I'd love to get hacked GH2 IQ out of a 4/3-HVX250 style camera at the price of a GH3.
Last edited:
GH3 GH3 v Gh2 with color check and star chart
- Thread starter dustylense
- Start date
I'd love to get hacked GH2 IQ out of a 4/3-HVX250 style camera at the price of a GH3.
In technical ways and on paper it's easy to see how the GH3 is the superior camera, but in terms of image for a more cinematic production, I would have to go with the GH2 personally. It does have something special about it that hasn't been replicated by the GH3 or other cameras in the same price range. Just take that Angkor video, it's exceptionally well done- but the image is very typical of what the GH2 is capable of with the right lens. If I was stills guy, and shot tons of low light video and photography, I think it would be hard to resist having the GH3 as part of my kit. The GH2 however, on ISO 800 or lower in nice natural light, still produces my favorite image outside the BMC.
From all the GH3 stuff I've been watching lately, I find one thing in common. It was ever so slightly apparent in GH2 footage in certain situations, but with the GH3 this ever-pervasive jitter seems to permeate the image. Even when the camera is locked down on a tripod or on a slider, I feel like the frame is bouncing in micrometers in all directions; it's not overwhelming or noticeable at all times, but it's there. And on even lower shutter speeds I'm still seeing a very staccato motion effect with fast moving objects and pans that wasn't there with the GH2 on lower shutter speeds. I suppose this is the main thing that prevents me from picking one up... something about the motion rendering feels a little off, hard to put my finger on it, but it's there- like a tiny splinter in my eye.
From all the GH3 stuff I've been watching lately, I find one thing in common. It was ever so slightly apparent in GH2 footage in certain situations, but with the GH3 this ever-pervasive jitter seems to permeate the image. Even when the camera is locked down on a tripod or on a slider, I feel like the frame is bouncing in micrometers in all directions; it's not overwhelming or noticeable at all times, but it's there. And on even lower shutter speeds I'm still seeing a very staccato motion effect with fast moving objects and pans that wasn't there with the GH2 on lower shutter speeds. I suppose this is the main thing that prevents me from picking one up... something about the motion rendering feels a little off, hard to put my finger on it, but it's there- like a tiny splinter in my eye.
PaPa
Major Contributor
hey OP, any updates on this? You had mentioned doing some type of test like this but there is yet to be any updates . Just checking to see if you are still planning on getting around to doing this.
dustylense
Veteran
And there is what. 500,000 gh2 videos you can watch to the maybe 50 gh3 videos you can watch? Way too early to make final judgment to the gh3 image. The gh3 has more DR than the Gh2 could ever wish for. Someone once said here that the Gh2 has the DR of a bat.
So far I "feel" the gh3 has the gh2's number in nearly every category.
It's amazing how people can say the GH2 image is better.... Like why would I be selling My GH2? I got my GH3 on Friday and just from some quick tests it's a better camera inside and out. Next week I'm actually going to shoot a project (Music Video) so lets see how everything goes. Like I said the Main problem with the GH2 is anything above iso 800 you start to lose quality and is noisy. In some instances you need iso 1600. I'm glad that with the GH3 I'm finally able to do that now.
Secondly My next professional camera will hopefully be the BMCC. GH3 for lower end projects and the BMCC for higher end. At the end of the day the GH2 is still an excellent camera, my main problem with it though are noisy high iso's , average lcd screen and very very poor body build.
The GH3 fixes all of those problems. GH2 buttons were also way to small. The GH3 now has an iso button on the top and general larger button that just feel so comfortable.
Regardless I have a lot of work to do so I'm off of here.
If anyone wants to buy a GH2 I'm selling it right now in the market place, thanks
http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?298155-Panasonic-GH2-Only-couple-months-old-with-Warranty
Grading cannot turn a poor base into a good base, you're just buffing out the flaws when you go to correct poor color, not say polishing a solid base to begin with.
Not saying which I prefer, just stating that colors aren't "based" on grading for the most part.
Mrrrr and by the way, on Giant Leaps...
Just saying, if it were a giant leap for those that propose so, you would not be considering a different camera. My definition of a Giant Leap is ninety percent satisfaction, where I may have to rent a camera say for high speed or specific shots, but the one that I own or prefer to use will satisfy nearly every situation I want to shoot in.
I felt the GH2 (hack) was/is a very strong and mostly preferable alternative to Canon DSLRs and small shoots, and I think the GH3 will probably be that as well. Neither are cameras that put me in the ninety percent range, though.
That's just me though!
Just saying, if it were a giant leap for those that propose so, you would not be considering a different camera. My definition of a Giant Leap is ninety percent satisfaction, where I may have to rent a camera say for high speed or specific shots, but the one that I own or prefer to use will satisfy nearly every situation I want to shoot in.
I felt the GH2 (hack) was/is a very strong and mostly preferable alternative to Canon DSLRs and small shoots, and I think the GH3 will probably be that as well. Neither are cameras that put me in the ninety percent range, though.
That's just me though!
dustylense
Veteran
Yep, thats just you.
I do think it's entirely possible that the GH3 has more DR, but even in the few tests done to demonstrate that, it can be a bit hard to pick out. I don't think the GH3 has all that much of an advantage in the highlights, but there's definitely an argument to be made as to how much better it is in the shadows. I'd love to see a good DR test in a variety of situations that really show off the GH3's potential. Again, I don't want to draw blind conclusions here, and say the GH2's image is as good or better in any way... I'm just saying that I prefer it as a matter of taste and nothing else; just like it's easy to argue that the FS100's image is superior along with a whole host of other cameras. It only takes a second to see some GH3 1600 and 3200 iso footage to realize just how much better it is- there's no comparison.
