D7000 buyers remorse

[roxics]

1. Can the GH2 hold up as a professional stills camera next to something like the D7000 or 7D?

2. Is it taken seriously by corporate and wedding clients as an "A" camera or even the ONLY camera on set?

3. What are the flash options for the GH2(for doing flash photography)?

4. What is a good fast walk around AF zoom lens for doing photo coverage at a wedding? For instance canon has a 28-70 f2.8 L. What does the m4/3 system have that's similar (with aperture control and AF)?

5. How does the GH2 hold up without weather sealing?

6. Could you see yourself owning only a GH2 and charging $2500 for a wedding photography package?

7. Could you use a GH2 to record a non-stop hour long event where hitting stop is not an option?

8. Would you use a GH2 to shoot photos of models for an art portfolio or glamor photography?

I ask these questions because I bought a D7000 last week and I like it a lot. It seems like a camera I could do all of the above with, with the exception of the non-stop event video.
But everyone is raving about the GH2 and its video capabilities. I can see the limitation in the D7000 video capabilities.

I really need a camera that can do all the above. Awesome stills, awesome video with a budget of only $2000. But I'd like to pocket as much of that as possible for other expenses. I need a camera that can let me get into professional side work but also let me do some short films and experiment with flash photography and shooting glamor photography of models.

As someone who currently does pro corporate video with a background in indie film; the GH2 appeals to my video side but the D7000 appeals to my photo side. I'm having a hard time deciding which is the better route. Keep the D7000 or return it, pocket $550 and get the GH2 whenever it's available.

[Hallvalla]

I have a T2i and I'm asking myself a lot of the same questions. I love the photo abilities of the T2i but I'm much more interested in the video side. Having auto focus abilities of the Panny lenses is a nice bonus when you're just wanting some quick video of family or whatever. The new Magic Lantern hacks really make it even tougher. I have $1000 to spend right now and if the GH2 were available I'd have already bought it. Probably would then sell the T2i so I can buy a nice lens for it. But now I'm having a little bit of lens lust for the T2i. Best solution is to keep both, but yeah, we're all under some sort of budget whether we're a hobbyist or pro.

I'm being patient. But yes, I'm having some confusion myself. This probably didn't help your inquiries, but it does show a lot of us are in the same boat. Hopefully others can help a little better in this thread.

[Jester2138]

I really need a camera that can do all the above. Awesome stills, awesome video with a budget of only $2000. But I'd like to pocket as much of that as possible for other expenses. I need a camera that can let me get into professional side work but also let me do some short films and experiment with flash photography and shooting glamor photography of models.

In other words, you want the perfect camera. A blend of the Nikon D3x and the Arri Alexa... For less than $2,000. That camera doesn't exist yet. The GH2 and all HDSLR hybrid types compromise heavily on certain things in order to A) Shoot both video and stills and B) remain relatively affordable.

In my opinion you're going to have to spend a lot more than $2,000 on camera equipment if you want to charge $2,500 for a wedding (or charge anything, for that matter).

If nothing else, at least have two GH2's for different angles... Ideally, have a dedicated video camera for the locked-off boring shot of everything and use the GH2(s) for the cool shots that people will remember.

For still photography the GH2 is NOT a D7000 or even a 7D. It just isn't. That's not to say it can't take great shots - it can - but that it will never match dedicated stills cameras all else being equal.

Don't get caught up in gear lust (it's hard I know). The D7000 takes great video. Yes, the GH2 technically takes better video, but will your clients really tell the difference?

6. Could you see yourself owning only a GH2 and charging $2500 for a wedding photography package?

That depends entirely on how good of a photographer you are. Clients aren't paying for your camera, they're paying for your talent and time. For $2,500 they could buy two GH2 kits, but they don't want that. They want YOU.

[stonebat]

1. No
2. No
3. No built-in wireless flash support. Slow flash x-sync speed... gawd only 1/160s. Oly has better flash support.
4. Hopefully the rumored 12-50mm f2.5-3.3 HD Power O.I.S. becomes true.
5. Don't drop it. Don't get close to water.
6. No
7. Well... if you don't have to change fast primes.
8. No. Poor flash support.

Keep both D7000 and GH2. Or consider 7D for both stills and videos.

[roxics]

That depends entirely on how good of a photographer you are. Clients aren't paying for your camera, they're paying for your talent and time. For $2,500 they could buy two GH2 kits, but they don't want that. They want YOU.

