7d or GH1

M

matt9b

Well-known member
I'm hoping to get an equal portion of pro GH1 and pro 7D users on this , rather than a one-sided view, I'm aware that each camera owner tends to visit their own sub section so I'm posting this here:

http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?p=1940371#post1940371

I'm aware there is a lot of debate on the subject already but nothing specific to just these 2 models regarding music vids.

Reply to that thread please!

thanks
 
I have had a GH1 and a 7D and there is no comparison. I know a lot of users are shooting beautiful footage with the GH1 but I find it to be a dreadful little camera. I would go 7D.
 
I had a 7D first (well, I used a 7D first for 2 months, I was borrowing it) and it was a good camera to shoot with, but it had it's drawbacks.

I have no idea why jason.adams finds the GH1 is a dreadful camera. Overall, the image quality of the 7D is a bitter sharper, and the color is just a smidge better. But I like shooting with the GH-1 much better in terms of ease of use. Autofocus has some to do with that as it's really very good in most situations.

And ultimately I waffle back and forth on which image I actually like better because when I get up close and look, the 7D has a bit better image, but when I sit back and watch, often I just like the feel of the GH-1 footage better, which was why I ultimately bought it instead of the 7D. Both are top notch cameras IMO, and if you're buying one for video, my recommendation is the GH-1.
 
The 7D in my experience is a pain in the ass to use. It's heavier which is nice, but you can't articulate your LCD...I had one's ISO/shutter wheel go bad 2 days after using, and it's harder to adapt lenses to. The GH1 you can adapt virtually any lens to and it shoots great. You don't have to worry about moire so just make sure you don't shoot jello and you're golden.
 
Read this:

http://www.dvxuser.com/articles/article.php/26


Long story short, for a general video camera and for shooting events, interviews, and documentaries, or anything run-and-gun, the GH1 is the superior camera.

For digital cinema the 7D is the superior camera if you're using a full digital cinema setup. It is also the superior still camera.

The image qualities are pretty comparable. The GH1 is vastly superior in 720p. In 1080p they're about equal. The 7D's codec holds up better in high-detail scenes and scenes with a lot of movement. The GH1 tends to look a little better on many static shots.

And again, before this goes down that road: the 7D is not the T2i. It is a much better camera than the T2i/550d. And, IMO, the 5D is in many ways superior to the 7D for video shooting.

Here is a shoot I did where I cut together the 5D, the GH1, and the HVX-200 (letus extreme.) While the 7D is not the same image as the 5D I post this comparison to illustrate that, for the most part, it really doesn't matter which you shoot with, what matters is what you like more, and I like the Gh1 more because of the smaller size, great viewfinder, articulating LCD, live histogram, lens adaptability, etc. Also it's worth noting that I am doing digital cinema and I still like the Gh1 better...although the lack of monitoring is a pain.

 
Right on Ben, you saved me a lot of typing :)

This thread being particularly focused at music videos, each one will have pros and cons... You just have to check out the differences and see which ones are most important to you. I went GH1 - would be perfect if one could monitor... but they had to leave some better features for the GH2, otherwise no one would upgrade.
 
Hi, i´m in too what Ben says, but maybe for music videos is preferable to use the 7D for the low light performance, but is this is not a issue take the Gh1 is a great camera, IMHO

Sorry for my bad english
 
I've had a GH1 basically since they became available in the US. Shot with a 7D for the first time today. We got one at work so it looks like in the future I'll be shooting 7D quite a lot. It's like others have said -- the 7D probably just edges out the GH1 on some aspects of image quality, but shooting with it is a chore, in my opinion, compared to the GH1.

Of course some things are just "getting used to things" but some annoyances I had with the 7D:

The power switch is in a completely pain-in-the-rear location. Because of where it is on the GH1, and because of the GH1s quick bootup, I'm pretty used to just switching the camera off between shots to save a bit of battery.

The GH1 has much more informative on-screen-displays. You can get zebras on video on the 7D -- by playing video back. No live histogram to help you expose properly, just looking at the screen and guessing.

It's a big heavy thing compared to the GH1.

I think it's silly that people have to get those little hoodman loupe things for the LCD. The GH1 just has a proper EVF. Sure an optical viewfinder is nice for photos, but for video the EVF is so nice to have. As well as the articulating LCD.

Did I mention the GH1 is dang small and light? Especially with a prime lens attached?

The 7D has some really goofy control stuff going on. There's dials, wheels, and joysticks. In theory, it's nice to have a button to direct access everything (ISO is 1-button click away, for example) -- but in reality, it's a pain. Once I pop up the ISO menu, for example, I have to use the joystick to select the ISO I want. I have a ring and a dial and they do nothing. It's a pain.

