GH2 Can't decide GH2 or NEX-5N, would appreciate an opinion please

A

andrew00

Well-known member
Hey,

As I posted in the 5d forum, my 5dmk2 needs a PCB and sensor repair which is going to cost over £840/$1300 to fix! Balls. I reckon I could get some of that back with selling it as a duff camera as it's only faulty some of the time but still it's mostly a write off.

I've had a NEX-7 on pre-order for a while as I adore quality in a small package, I started with an EX1/Letus and the jump to the 5dmk2 was amazing, and I feel the jump to mirrorless will be great too, esp with an EVF+Peaking of the NEX-7.

However, that won't be around for over a month and I need a camera now so I don't miss out on jobs. I could buy another 5dmk2 but it's a big amount to swallow. I could get a 60D but I've a setup for a FF Canon so I'd need at least a new lens (Tok 11-16 prob) = £££

Therefore I think I'll get either the GH2 (and hack it) or the NEX-5n.

Can someone please give their thoughts on the differences between these cameras.

The NEX-5N is the smart choice, I think. I can get the dual lens kit, which gives you a cheap 16mm, and when the NEX-7 comes I can use the 5N as a backup camera in case the 7 goes down on a shoot. It also means I can use lenses on both etc.

However, the GH2 footage from what I've seen, hacked, under the right circumstances, seems to be next level amazing. So much so that the NEX-5N footage I see to compare looks bad by comparison.

In fact, I really love the Ikonoskop A-cam's 16mm look, and I feel the GH2 hacked gives an image of similar richness. It looks really filmic which I love. I've watched footage on my HD tv and it looked like a film, genuinely impressed.

However, as I said, it's not the 'smart' option with the NEX-7 coming - yet to me the Nex-5N footage looks ok, and I wonder if I'd just be buying it as it's similar but not really up to par. But if it's good enough for David Lynch then who am I to judge!

Can someone give opinions please - is the GH2 just zomg good that it's worth in essence a financial rejig to have such a powerful camera. Or is the difference not actually that great and the Nex-5N can keep the smart and capable option?

I'm tempted to buy both and return the one I don't like but I'd appreciate any experienced thoughts. Thanks!
 
Let me just say this. If you are serious about capturing video as anything more than a very small minor hobby... you'd probably want to look beyond the 5n. I can't even tell you how many times I've seen the 5n shut down after 10-20 minutes of recording... outside... in cool air... unacceptable. But honestly beyond that, if you want to focus on image quality alone, the gh2 is light years beyond any of the Canon DLSRs. I came from a 7d and 5d to the Gh2 and it was like a slap in the face. It really is something else once you've hacked it and have a couple decent primes. The 5n image quality while great, is somewhat overly sharp and electronic. Nothing really wrong with that, it's just that I prefer a cinematic image.
 
Unless you need the very slight advantage that the 5N has in low light for grain, you are better off with the GH2. They both will produce very good video. I think the 16mm lens of which you speak should not factor in your decision. Whatever cam you buy will be surpassed in six to nine months by something else, so think along the lines of user experience, lenses and so on. The tiny difference in IQ is always offset by other factors. I also happen to think the GH2 sensor size is the sweet spot for legacy glass, which for me is one of the great advantages of any of these small flange distance systems.
 
Another vote for the GH2. My 5dMkii doesn't come out of the bag other than for stills work, and I find myself ever more resentful of the 7D and other Canon bodies when it comes time to edit. The GH2 is everything that it is hyped up to be, particularly hacked, and is the only DSLR-ish camera I'd recommend to someone who's looking for video in that form factor. The sensor is also perfect for DOF control (shooting wide open with a reasonable shot at maintaining focus) and some extra reach on the telephoto end. Just buy one already (particularly if you can find a good sale a la the $699 kit that was going around a week or so ago).
 
Any chance we can include the NEX7 in the discussion?
I know very few have had hands on experience as yet.
I was about to finally buy a GH2 (post 25p update) when I caught on to the NEX7 wagon train.
I'm not professional, but I take stills in equal amount to shooting video. The NEX7 seems a tad superior on the stills front. Any whispers or guesses on the vid front?
The size of the NEX7 is attractive. I'm a GH1 (13) owner and it and it's associated gear fill a good part of my travel bag.
I'm sure the GH2 is excellent and on the plus side I've invested in several m4/3rds adapters. On the NEX7 side it may be a nicer camera to use for stills, and match the GH2 for video.
The NEX button layout and operating system seems less easy/intuitive than the GH.
 
I understand that the stills quality of the NEX7 is better than the GH2, but the large sensor size of the NEX series means that you need large APS-C lenses. Maybe it's just me, but I don't see the benefit of having a compact-sized body with large heavy lenses. In fact, it seems like it would be more out if balance than just buying an APS-C DSLR. I bought the GH1 than the GH2 specifically for the most compact size and weight. Admittedly, I haven't handled a NEX camera, but I came to the micro 4/3 system from a Canon 30d and I don't see how the smal body of the NEX system makes much sense.
 
admactanium said:
but I don't see the benefit of having a compact-sized body with large heavy lenses
Click to expand...
I always saw it the other way round: Now I can use my large heavy lenses with such a compact-sized body!
I'm a GH2 and NEX-5N user, yet I have never owned any native Lumix or NEX lenses. Maybe because I have invested so much on Lomo and Zeiss lenses during my Canon days...
 
