GH1 or GH2
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I think much of that depends on the photographer. I have seen some absolute stunning GH1 videos and some really horrible GH2 videos.
I have also seen some absolute stunning GH2 videos and some really horrible GH1 videos. Either camera can produce very good video.
I have the GH2 and love it. Enough that I have ordered a 2nd body. I am gearing up to start using it as my main camera to replace my HVX200.
The HVX200 will serve as back-up and audio recorder.
I have also seen some absolute stunning GH2 videos and some really horrible GH1 videos. Either camera can produce very good video.
I have the GH2 and love it. Enough that I have ordered a 2nd body. I am gearing up to start using it as my main camera to replace my HVX200.
The HVX200 will serve as back-up and audio recorder.
As owner of both cameras, I can say you can get good stuff from both, but, as expected, the GH2 is a great improvement. HDMI out, audio level control, higher bitrate, native 24p, better skin tones, much better in low light. The huge plus for me of the GH2 is the ETC function. This gives every lens a 2.6 telephoto equivalent. So my 20mm pancake also functions as a 50mm. My 300mm is a 780mm (which is really a 1560mm in full frame 35mm terms because of the m4/3 format's 2x crop factor). That means you can shoot wildlife video or just some incredibly telephoto stuff without having to spend thousands on some gigantic, heavy telephoto lens. Touch screen focus, higher resolution LCD and EVF. The list of improvements over the GH1 goes on.
I'm using the native 24p on the GH1 and I think it looks great. I think a lot of experienced ppl think the GH2 is an improvement. So then it becomes a question of how good is good enough, the GH1 is probably good enough to shoot a great video. It seems like the GH2 is more than an incremental upgrade. On the other hand, the GH1 has with the hack, maybe a higher bitrate, and the valuable feature of anamorphic MJPEG video. The GH1 comes with a power adapter, and with the hack, takes inexpensive batteries. So there is no clear answer, but so far it looks like the GH2 is a big hit, even with the annoying power problems. Value for your dollar or euro, you are for sure better off buying a hackable GH1 with a 20mm lens than a GH2 with a kit lens, and ideally you will have the GH2 with several lenses, but that is more money.
ajcourtney
Active member
^^^we've got two gh1's (one hacked and one unhackable) and two gh2's and definitely use them all together on multicam shoots. i will say that the gh2 is truly an incredible camera and everything that the gh1 should have been in the first place. the annoying streaking in the lcd and evf when the camera is panned is gone, the low light capability is incredible, monitoring is amazingly flexible (HDMI out - use the cam on a jib), ETC gives you a free tele converter for your long glass without losing a stop (e.g., using a dedicated glass adapter). even though the gh1's are dirt cheap considering what you get, we'll be buying more gh2's.
if i had to do a drive-by steadicam shot (like in a vehicle), i'd do it with the hacked gh1.
if i had to do a drive-by steadicam shot (like in a vehicle), i'd do it with the hacked gh1.
ok then its kinda toss up judging from the comments.....what if Ipowell configures an even more dramatic settings one of these days as they continue the quest to find the limits the hack can go. if native 24p can now be stabilized for GH1 , can GH2 still command superiority by its touchscreen and HDMI out advantage?
Rick Burnett
Section Moderator
I will say this, the one thing about the GH2 is that you are running it as Panasonic intended. If you have to send in your hacked GH1 for servicing, you might get one back that is unhackable anymore. Others have had this problem on this board. I've had to have cameras fixed and I'd hate to get a GH1 that eventually ends up being only a GH1 if something horrible goes wrong. Don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with hacking a camera in my opinion, I just am weary of getting into a situation where I end up not being able to use my camera as I want, or, having wasted money on a camera that isn't doing what I want anymore.
If it were me and I was buying anything less than an AF100, I'd be seriously considering a GH2. (I bought an AF100 which is why I mention that). Comparing side by side of GH2 and GH13, I like the GH2 much better.
If it were me and I was buying anything less than an AF100, I'd be seriously considering a GH2. (I bought an AF100 which is why I mention that). Comparing side by side of GH2 and GH13, I like the GH2 much better.
