14 DAY TRIAL // Panasonic holds an edition of the “Shoot It. Share It” online video competition every year, and it looks like this year's session has just started.
Some people may remember that Panasonic released the AG-AF100, what was basically the industry’s first professional micro 4/3-inch camcorder.
It is this camcorder that Panasonic expects users to employ for whatever videos they choose to submit at www.ShootItShareIt.com.
Of course, to be eligible for the competition, one needs to be a legal resident of one the fifty United States and the District of Columbia.
They also need to have Internet access and either ownership of or the opportunity to use someone else's Panasonic AG-AF100.
Up to five videos of five minutes (at most) each can be submitted per person, for the following categories: nature, short film, music video, documentary, student and music video.
The submission period is 6 to 7 March, while the actual winners will be decided between March 12 and April 4.
The public will get to choose among 18 semi-finalists (three per category) and vote to determine who is the best in each, though a special panel of judges will decide the grand winner.
Finally, the results will be announced during the NAB 2012 show in Las Vegas, Nevada, between April 16 and April 19.
The AG-AF100 relies on a large 4/3-inch, 16:9 MOS imager and on an optical low pass filter. It can capture video in 1080p quality (60i, 50i, 30P, 25P / Native and 24P / Native), as well as 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p and 24p native in AVCHD).
It is also possible to record AVCCAM’s HA (17Mbps) and HE (6Mbps) modes, though only in 1080i quality.
Other features include variable frame rates (VPR), so that one out of 20 steps may be chosen while shooting 1080p films.
Finally, the camcorder boasts a stereo microphone, a pair of mix lines, an interchangeable micro 4/3 lens mount, switchable XLR inputs with +48V Phantom Power capability and a price of $4,995 (3,805.71 Euro).