advice needed: film making scenario: 60D or GH2?

[Nicholas Natteau]

Just a general question concerning the Panasonic GH2 and Canon 60D.

From all the posts I have read in these forums, it seems like the GH2 would be hands down the better choice for shooting video over the 60D in terms of autofocusing while shooting, sharpness, etc.

But if you happen to have both these cameras, are there any situations where you would consider using a 60D instead of a GH2? For example, if you were shooting a candid interview, would you use a 60D or GH2, and if so why?

 

[DCTBradJohnson]

IMO a DSLR's a DSLR. The GH2 does look like a very good option tailored for video, and I'm excited to see what it can do. However, I think you will find yourself in more situations where a DSLR in general is not the right tool for the project, than you will find yourself saying I must have a different DSLR on this project. I have used all of Canon's line and they all seem rather interchangeable to me. With some good glass on either one I don't think you will be disappointed.

 

[Nicholas Natteau]

Thanks for the feedback. It seems to me like Canon puts out a really beautiful picture. I'm thinking perhaps GH2 would be better suited for run and gun work where fast autofocusing is a must. But that in an environment where you have a lot of control, say in an interview with camera locked down on tripod or shooting a passive scene with the camera doing slow moves on a Kessler pocket dolly, the 7D or 60D would really shine. What do you think???

 

[DCTBradJohnson]

The Canon's do put out a pretty picture, I agree. But the shots I have seen on the GH2 so far look gorgeous, and I don't like the colors from Canon cameras... perhaps my eyes are tainted Panasonic from growing up with their cameras. If I was going to buy a DSLR, I would buy the GH2 and for shots I didn't think it was the right tool for, I would use something altogether different than a DSLR. I think it will outshine the Canons in most aspects because it is intended more for video use. On dolly shots I would go GH2 with its reduced aliasing and moire, factors that will come into play when you move the camera around on a Dolly outdoors with fine details. Also consider your monitoring options, which the GH2 would win that category again with its full uncompressed HDMI out.

If you gave me a good set of lenses with each camera in a controlled environment I could get the same picture out of all three. I don't think the image from the 7D or 60D will be extremely superior to the GH2, and I expect the GH2 to blow Canon away in color rendition and skin tones, its all in the hands of the user. The biggest differences among the DSLR's are technical ones, not aesthetic ones IMO and experience. I have shot stuff with a t2i, 7D, 5D, and put them all on the same timeline, after a few hours editing I was completely uncapable of telling you which image came from which camera. Good glass, good lighting, your set. I don't want to seem like I'm beating Canon up, I just think as far as DSLR's go, your GH2 is going to be as good or better in every aspect.

 

[PerroneFord]

The Canon's do put out a pretty picture, I agree. But the shots I have seen on the GH2 so far look gorgeous, and I don't like the colors from Canon cameras...

Funny, and I feel just the opposite. I love my Canon camera with Nikon glass, and really don't care for the GH1/GH2/Panasonic look at all.

To each their own.

 

[Nicholas Natteau]

Thanks very much for going into detail on this. When you say that you don't like the color from the Canons, can you tell me what it is about it that you don't like?

Does the image tend to be too saturated? Too yellowish? The reason I ask is that I've seen a lot of 60D videos on Vimeo which I thought tended too be either too saturated or sometimes too yellowish in color tone. Just wondering whether that might be the "Canon look" that some people might not find appealing. As a GH1 owner, I must say that I love the GH1 skin tones. On my 60D and 7D I just dial down saturation.

 

[DCTBradJohnson]

Referencing Philip Bloom's test short, there's just a certain warmth and humanity about the way Panasonic cameras record images.

 

[PerroneFord]

Referencing Philip Bloom's test short, there's just a certain warmth and humanity about the way Panasonic cameras record images.

Referencing my own ~12 year history with Panasonic cameras, I feel somewhat differently. But then a lot of people seem to like the Panasonic look. For me, the problem is that it's always there. Whether you want it or not. Something Bloom commented on during the Zacuto tests. When they were trying to get a more "neutral" look, they struggled mightily trying to get that look out, so they could go in a different direction.

Maybe it's because I do post color, but I'd much rather the neutral tonality of other cameras than to fight things in post.

 

[Gary Huff]

it seems like the GH2 would be hands down the better choice for shooting video over the 60D in terms of autofocusing while shooting, sharpness, etc.

Why do you need auto focusing in a film scenario? The Canon has physical controls for aperture, not touch screen. That for me was enough.

 

[HBlack]

SLRs are a major headache for run and gun, live event shooting. That shallow depth of field is not your friend. I was just shooting an event today with a lot of kids and a mascot costume taking stills and video with a T2i, and it would have been a whole lot easier if I was shooting with a handheld camcorder and had the SLR around the neck for stills. If doc/live events videography is your thing, an SLR probably isn't your best bet.

 

[Gary Huff]

That's true, HBlack, but the heading of the title is pretty clear in that it's a "film making scenario," so that's not at all what he's looking for.

 

[HBlack]

Thanks for the feedback. It seems to me like Canon puts out a really beautiful picture. I'm thinking perhaps GH2 would be better suited for run and gun work where fast autofocusing is a must. But that in an environment where you have a lot of control, say in an interview with camera locked down on tripod or shooting a passive scene with the camera doing slow moves on a Kessler pocket dolly, the 7D or 60D would really shine. What do you think???

Given this post I got the impression he'd be doing a bit of both.

 

[Nicholas Natteau]

Why do you need auto focusing in a film scenario? The Canon has physical controls for aperture, not touch screen. That for me was enough.

Sorry, I should have been clearer in my original post. I was thinking of fast focusing being a priority for me when doing a cinema-verité style shoot where the camera isn't locked down but constantly moving and following someone. I found the GH1 to be very handy with its fast auto focus, and I hear the GH2 auto-focus is even faster.

Last weekend, I was filming a friend's kids with my Canon 60D, and although the Canon 60D image was beautiful, I was always too late with my focusing, making me wish I'd used my GH1 for that particular shoot.

Not trying to imply that one camera is better than the other. Just trying to learn from anyone who has used both when they would recommend one and when the other.