GH3 GH-3 upgrade from APS-C

ROCKMORE

ROCKMORE

Veteran
I've been working with Canon DSLR's since they arrived. I've worked with a 5D, 7D, and had a 550D, and now a 60D waiting for something to really to improve in Canon HD resolution. I saw a side by side with the 60D against a GH-2 (maybe hacked) and finally starting to believe what I'm seeing in terms of detail. I shoot 95% HD video and Canon seems to be avoiding some features on their latest releases that the Panasonic is delivering on. Although the sensor is smaller, it is no longer a issue for me. I just saw a side by side between the Canon MK3 and the BMC and can't believe what that little sensor can see day or night in shadows and unblown out highlights.
I still rely on higher grade cameras for production, mainly EX3 so the DSLRs are a fill in on lower budget projects, b-cam and personal projects, so my 60D is mainly a daily carry around camera.
Now that they are releasing the camera recording in other than AVCHD it looks much better. I would be disappointed if the GH-3 is not NTSC/PAL switchable, but maybe I could live with it. How large are files recorded @72mbs?
 
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I'm so glad that guy made that BMCC / 5DM3 comparison video. I still have people tell me "Well, you can't get shallow DOF on that camera though" when I tell them I shoot with a GH2. O_o It's still such a common misconception.

I actually like the .mts wrapper, I hope there is an option to use it in place of .mov on the GH3. If not, no big deal.



I have the Flow Motion hack on my GH2 (100mb/s) and a 10 second clip is about 50mb.
 
ErikTande said:
"Well, you can't get shallow DOF
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Yes it's easy to get shallow DOF, just get closer to the subject your focusing on, and then try a longer lens. Shallow DOF is a no brainer, in my business I'm mostly concerned with keeping things in focus.

I get about 25 minutes on an 8 GB card with my 60D If I do the math divided by 8gb that means I use 1gb for 3.125 minutes.
@50mb in 10sec that would be about 300mb per minute or 900mb in 3 minutes. Sounds like similar file size if my math is correct.

Here is the comparison. Do you think this is from a hacked GH-2?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrNKfzNYKV8
 
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Not comparisons, but tell me if you're seeing the same level of quality from a Canon 60D (which I also own):



I own a HPX-170, a Canon 60D, and a Panasonic GH2 (with various hacks applied), and the GH2 is, by far, some of the best looking footage I feel like I've ever shot.
 
I originally bought my 550D for home movies and shot most of my work with a Sony EX3. It was when I did some test shots on the set I realized the potential of the DSLR for work. Now I just want more out of it even though I still rely on the EX3 for production. The GH3 looks like a very cool addition.
 
I made the jump over a month ago, Canon dslr does not have the detail that the GH2 has. Once you see the light there is NO going back. Now I will admit that I love the 5d shallow dof, but with a GH2 you can get such amazing quality that is simply unmatched by any of the smaller Canon cameras. GH2 with the hack is a beast!
 
J.F.R. said:
I made the jump over a month ago, Canon dslr does not have the detail that the GH2 has. Once you see the light there is NO going back. Now I will admit that I love the 5d shallow dof, but with a GH2 you can get such amazing quality that is simply unmatched by any of the smaller Canon cameras. GH2 with the hack is a beast!
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I still do quite well with the Canons at the moment and there are no complaints from clients so I have time to wait for the GH-3. It's bit rate is 72mb/s which is lower than the 100mb/s I've been seeing. Where do you suspect the resolution will be with the Gh3 at 72 compared to 100mb. I know I'm speculating but want to get up to speed before i sell out and move to a new system.
What I'm wondering is will the factory GH3 be better resolution than the hacked GH2.
 
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ROCKMORE said:
I still do quite well with the Canons at the moment and there are no complaints from clients so I have time to wait for the GH-3. It's bit rate is 72mb/s which is lower than the 100mb/s I've been seeing. Where do you suspect the resolution will be with the Gh3 at 72 compared to 100mb. I know I'm speculating but want to get up to speed before i sell out and move to a new system.
What I'm wondering is will the factory GH3 be better resolution than the hacked GH2.
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If you have a chance rent a GH2 for the weekend with some lenses. Seeing first hand is better than most can anyone can explain IMO. One thing to remember is that the GH2 is small so you need a shoulder mount or cage for it since the camera is tiny. Resolution wise it would be better than a stock GH2 which is even better than a stock 60d anyways. GH3 is now a better form factor + higher mbs from the jump so it's already entering the market as a little beast.

Honestly I don't know why I didn't make the jump earlier, do yourself a favor if you shoot video with a dslr form factor Panasonic imo is the best quality/performance camera out there
 
I just finished "making the jump" about a week and a half ago, sold my last Canon DSLR (a 60D). The Canon's were great and had the "lead" in DSLR video for long enough with the T2i, 7D, T3i, 60D (all of which I had and used at one time or another) and the 5D MkII.

But when I began seriously looking at the GH2 I was STUNNED at the IQ, sharpness (as a pro still photographer for the last 23 years I worked before retiring, the best sharpness I could obtain in lenses and gear was for me the "Holy Grail" to be sought after) and clarity I saw in a pre-release video "Summer Morning" by Bruce Dale.

https://vimeo.com/14725884

I already had an Olympus Pen with a few Lumix lenses so after seeing that video I found a used GH2 body in the "For Sale or Want To Buy" forum on this site and began learning the configuration process. I still had a T3i and 60D at this point so I wasn't "bailing out" of Canon prematurely. I considered keeping the 60D and a few lenses but found I was always reaching for the GH2 so I ordered a new GH2 with 14-42 "kit" lens in order to have "backup".

In addition to getting sharper IQ you can also get by with quite a bit less tripod. My Manfrotto 501 head on carbon fiber sticks is a monster now but incredibly stable with a lightweight GH2 on it, my Sunpak 7575 legs with Velbon PH-368 head feels good and solid (it was just barely enough for a T2i/T3i.

The lenses are considerably lighter (Lumix 14mm f2.5 and 20mm f1.7 "pancakes" are incredibly compact, many of the other optics are outstanding performers and you can pack a lot more "kit" in a bag and still come out with less weight.

So my "voyage to the dark side" is now complete.
 
I would avoid using the term "sharpness" when referring to the starkest aspect that sets the GH2 apart from the Canons. Fanboys like to harp on that "sharp" word as it carries a connotation of "artificial" and "video" with it. The GH2 resolves more, closer to 1000 lines for its 1920 x 1080 shooting resolution. With the high bitrate hacks, it can preserve even finer details than it can with AVCHD.

Film isn't necessarily "sharp" but it definitely resolves quite a bit...up to 11K equivalent almost depending on the film stock.
 
Gary Huff said:
I would avoid using the term "sharpness" when referring to the starkest aspect that sets the GH2 apart from the Canons. Fanboys like to harp on that "sharp" word as it carries a connotation of "artificial" and "video" with it. The GH2 resolves more, closer to 1000 lines for its 1920 x 1080 shooting resolution. With the high bitrate hacks, it can preserve even finer details than it can with AVCHD.

Film isn't necessarily "sharp" but it definitely resolves quite a bit...up to 11K equivalent almost depending on the film stock.
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+1 Absolutely correct.
 
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