The 7D wasn't terrible to use, and I'm sure it will grow on me as I use it more and more and it becomes less foreign to me -- but for now I'll keep my GH1! When I shoot with the GH1, I feel like the camera gets out of the way and lets me just create beautiful pictures. With the 7D I never forgot that I was using a still camera that happened to be able to shoot video.
 
saaby said:
I've had a GH1 basically since they became available in the US. Shot with a 7D for the first time today. We got one at work so it looks like in the future I'll be shooting 7D quite a lot. It's like others have said -- the 7D probably just edges out the GH1 on some aspects of image quality, but shooting with it is a chore, in my opinion, compared to the GH1.

Of course some things are just "getting used to things" but some annoyances I had with the 7D:

The power switch is in a completely pain-in-the-rear location. Because of where it is on the GH1, and because of the GH1s quick bootup, I'm pretty used to just switching the camera off between shots to save a bit of battery.

The GH1 has much more informative on-screen-displays. You can get zebras on video on the 7D -- by playing video back. No live histogram to help you expose properly, just looking at the screen and guessing.

It's a big heavy thing compared to the GH1.

I think it's silly that people have to get those little hoodman loupe things for the LCD. The GH1 just has a proper EVF. Sure an optical viewfinder is nice for photos, but for video the EVF is so nice to have. As well as the articulating LCD.

Did I mention the GH1 is dang small and light? Especially with a prime lens attached?

The 7D has some really goofy control stuff going on. There's dials, wheels, and joysticks. In theory, it's nice to have a button to direct access everything (ISO is 1-button click away, for example) -- but in reality, it's a pain. Once I pop up the ISO menu, for example, I have to use the joystick to select the ISO I want. I have a ring and a dial and they do nothing. It's a pain.

The 7D wasn't terrible to use, and I'm sure it will grow on me as I use it more and more and it becomes less foreign to me -- but for now I'll keep my GH1! When I shoot with the GH1, I feel like the camera gets out of the way and lets me just create beautiful pictures. With the 7D I never forgot that I was using a still camera that happened to be able to shoot video.
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Yes, you're right of course, but the GH1 here in the UK can't do 24p or 60fps which is just unforgivable for my work. Everyone says "You can't tell the difference between 25p and film 23.97bla bla" but yet when you show them a 24p clip and a 25p clip they always think the 24p clip looks more filmic, without knowing why. I used to have the GH1 and I now have the 7D and I can tell you, now all of a sudden my images look so much more filmic. Sometimes you just have to ignore what everyone says and go with what you feel / know is right.

I should also add, that since my GH1 strap rivet broke, getting through Panasonics "no can do" warranty support attitude was a nightmare I'd rather not experience again! I've always used Canons for stills photography and found them great. I'd like to try a Nikon one day. And I'm eagerly awaiting for the day when a full frame DSLR comes out with full video functionality - then I will snap it up in a second! But perhaps not if it's panasonic. Their slow distribution of their cameras also shows their service. Canon is a bigger player in DSLRs so you're with a firm stable company with millions more users. From my vast experience dealing in the tech world, more users = more money to the department/company = better support / stability. In short, the 7D is the best of an ok-ish bunch at the moment.

At the moment I use a full frame DSLR for still photography and a 7D for video. I feel that with all thats going on, a full frame DSLR with RAW output, multiple frame rates going up to 120fps, 2k output, and flip LCD, is in the forseeable future. Certainly they have the ability to do this now, just by combining the functions of all of these cameras together, with a fast memory card. We're talking about bridging the gap between RED and DSLRs, and we're already almost half way across that bridge. I can see this happening relatively soon-ish.

I just pray that with all this technology getting in the hands of everyone, that most will still not know how to use it & lighting - because then EVERYONE will be producing the same top notch content and we'll all have no chance! :p
 
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Oh no it's this thread again. There are already 50 of these threads with every pro/con in the universe in them. Just go read them, then go play with the camera. Ideally buy both cameras and choose according to project because each has features that outshine the other. The 7D has a 'softer' image with less detail in the wides yet far richer color and native 24p, no pull down, and a more robust codec, Negatives: annoying stuck lcd, only can shoot for 11 mins at a time, and it's heavy and it's 720p mode sucks. Not as much detail as GH1 in wide 1080p shots.

GH1 has better detail in wide shots, less moire, better 720 60p mode, better lcd, unlimited shooting time, slightly more 'filmic' look to me in 1080 24p although less saturated colors.
Easier to work with, better kit lens with autofocus face detection, easier to adapt lenses.
Negative: kinda cruddy low bitrate codec and annoying pulldown removal must be done to get the true 24p image. Colors not as nice as 7D,

Prestige factor: people not in the know thing the 7D is a better camera and you will be able to rent yourself out with it easier, yet it is more difficult to work with.

