GH1 versus D 90

[PIMP]

First of forgive me if this has been discussed before. I was unable to locate a thread that answered my question. So it is the reason i have posed this question here,

I ve come across some excellent D90 footage. After just become aware of the gh1. I realize the d90 doesnt shoot 1080. However the quality still seems to hold up. My question is how dramatically different are the two cameras in terms of quality. Why would one choose one over the other.

thanks

[Rory_B]

Gh-1 has less Jello, 720 60p so you can create some really nice slow-mo, AF tracking while filming if you so desire(with the kits lens anyways). If you check out the nikon d90 section you're bound to find some threads stating pros and cons of that particular camera. There's obviously more than what I just stated. but it's a start. I just got a gh1 so I'm still going through the ins and outs, but no complaints so far. At least once I switched to a 2nd gh1. First one had atrocious banding even in the best of lighting. New one is pretty solid even at high ISO now.

[PhilD]

At least once I switched to a 2nd gh1. First one had atrocious banding even in the best of lighting. New one is pretty solid even at high ISO now.

Sorry for changing subjects but many people including me have the same problem with their units, please share your experience with both cameras (in another thread).

Please :beer:

[jedbarish]

I can't say much about D90 because i dont own one yet. I got GH1 through a vendor and produced several awesome personal videos right out of the BOX. Praised for those companies to make it right instead a VIPER cam anywhere ;)

[Car3o]

two d90 vidoes here

http://vimeo.com/3683721
http://vimeo.com/3510852

had i shoot them over...gh1 hands down. stuff i couldn't do with the d90, i know i could do with the gh1.

[Ben_B]

My experience (from just looking at footage haven't had a chance to shoot around on the D90 yet, will in late September when I'm back at school) is that the D90 has really crummy implementation of video recording when it comes to the codec. It seems really blocky, washed-out, and crackly. It reminds me of the low-bitrate stuff I can shoot on my cell phone. Even though you can get a nice image with it with good glass it, to me, looks like you mounted nice glass on your Hi-8 handycam. You can put lipstick on a pig...

Not to mention lack of manual controls, etc. Gh1 has superior image quality, and a superior video feature set, and not too bad a price either.

If you're going to be taking mostly photos go with the D90, especially if you know you can get a fair amount of Nikon glass that will autofocus with it.

If you're going to be shooting more video go GH1.

I gave similar advice with GH1 vs 5D (the 5D being a much better still camera than either the GH1 or the D90, and a better video camera than the D90 although in my opinion not the GH1) so maybe I'll rephrase this...if you're only going to shoot video as a time-waster or curiosity go D90...for serious filmmaking go GH1.

[Rory_B]

...for serious filmmaking go GH1.

I'd 2nd that, although I've seen plenty of awesome footage from a variety cameras.

Then there's the cliched response that I'll use here and say "The Celebration" has one of the worst images ever, but is one of my favourite movies. So in the end pick up a camera and film something that is compelling and your weapon of choice will be the last thing on the viewers mind. Unless it's someone on here and then we'll all want to know of course.

BTW Phil if you want to point me to a thread discussing the banding problem let me know. I've seen the massive thread that has some frame grabs of a doll head, so if that has become the default thread for all issues regarding banding let me know. My new unit seems to handle the AVCHD codec better as well. I shot some stuff at a birthday party yesterday and any "MUD" wasn't prevalent to my eyes and I was shooting at the long end of the kit lens and threw in some whip pans to test it out. With the first unit my footage broke apart so many times on the simplest of shots I was going to swear off the camera forever.