GH2 GH3 Anybody planning on purchasing the GH3 based on the current leaked specs?

R

rokkor

Active member
Yeah ... I know , the gh3 is around the corner...but I find myself thinking if anybody is planning on buying a GH3, or replacing a GH2 based on the specs on the leaked gh3 specs? Or jumping ship to the 5dmkiii? Now, I know newer is not always better, but I find myself thinking if putting the gh2 up for sale, but don't want to jump the gun, so to speak. The gh2 has been good to me so far, but the specs below looks so good, thats if they're all true... Time will tell I guess. Anyone heard any thing on still IQ on the gh3?

Also just as a feeler, what's the resale value for : gh2 and stock accessories, 6 minolta/ rokkor lenses (2 zooms, 4 primes) , cx211 and dn101 combo and a metz 50 af 1 flash gun? Again just curious?

http://m43blog.com/2012/09/04/full-panasonic-gh3-specifications/

43rumors has published a full specification on the Panasonic GH3.
Here are the specs:
- 16 Megapixel “Wide dynamic range” CMOS Sensor.
- New Venus 7 engine
- electronic shutter
- ISO 100-12.800
- 6fps
- Fastest AF of any interchangeable lens system camera.
- Video Bitrate 50Mbps (72Mbps ALL-I)
- 30p/25p in MP4, MOV and AVCHD
- 3.5 Mic in
- built-in stereo mic
- Audio out
- Pc control
- Time Code
- 1740k OLED LVF, Touch Monitor OLED 610k.
- external battery grip
- Wifi with remote control through iOS and Android Applications
- external XLR accessory
- Focus Peaking
- Interval shooting and slow motion. Slow Movie extension (40%, 50%, 80%) Fast 160/ 200 / 300%
- Magnesium alloy body. Body is bigger than the Panasonic GH2.
 
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I definitely wouldn't buy it without 1080p @ 60 FPS. However, I still might not get it if it doesn't have some sort of 120 FPS HD video for slow motion. The 40% slow motion is sourced from 1080p @ 60 FPS so it will almost certainly have 1080p @ 60 FPS with audio as well. The 40% slow down mode is pretty much useless if you have 1080p @ 60 FPS with audio that you can easily slow down yourself afterwards.
 
Yes I will definitely buy it ( mainly for the wider dynamic range which will make easier to shoot outside in sunlight ), though I will probably wait until I am sure that most manufacturing bugs have been squashed.
 
Depending on price and final video output potential, yes I will get it. I would rather have factory high bit rate, than third party, given my choice. I also held off on a GH2 until just recently, keeping my GH1s all this time. The GH1s are gone, the GH2 I have now is an interim, as long as the GH3 is a solid step up from it.
 
How about RAW HDMI 10 bit, 4:2:2 output so you can capture it on an external recording device? That would eliminate the need for any kind of souped-up hack and all the inherent glitches. Panasonic would be smart to have this feature available. I'd buy one just for that.

And I love the fact that it now has time code (hopefully, the industry standard SMPTE). Now, if only they would have reasonably priced field recorders from Tascam, Zoom, and others that can be time code interlocked. No more sync drift.
 
JohnTollwannabe said:
How about RAW HDMI 10 bit, 4:2:2 output so you can capture it on an external recording device? That would eliminate the need for any kind of souped-up hack and all the inherent glitches. Panasonic would be smart to have this feature available. I'd buy one just for that.

And I love the fact that it now has time code (hopefully, the industry standard SMPTE). Now, if only they would have reasonably priced field recorders from Tascam, Zoom, and others that can be time code interlocked. No more sync drift.
Click to expand...

I think it is asking a bit too much for raw for a $ 1000 camera. If they give us 10 bit it would already be huge and sufficient for 99% of work. I think the $ 300 blackmagic hyperdeck shuttle has time code interlocked now.
 
rokkor said:
Ye
- Video Bitrate 50Mbps (72Mbps ALL-I)
Click to expand...

This is awesome. AVCHD-Intra straight out of the box? Sold. That shows that Panasonic is listening to users and really keeping tabs on how their customers are employing their cameras.


Not for a while though, I'll wait until the price goes down. My GH1 and GH2 are getting my work done just fine at the moment.
 