Both cameras can do amazing things when in good hands that know what they are doing. Both camera can be a pain in the ASS under certain circumstances. I think the GH1 is slightly less of a pain in the ass except for the pulldown removal issue.

You can't shoot events with the Canon 7D, because it cuts off after x amount of minutes I forget if it's 11 or 15 or 20.. but it stops shooting.

I have done 3 events with the GH1 that I would not be able to take with the 7D, and those three events paid for the camera with kit lens as well as a new tripod and 1.7 20mm lens. So to me, the GH1 first was the better choice, but I am getting a 7D too unless a GH2 comes out.
 
Blackout said:
Oh no it's this thread again. There are already 50 of these threads with every pro/con in the universe in them. Just go read them, then go play with the camera. Ideally buy both cameras and choose according to project because each has features that outshine the other. The 7D has a 'softer' image with less detail in the wides yet far richer color and native 24p, no pull down, and a more robust codec, Negatives: annoying stuck lcd, only can shoot for 11 mins at a time, and it's heavy and it's 720p mode sucks. Not as much detail as GH1 in wide 1080p shots.

GH1 has better detail in wide shots, less moire, better 720 60p mode, better lcd, unlimited shooting time, slightly more 'filmic' look to me in 1080 24p although less saturated colors.
Easier to work with, better kit lens with autofocus face detection, easier to adapt lenses.
Negative: kinda cruddy low bitrate codec and annoying pulldown removal must be done to get the true 24p image. Colors not as nice as 7D,

Prestige factor: people not in the know thing the 7D is a better camera and you will be able to rent yourself out with it easier, yet it is more difficult to work with.

Both cameras can do amazing things when in good hands that know what they are doing. Both camera can be a pain in the ASS under certain circumstances. I think the GH1 is slightly less of a pain in the ass except for the pulldown removal issue.

You can't shoot events with the Canon 7D, because it cuts off after x amount of minutes I forget if it's 11 or 15 or 20.. but it stops shooting.

I have done 3 events with the GH1 that I would not be able to take with the 7D, and those three events paid for the camera with kit lens as well as a new tripod and 1.7 20mm lens. So to me, the GH1 first was the better choice, but I am getting a 7D too unless a GH2 comes out.
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You forget that I'm in the UK and there is no GH1 with 24p here, so a lot of your points are invalid.

I already had the PAL GH1 since it came out, but was thinking of getting rid and getting a 7D. I went ahead, and not regretted it for a second. Everything is secondary to the image quality. And it looks so much nicer from the 7D than PAL GH1. And so many more options re: framerates too. Obviously would prefer a flip LCD but filmic image quality comes first. So far so good!
 
matt9b said:
You forget that I'm in the UK and there is no GH1 with 24p here, so a lot of your points are invalid.

I already had the PAL GH1 since it came out, but was thinking of getting rid and getting a 7D. I went ahead, and not regretted it for a second. Everything is secondary to the image quality. And it looks so much nicer from the 7D than PAL GH1. And so many more options re: framerates too. Obviously would prefer a flip LCD but filmic image quality comes first. So far so good!
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I'm in Australia and got myself an NTSC GH1 from US. Don't understand what is the trouble at all... If you say "warranty" -- check what others report, looks like it does not exist anyways...
 
I agree that the definitive reference material on this question is the Barry Green article. For my money, the GH1 is the way to go -- I often need to "set and forget" a camera during an interview. I can't worry about overheating or 12-minute limitations. I'm very very close to pulling the trigger on one of these puppies. When that happens, Panasonic will announce the GH2.
 
Mister Big said:
I agree that the definitive reference material on this question is the Barry Green article. For my money, the GH1 is the way to go -- I often need to "set and forget" a camera during an interview. I can't worry about overheating or 12-minute limitations. I'm very very close to pulling the trigger on one of these puppies. When that happens, Panasonic will announce the GH2.
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Odds are GH2 at photokina september.
 
You can't go wrong with the GH1. A few paid gigs pays for the thing. I like the 7D a lot too but it is definitely more difficult to work with. Again, both can produce beautiful stuff.
 
I bought one out of the Amazon warehouse -- a return or some such for $985. Said to have cosmetic blemish on the unit, but they say that for all things they sell and everyone on the web says they pretty much can't tell most things from there from new.

It can be returned if it's really gnarly.

My plan is to sell the kit lens for $600 to $700. I'm buying this to adapt my arsenal of Nikon lenses.

Thus the body will cost me about $300 or $400 depending on what I can get for the kit lens.
 
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