GH3 FYI: GH3 body for $799 at Unique Photo

Has it been this low before? I've been thinking about upgrading, but was trying to hold out for the mythical GH4.
 
peripatew said:
Has it been this low before? I've been thinking about upgrading, but was trying to hold out for the mythical GH4.
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UP's $799 price is by far the lowest GH3 I've seen from a reputable dealer. Panasonic usually gradually lowers the price they charge dealers in advance of a new model being announced. However, it can sometimes be many, many, many months between when Panasonic announces a new cam and when they actually start shipping them.

As for the rumored "GH4" or whatever their next flagship, stills-video hybrid cam will be called: My guesses are that its initial selling price will be about $1,300 - $1,500 body-only. If it has a "4K" video mode, it'll probably be relatively highly-compressed (as is the case with 1080p60 on the GH3) so as not to compete with their yet-to-be-announced, higher-end "4K" prosumer & pro video cam models. But these are guesses on my part.

Although I think "4K" can be very useful for acquisition (I have a Blackmagic 4K cam on pre-order), in addition to "4K" I hope Panasonic will add other features to their next "GH" hybrid cam, such as the ability to switch to magnify focus mode while recording, and the ability to control audio levels separately for each mic input while recording, and so forth. In other words, continue the process of refinement of the "GH" functionality as they have done in the past with the GH1, GH2, and GH3.

We'll see. Meanwhile, a GH3 for $799 is a tremendous value.
 
Agreed. I could care less about 4K unless it brings about a better sensor. I want better low light performance, peaking, ProRes 10 bit, and IBIS! 1080/120 would be nice as well.

I'll have to think about the GH3. Seems a new GH drops around Dec-Jan in the past right?
 
peripatew said:
… Seems a new GH drops around Dec-Jan in the past right?
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GH1 was announced March 2009 (US dealers didn't start shipping to customers until 3-4 months later). GH2 was announced Sept. 2010 (US dealers didn't start shipping to customers until about 3 months later). GH3 was announced Sept. 2012 (I'm not sure when US dealers first started deliveries to customers, but I think it was by that Dec.).

Deliveries to customers in other countries varied quite a bit. Japan usually gets them first. Many countries get GH cams before US customers.

So, when the next "GH" cam will actually be available is anybody's guess.
 
I'd JUMP on it at $799. Doubt if you'll see it go lower until after the next model starts selling and being delivered. I bought both of mine at full price right off the bat.

Low light performance is excellent, especially with fast glass.
 
Great price! I'm considering picking one of these up or a G6.
I like the GH3's high bitrate and built in audio monitoring, but the G6 has cleaner resolution and throws in focus peaking while being a bit smaller. I was going to say it's a no brainier since the G6 was much cheaper (only $700), but now that the GH3 is so close in price, I'm all farklempt again. Sigh.
 
At the Photo Plus show last week a Panasonic rep told me Unique had a show special on the GH3 for $849.00. I couldn't buy that day and I asked the manager at the Unique booth if I could give a deposit then and would pay it completely in a couple of days. He just said that he would honor the price until Oct 31st. As I was placing the order through the phone today I found out to my surprise that the price had gone down even lower! I should get my GH3 in a couple of days. I was waiting for my Black Magic Pocket camera but after watching one horrendous video after the other made by the people that already have it I decided for the GH3 without hesitation, especially at this great price.

BTW The Panasonic rep I spoke to, and I always speak to him when they are doing shows in NYC, is also an engineer for the company and told me that a GH 4K, if it happens, is far, far away. He said it is not on Panasonic short schedule. We will wait and see.
 
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Bruce Foreman said:
I'd JUMP on it at $799. Doubt if you'll see it go lower until after the next model starts selling and being delivered. I bought both of mine at full price right off the bat.

Low light performance is excellent, especially with fast glass.
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Is the low-light quite a bit better than the GH2?
 
John Caballero said:
At the Photo Plus show last week a Panasonic rep told me Unique had a show special on the GH3 for $849.00. I couldn't buy that day and I asked the manager at the Unique booth if I could give a deposit then and would pay it completely in a couple of days. He just said that he would honor the price until Oct 31st. As I was placing the order through the phone today I found out to my surprise that the price had gone down even lower! I should get my GH3 in a couple of days. I was waiting for my Black Magic Pocket camera but after watching one horrendous video after the other made by the people that already have it I decided for the GH3 without hesitation, especially at this great price.

BTW The Panasonic rep I spoke to, and I always speak to him when they are doing shows in NYC, is also an engineer for the company and told me that a GH 4K, if it happens, is far, far away. He said it is not on Panasonic short schedule. We will wait and see.
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The one at the Javits center last week?

I missed that one due to scheduling conflicts- but I've been around enough shows to take anything a booth rep says with a grain of salt. Or heck, a whole shaker's worth.
Then again, the GH4k rumors are only rumors to begin with. They sure have been releasing a lot of cameras lately with interesting use for video (G6, GX7, etc).
 
Thanks, Peter! It's now 850 for the body but still a great deal. I just sold my GH2 for 650... will I ever stop $$$... Eric Naso just posted a promo on Vimeo where he intercut one shot from a GH3 in a C300 promo. Although the cut was pretty quick it looked good.
 
dp90068 said:
Thanks, Peter! It's now 850 for the body but still a great deal. I just sold my GH2 for 650... will I ever stop $$$... Eric Naso just posted a promo on Vimeo where he intercut one shot from a GH3 in a C300 promo. Although the cut was pretty quick it looked good.
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Where'd you sell your GH2? $650 seems like a great deal for you. Amazon instant has it for $400, so I figure Craigslist/Ebay would be around $500 for body only with original box.
 
Remember, in terms of the GH4 rumour, is that the new GH4 isn't going to be in the same product class. The rumour is that it will be a professional camera, and will have a new designation, AG-GH4. With that said, I can't see it selling for less than $2000. If the rumour is even true at all.
 
peripatew said:
Is the low-light quite a bit better than the GH2?
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At least one stop better. With the GH2 I got noise I could see at ISO 3200 (I would still use 3200 if needed). With my GH3's I get very clean ISO 3200 and quite usable ISO 6400. The slight amount of noise I do get at 6400 looks more like a slight amount of film grain.

Fast glass on the GH3 makes a big difference in motion picture, the little Lumix 20mm f1.7 really shines here. I also have and am very pleased with the Pan/Leica 25mm f1.4, Oly 45mm f1.8 and the Oly 75mm f1.8. These lenses are very sharp wide open.

I haven't tested the Lumix 14mm f2.5 out in parking lots at night but I'm sure that would work well too.
 
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