I'm keeping the GH13 for now for field work where I need batteries and/or the power supply, like recording a show. After a few weeks, if the GH2 shows no signs of overheating in really long sessions, I'll probably trade the GH13 in for either the new Canon Camcorder or a second GH2. Hvae to decide if the anamorphic feature is worth keeping. Here's hoping Mr V can hack the GH2 as well.
But hey, the GH13 takes awesome, detailed video.
But hey, the GH13 takes awesome, detailed video.
Pietro Impagliazzo
Well-known member
Just a quote:
As of now? The no need for hack, better noise floor, lack fo FPN would be enough reasons for me to get the GH2.
I just shot a web series with the GH1 and 14-140 at ISO 500 and only needed to go above this ISO once. IMO, the GH2 with the 14-140 would have been even more capable.
And you can also buy the GH2 with the cheap lens or body only (Panasonic site) and get some lenses like these: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/wl/360AA05979
As of now? The no need for hack, better noise floor, lack fo FPN would be enough reasons for me to get the GH2.
I just shot a web series with the GH1 and 14-140 at ISO 500 and only needed to go above this ISO once. IMO, the GH2 with the 14-140 would have been even more capable.
And you can also buy the GH2 with the cheap lens or body only (Panasonic site) and get some lenses like these: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/wl/360AA05979
my justifications are fading,the tide seems to point to GH2 over the Hacked GH1.will just wait until I get myself a GH2 to understand what you guys are raving about,Maybe I just got too attached with my GH1 and the countless hours tinkering with the hack.Still need to find an outlet where to buy it in our part of the world.Maybe there is a separation angst of sorts.
Blackout
Veteran
I have posted and commented in great detail on this in many threads, do a search for the full conversaion, but in summary:
I just did a MASSIVE music video shoot with all sorts of cameras (had like 5 angles shooting at the same time) 3 gh13s, a GH2, a Canon 7D, a 5DmkII and the new Canon 60 somethingwhatever (just extra footage to me I doubt I'll touch it.. more for behind the scenes stuff)
Without a doubt in my mind the GH1, GH13, GH2 ROCK all the canons. That's not even debatable.
As to the endlessly tiring GH13 vs GH2 comparison - it's a toss up for a newb, they should prob just get a GH2 - but for a pro pro pro I would go GH13.
To me, I am still doing professional level shoots on 3 hacked GH1s and have nothing but absolutely STUNNING results with even the most highly detailed complex scenes by pushing the hack to it's limits of stability (very very very stable but if I go more than a tad over my settings it becomes unstable). The GH2 has some better feature improvements than the GH1, like improved low light performance and quasi HDMI out that has issues and can't really be used for anything other than monitoring - but I have so trained myself and gotten a workflow down with the GH13 without monitoring that it is not that big of a deal to me. I move very very fast and get things done that most crews could never do with all excess gear and cables and monitors 'cluttering' everything up. When you have live monitor on set (and I'd need 3 because I shoot multicam most of the time) everyone starts wanting to look at it and it can become a 'too many cooks in the kitchen' situation very very easily. Especially with non pros who have the $$$ but not the experience.
I have had to tell several people several times to 'get the hell away and stop making comments they are NOT the director and I don't wanna HEAR it.. SHUTTUP!" literally (and I am a very chilled out relaxed fun kooky type of guy) when they won't get away from the monitor because they are so 'awestruck' by the 1080p image from the GH13 and have never seen themselves looking like they were 'in a movie'.
Before you go asking me how I live monitor on a GH13 - I don't, but I have a super high speed quad core laptop with a 16' 1920 x 1080p extremely bright LED monitor on set with a super fast multi card reader slot built in, and usb 3.0 super fast portable hard drives. So after certain takes or before I change setups I pop the card out of my GH13, pop it into the laptop and check performances, focus, and make backup to hard drive while I do it, then I'm already shooting on another card.