I would be using the same lenses I use with my GH1, which are all pretty small - Leica M, Alpa, Kodak c-mount.
The Leitz lens for NEX7 looks incredible. A little bigger.
The whole package is quite a bit more expensive than the GH2 with Panasonic lenses though, so there would have to be a step up in quality, as well as ergonomics.
 
Both capable cams, i dont know about the codec of 5n though if its well implemented... Gh2 would have the hack
 
In the middle of editing a live stage performance shot with GH2(TerraQuake Patch). 55 minutes of straight roll, no overheats, no glitches, 24p I-frame @ ~150mbps on an inexpensive SDXC card using a smooth-zooming TV lens.

Sony's OK if you don't need any of that.
 
mcbob said:
In the middle of editing a live stage performance shot with GH2(TerraQuake Patch). 55 minutes of straight roll, no overheats, no glitches, 24p I-frame @ ~150mbps on an inexpensive SDXC card using a smooth-zooming TV lens.

Sony's OK if you don't need any of that.
Click to expand...

I've been curious about how the GH2 fares for live performance acquisition. Any notes or advice you'd like to pass along? Would you also mind sharing which TV lens you used? I've got the stock 14-42mm lens and the Panny Leica 25mm but I'm interested in another zoom.
 
Hi,

If you're only interested in video, the GH2 is likely the way to go. The GH2 offers easier interface than the menu-driven NEX cameras.

I use the GH2 only for video and the Nikon D7000 for video and stills, but I have a lot of Nikon lenses for the GH2, which comes in handy.

My best,

Mike
 
Hi....here's some (the little that I have) input on the NEX7 vs NEX5N. This was "pre-launch"....so it was BETA, but the math is hard to deny. The NEX5N DESTROYED the NEX7 on video fronts that included: low light, moire, image sharpness. When you add that many pixels in that size of sensor, there are consequences. That's when I SKIPPED the NEX7 and went with the NEX5N. I love that cam because it puts "cinema quality IQ" in my pocket. I look forward to seeing what comes of the NEX7 for video, but I'm not expecting much. In fact, I'm expecting a step back (lesser IQ) than the NEX5N.

As for the IQ of the NEX5N compared to the GH2 (hacked). Sharpness without question goes to the GH2. Dynamic Range goes to the NEX5N (IMHO) but only by a smidge (and many would debate that statement, and fair enough). Sensor size should be noted...NOT for or against, but make sure you know the impacts of both. (Old glass on the GH2 ends up being telephoto pretty much....on the NEX5N it's midrange...and so on). Low light goes to the NEX5N unless you plan on going ISO12800 on the GH2 and "denoising" it. Folks have reported overheating on the NEX5N....be aware of that.

I suspect that I'll end up with a GH2 at some stage (I still have a GH13)....so they both have their place. Only you can decide if it belongs in your bag. :) Mad love to DVXUsers everywhere!
 
1. 5n has focus peaking - GH2 does not
2. GH2 has a great LCD viewfinder - 5n it is an expensive option. Shooting with viewfinder pressed against your master eye adds stability to shots.
3. GH2 has the ex tele conversion thing - good for c mount lenses, great for things like birding
4. GH2 has live histogram (not sure if 5n has it as well)
5. GH2 has hack - thus you have a global camera! (ie PAL or NTSC)
6. GH2 has been out over a year now - field tested, no overheating, used by news crews - http://www.dslrnewsshooter.com/2011...ear-with-the-panasonic-af101-and-gh2-cameras/
 
mcbob said:
In the middle of editing a live stage performance shot with GH2(TerraQuake Patch). 55 minutes of straight roll, no overheats, no glitches, 24p I-frame @ ~150mbps on an inexpensive SDXC card using a smooth-zooming TV lens.

Sony's OK if you don't need any of that.
Click to expand...

Which inexpensive SDXC card can you record 55 minutes straight of 150mbps?
 
jamesjjs said:
1. 5n has focus peaking - GH2 does not
2. GH2 has a great LCD viewfinder - 5n it is an expensive option. Shooting with viewfinder pressed against your master eye adds stability to shots.
3. GH2 has the ex tele conversion thing - good for c mount lenses, great for things like birding
4. GH2 has live histogram (not sure if 5n has it as well)
5. GH2 has hack - thus you have a global camera! (ie PAL or NTSC)
6. GH2 has been out over a year now - field tested, no overheating, used by news crews - http://www.dslrnewsshooter.com/2011...ear-with-the-panasonic-af101-and-gh2-cameras/
Click to expand...

Yikes. VERY good points that I left out.

I LOVE the peaking feature, don't know how I've lived without it. It's focus assist is also VERY cool. (NEX5N) The ex tele thingy on the GH2 is WICKED cool too. Great points....
 
Yes that's a big plus for the NEX-5N.

The GH2 footage does look brilliant on a TV. Do the lack of peaking make it hard to focus? Does the NEX-5N video look, well, videoish? It kinda does to me!
 
I am considering an NEX-VG20 instead of the DSLR's as I most need a practical modest cost video camcorder for now. Pretty much the same tech as the NEX-5 but more video shooter friendly I think.
Not a lot of options for manual image manipulation though beyond exposure controls. How does the NEX-5 stack up for image controls?

GH2 is still a possibility as I can use 16mm zooms in the 2x crop mode which is of interest. Do the hacks support the crop mode?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top