GH2 Considering huge switch to GH2. Interested in opinions.

[brunerww]

Another vote for the GH3. If you shoot interviews, it will do a fabulous job. No hack required.

I come from the GH1 and GH2, and this is, by far, the best GH camera to date. And as hard as a GH2 is to find right now, it's the best value for money, too. For low light, for 1080/60p, for the headphone jack - it beats the GH2 hands down. I use a $17 Hosa WMT-156 to plug my XLR mics into it. The only thing I wish I had from the AF camera is the ND filter and HD-SDI - and I can work around that.

With the $1000 you save you can satisfy your hankering for a Blackmagic with a micro 4/3 mount Pocket Cinema Camera when it comes out

Cheers,

Bill
Hybrid Camera Revolution

 

[DPStewart]

Wow.
That was really sweet Bill.

 

[Per Lichtman]

Just a note on GH2, GH3 and AF-100 onboard audio. Read up on the audio ports for each because they vary widely.

If you are using the hacked settings for the GH2, almost all of the major recent hacked settings (Flowmotion 2.02, Moon Trial 5, etc.) include the hacked audio settings that I designed to keep the AGC under-control (no artifacts unless you start clipping to date somewhere in the chain) and give useful metering reference with a good noisefloor. That audio is 16-bit 48 KHz AC-3 with lossy compression and 4 increments of volume control. There is no standard way to listen to the audio while recording.

The GH3 adds more increments of volume control and uncompressed PCM audio recording (still 48KHz 16-bit) in some modes, the ability to change volume while recording and a headphone output. However, it does not have optimized AGC settings like the GH2 so there is a chance that the AGC could become an issue.

The AF-100 also does 48KHz 16-bit in either AC-3 or uncompressed PCM, lets you monitor audio while recording, etc., etc.

In other words, if you want to use onboard audio a lot you will be giving something up when you go to either a GH2 or GH3.

 

[Fresno Bob]

As much as I loved my GH2, I'm going to jump ship when the new Black Magic cameras are freely available.
The image quality is streets ahead of the GH2/3.
I often found one the GH2 that a lot of shots looked great, but if any element was wrong (high contrast sunlight etc), then the image started looking cheap.
I'm still sticking with the GH2 for the next 6 months, but for me it's time is over

 

[stoneinapond]

I often found one the GH2 that a lot of shots looked great, but if any element was wrong (high contrast sunlight etc), then the image started looking cheap.

I'm of the opinion that glass is more important than the camera. Good optics deal with those kinds of issues in flattering ways, even on the lowly GH2. I've also seen some rough looking footage from the BMCC, so I'm stepping forward cautiously.

It ain't over 'till the fat lady sings. The GH3 has quite a few advantages over the BM stuff and while the image quality isn't one of them, it's still streets ahead of anything else out there.

The BMPCC or any of it's siblings will not by themselves a great DP make.

 

[Fresno Bob]

I'm of the opinion that glass is more important than the camera. Good optics deal with those kinds of issues in flattering ways, even on the lowly GH2. I've also seen some rough looking footage from the BMCC, so I'm stepping forward cautiously.

It ain't over 'till the fat lady sings. The GH3 has quite a few advantages over the BM stuff and while the image quality isn't one of them, it's still streets ahead of anything else out there.

The BMPCC or any of it's siblings will not by themselves a great DP make.

Lens are a big deal. Vintage brings the best out of the GH2.

 

[cut2052]

The BM pocket camera will require many 64GB SDXC cards, a ton of HDD storage and high system specs. It won't be an event camera, unable to shoot continuously for long periods of time and can't take stills.

Yeah, it's cool but not a replacement for the GH2/GH3, IMO. It's just one of those things where between the two types of cameras; content is king. You can only do so many tests of flowers.

 

[aly324]

It depends on the vari-ND filter. I have three of the older vari-ND Genustech filters that shift color as you change the amount of ND, and they aren't usable with lenses longer than 100mm.

Based upon the reviews I've read ( still waiting on my back-order ) these new Eclipse GenusTech vari-ND filters have almost no color shift and don't degrade the image.

That said, I still have a set of low cost Tiffen ND filters ( .3, .6, .9, 1.2 ) that I use when I have time to swap filters, but the vari-ND is very handy for run-and-gun shoots, where you don't have much time to set-up.

