GH4 Before I pull the trigger on A GH5

B

Braindead@70

Well-known member
I have read sooooo many good things about the GH5 but ( without going into details) a friend said run-n-gun was not suited to the GH5.

Before I place my order, any negative comments?
 
What were the reasons given by your friend?

No camera is perfect. I'm not sure I would agree the camera isn't well suited for a particular type of shooting. Lots of people use it successfully in many different ways. It's hard to just start spewing out negative comments about a camera without knowing more about your background and what you intend on doing with the camera. Every negative and/or positive aspect of a camera is different for each person and solely based on perspective and opinions.

Some say the dynamic range is horrible while others think it is really good. There is the number listed I the specs and then there is the real world usage. On top of that you have a different perspective of what equals adequate dynamic range.

Color is another debatable topic. Some people absolutely hate the color of the Panasonic cameras while some think it does just fine. Then there are others that love the Panasonic colors and find them to be more accurate. Who is right and who is wrong?

We really need to know more about your specific use of the camera to better inform you if the camera is good choice for you or not.
 
Agree with Thomas, and would be curious as to what your friend considers a "better" run 'n' gun camera.

In my mind, the only aspect of run 'n' gun shooting for which the GH5 might be considered "weak" would be low light performance. BUT, unless your definition of low light extends to shooting black leopards at night, I think this is an overblown concern. Look at the low light samples already floating around. If you can't use what the GH5 produces at up to 3200 ISO, then something is wrong besides your camera choice.
 
Things I would consider for run and gun

Auto Exposure - GH5 now has stepless aperture lenses and AutoISO
AF Performance - We haven't seen the final 1.0FW so will have to see, but the C-AF looks a lot better than the GH4 - but I'm not sure if it will ever be on par with Phase Detection AF.
 
That's weird, the GH cameras seems like ideal run-n-gun cameras to me. Small, compact, lightweight lenses, and full to the brim with video features. The GH5 adds even more features that seem ideal for run and gun like the IBIS.
 
GH5 is great for run'n'gun. Traditional wisdom puts the all-in-1 video camera as ideal run'n'gun - think the DVX200, or the FS5 + a zoom lens. Light, built in ND filters, audio connections, etc.

That said I strongly prefer the GH4 for run'n'gun after switching away from the AF100. Holy cow. In my book, the key to run'n'gun is the ability to be lightweight and agile and the GH line is so much better for this - especially now that it has 5-axis image stabilization.

Ultimate GH5 run'n'gun kit:

$2000 GH5
$1000 Lumix 12-35 II (one good zoom for run'n'gun + image stabilization)
$400 Panasonic Audio unit if needed
$100 Tiffen Variable ND filter

Optional: ~$100Xume Adaptor kit for quickly donning/doffing the Variable ND filter.

At that point you are WAY lighter than any other run'n'gun kit, and you are modular. Super discreet and low key, with all the benefits the GH5 has over the other cameras (5-axis IBIS, great ISO, great built in video scopes and features, super fast AF, small and light, etc. etc.)

This is a no brainer today. YMMV and preference is everything, but I personally could never go back to using a larger/heavier "all in one" camera for one man band run'n'gun after the flexibility of the smaller GHx series. Every single pound matters for run'n'gun. The difference in weight between an AF100 and GH4 for a day of shooting is more than a couple pounds, if you know what I mean - every pound REALLY adds up in terms of fatigue.

Plus you can easily add some quick release plates to the camera now and through it on a Zhiyun Crane gimbal for $650, a monopod, or any sort of shoulder rig setup. And operating a gimbal with a GH camera is years better than trying to operate something that weighs 3x that much and requires a larger Ronin M or something. Prepare for quick fatigue with a different setup!

Plus unlike a DVX200 you have access to a full set of lenses if needed, and unlike something like an FS5 or FS7 you are very lightweight both in camera body and any lenses you opt for. You could have a GH5 kitted out + a full lens set for less weight than an FS7 body alone. Additionally, if you have interest in vlog 10-bit 4:2:2 4K shooting - which is great to work with when doing run'n'gun if you can do so in post (crop, reframe, great ability to fix color or other issues in post, etc.) you can shoot this INTERNALLY - vs the other cameras needing an additional external recorder to even record or monitor at this quality. The benefit of that is SUPERB for run'n'gun (vs a studio setup where extra external recorder setups won't be a hassle so much).

Short answer: for my money, GH5 is going to be *awesome* for run'n'gun and I would choose it over the other more traditional all in one ENG cameras.
 
Last edited:
TheTrickster said:
Things I would consider for run and gun

Auto Exposure - GH5 now has stepless aperture lenses and AutoISO
AF Performance - We haven't seen the final 1.0FW so will have to see, but the C-AF looks a lot better than the GH4 - but I'm not sure if it will ever be on par with Phase Detection AF.
Click to expand...

See now this is what my point was on how we all have a different opinion on what run&gun actually means. I have shot with ENG cameras since the mid 90's and never had auto exposure or auto focus. I used those cameras to shoot live performances, documentaries, live events, and public marches/protests/gatherings. Not having those two items in no way makes a camera a bad choice for run&gun. In fact I would argue those features should never be used in those situations and it is best for the operator to handle those functions with skill. I'm not entirely sure at what point professionals decided auto exposure, auto white balance and auto focus were suddenly acceptable choices. Those features were the antichrist to us.

Each person shoots on the run in different ways however which is why I think it is more important to know exactly what the OP is hoping to accomplish with a new camera.
 
NO negative comments about the GH5!!! I am pulling the trigger. Price, flexibility, weight. If is is as durable as my GH3, I will be a happy camper.
 
A Run & Gun camera for me is one with a built in wide, long and fast Zoom lens, interchangeable lens cameras are better suited to more deliberate work.
 
Vardalos said:
interchangeable lens cameras are better suited to more deliberate work.
Click to expand...

I don't agree with that. Interchangeable lens cameras are often smaller and lighter than fixed lens cameras. That's no small benefit for run and gun work. Further, you can get much faster lenses than many fixed lens cameras come with. That's also a great benefit for this kind of work.
 
Jim Simon said:
I don't agree with that. Interchangeable lens cameras are often smaller and lighter than fixed lens cameras. That's no small benefit for run and gun work. Further, you can get much faster lenses than many fixed lens cameras come with. That's also a great benefit for this kind of work.
Click to expand...
You're both right, which is why "run 'n' gun" is a terrible descriptor. It's really the difference between ENG style shooting, and DSLR style shooting. Both can be run `n` gun.
 
People have adapted over the years and the definition of a run-and-gun camera has changed for many.

I use a 5D Mark IV for run-and-gun and it's simply the best. A small/light compact system with excellent low-light and amazing AF and a superb 4K image...wouldn't want anything else. (And there are a bunch of new audio gadgets out there that will cover your high-quality audio needs well.)

The GH5 will be perfectly fine for R&G.
 
Braindead@70 said:
I have read sooooo many good things about the GH5 but ( without going into details) a friend said run-n-gun was not suited to the GH5.

Before I place my order, any negative comments?
Click to expand...
The GH5 is destined to become a winner. Only thing I am not too happy about it the dynamic range which is unfortunately not much better than with the GH4.

The only reason I will not buy one after the pre-order craze is over (I wait for the package deal with the 12-60mm Panasonic/Leica lens with free log upgrade which is offered abroad but currently not in the US) is if Sony comes out of left field doing a bulls eye 10bit 14 stops IBIS Hail Mary on a new A7 or similar model. The chance that is going to happen before summer I consider slim. but one never knows. :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top