GH2 Rumors Thread

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I'd love to see what the new Panny camera is but I'm still getting a GH1. I've seen too much good work produced with it to pass one up. Especially when it's this low in cost.
 
I'm guessing the panasonic g camera will have HD Video. Hopefully not just 720P. Plastic body etc. Cheaper price. I just wish Panasonic can come out with a nice 24-120 f2.8 HD video lens.
 
Peter J. DeCrescenzo said:
Panasonic UK: "Find out more on the launch of our new models" (3/7/2010):
http://www.panasonic.co.uk/html/en_...meras/Overview/287246/index.html#anker_287246
http://43rumors.com/ft5-hot-panasonic-teaser-for-a-new-mft-cameras-and-the-lx3-successor/

EDIT: I'm changing my guesses to a cam similar to the GF1 but with a non-removable lens, and an interchangeable-lens cam replacing the G1 & GH1 ... but they could be almost anything. :-)

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That little HD CAMCORDER thing being brazened so brightly really gets me excited. That's pretty bold!

Why bother with a fixed lens if you're launching something that's heavily dependent on the term Camcorder? Not that I think it WILL be a Camcorder specifically, but perhaps more attention paid than before to the Video side.

And, we all know, Panasonic got it the closest to "right" the first shot out.
 
noelsphoto said:
I'm guessing the panasonic g camera will have HD Video. Hopefully not just 720P. Plastic body etc. Cheaper price. I just wish Panasonic can come out with a nice 24-120 f2.8 HD video lens.
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I also think that there needs to be some more HD lenses (and probably will). I own the 20mm f1.7 and the lens is absolutely amazing. The sharpness is beautiful and the lowlight capability is also admirable, but... it isn't fully optimized for video (as we all unfortunately know).

I have a feeling the GH2 will be released with a faster and smarter HD lens such as a 24-120 f2.8. I think that Panny is waiting to release another HD lens with the GH2 so everyone will drool over it and buy the camera body and lens instead of just the body. That way they can offer the body by itself and sucker most people into buy the combo (can't say if I would be a sucker or not).

Just my guess at their marketing strategy.
 
Kholi said:
That little HD CAMCORDER thing being brazened so brightly really gets me excited. That's pretty bold!

Why bother with a fixed lens if you're launching something that's heavily dependent on the term Camcorder? Not that I think it WILL be a Camcorder specifically, but perhaps more attention paid than before to the Video side.

And, we all know, Panasonic got it the closest to "right" the first shot out.
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I hope that means something substantial for the new GH????? series, but Panasonic has been using the "HD camcorder" term for awhile, like with the Lumix Tz5, so it could be us getting too excited.

 
ARTnVIDEO said:
I hope that means something substantial for the new GH????? series, but Panasonic has been using the "HD camcorder" term for awhile, like with the Lumix Tz5, so it could be us getting too excited.
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Actually, you're probably right. Bah!

Why can't they just announce and set release date? This monthlong bout of speculation is going to be very distracting.
 
It's interesting to me that Panasonic has chosen (up to this point) to only be public about these (2?) new cameras in connection with the FOI expo in the UK in March. Even though they've barely said anything at all, at least they're lifting the kimono a little.

Meanwhile, the PMA expo starts in the US on Feb. 19 and Panasonic has so far been absolutely dead silent as far as making any new product announcements in connection with that show. No press releases, nothing on their "expo" website (note the list on the left side of this page), etc.:
http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=ja&tl=en&u=http://ex-blog.panasonic.co.jp/exhibition/

I suppose it's all just a matter of timing. PMA is this month, FOI is in March, NAB is in April, and Photokina is in Sept. (I'm know I'm forgetting at least a few).

They'll officially announce & unofficially leak when they're ready. All we can do is watch & wait. :-)
 
Look closely... it says 1080/60 in H264 format. There's a possibility that the new version of the GH-1 would adapt that as well.

