PCDiver 0 Posted March 1, 2011 Hi chaps, I'm looking to upgrade my Z1 to a new camera. I'm considering the new Panasonic Ag-AF100. At the boot show I spoke to a german housing manufacturer who said he can build a housing for it at a reasonable price. Depending on final specs it will be in between 3500€ and 5000€. The housing are designed to go down to 160 meters, what is necessary for our deep wreck stuff. Since I have no experience at all with this camera, apart from doing research via the net, I would like to get your opinion. Would this camera be suitable for underwater work? Do you see any major problems? What lense would you go for? Thanks a lot, Peter Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jonny shaw 16 Posted March 1, 2011 Great camera, I would buy the Birger mount which enables you to use Canon lenses and then buy the Tokina 11-16mm perfect underwater set up if a) You can get a decent housing b) A decent port to accomodate the lens c) Also get some sort of nano / ninja / aja to capture at a higher bit rate Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PCDiver 0 Posted March 1, 2011 Great camera, I would buy the Birger mount which enables you to use Canon lenses and then buy the Tokina 11-16mm perfect underwater set up if a) You can get a decent housing b) A decent port to accomodate the lens c) Also get some sort of nano / ninja / aja to capture at a higher bit rate Jonny, thanks for info. I can get a decent housing and good ports with these guys: www.bskinetics.com I'm thinking of either adding the nano flash or the aja mini (if it becomes available soon) I'll do some research on the Tokina. Is it compatible with the Sony EF mount? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jonny shaw 16 Posted March 1, 2011 Not 100% re the Tokina, have a look on B&H and see as they have all the mounts listed I believe. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PCDiver 0 Posted March 2, 2011 Not 100% re the Tokina, have a look on B&H and see as they have all the mounts listed I believe. I looked at the berger website. It's going to be a litlle while before the mount for the Pana is going to be available. About the Tokina. It seems to be great for underwater. But I also found several reviews about faulty lenses. I'm a bit worried about distortion. Have a look in this review http://photo.net/equipment/tokina/11-16/. Some of the photos seem to suffer from serious distortion. What do you think about the Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM? Thanks, Peter Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jonny shaw 16 Posted March 2, 2011 The I really reckon the Tokina is a great lens, it's what Howard Hall uses for wide shots on his RED and Duclos went to the trouble of rehousing it as a PL mount and they only work with great glass. The advantage of the Canon is that it will work on full frame DSLR's too the Tokina will only work up to APC sensors. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PCDiver 0 Posted March 2, 2011 I just checked the crop factor. Not good. The pana is a micro four third camera. If I'm not mistaken that gives a 2.1 crop factor for the Tokina. So the 11-16 would be more like 22-32. Hmmm. Perhaps I should look into native m4/3 lenses. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ryan 48 Posted March 2, 2011 If I were setting up a custom AG-AF100 system and wanted the best iq possible, I'd use the 4/3 (not m4/3) Olympus 7-14 w/ a m4/3 to 4/3 adapter. The Panasonic m4/3 7-14/4 is nice as well, but not quite as good as the 4/3 Olympus lens. Personally I might stand by to see what manufacturers actually support this camera with production housings... The camera is too good for everyone to ignore it, and dealing with the kinks from a custom bskinetics housing could be frustrating. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PCDiver 0 Posted March 3, 2011 If I were setting up a custom AG-AF100 system and wanted the best iq possible, I'd use the 4/3 (not m4/3) Olympus 7-14 w/ a m4/3 to 4/3 adapter. The Panasonic m4/3 7-14/4 is nice as well, but not quite as good as the 4/3 Olympus lens. Personally I might stand by to see what manufacturers actually support this camera with production housings... The camera is too good for everyone to ignore it, and dealing with the kinks from a custom bskinetics housing could be frustrating. The olympus seems like a terrific lens but big $$$. But I'm going to B&H in two weeks time to check them out. About housings. I asked around and nobody is currently planning a housing for this camera. Very strange. I talked to the people from BSKinetics, nice chap BTW. I sent him my "feature wish list". We'll see what comes out of this, but I have high hopes. Can anybody advise on a good external HD monitor (either SDI or HDMI) for underwater? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