We're starting to get to the point where I'm no longer concerned with what's better or worse, it's like we've crossed that divide where pretty much most cameras are more than satisfactory to me. I just look at the smaller things now, and what pleases my eye the most. Funny, in recent years I've stopped caring about upgrading my phone and all sorts of other things I constantly upgraded in the past. I love electronics and gadgets of all kinds... these days so much of it SO good that it's hard sometimes to make up an excuse for why I need to upgrade. Nothing seems legitimately "better" or on a new level anymore, just different. Although the single best exception to this, would be the BMC. That is all kinds of other-worldly right there. I dream of the day that I'll coddle my little mft BMC, it will be a glorious day indeed.
We're starting to get to the point where I'm no longer concerned with what's better or worse, it's like we've crossed that divide where pretty much most cameras are more than satisfactory to me. I just look at the smaller things now, and what pleases my eye the most. Funny, in recent years I've stopped caring about upgrading my phone and all sorts of other things I constantly upgraded in the past. I love electronics and gadgets of all kinds... these days so much of it SO good that it's hard sometimes to make up an excuse for why I need to upgrade. Nothing seems legitimately "better" or on a new level anymore, just different. Although the single best exception to this, would be the BMC. That is all kinds of other-worldly right there. I dream of the day that I'll coddle my little mft BMC, it will be a glorious day indeed.
Zephyrnoid
Veteran
At it's price-point, for a certain range of customers, I have no doubt that the GH3 is still the value leader. Trouble is, many of have become spoiled.
Especially with all the rumors floating around of 4K raw trickling down to mirrorless cams in 2013.
If someone does that... in the right form-factor body and does it with primarily videographers in mind (ala... S35 sensor,4:2:2 out of HDMI, color peaking, built in ND)
then that will indeed be a game changer at $3K for the body.
All we're seeing now in the 'Leica' camera bodies is transitional stuff. Trying to please hybrid still/video shooters while compromising for video.
As a longtime stills shooter semi-retired... I'll be glad to see that Leica camera body go away for good.
BTW. OP. I noticed your Profile pic shows a Green Screen behind you. You realize that the GH3 will be no better at Chroma Key than the GH2?
Especially with all the rumors floating around of 4K raw trickling down to mirrorless cams in 2013.
If someone does that... in the right form-factor body and does it with primarily videographers in mind (ala... S35 sensor,4:2:2 out of HDMI, color peaking, built in ND)
then that will indeed be a game changer at $3K for the body.
All we're seeing now in the 'Leica' camera bodies is transitional stuff. Trying to please hybrid still/video shooters while compromising for video.
As a longtime stills shooter semi-retired... I'll be glad to see that Leica camera body go away for good.
BTW. OP. I noticed your Profile pic shows a Green Screen behind you. You realize that the GH3 will be no better at Chroma Key than the GH2?
dustylense
Veteran
What makes you think I would shoot with a Gh camera on green screen? ANd that's Michael C. Hall for dexter...
Zephyrnoid
Veteran
Meanwhile, Andrew Reid is having a very tough time coming up with BMCC raw footage actually edited in raw (vs converted to ProRes), so what's the point of that camera unless you have the horsepower to edit it in raw?
Zephyrnoid
Veteran
Nothing. It just gave me a conversation point to anchor the point that while the GH3 is a better package than the GH2, some shortcomings need to be addressed in the next version, unless firmware can take care of it.
dustylense
Veteran
Who in their right mind would pick a 420 camera for green screen work. I mean, it can be done, but come on man. Or are you just trolling?
Meh, raw or prores doesn't matter. The image is just unreal- I mean anything that looks remotely like Alexa for 3k is almost too good to be true.
GH3 is just cleaner than GH2 that is a BIG difference. Even if we all agree that the image "quality" is not that much netter or even comparable one thing we MUST acknowledge is that GH3 is simply cleaner image. Iso 1600 is cleaner than GH2 iso 800, which is HUGE if you think about it. On another note, BMCC is a game changer. No camera I have ever seen within this price range can compare. I hope to buy one next year. Simply beautiful, I don't mind the crop view as I personally like to shoot telephoto, and on occasion Extreme wide, so all I need is something like the Olympus 12mm and I'm fine.
Chris Adler
Veteran
I've pulled off a ton of green screen shots with my GH2. Works fine.
dustylense
Veteran
Like I said, it can be done.
Fresno Bob
Well-known member
The trouble with the BMC is, is that I am no longer happy with GH2 footage any more. It just doesn't have the DR or beautiful image that can compare.
I realised how much my opinion had changed when I look at Versubio's 'MUSGO' trailer again the other day. A year ago, that blew me away.
Now, I watch it and can see how he has colour corrected it for an almost HDR effect to make it film like. Still very impressive, but still unmistakably a DSLR.
Because the BMC is in reach at the price, DSLR footage isn't doing it for me at the moment.
I always find it odd how people blame 8bit or 420 for getting a bad key. Getting a good key out of a green screen depends on a multitude of factors with 444 being at the bottom. Lighting is extremely important and no amount of 444 will help you key it if you mess up the lighting. The software you use and your proficiency in it. Also your skills and amount of time you put in in (especially if it's not just a talking head but something way more complex). And planning the shots.