GH2 Additional GH2s for easier color match, or...?

M. Gilden

M. Gilden

Canon DSLR Moderator
Quite question for the hive mind here. Looking for opinions.

I have 2 GH2 bodies that I keep around for long-form recording (they are truly amazing workhorses at that), but I have an event coming up with 3 people having a discussion on a stage. I'm thinking ideally, I'd want at least 4 camera angles, one wide and one on each subject.

Here's the thing- In order to do that, I need 2 more cameras. I own other cameras, such as Canon DSLRs and a Panny G6, but I've found color matching to be more trouble then they are worth (which is why I bought a second GH2).
I'm going to hire people to man the other cameras, one of whom has a GH3, but I've found the color on those seems to be closer to the G6, which is still different enough from both the GH2 and GH3 to be annoying. I'm picturing the nightmare of trying to match GH2, G6 and GH3 footage in the same timeline.

My question is- am I just being neurotic about color matching? GH2's are hard to come by, especially in local rental houses these days. Maybe I should stick to what I have access to? Its entirely possible that I haven't spent enough time trying to match what I have. Does anyone have any workflow advice/experience making this sort of thing easy?

What would you guys do in my situation?
 
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That scenario you've got going there is exactly the type of thing that really shows any color variation between shots. Yikes.
If it wasn't that scenario I'd say you might be over thinking it - YOU'RE NOT. Cuts on a subject like this that don't match stick out like a hard-on at a pool party.
 
Jim- my experience hasn't been that great. When I first bought a GH2, I tried matching it with Canon footage. I was not happy enough with the results (I could match then somewhat with a lot of tweaking, but I was never fully satisfied with it), so I picked up a cheap GH1, figuring that would look similar enough. Same color science, both being Pannys right?

Wrong. Turns out the color variation between GH generations was enough to make me drop that and pick up a second GH2. Whatever else I buy in the future (A7S, D750, GH4, etc), I'm keeping these for multi-cam setups for the simple fact that they match perfectly and can record unlimited lengths. Heck, even a G6 I picked up cheap has different color science than the GH2 - I originally thought I could sell one of my GH2 bodies and use the G6 as the 2nd dual-cam recorder because it shares the same sensor as the GH2. Turns out they updated the color profiles to be more similar to the GH3/4, so it doesn't quite match the GH2 nor the GH3/4. Its in the middle, which actually has proven to be even more annoying TBH.

Bigger problem is that my regular rental spots in NYC don't stock GH2 bodies, which I guess makes sense because how often is someone in my situation?

I guess I could budget in renting 4 completely different cameras, but I want it to look like the other footage I've already shot for them in the past (also with GH2 cameras). :/
 
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