR cable that goes into one of the two XLR inputs at the top of the right side of the camera. When plugging in the XLR cables, ensure that if you are plugged into Input 1 the camera is set accordingly to Input 1 as well. Also, be sure to set the input to “Mic” when using an external microphone of any kind.

When using a shotgun or condenser microphone, a standard XLR cable is sufficient. When using a lavaliere microphone, however, a 3.5mm to XLR adapter is required.

To adjust volume levels, use the two small dials on the left side panel of the camera. The input levels will be displayed on the LCD screen via white boxes in the bottom left corner.

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GENERAL FUNCTIONALITY & FEATURESThere are many extra functions and features of the Panasonic AF-100 that will aide you when filming. These are just a few of the main ones you will use regularly.

SD Card Slots:The Panasonic AF-100 records footage onto SD cards. It comes equipped with 2 slots for extra storage space, and can be manually selected via the “Slot Select” buttons on the rear of the camera. SD cards are normally kept in the camera at all times and only removed to download footage. If the camera does not have an SD card in it, they can be found at Natalie’s or Mo’s desk.

Viewfinder:To view what is in frame, you can either use the LCD screen or the viewfinder. Normally the LCD screen will be open to provide access to the information within your shot. Having it open also allows access to the function buttons beneath it. You may choose to use the viewfinder when dealing with outdoor settings with bright sunlight, or if you simply prefer to use the viewfinder over the LCD. In order to turn on and utilize the viewfinder, you can either close the LCD screen or flip it to face away from you.

Waveform Monitor:To get a better idea of how much light or luminance is in your shot, you can utilize the Waveform Monitor, which is accessed via the “WFM” button on the cameras inside panel. Once on, it displays a white graphic on a graph. The closer the white is to the top of the graph, the more luminance in your shot and therefore the brighter the image will be.

Zebra Stripes:Zebra Stripes indicate when certain objects or pieces within your scene are overexposed. Thin black lines will appear on these areas that are over exposed. To access this feature, press the “Zebra” button on the inside panel of the camera.

Image Resolution:Image resolution refers to the number of pixels in the image and is measured by multiplying the number of horizontal pixels by the number of vertical pixels, generally displayed as “1920x1080” or “720x480.” Although higher resolutions do exist, “Full HD” is generally accepted as 1920x1080 and is currently the maximum (and recommended) resolution the Panasonic AF-100 can film at.

White Balance:White balance is performed to ensure all colours are being captured accurately. In cases where the lighting in your scene or surrounding area has a tint to it It lets the camera know what color white is supposed to be, and adjusts all other colors accordingly. For the Panasonic AF-100, a white balance is performed by holding a whiteboard in front of the camera under the exact same lighting conditions you will be filming in. Set the white balance “bank” to either A or B and press the “AWB” button located on the front of the camera, on the left hand side. The current colour temperature of white will be stored.

Playing and Viewing Recorded Clips:To view any clips you have previously recorded, they can be accessed via the “Mode” button at the bottom of the camera. Using the navigational buttons at the top of the camera, you can browse through and playback clips directly from the camera.

Tripods and Baseplates:The Panasonic AF-100 is compatible with a variety of tripods. In order to attach the camera to a tripod, you will need a baseplate. The tripod baseplates should always be stored with the tripod it belongs to, attached to the top. Remove it from the tripod, screw it into the bottom of the camera and attach it to the top of the tripod by either sliding or clamping it in, depending on the tripod being used.

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FOCUS ASSISTS & PEAKING

PROPER EQUIPMENT CARE

When shooting in 1080p, it’s impossible to accurately judge what is in focus using an LCD screen with a resolution of only 852x480. You can get close, but there are several aids that are available on the Panasonic AF-100 that will make this much easier to judge.

Ensuring your camera and lenses are in perfect working condition is as important as proper framing and focus. If your equipment is not functioning as it should, it will cause issues.

EVF DTL (Peaking)Peaking uses high-frequency detail in the image to highlight areas which are in focus. Without it, your image will appear slightly blurred and it will be difficult to accurately tell what is in focus. This is activated by pressing the “EVF DTL” button on the cameras inner control panel.

Focus Assist (FA)This feature acts similarly to the EVF DTL function, but is more useful for shots that are not close-ups. It highlights objects that are in focus with a red outline. It is more noticeable during wide shots, and can help get certain objects in focus when there are mutliple things on screen. To activate this fea-ture, press the “User 1” button, which has already been assigned to Focus Assist. A red box will appear around the LCD screen to indicate when it is on.

Focus BarThe Focus Bar is a less accurate focus assist, but still can be useful for gauging general focus of a wide shot. The Focus Bar is located at the bottom left corner of the LCD screen and peaks with a green box at the end. The longer the focus bar, the more in focus your shot is.

Panasonic AF-100Always be sure to pick up and set down the camera gently and handle it with care. There are many sensitive instruments inside that can easily be damaged if the camera is dropped or hit with force.Always remove the camera from it’s tripod and the baseplate from the camera before storing.Before storing the camera, remove the battery and place it in the charger. Also remove any lens or lens adapter that may be attached to the camera and store them in their appropriate places.Remove any audio or video cables attached to the camera before storing it.Ensure to not leave the camera sensor cap removed for long periods of time.Do not touch the camera sensor when it is uncovered.

LensesTo avoid fingerprints and smudges, never touch the glass lens with your fingers.Be sure to follow proper mounting and unmounting procedures outlined in the previous Lens Adapters section.Always use a lens cap when the lens is not in use and still attached to a camera.When a lens is not in use and is removed from a camera, ensure to cover the front and the back with appropriate lens caps and store it in the cabinet labelled “Lenses.”If you find that your lens surface has dust on it, use the lens cleaning kit and utilize the air blower to remove any dust particles that may be on the lens.

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PANASONIC AF-100 User Guide