Without question to me if I could only have to have the GH13 or the GH2 I would drop the GH2 like some old shoes - this is because I absolutely KNOW there are shots I have gotten with the GH13 that crumble under the GH2s 24mbit codec. However, the GH2 makes a fantastic addition to my arsenal (I haven't bought one yet but a very close friend did so I have access to it) and is a great B cam or extra angle cam. It 'appears' a tad over edge enhanced to me which I don't like, but this can probably be fixed a bit in the menus... I haven't really futzed with that because I have had no need to shoot a 'pro' shoot on a GH2, but on this last shoot I was on, there was one on the set, but it and the canons were just doing some extra an angles and behind the scenes footage - the three GH13s were doing the real work because that is my current workflow and it works well, very very well.
So there is the best answer I can give for people who are very confused on this subject.
For absolute PROS who LIGHT correctly with a pro GAFFER on a PRO shoot, yet who can learn the proper WORKFLOW and who are TECHNICALLY SAVVY enough to PROPERLY understand and implement the hack with the correct settings on a HACKABLE GH1 (all new ones are NOT) - then without question the hacked GH13 is the better choice - with a GH2 as a B cam for extra angles or low light scenes.
If you are not shooting pro level shoots with a crew and lighting support and you don't have a lot of experience and you just want to start making some movies or learning or playing and want a great 24p image and live monitoring out, then the GH2 is the better choice, because getting the GH1, hacking it with the right settings, and understanding the proper workflow to get the images out of it that are amazing just might make your head and your computer blow up.
- Fin -
I just did a MASSIVE music video shoot with all sorts of cameras (had like 5 angles shooting at the same time) 3 gh13s, a GH2, a Canon 7D, a 5DmkII and the new Canon 60 somethingwhatever (just extra footage to me I doubt I'll touch it.. more for behind the scenes stuff)
Without a doubt in my mind the GH1, GH13, GH2 ROCK all the canons. That's not even debatable.
As to the endlessly tiring GH13 vs GH2 comparison - it's a toss up for a newb, they should prob just get a GH2 - but for a pro pro pro I would go GH13.
To me, I am still doing professional level shoots on 3 hacked GH1s and have nothing but absolutely STUNNING results with even the most highly detailed complex scenes by pushing the hack to it's limits of stability (very very very stable but if I go more than a tad over my settings it becomes unstable). The GH2 has some better feature improvements than the GH1, like improved low light performance and quasi HDMI out that has issues and can't really be used for anything other than monitoring - but I have so trained myself and gotten a workflow down with the GH13 without monitoring that it is not that big of a deal to me. I move very very fast and get things done that most crews could never do with all excess gear and cables and monitors 'cluttering' everything up. When you have live monitor on set (and I'd need 3 because I shoot multicam most of the time) everyone starts wanting to look at it and it can become a 'too many cooks in the kitchen' situation very very easily. Especially with non pros who have the $$$ but not the experience.
I have had to tell several people several times to 'get the hell away and stop making comments they are NOT the director and I don't wanna HEAR it.. SHUTTUP!" literally (and I am a very chilled out relaxed fun kooky type of guy) when they won't get away from the monitor because they are so 'awestruck' by the 1080p image from the GH13 and have never seen themselves looking like they were 'in a movie'.
Before you go asking me how I live monitor on a GH13 - I don't, but I have a super high speed quad core laptop with a 16' 1920 x 1080p extremely bright LED monitor on set with a super fast multi card reader slot built in, and usb 3.0 super fast portable hard drives. So after certain takes or before I change setups I pop the card out of my GH13, pop it into the laptop and check performances, focus, and make backup to hard drive while I do it, then I'm already shooting on another card.
Without question to me if I could only have to have the GH13 or the GH2 I would drop the GH2 like some old shoes - this is because I absolutely KNOW there are shots I have gotten with the GH13 that crumble under the GH2s 24mbit codec. However, the GH2 makes a fantastic addition to my arsenal (I haven't bought one yet but a very close friend did so I have access to it) and is a great B cam or extra angle cam. It 'appears' a tad over edge enhanced to me which I don't like, but this can probably be fixed a bit in the menus... I haven't really futzed with that because I have had no need to shoot a 'pro' shoot on a GH2, but on this last shoot I was on, there was one on the set, but it and the canons were just doing some extra an angles and behind the scenes footage - the three GH13s were doing the real work because that is my current workflow and it works well, very very well.
So there is the best answer I can give for people who are very confused on this subject.