At some point I will spend the bucks and buy a set of professional ND filters that incorporate an IR filter, but right now I make do without the IR filter. ( black colored objects turn reddish from IR contamination, which is most often seen in black suits at weddings )

My Heliopan variable ND has no color shift (except at max setting that you're not supposed to use), but my B+W 3-stop ND shifts towards yellow.

 

[Jim Simon]

The image quality is streets ahead of the GH2/3.

You've seen footage from the Pocket Camera?

 

[ras815]

You've seen footage from the Pocket Camera?

It'll be basically what we've seen from the BMCC, so it's likely that it'll be better than GH2/GH3 or any DSLR (except perhaps the 1DC).

 

[Rolf Silber]

I'm of the opinion that glass is more important than the camera.

I won't say it again but .... Cameras are going to become throw away sensors sooner or later, but glass will stay.... There:I said it again. One reason to buy a BMC Pocket cam could be that it allows to use nice 16 mm lenses in the future for certain situations. The pocket cam is a probably very, very nice extra to have if one has the budget. And lots and lots and lots of storage place and computing power......

It ain't over 'till the fat lady sings. The GH3 has quite a few advantages over the BM stuff and while the image quality isn't one of them, it's still streets ahead of anything else out there.

The "BM stuff" is a bit like owning a certain kind of a Shelby Cobra-type sports car: Mighty machine with incredible acceleration, yes. So if one can define exactly the purposes he needs these thingies for - perfect. The other 85 % percent of us are probably much better served by a camera that's more of an all-rounder. And that is - including stills - for now the GH3 in nearly all aspects.

Yet, what I find in a more "strategical" sense interesting is that the pocket cam opens the field for the MFT-system even more and makes the system-family more stable. Let's see if other manufacturers will jump onto the waggon.

 

[Fresno Bob]

One thing I do fear about the Blackmagic products is that it will become like Apple phones. Every single person seems to have one. There is no variety.
So a year down the line every amateur, one-man-band pro and business up to a certain level will be producing identical footage.

Yes, the lenses will make a difference, but again it's the price bracket - just like everyone producing GH2 footage on a decent budget was using the Voigtlander.

 

[vtwiz]

One thing I do fear about the Blackmagic products is that it will become like Apple phones. Every single person seems to have one. There is no variety.
So a year down the line every amateur, one-man-band pro and business up to a certain level will be producing identical footage.

Yes, the lenses will make a difference, but again it's the price bracket - just like everyone producing GH2 footage on a decent budget was using the Voigtlander.

You have absolutely nothing to worry about in regards to too many people owning a BM camera and producing identical footage. The camera is not clever enough to shoot the footage for you and a skilled operater will get a lot more out of the camera than a point and shoot amateur.

 

[Rolf Silber]

Yes, the lenses will make a difference, but again it's the price bracket - just like everyone producing GH2 footage on a decent budget was using the Voigtlander.

People will make the difference. Hell: Henry Cartier-Bresson shot next to all of his incredible stuff with a Leica and a 50mm lens.

And I don't know why people start getting "the hots" about a camera that is still not out and last that I know we hardly seem to have seen any stuff shot with it. Relax, everybody.

Every picture - be it moving or not - is build from certain factors to name just a few: Situation, content, light, movement, context, colours, subject .... and all of this factors have thousands if not millions of nuances. The similarities that may appear are much more the similarities born out of optical clichés getting proliferated by people that can't overcome certain creative hurdles and just will re-produce this clichés over and over again.

This will happen if they use an Alexa, an Epic or an iPhone. The colours and brushes used by Rembrandt will not make you or me or anybody into a Rembrandt.

 

[Fresno Bob]

Ok, let me put it this way. VIMEO will be full of identical videos.
Just like it was all shallow focus on the MKII, and now flat grading everywhere because of the BMCC.

DSLR filmmaking does actually have an effect on TV advertising at the very least - have you seen an advert lately that didn't have a prominent lens flare in it?

 

[J.F.R.]

Ok, let me put it this way. VIMEO will be full of identical videos.
Just like it was all shallow focus on the MKII, and now flat grading everywhere because of the BMCC.

DSLR filmmaking does actually have an effect on TV advertising at the very least - have you seen an advert lately that didn't have a prominent lens flare in it?

