GH3 Anyone noticing AGC happening in the GH3?

[Swami Digital]

Why oh why would they put an AGC into a camera that was supposed to be gaining professional video features? I do have an external sound devices preamp, but I've always used sent the audio into the camera since typically the analog preamp circuitry is the weak point and not the adc. Even using an external preamp, a 3db increase is significant to me, but I don't want to always lug that thing around, especially given the weight it adds to a very light kit.

 

[TheDingo]

Why oh why would they put an AGC into a camera that was supposed to be gaining professional video features?

I suspect that the largest market segment for the GH3 is going to be amateurs who want a smaller kit to carry around, and advanced amateurs who also shoot video. The majority of these users are not going to use external audio gear, so Panasonic compensates for low audio levels with AGC.

Even using an external preamp, a 3 dB increase is significant to me, but I don't want to always lug that thing around, especially given the weight it adds to a very light kit.

We really don't have an alternative, as pretty much all DSLR cameras have poor pre-amps, so we are stuck bringing additional audio gear if we want good audio. ( I am thinking of investing in a JuicedLink Riggy RM222/RA222 to use as an alternative to my Sound Devices mixer )

 

[Swami Digital]

We really don't have an alternative, as pretty much all DSLR cameras have poor pre-amps, so we are stuck bringing additional audio gear if we want good audio. ( I am thinking of investing in a JuicedLink Riggy RM222/RA222 to use as an alternative to my Sound Devices mixer )

I wish Sound Devices made a recorder the size of the MixPre-D, or that it could USB interface with the iphone the way it can with an iPad. That would solve my problems. I really hope Panasonic will come out with a firmware update that gives you an option to disable this (why wouldn't they do it in the first place?), but I'm not holding my breath. I might try out the Juiced Link since it looks quite small and light.

While the GH2 felt like found money, I am slowly developing a love-hate relationship with the GH3.

 

[TheDingo]

I am slowly developing a love-hate relationship with the GH3

I've been bitten by moire with the GH3, where I strongly suspect the GH2 would not have had the same problem. ( one of the reasons I am keeping my GH2 )

But otherwise, the GH3 is a much better camera for video work, and should get even better once we can hack it.