GH2 official discussion thread

I need to put my quotes in boxes from now on, people keep thinking the remark about idiots was mine! Anyway, I was interested in comments about the reviewer's claim that even even in the codec-challenging situations where the hacked gh1 is supposed to shine, the gh2 is still better.
 
@psoetio - before this gets out of hand, consider editing your post and change the quote to italics, or another color. Just a suggestion ;)
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Will do; I'm new here and didn't realize I could edit afterwards..
 
psoetio said:
Anyway, I was interested in comments about the reviewer's claim that even even in the codec-challenging situations where the hacked gh1 is supposed to shine, the gh2 is still better.
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I think that all boils down to the individual. What one considers "better" might not be "good enough" for another. I'll use my buddy Blackout (a poster in this forum) as an example. He does not think the GH-2s codec (from his own personal observation so far) holds up to his hacked GH-1(3)...but then there are others who disagree with him. He is looking for a certain type of image to fit his personal need (based on his personal gigs)....whereas those oposing his opinion don't see what he calls a problem as being a problem. Me...from the plethora of samples I've seen of the GH-2 so far I think it's "good enough" and in certain areas even better than my hacked GH-1. I certainly welcome the GH-2's added strengths...especially in low light. I think getting a GH-2 is sort of future proofing yourself...because if ...or shall I say..."when" Panasonic releases a firmware update for...whatever...then it's just a matter of time before this cam leaves it's predacessor in the dust (meaning...hack-time-baby). But for now....it's more of a toss up for some.
 
psoetio said:
The GH2 *is* better than the hacked GH1 in every way. Period.
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That might be true if you need only 1080p24!
What about the 720p50 or 720p60 17mbps ?
With the GH1 (if the difference is not huge), for me ,720p50 was useless .
With the GH13 I could use 720p50 any time.
Panasonic haven't noticed that from the evolution pov GH2 should be the successor of the GH13 and not the GH1.
 
I agree that it boils down to what your needs are. In my case, I can really use that crop feature and although I've gotten many great photos, their are a few in which the focusing wasn't so great but the shot was. If only they were more in focus! The fact that people are saying that the auto focusing of the GH2 is twice as good makes me more and more favor the GH2. Besides, I'm also deciding to get the TM700 so in broad daylight, I'll have significantly better motion quality than both the GH2 and the GH1. I really can't believe I've been shooting events in broad daylight with something shaped like a DSLR when a traditional camcorder is more practical.
 
Camera Expert said:
Besides, I'm also deciding to get the TM700 so in broad daylight, I'll have significantly better motion quality than both the GH2 and the GH1. I really can't believe I've been shooting events in broad daylight with something shaped like a DSLR when a traditional camcorder is more practical.
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Be sure to evaluate the TM700 for your expectations. I had two of them just when the Ptool hack became available. Couldn't wait to get rid of them after a side-by-side with the GH13 @ C settings.
 
I'll be shooting in 1080 60p most of the time and I've seen more than enough native GH13 and TM700 clips to say that I'll be happier with the TM700's image. You get better motion quality because of 60p, and you wont get some of those moire issues that I've gotten in certain clips and for sure as long as I set the TM700 properly the colors will be better as well. I'm basically far more into having nearly clean images than I am into having a shallow DOF.

I've gotten to be very good at hand holding the GH1 but it's still not shaped like a camcorder. With the TM700, I'll be able to have smoother zooms. Even though I've done some narrative shooting, I've done far more event shooting so that's why I need the TM700 although for sure when I do narrative shooting or if I'm shooting in events with low lighting, that's when I use the GH2.
 
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Camera Expert said:
I've gotten to be very good at hand holding the GH1 but it's still not shaped like a camcorder. With the TM700, I'll be able to have smoother zooms. Even though I've done some narrative shooting, I've done far more event shooting so that's why I need the TM700 although for sure when I do narrative shooting or if I'm shooting in events with low lighting, that's when I use the GH2.
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I went though a similar decision process. I'm used to the ergonomics of a camcorder underwater housing...with a monitor on top...and a smooth zoom. Neither of which is possible with the GH13 in a housing. After about a hundred dives with it I am now happily "re-trained" and can handle it smoothly even under sometimes difficult conditions (and you topside guys think you've got it tough!).

Still, as much as I tried to like the TM700 I personally found it didn't come close to what I'm getting out of a GH13.

On the other hand, the GH2's crop factor is going to be fantastic for UW work...press a button and a 7-14mm becomes a macro lens...hopefully! Now if only Panasonic get their act together and give PAL users 25p...
 
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As I said, some small news for Japanese camera owners.
We are able to switch language to English (or any other language from the set).
 
Vitaliy Kiselev said:
As I said, some small news for Japanese camera owners.
We are able to switch language to English (or any other language from the set).
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That's very good news, Vitaliy!

I don't own a Japanese GH2, but for the future: This is a good reminder that I need to send you my 3rd donation towards "firmware modification research & development" (e.g.: hacking)! ;-)
 
Vitaly,

Since this happened so quickly, is it reasonable to assume other hacks are possible? Fingers crossed for an HDMI fix...
 
RieniO said:
Just to let you all know that Mathers Cameras in the UK notified me that they shipped my GH2 with 14mm and 20mm and 100-300mm lenses yesterday, Thursday 2nd of December. It was someone in this forum who pointed me to Mathers but I forgot who it was. If you read this, thank you dude!
http://www.mathersoflancashire.co.uk/html/g-series.html
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'Twas I - and it's a bit ironic because I rang Mathers today and cancelled my own reserved GH2 :grin:

That's because I'm very pleased with my current GH1, and I want to see how this supposed banding issue resolves itself. I'd been delaying phoning them because I was dithering about what to do - I think the confirmed lack of 25p made my mind up for me.

Anyway - I'm sure you'll enjoy your cam, congrats, and good shooting.
 
Yes it was you, hello :-)

I didn't know about a banding issue, I haven't read this forum for weeks, but as far as I understand it, it's a matter of not syncing with lighting properly?

I shoot for web and DVD only so the lack of 25p isn't an issue for me but I can understand that for some people it is. I assume it will be fixed in firmware update soon.
 
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