I just arrived in Las Vegas for NAB and within minutes of arriving I saw this ad from Panasonic (pictured above).
The brand teased a new cinema camera at NAB this year, which appears to be the long-awaited replacement for the AF100. Apparently the camera will be officially previewed at Cinegear in June, but I’m guessing we’ll probably see more details on the camera in the coming days as NAB launches in full force.
All we know so far is that it’s a new camera aimed at the film market that is “small and light” while offering “low-cost media and workflows.” These reasons lead me to believe that it is actually a replacement for the AF100 (or at least a camera in the same market) rather than another iteration of the Varicam series.
For years, there’s been a huge gap between Panasonic’s GH series of mirrorless cameras and its higher-end Varicam offerings. Although they have released some impressive fixed lens cameras in recent years, such as the DVX200, they have yet to respond to the likes of the Canon C100 MK II or Sony FS5. If this is actually a replacement for the AF100, then the competition in the market may be even fiercer.
This is good news even if you’re not a Panasonic shooter, as more competition tends to drive down the prices of similar cameras from other manufacturers. Not to mention, if this camera offers some unique features beyond what Panasonic’s competitors currently offer, we might start to see more innovation in midrange/affordable cinema cameras across the board.
Be sure to check back soon for more updates from NAB!
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