GH3 Best small consumer/prosumer camcorder to match with GH3 for shooting action?

aldolega

Well-known member
I shoot mainly action-sport stuff (rollerblading), but have also done a bit of corporate/municipal and wedding stuff. My current main camera is a Canon 60D, and my primary motivation for the switch to the GH3 is of course the massively-better video quality... but the smaller weight and size of m4/3 is really appealing as well. I love having a somewhat compact, lightweight kit that can fit on/in a backpack, and my setup for the Canon pretty much has my rather large Ogio bag maxed out, and I still need/want to add a slider and a telephoto.

Currently, for zooming, tracking AF and general ease-of-use for handing it off to friends for second angles, I have a Panasonic SDT-750 (basically the same as the TM700 or TM900). The problem is that it doesn't match well at all with the Canon, so I rarely use it. I was going to replace it with the Canon HF-G10, as it seemed a good match color- and resolution-wise for the 60D, but now with the switch to the GH3 I'm not sure if the G10 will match well. I've checked out the new Sonys briefly (the CX760V and PJ760V), would they be a better match for the GH3's more-detailed image (and supposedly-Sony sensor)? What would you guys recommend for a small, relatively inexpensive (<$1500 or so) camcorder to match up with GH3 footage?
 
I'd be surprised if anyone had has chance yet to mix GH3 footage with other cameras/camcorders for comparison, but if anyone can recommend a camcorder that matches well with the GH2 that should do.
 
I'd be surprised if anyone had has chance yet to mix GH3 footage with other cameras/camcorders for comparison, but if anyone can recommend a camcorder that matches well with the GH2 that should do.

True... I'm not getting the GH3 for a month or two though, so hopefully by then this thread has some more replies.


Yea, that's basically the same as my SDT-750, which to be honest, has been pretty underwhelming. So I think I'm pretty much set on staying away from Panasonic's small camcorders. One thing I really like about the HF-G10 is that it has a LANC port; I have a nice Varizoom zoom controller that I'd like to use with whatever I get. The Sony's would work with it too, with an adapter.
 
Well...I loved my Canon HFS 200...haven't owned a Panasonic since the PV GS500, lol. So I think highly of the Canons personally...the HFG 10 is only better than the HF S20/200. The other nice thing with the Canons is the 24P and the gain selections a lot of the other makers don't offer.
 
Yea, that's basically the same as my SDT-750, which to be honest, has been pretty underwhelming. So I think I'm pretty much set on staying away from Panasonic's small camcorders.
What is underwhelming about your SDT-750? Are you shooting in 1080/60p?

I have been mixing T3i and TM700 footage with spectacular results. I have found that I can hand hold the TM700, add a bit of software stabilization and get a near perfect match with my higher end Canon glass. The TM700 isn't worth a crap in low light, but for most action scenes the 1080/60p option gives spectacular color, sharpness and smooth motion when dropped on a 30p timeline.

I'd be currious what your settings are that are giving poor results.

Cheers,
Pete
 
Haven't used a GH3 yet, but my Panasonic SD90 (=TM90) cuts fine with a GH2. Much better than the HF Canon I also own.
 
You might be interested by this GH2-AG-AC90 comparison...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7hHxDh5OcM

The AC90 is pricier and much bigger than I'd like, but thanks.


hard to beat a GH2 for the price ; )


No it's not, not for the things I specified (power zoom, tracking AF, ease of use).

What is underwhelming about your SDT-750? Are you shooting in 1080/60p?

I have been mixing T3i and TM700 footage with spectacular results. I have found that I can hand hold the TM700, add a bit of software stabilization and get a near perfect match with my higher end Canon glass. The TM700 isn't worth a crap in low light, but for most action scenes the 1080/60p option gives spectacular color, sharpness and smooth motion when dropped on a 30p timeline.

I'd be currious what your settings are that are giving poor results.

Cheers,
Pete


I've used it in both 60p and 24p modes, generally with the (few) picture controls dialed down. All manual of course, with a 180 degree shutter. I'm not very good in post but I haven't been able to get it close to my 60D's footage. The picture out of it is not bad, per se, just much different than the Canon: the lack of a good zoom control also bugs me (thus the Varizoom for the next camera), and the low-light is terrible.




As of right now the best candidates still seem to be the Canon HF-G10 and the new Sonys (PJ710 or CX760). I think I might wait to see what's announced at CES next month, but I'm not looking forward to paying a new-model price when the G10 is so cheap right now. Hopefully someone out there has a G10 and a GH3 and can give some input.
 
Well it's not surprising the Pany you tried doesn't match your Canon. And conversely, I doubt a G10 will easily match a GH3.
 
The AC90 is pricier and much bigger than I'd like, but thanks.





No it's not, not for the things I specified (power zoom, tracking AF, ease of use).




I've used it in both 60p and 24p modes, generally with the (few) picture controls dialed down. All manual of course, with a 180 degree shutter. I'm not very good in post but I haven't been able to get it close to my 60D's footage. The picture out of it is not bad, per se, just much different than the Canon: the lack of a good zoom control also bugs me (thus the Varizoom for the next camera), and the low-light is terrible.




As of right now the best candidates still seem to be the Canon HF-G10 and the new Sonys (PJ710 or CX760). I think I might wait to see what's announced at CES next month, but I'm not looking forward to paying a new-model price when the G10 is so cheap right now. Hopefully someone out there has a G10 and a GH3 and can give some input.

Either way you should wait until CES, as it'll either give you some new options (that might be able to match the GH-series better than what's on the market now) or push the prices on existing models even lower.

If you need something right now, even an option like the Canon HF M500 isn't a bad deal. It has the same CMOS pro sensor as the $3k XF100 for 1/10th the price currently.
 
Back
Top