is the GH1 right for me?

[Ken Steadman]

Here is my situation. I have a HMC150 and a SGblade setup with I use for video production. I also have a merlin with vest. The problem for me is it's not time feasible to switch back and forth between the two; I have tried using a non flip tube on the Blade/HMC150 combination and it works but I feel it is right near the point of breaking the merlin.

I would like to buy the GH1 to setup on the merlin and leave it setup for short steadicam sequences. So my shots are both quicker to setup and the DOF isnt so drastically different between shots. Ideally I guess I should get another hmc/blade/upgrade to a pilot but thats no way possible.

Not too worried about the GH1 audio because I'm already recording audio separately when doing steadicam.

To me this seem like a nice way to fill in those steadicam shots to look more agreeable with the rest of the footage. I can't get too shallow DOF because then it wil be too hard to get decent focus while moving.

I have a set of 7 nikon ai/ais manual primes (28,35,50,85,105,135,200) to use on the GH1 but on the wide end I only have the 28mm and 35mm are these not going to be wide enough once the crop factor is introduced? I'm assuming I can just buy the ebay nikon adapter and go from there. Is that also wrong?

I have read where it was impossible to buy the body only, except in japan; my best friend lives in okinawa so i might be able to buy just the body kit from what I understand?

Is this just a horrible idea?

What am I overlooking?


Thanks guys!:dankk2:

[Barry_Green]

Drew Ott used the GH1 on his Merlin, might ask him what he thought of the experience.

[Ben_B]

I would consider selling the SGblade and that setup, getting the Gh1 for your static shots that you need shallow DOF on, and using the HMC-150 on the merlin (assuming it's light enough sans accessories.)

That said the HMC-150 with nice lenses is probably going to be a better camera in general than the GH1 so that might be a flaw with this idea.

Just using the GH1 up there sounds like a good idea too...check out some of the other threads on the merlin with Gh1, etc...they're there, and maybe ask around for some footage.

The Japanese GH1 does not have English menus.

[Ken Steadman]

Ben B - Good call on the menus