peterbucknell 3 Posted July 29, 2011 Looks like Equinox has brought out a housing for the AF100. Have you made some purchases since March ? Pete Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PCDiver 0 Posted July 30, 2011 Hey Pete, I bought the Olympus 14-35 and the AG-AF100. It is a great combination. BS Kinetics is developing a housing for the Panasonic. It will take at least another two months before I'm going to get my hands on the prototype. But I'm not in a hurry so that's OK. It will also be a housing that is going to last me for a long time since it will be extremely modular, feature rich and suitable for other camera types of similar dimensions. About Equinox. I couldn't find anything on their website. Can you provide a link? Peter Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RobertSharpe 0 Posted August 4, 2011 Here is the link http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/8051..._Panasonic.html Just thought I'd sign up for an account here after looking this up and find the thread. I'm currently a student studying Film and Television Production and have always thought of getting into underwater photography/videography since I got my PADI Open Water license. I currently own an AF100 and would love the opportunity to rent this housing and try it out - and hopefully soon start making money with it. Cheers Rob Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Druck1 0 Posted October 22, 2011 Hello, folks... ANYONE out there used the Equinox HD-10 combined with the AF100 yet? I can't find a darn thing on the web about it. Strange that the Equinox site doesn't include the AF100 in the camera selection pull-down menu for the HD-10, but it's available at B&H? Sounds like someone needs to hire a new webmaster over there? So, if anyone has used this set up, I would absolutely be thrilled to hear from you! Cheers, David Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
peterbucknell 3 Posted December 2, 2011 Hello, folks... ANYONE out there used the Equinox HD-10 combined with the AF100 yet? I can't find a darn thing on the web about it. Strange that the Equinox site doesn't include the AF100 in the camera selection pull-down menu for the HD-10, but it's available at B&H? Sounds like someone needs to hire a new webmaster over there? So, if anyone has used this set up, I would absolutely be thrilled to hear from you! Cheers, David Hey David, I spoke to the Equinox guys at DEMA, specifically about getting an AF100 under water. They told me that they had made and sold a housing for the camera.. so just the one. Let's find they guy/girl and get their comments! Pete Bucknell www.Toimes.com Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Druck1 0 Posted January 16, 2012 Hey David,I spoke to the Equinox guys at DEMA, specifically about getting an AF100 under water. They told me that they had made and sold a housing for the camera.. so just the one. Let's find they guy/girl and get their comments! Pete Bucknell www.Toimes.com Yeah, I've been on the phone with them as well. The conundrum now is picking the right lens. You are dumping a bunch of money for the HD10 but the lenses out there are pretty limited. There is the Lumix 8mm, but that is all auto. The Peleng 8mm is realllly cheap, but it is manual and Equinox says it would be easier with a manual lens.... I agree, given the way the AF operates. I would want total control UW and coupled with the False-Color-Focus-Assist on the AF100, you'd be golden, I'd think, with the Peleng. But I don't know about vignetting? I see it on some images taken with the Peleng. Is the 8mm too wide? If that is an 8mm designed for Micro 4 3, that's a full frame equal to a 16mm. It it's a Full Frame 8mm lens, then it's about a 16mm for a Micro 4 3 camera. Need to get ahold of this lens to test it. Any other word out there on getting the AF rigged up for UW? David Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
peterbucknell 3 Posted September 12, 2012 Progress has been made on the HD10 housing by Equinox, maybe done by December 2012. It may be the first AF100 underwater! I will start with the lens I have which is the 14 -140. Zoomed all the way out it has an f4 stop. Then I'll move on from there to wider/faster. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HDVdiver 16 Posted September 20, 2012 Why on earth bother with AF-100. A hacked GH2 (or the new GH3) will outperform it easily for a fraction of the price and weight/bulk). 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
peterbucknell 3 Posted June 15, 2013 Here's footage from the AF100 in the Equinox HD10 housing. Lens is the 14-140 zoom which was an experiment that taught me that it's a tricky combo.... Topside footage is shot with GH2 and an old Canon FD lens with a $20 adapter. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
thani 86 Posted July 1, 2013 Peter, Nice video, good story telling and voice over. If those eagle rays were 80 feet away from the lens, it was great visibility and good focus. Thanks for sharing Regards, Thani Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
peterbucknell 3 Posted October 19, 2013 Why on earth bother with AF-100. A hacked GH2 (or the new GH3) will outperform it easily for a fraction of the price and weight/bulk). I just finished setting up a GH2 Nauticam rig with a couple of lenses and domes. Had it in the pool the other night to test buoyancy. Taking it wreck diving tomorrow. It is a great camera, and the lenses all fit the AF100. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