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If the specs are spot on and the first footage is as great as the specs suggest, I'm ordering it the first day. And I'll be cheering. Yeah.
But seriously, don't expect raw, it's a 1000$ camera for panasonic's sake!
 
rokkor said:
- Video Bitrate 50Mbps (72Mbps ALL-I).
Click to expand...
50Mbps is adequate for a long-GOP AVCHD encoder like the GH2's, but for an all-Intra encoder 72Mbps is anemic. For image quality comparable to a well-hacked GH2, you'd want at least 100Mbps or more.
 
lpowell said:
50Mbps is adequate for a long-GOP AVCHD encoder like the GH2's, but for an all-Intra encoder 72Mbps is anemic. For image quality comparable to a well-hacked GH2, you'd want at least 100Mbps or more.
Click to expand...

It is probably all they can put a warranty on. Unfortunately the SD cards have not caught up to that level yet to make it bullet proof at the bit rates it should be at. They don't have the luxury of putting a disclaimer on it. It has to work 100% of the time without any failures for all modes. That really isn't that easy to do.

Panasonic knows that "All-Intra" is a buzz word. They will sell cameras based on that one spec alone regardless of what the bit rate is. Too many people will simply go spec shopping instead of actually trying to determine what is good and what isn't. I would much rather have seen a 72Mbps mode with b-frames and an appropriate GOP than an all Intra mode with an inadequate bit rate.

I still don't see why a lot of people strive to get rid of B-frames instead of optimizing them like you did. B-frames are your friend. :)
 
I expected this response...but seriously, it's not really going to be a 1000 camera any longer from what I've read. Suggested retail price I see starts at 1800+ and given the fact that it is said to be magnesium alloy construction=weather sealed, means it will be bigger, plus all the other stuff- factory xlr connection option, external battery grip, etc, etc...people can't really expect the same price point.

It has already proven it is much more than the little cam that could. It has been out performing much more expensive tools, so in order for it go grow, the price has to also.

In finishing, the 50 megabits (72 All I) is a much appreciated addition... No more fiddling with a hack (not that it was hard, but if it can be done it just should be done right ) although I think it will be hacked eventually. If the list is true , out the box, this will be great competition and the other guys will be watching closely. High bitrate-no hack needed, proper xlr audio and monitoring, power, and weather sealing (7d size, or a bit smaller i've read) This should be a tank, a proper creativity tool, without breaking the bank. Would also like to see an IQ jump in the stills department. I know it won't compete wit a d800, or 5dmkii, but the gh2 stills are good but could be better...
 
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Assuming 8 bit 422, 72 Mb should be enough for I frame if the encoding engine is good. 100Mb avc-intra is 10bit 422 after all.

The rumors sound nice and all, but it has to come at a significant price premium, I expect with audio box it would be over $2k, the 12-35 would put it over $3k, I'd like to be pleasantly surprised by $1800 all in, but I have to be realistic.

I'm hoping for a nice GH1 style sell off of GH2 for $499 with the crappy 14-42.
 
It is the usual story. "No,why do I need a new version it if the hacked one I have is working great. I don't expect it to be any better. Blah, blah, blah." Then camera comes out and footage looks great and all of a sudden everybody wants one. I say the GH3 is going to rock and I am getting one as soon as it comes out! My GH2 I will raffle away! The improvements sound solid and I am sure the images are going to mighty good for sure.
 
I need a camera for glidecam work. My ex1r is too heavy for handheld stuff. Waiting for gh3 at the moment. If the noise performance is good, and if it has a flippable lcd, then i'll buy one.
 
If it really does cost $1,800 or higher (street price), I think I'll just go with the BMCC and keep my GH2 for stills and 60p. That is, unless the GH3 has at least 11 stops in video mode, though it doesn't seem likely. The mighty Nikon D800 only goes up to 10.7 stops in JPEG stills mode.
 
While I'm sure the GH3 will be a worthy upgrade to the GH2, my hunch is that Panasonic will offer only a modest bump in performance, combining the G3's low-noise sensor with the FZ200's 1080p50/60 video modes and high-speed auto-focus. I'd be surprised if they abandon AVCHD in order to implement higher bitrates or I-frame codecs. And if we're lucky, Panasonic may even clean up the HDMI monitor output to enable live recording of the 8-bit 4:2:0 video stream, with audio.

Where I think the GH3 is most likely foreshadowed is in the unique features of the new Lumix GX 12-35mm f2.8 zoom. This is Panasonic's first metal-barreled zoom with a rubber seal on the lens mount. It is also the first Lumix zoom with a fast, constant f2.8 max aperture, along with completely silent operation. That makes it particularly well-suited for shooting video.

To match these Lumix GX features, I expect the GH3 will have a magnesium body and some degree of weather sealing. Manual controls of course, with more dials and touch-screen controls than the G3. This would give the GH3/12-35mm combo a compact but solid feel compared to the sleek and lightweight G3.
 
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