I ran across an eBay listing for the Panasonic AG-AF101 video camera. This was a $4,000 HD video camera about ten years ago, but it is still a good camera for professional use. Someone apparently had some unused boxed units in a warehouse in Israel, and put them on sale on eBay for $700. I finally received the camera, and the extra Kastar batteries in a separate shipment yesterday.
I was unable to find 1080P video settings at first, so I selected 1080i50. I was happy to see that my Blackmagic ATEM Mini Pro was able to accommodate the video signal, even though the ATEM system settings were for 1080P60.
One reason I was attracted to this Panasonic video camera is that it has a Micro Four Thirds lens mount. I started in the Micro Four Thirds lens direction when I purchased the Panasonic GH4. Then I got the GH5, and started acquiring more MFT lenses. Then I got a Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera, which also uses MFT native lenses.
The professional features I like on this Panasonic AG-AF101 video camera include the built-in ND filters (four different positions on a rotary dial that switches the in-body ND filter. I like that it has SDI out, HDMI out, and analog video out. I like the dual SD card recording, and 256GB Sandisk Extreme SD cards work fine. Many shooters will like the EVF. I tend to use the side-mount display, which will flip and reverse.
Many years ago, I took a similar approach to Sony with APS-C lenses. I had a Sony VG-20 video camera that used MFT lenses. I sold that camera kit to a school.
I actually missed having the video body form factor, so it was interesting to find the Panasonic-AG-AF101 video camera
These are the Micro Four Thirds lenses that I use:
• Panasonic 14-42mm, Power Telephoto
• Panasonic 45-175mm, Power Zoom
• Panasonic 100-300mm
• Panasonic 12-35mm
• Panasonic 25mm
• SLR Magic 8mm
• Risespray 35mm
• Sirui 35mm Anamorphic Lens
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