For absolute PROS who LIGHT correctly with a pro GAFFER on a PRO shoot, yet who can learn the proper WORKFLOW and who are TECHNICALLY SAVVY enough to PROPERLY understand and implement the hack with the correct settings on a HACKABLE GH1 (all new ones are NOT) - then without question the hacked GH13 is the better choice - with a GH2 as a B cam for extra angles or low light scenes.
If you are not shooting pro level shoots with a crew and lighting support and you don't have a lot of experience and you just want to start making some movies or learning or playing and want a great 24p image and live monitoring out, then the GH2 is the better choice, because getting the GH1, hacking it with the right settings, and understanding the proper workflow to get the images out of it that are amazing just might make your head and your computer blow up.
- Fin -
stoneinapond
Veteran
Absolute nonsense.
Blackout
Veteran
Stone - I refuse to get into a flame war or any sort of argument with the 'troll' post you just did. I prefaced my post by saying - to ME with MY workflow - the GH13 is better for pro work. The GH1 and GH2 are BOTH not designed for pro work, but both CAN be used with some heavy compromises and workflow changes. The GH13 can get better images in high detail high motion scenes. PERIOD. No debate. MANY MANY people have verified this. The GH2 can get better low light images - but has some blocky codec issues in high motion high detail scenes, and also in low light areas of certain scenes that have a wide latitude. Again, MANY MANY people have verified this and posted clips and the footage is the proof, not anyone's words.
Pietro Impagliazzo
Well-known member
Do you say that based on personal experience? Did you test it?
stoneinapond
Veteran
Nothing to do with flaming. Yes, you alluded to your opinions at some point in your post, but you then go on to conclude categorically that the hacked GH13 is for professionals and the GH2 is for beginners. I say again, that is nonsense and misleading.
And I'm not sure who the troll is here.
Blackout
Veteran
You are summarizing and taking ALL the detail out of what I said - which then reads completely out of context. I said
that in all my experience with both cameras and in all my viewing of footage, it is absolutely certain to me that the GH13 can handle and deliver a better image in high dedail high movement scenes, yet it takes great deal of tweaking to do this, so it's better for professionals and technically savvy people who can understand and light and set up the shots and the hack correctly.
I did not simplify it to:
"pro buy gh13, non pro buy GH2" - YOU made that simplification.
Many pros will do the smart thing and have both. That's the best option! If you are a working pro then it would be silly to sell your GH13 for a GH2 and loose the benefits of the hacked GH13. Would you sell your screwdriver to buy a hammer? They are different tools.
This original poster can obviously only afford one, and if he can only afford one, this means he is probably not doing full level pro shoots, and so for the original poster, the GH2 is probably the best option. This is not a diss against the GH2, just as recommending a hammer to someone should not make screwdriver owners feel sad or defensive.
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Blackout
Veteran
I tested it for several hours over a month ago and that thread started a huge flame war - which was not my intention. I also watched endless native GH2 .mts files I downloaded and just yesterday I had a GH2 on set all day so I got to use it for some B cam stuff. This was mostly locked down shots so in this situation the GH2 was as fine as if not a better image as the GH13 with my hack settings, but when the smoke machine came, the GH2 had some problems and codec breakup in shadow areas with fine smoke particle detail. I am waaaayyyy to busy right now to upload the clips but I shall when I get back from Sundance.
I've found the GH13's inability to monitor and provide immediate in-camera review of footage actually helps speed up my video shoots. Instead of using up the time critiquing and second-guessing a performance, we just keep doing takes until we're assured we've got something good.
What's turned out to be a great substitute for monitoring is using a GF1 for test shots. I have it hacked with my Reliable In-Camera Playback Patch, so it can be used for instant review of footage. I swap in the GF1 just like a camera back on my main lens, and hand it over to the Director to evaluate while I'm doing the final setup for the take. This also keeps my test shots confined to the SD card on the GF1 instead of cluttering up my main SD card.
The GF1 also serves as a backup for my GH13. If anything malfunctions during a shoot, I can simply switch the main SD card to the GF1, reprogram it on the spot, and continue shooting. (Of course, not shooting in 1080p makes this a lot more practical...)