Right! That's understandable and I completely agree. What I really meant by that (and perhaps I should have worded it differently) is, can you see yourself as a photographer who charges that kind of money for your work, using only a GH2 as your primary camera? The assumption being that at that level you're a pro that runs around a lot changing settings on the fly. So would the GH2 keep up with you. Is it accessible and powerful enough for critical pro photo work?


Overall you're right. I'd love to have the perfect camera. But what I'd really love is simply a D7000 with the video capabilities of the GH2. Including flip out LCD, 1080 HDMI out, unlimited record time. There is not a ton to complain about with the D7000 and perhaps I'm just being overly critical. But as someone who has shot many corporate videos over the last 5 years I know how vital an articulating LCD screen and long record times can be for video work.

I bought the camera mostly for myself for hobby stuff. I want to learn flash photography and shoot more short films. But I also bought it keeping in mind that I need to get out from underneath my current employer because this company isn't going anywhere and neither am I if I stick around. So I want to branch out and start doing some side work if it presents itself. Which it has in the past and I haven't been able to accept it due to my lack of personal gear. I don't know if future side work is going to be photo or video work, I do both, so I want to be prepared for either. Whether it's an hour long corporate event or shooting headshots of a model or getting into wedding photography like one of my ex-co-workers did who is now freelance and gets a ton of work.

I know it's a lot of ask and I don't expect any camera to be perfect. But what I really wanted to know is if the GH2 could keep up on the still photo side of things. I guess it can't. Which means I either have to pick between a good video camera(GH2) or a good stills camera(D7000). Damn this is difficult!

[roxics]

1. No
2. No
3. No built-in wireless flash support. Slow flash x-sync speed... gawd only 1/160s. Oly has better flash support.
4. Hopefully the rumored 12-50mm f2.5-3.3 HD Power O.I.S. becomes true.
5. Don't drop it. Don't get close to water.
6. No
7. Well... if you don't have to change fast primes.
8. No. Poor flash support.

Keep both D7000 and GH2. Or consider 7D for both stills and videos.

Thanks for your reply. So you think the 7D is better at both? I considered the 7D. But I went with the Nikon because it was $300 cheaper and I've always liked the feel of Nikon's in my hands over Canon's. I know that's kinda silly but...

But if the 7D has better quality video and just as good of stills then it might be worth the $300 more.

I can't keep both. I don't have the GH2. I've never even seen one in person. Nor do I have the budget for both cameras. That's the other down side about the GH2. If I return the D7000 who knows when I'd be able to get my hands on a GH2. They're out of stock everywhere. I could be cameraless for a couple more months.

[Ian-T]

No...the 7D is not better at video. The GH-2 is. I had a 7D for quite a while and I'll tell you ....from what I've seen of the D7000.....the Nikon smokes the Canon in video (resolution wise that is...but it seems to have the same color moire issues). But the 7D and D7000 are better stills cameras than the GH-2. All the Canons/Nikons do not continously shoot video....they have a limit where as th e GH-X cameras don't. The Panasonics were made with video in mind. Ergonomically the only ones that come close are the Canon 60D's...but then again the image is just like the T2i/7D.

[stonebat]

I know 7D supports 720p60. It has a magnesium body. It has very good AF performance for stills. That's what I would get if I must take a pro picture and a live event video. GH2 is nice for indie film making, music video, casual candid video, hobby.

[roxics]

No...the 7D is not better at video. The GH-2 is. I had a 7D for quite a while and I'll tell you ....from what I've seen of the D7000.....the Nikon smokes the Canon in video (resolution wise that is...but it seems to have the same color moire issues). But the 7D and D7000 are better stills cameras than the GH-2. All the Canons/Nikons do not continously shoot video....they have a limit where as th e GH-X cameras don't. The Panasonics were made with video in mind. Ergonomically the only ones that come close are the Canon 60D's...but then again the image is just like the T2i/7D.

Yeah my question was in regards to the 7D being better at video than the D7000. I know the GH2 is better than all. But from what you're saying the D7000 shoots better video than the 7D. I agree with you on the sharpness from what I've seen. But the D7000 lacks the 1080/30p mode and the ability to change aperture while recording. Although I heard the 7D has overheating issues and short record times. I guess it's all a wash. Pick one and shoot right?

Like I said, being traditionally a video guy, the video features jump out at me the most, in which case the GH2 looks nice. I don't know how to use half of the still photo features on the D7000. But I want to learn. I also wanted the bigger pro body of something like a 7D or D7000.

[Sage]

GH2 is king.
It is only 900, so you can just wait until its available and grab it!