Keep worrying, the Sun will still come out tomorrow...... Move with the crowd or be left. Stop worrying about the person next to you and YOU be the creator of content. No technology in the world will match up to Hard Work.

Basically stop worrying and be an early adopter, once everyone catches on you will already be know for your work. Worst comes to worst new technology will become available. Finally people still use 7D cameras and to their eyes that camera is enough. If they are not making money or depending on this as a career most people will not be buying a new camera.
Relax and take your medicine, everything is going to be alright......

 

[Rolf Silber]

Ok, let me put it this way. VIMEO will be full of identical videos.
Just like it was all shallow focus on the MKII, and now flat grading everywhere because of the BMCC.

DSLR filmmaking does actually have an effect on TV advertising at the very least - have you seen an advert lately that didn't have a prominent lens flare in it?

But... that is as old as film making ... it's as old as arts to be more exact .... certain things get "hip" and a lot of people do it ... Caravaggio painted in a certain manner (okay, he was maybe not really the first to do it but the best known) and then a lot of people did it too until it became - yeah, okay: a mannerism ... ;-)

If I have the budget, I may buy a Pocket cam. It seems to be a cute machine, mainly for the use with nice 16mm glass. That's just my take on it. Others have other reasons? So be it.

People will bombard networks and the net with whatever comes out anew: tilt shift, twixtorized super-slow-mo, lens flare, time lapse, heli-cams, HDR, 4K, 6K, 8K .... fine. All is welcome - first as technical and/or creative experimentations, then as a cliché and later a maybe boring manner - and then or even while all this happens, some will use it for really telling a nice story more nicely. And the rest has - hopefully - some fun.

Look at what happened when the Steadycam really arrived - in the "old days". I knew a DoP who would all of a sudden shoot all his TV-Movies ONLY with Steadycam. Every single scene, every shot. Some was nice, some was.... err... floating a bit. It became a mannerism soon and his hip and joints gave signs of giving in after some years.

 

[HotConductor]

People will bombard networks and the net with whatever comes out anew: tilt shift, twixtorized super-slow-mo, lens flare, time lapse, heli-cams, HDR, 4K, 6K, 8K .... fine. All is welcome - first as technical and/or creative experimentations, then as a cliché and later a maybe boring manner - and then or even while all this happens, some will use it for really telling a nice story more nicely. And the rest has - hopefully - some fun.

THIS. EXACTLY.. Take for example the documentary Indie Game (indiegamethemovie.com). I genuinely enjoyed it. One of those surprise Netflix finds for me, and for many. The thing that irritated me was just how much they used a slider. A slider is a great tool, but it should not be your only tool. The same goes for cranes/jibs. Do you really want to feel like you are jumping or falling 20 feet in the air throughout the entire movie? Probably not. The same for slider shots.

One of the trends that started becoming very very commonplace a few years back, was the film stock emulation. Several great plugins facilitate a great film simulation in post, and many people use as a crutch for good storytelling or even good camera work. "My footage looks like crap, guess I'll throw a filter on it, remove all the audio, and use free music." The result is something that looks pretty, says nothing, but impresses the current audience. This trend happens in EVERY industry at some point.

I love my GH2s and will continue to use them until they do not fit my need. The Blackmagic cameras are great. Really they are. Do not be afraid of everyone having the same tool. The person behind the camera and what is being filmed, matters a lot more than the equipment (to an extent). In my market, I have seen RED footage shot so poorly that it negated the perceived benefit. The shooter might be able to charge a higher amount based on perceived tech, but my goal is to simply do well with my current clients and continually do better with future clients.

 

[Jim Simon]

It'll be basically what we've seen from the BMCC

I'll take that as a no, then.

 

[OldCorpse]

One thing worries me about this little cam: wide angle lenses. How much variety is there when you have to start getting into 8mm range to get real wide angle, and how good are these lenses? I know the 7-14 is a very good lens, but it's f4. So the old cry: "wide and fast!" is very pertinent in this situation, and quite worrying. Plus, this little thing will shake like the devil, IS is a must. I guess that means the 12-35 f2.8... and what if the 12mm is not wide enough? I don't know, maybe I'm the only one worrying about wide lenses on this thing - would love to hear how people feel about this.