GH3 GH3 vs. BMCC - what would you like to see tested?

[jimagine]

Having tested the GH3 extensively against this and the 5DII, the one point that's been mentioned but bears repeating - 50mbs is a demonstrably better/cleaner setup for the GH3.

It's one of the things that helps it stand close to higher end cameras. All-I just doesn't hold up by comparison.

Also, among the three cameras, in our experience the GH3 is by far the easiest camera to shoot with under varying circumstances.

We're waiting to see what the new generation of BMCs actually produce, especially regarding moire and aliasing, before buying additional cameras.

Given the common MFT and the complimentary functions of one camera to the other, a couple of GH3s and a pair of BMPCs might be an amazing, small, versatile package.

 

[noam]

wow...the gh3 is really looking great considering it cost about 1/3 of the BMCC price, and has alot of other distinct advantages as well...such as easier workflow and slightly larger sensor with af, not to mention the choice of lenses...esp. since BM can't seem to get the m43 version out the door. RS looks like crxp on both cameras but the GH3 looks slightly less. The global shutter is the thing that most interests me on the BM4k. I'm hoping their next version of the 2k camera has global shutter and the active m43 mount ...maybe for even less cost. Thanks for sharing

I'm very much hoping for active MFT as well. The MFT BMCC is ideal for the type of shooting I would be using it for - mainly dramatic narrative.

 

[noam]

Just saw the footage...although it was nice of your to share it...I do not understand these tests. Over 90% of the footage people post in video comparisons are close-ups of inanimate objects. Most of us shoot people, in different conditions. I'd love to see comparisons with human subjects. Moving, static, landscape, close-up etc. Test DR, color, sharpness, etc.

As I mentioned in my blog post, this test was done extremely quickly as I only had the BMCC for a few hours before shipping it off to Blackmagic. I am planning another round of tests that will push the camera further, but I wanted to do what I could within the constraints that I had to at least have some frame of reference.

 

[noam]

Thank you, Noam - these tests are always useful! I guess you have a history with m4/3, seeing as you shot a feature on the GH2, so it makes sense to continue on with the GH3. Today there are so many options... even Nikon is getting love for the D5200. I wonder if you've given a lot of thought to what the other options are... I guess at some point you have to commit and there's only so much time in the day to test everything.

Nikon is definitely starting to catch up and I've actually seen their cameras creep onto a few pretty large shoots recently. Since I own a GH3, and a GH2 before that, they've always been my benchmark as far as DSLR video goes (specifically when testing), but I definitely have considered and used many other DSLR's as well. I actually just finished shooting a series that was primarily shot on 5D MK III, and before that I was on a show that used C300's as a b cam for a Red Epic.

What I would love to do soon - probably within the next month or so, is a big camera shootout. I have access to a ton of DSLR's, Cinema EOS and raw cameras and would be able to do it fairly cost effectively. If you, or anyone else has suggestions or preferences on which cameras you would like to see in the test, please let me know and I will do my best to accommodate. For the shootout, I will likely be getting into a lot more detail and compare them more comprehensively.

 

[noam]

Having tested the GH3 extensively against this and the 5DII, the one point that's been mentioned but bears repeating - 50mbs is a demonstrably better/cleaner setup for the GH3.

It's one of the things that helps it stand close to higher end cameras. All-I just doesn't hold up by comparison.

Also, among the three cameras, in our experience the GH3 is by far the easiest camera to shoot with under varying circumstances.

We're waiting to see what the new generation of BMCs actually produce, especially regarding moire and aliasing, before buying additional cameras.

Given the common MFT and the complimentary functions of one camera to the other, a couple of GH3s and a pair of BMPCs might be an amazing, small, versatile package.

If there's one thing this test has made obvious to me, it's that the 72 All-I mode is pretty sub par. I normally shoot at 50mbps for convenience sake, mainly to ensure I don't run out of card space on longer shoots. However for the test I did think that 72 would perform better in most circumstances, although I had heard that 50mb had less artificating, especiially in low light.

I agree, a combination of GH3's and BMCC/BMPC would be excellent. I have two pocket cameras on order as well as a 4K model. Crossing my fingers they deliver quicker than my EF mount did!