Canon 550d vs GH1

I'm about to sell my GH1 and lenses but it's a tough call. If I'm realistic my Canon 7D has got plenty of work with commercials and everyone loves the final result. I've used GH1 once to do and interview but it would have come out better have I used the 7D.

Problem is I really like the GH1 and I feel the images look more natural than what they do from the 7D. Being it less chroma or deeper dof or any other factor I don't know. At the same time 7D images has that look to it and it really pops out in comparison.

I would consider three factors that are very important in favor of the 7D. First of to have the ability to monitor during recording is crucial for any director or client. To not have this ability I would not used the camera for pro work. Secondly, the codec holds very well. No breakup. I can trust the final outcome to be okay. Third, the QT-files from the 7D is very easy to edit in my workflow. Import into Avid MC and you can do fast editing in full rez.

But I really like the GH1.
 
Yeah it's tought, editman. I really wanted to get my hands on a 7D, even though I suspected my GH1 was better in many ways....now that I have both sitting in front of me...it's a tough call what to take out of the house, the 7D feels good, especially for hybrid stuff, but the GH1 just fricking works.
 
I think the 7D and T2i looks very awesome for commercial shoots since you would want the video to be "glossy" and such. But I think the Panasonic GH1 looks more in tune with a filmic motion and look for movies. The 7D and T2i looks video-like. Maybe it's just me.
 
I wanted to trade in my gh1 for a t2i but I just decided to save my gh1 and just use it for shorts. It's still a good camera and its useful in many ways.
 
tears2040 said:
They should have opted for a better format than AVCHD and enable simple things 24p with no pulldown and live monitor record.
Click to expand...
Well, first of all, AVCHD *can* be a pretty darn good format. AVCHD as implemented on the AVCCAM cameras is really solid, more robust than Sony's XDCAM-EX, and you get about 2.5x as much recorded footage as a Canon would give, at better quality. And it has native 24p with no pulldown.

Sadly, that's not what they gave the GH1. They call both of them "AVCHD" but what the HMC40 has, and what the GH1 has, are night and day different as far as solid robust performance goes. It's not ideal, of course; it's still long-GoP, and 4:2:0, and 8-bit, but as far as long-GoP 4:2:0 8-bit formats go, it's the best one available in a camcorder.

About live monitoring -- no doubt. I just used both last night, GH1 and 7D, and the 7D was used specifically because it has the live monitor out. I had to relegate the GH1 to a wide-angle overhead camera because I needed to be able to see the set camera's monitor while recording, and the GH1 just dosn't do that. It's like I said in the comparison article, there are many things that the GH1 is better at, but when you need a monitor there's no comparison, the 7D (and apparently also the t2i) offer that capability and that can be a decision-maker right there.

If the GH1 had PH mode and HDMI output, I honestly don't think we'd even be having this discussion, Panasonic would have dominated the indie filmmaker world. They gave it away by not offering those crucial features.

But for personal use or one-man-crew stuff, the GH1 still offers a lot more than the Canons. So it really all comes down to what you intend to use it for.
 
Honestly I'm waiting to see what EXACTLY the new Sony Alpha VSLR and GH2 have to offer before thinking about a t2i.

Anything with full HD AND built in IS has my full kool aid drinking attention. Even if it's made by Sony
 
Yup I'm waiting for the gh2 myself. Can't wait for the changes theyll make to the gh1 and the first shutterless camera. Sounds like it'll be great.
 
Sean Jeong said:
Yup I'm waiting for the gh2 myself. Can't wait for the changes theyll make to the gh1 and the first shutterless camera. Sounds like it'll be great.
Click to expand...

Does this actually mean it can do various frame rates at 1080p or is that conjecture?

Or maybe very slow shutter speeds that continuously morph like motion blur and don't stutter?
 
Well I'm not very sure how it's going to work yet. I'm guessing that they'll have various frame rates and without a shutter I'm hoping that it will fix the jello. I think your speculation of a low shutter speed with motion blur would just make it look even more choppy and you wouldn't be able to get a really clear footage.
 
Hey u guys, here is something interesting.

Yesterday I got to hold a t2i in one hand and a gh1 in the other (no lenses on either) and

their physical dimensions (H x W x L) are exactly the same !
 
But you still get an articulating screen and the GH1 is still slightly smaller. If the screen was fixed, the difference would be even greater. Besides, it doesn't matter how close the size of the body is when you include lenses.



I'm actually thinking of either selling the GH1 and get it's successor or get the successor to the HMC40 if it comes out this year.

At least out of all the interchangeable lens cameras, the choice is easy for me because of the auto focusing and articulating screen. If I'm at an event and their are a lot of people in front of me, I can easily put the camera over my head and still get the shots. You can always buy an external LCD screen but holding a camera like that can be hard enough as is. I've been using manual focusing ever since I was a teenager and I used to scream very loudly online every time a consumer camcorder comes out without a traditional focusing ring and even I will tell you that having good auto focusing is a must have feature.

I just hope that Panasonic does the right thing and give us native 24p without pulldown and some type of external output even if it's just composite. I mean that's better than nothing although HDMI and component output would be extremely nice. Seeing that the TM700 doesn't have native 24p makes me worry a little bit. At least in the bright side theirs a chance that it'll get it's 1080 60p mode. That is huge not only because you get very good detail out of it but being capable of making slow motion sequences at full 1080p is a big deal. It would be an even bigger deal if 1080 60p ever becomes a standard.
 
First I was shooting with the GH1, then when I moved to the 7D I adjusted to its bulkiness.
It was huge after using the elegant GH1.

So when I met up with dvxuser hoz and he happened have a red gh1 with him I was fortunate to
compare it with my new t2i. Just by eye mind you. And the weight in each hand.

Androoow is of course correct in quoting the actual specs in metric and imperial! Thanks.

Sure miss that articulated LCD!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top