So, going back to the original rumors that cited 1080/60 AVCHD.... maybe it was 1080/60 H264...

FML.. I hate technology.
 
Fixing the codec and adding video out feature during recording would make a GH2 useful for pro work in every situation. If you could use the swivel display at the same time as video out is enabled, WOW! No need for an external on-camera monitor!
 
I read thru this thread last week and can't remember if anyone had mentioned this, but thought if it last ngiht as I was going to bed.. what is the likelyhood that the GH1 successor will support SDXC cards? It seems like with this medium now out, it wouldn't make a ton of sense to make the step up from the GH1 SDHC still, or am I way off on this? I would love for people to shed some light on this!
 
Thinking some more about it, my __GUESSES__ now are (if Panasonic announces 2 cams between now and FOI on March 7):

- The 1st cam, the smaller one, will be similar to their new ZS7 compact model, but with a m4/3 size sensor instead of 1/2.3" size. It will have a non-removable zoom lens & a non-swivel LCD. It'll record very nice 1080p & 720p AVCHD video using Panasonic's already announced new Venus Engine HD II at up to 17 mbs/sec. Essentially it's a updated version of a GF1 but without the removable lens mount. This allows Panasonic to later refresh the GF1 with updated electronics w/o butting heads with the cam they're announcing now. This cam will have a list price less than the current GF1.

- The 2nd cam should be thought of as more a video-capable update/replacement for the G1 rather than the GH1. Its form factor will be almost exactly the same as the G1/GH1, but very slightly smaller & lighter weight. It'll have a m4/3 sensor, m4/3 lens mount, EVF & swivel LCD like the G1/GH1 (the LCD may be somewhat higher-res than the G1/GH1). Essentially it'll be a less-expensive version of the GH1, but with refinements such as slightly improved 1080p & 720p video quality via the new Venus Engine HD II at up to 17 mbs/sec. It will have AGC audio level control only. It may have live video out during recording, but the LCD & EVF may turn off when HDMI is connected. This cam will be Panasonic's answer to Canon's new T2i/550D and will be priced accordingly (e.g.: ~$900 US including a zoom lens).

This Spring/Summer (maybe by NAB in April?):

- Panasonic will announce their "7D killer": This 3rd cam will be the true replacement for the GH1. It'll have a form factor similar to the GH1 and all the features of the 2nd cam described above, but with a new improved m4/3 sensor (global shutter? back-illuminated?), much higher res swivel LCD (at least 1MP), slightly higher res EVF, up to 24 mbs/sec AVCHD video, further refined video processing/quality, allow simultaneous live HDMI video out & on-board video monitoring, and allow some amount of manual audio control _and_ a headphone jack (please!). This cam will list for ~$1,500 US including the 14-140mm zoom lens.

Although this 3rd cam will be a big improvement on the already very good GH1, its form factor and "mini" I/O connectors will still leave room in the product line for additional production-friendly features to be offered in a later "traditional" style camcorder based on its technology ...

Before the end of this year (could conceivably be announced at NAB but not ship until Photokina in Sept. or late 2010):

- The 4th cam will be Panasonic's "EX3-killer" (and kinda its "2/3-in. Scarlet-killer") and list for around $7,500 US. It'll include pro video cam features such as further improved video quality (B-frames? Variable frame rates? Can you do AVC-Intra with SDXC cards?), quasi-shoulder mount form-factor, "big" batteries, a m4/3 lens mount, removable servo-zoom lens (and other lenses available from 3rd parties), live HDMI & HD-SDI out, XLR audio connectors, TC, etc. It's easy to imagine this cam could become part of a family of prosumer/pro video cams based on m4/3 tech, eventually replacing all but the least-expensive of their 1/3" prosumer/pro video cams.

I don't believe any of the above is particularly far-fetched. Of course all these cams will include SDXC card support, too (is there a reason they wouldn't?)

Anyway, that's my blue-sky m4/3 product schedule for Panasonic's coming year. All pure speculation of course. :-)
 
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