GH2 GH3 When?

roxics

Veteran
When can we expect a GH3? Does Panasonic have a routine release cycle for these cameras or is it just whenever?
 
Not really easy to answer about a routine release cycle, given they've only released one update since their initial camera. Some talk in other places about this fall/winter as a possible date, but that's really all just speculation.

Just curious, what kinds of changes in a GH3 would you want/need to see in order to make it a worthwhile upgrade?

For me, there are two things I'd really want to see, and they would be Canon/Nikon killers:

  • A battery grip with built in advanced I/Os:
    • 2 XRL inputs with dedicated meters and pots
    • USB 3.0 and Full size HDMI
    • Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, & Wired Ethernet
    • GPS
    • Headphone jack
    • Remote zoom/focus/shutter (especially since they're coming out with the X series zoom lenses)
  • An open SDK - so app developers can go crazy writing all kinds of applications to control the camera.

I'd easily pay an extra $500 for a grip that had all of that. More actually. Will we see any of it? Maybe separate headphone, 1/8" audio, and shutter release jacks. But that's about it.
 
For me, there are two things I'd really want to see, and they would be Canon/Nikon killers:
  • A battery grip with built in advanced I/Os:
    • 2 XRL inputs with dedicated meters and pots
    • USB 3.0 and Full size HDMI
    • Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, & Wired Ethernet
    • GPS
    • Headphone jack
    • Remote zoom/focus/shutter (especially since they're coming out with the X series zoom lenses)
  • An open SDK - so app developers can go crazy writing all kinds of applications to control the camera.
I'd easily pay an extra $500 for a grip that had all of that. More actually.
That would be amazing! For me to upgrade from the GH2, though, they'd have to include 1080p at 60fps and clean 4:2:2 HDMI output. I can live with the rest as is on the GH2. And my bet is an announcement at Photokina this Fall.
 
That would be amazing! For me to upgrade from the GH2, though, they'd have to include 1080p at 60fps and clean 4:2:2 HDMI output. I can live with the rest as is on the GH2. And my bet is an announcement at Photokina this Fall.

Love those as well. Would also love some sort of 120fps mode (at least 720p). But that's sort of beyond wishful thinking on my part.
 
1. Greater DR
2. No ISO bug
3. HDMI spits out all modes without converting back to 1080/60i (for monitoring 720/60 etc)
4. Hacks port straight over immediately or there's an "extreme" button that pretty much activates VK/Driftwood flavor, with a fair and CLEAR warning that it is not for the average consumer.

For a camera that costs 1199.99 with a Kit lens I'll straight up buy one day zero... in japan.
 
How about a better LCD screen, I tried using it like I do on my Canon 60d and it felt so low res I had no idea what I was looking at. Secondly beef that camera up it truly feels like a toy.
 
How about a better LCD screen, I tried using it like I do on my Canon 60d and it felt so low res I had no idea what I was looking at. Secondly beef that camera up it truly feels like a toy.

Low res LCD or No Res Footage... low res LCD or No Res Footage...

I'll take the Low Res LCD. xD
 
Love those as well. Would also love some sort of 120fps mode (at least 720p). But that's sort of beyond wishful thinking on my part.

Perhaps not [wishful thinking]. Many of Panasonic's consumer p&s cameras now have slow motion 120fps shooting (at 480p).
 
Just curious, what kinds of changes in a GH3 would you want/need to see in order to make it a worthwhile upgrade?

For me, there are two things I'd really want to see, and they would be Canon/Nikon killers:

  • A battery grip with built in advanced I/Os:
    • 2 XRL inputs with dedicated meters and pots
    • USB 3.0 and Full size HDMI
    • Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, & Wired Ethernet
    • GPS
    • Headphone jack
    • Remote zoom/focus/shutter (especially since they're coming out with the X series zoom lenses)
  • An open SDK - so app developers can go crazy writing all kinds of applications to control the camera.

I'd easily pay an extra $500 for a grip that had all of that. More actually. Will we see any of it? Maybe separate headphone, 1/8" audio, and shutter release jacks. But that's about it.


  • A battery grip with built in advanced I/Os:
    • 2 XRL inputs with dedicated meters and pots ( ah c'mon. seriously think that will happen unless the pre-amp is clean? That feature alone ca-chink - add $400)
    • USB 3.0 and Full size HDMI USB 3.0 maybe but why not Thunderbolt instead of that and the HDMI?
    • Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, & Wired Ethernet YES!
    • GPS - Nah the the Wi-Fi would be enough we all have plenty of GPSs on us already.
    • Headphone jack YES!
    • Remote zoom/focus/shutter (especially since they're coming out with the X series zoom lenses) Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, & Wired Ethernet would take care of that >iphone or ipad
  • An open SDK - so app developers can go crazy writing all kinds of applications to control the camera. YES! It's really time camera comnpanies went open source with the programmable functionality. After all, these convergent devices are the only ones that are still very hard to customize via 3rd party development
 
To be realistic, I don't think we could expect things like xlr/zebras etc. This we can see more in an af-100 successor in the $ 4/5 k. What I would really like would be a better metal construction. At least a stop better low light and DR, 60p and much less rolling shutter. A better viewfinder and screen and I think it would be a worthy upgrade. A good uncompressed hdmi output would be good, but I think we will see 5d mark 3 phenomenon now. That is some evident crippling, not to encroach the higher line of video camera.
 
I'm on record as saying that actually GH2 is already enough to shoot a feature on. But, if there's a GH3 with better specs, I'm not gonna look a gift horse in the mouth. So, for me:

1) Better low light and DR performance - 1 stop

2) Less jello

3) No banding

4) Bugs fixed, like the ISO bug (this should be easy, and I expect this for sure... assuming there's a GH3 at all, that is!)

5) Clean HDMI output

6) Better resolution and color fidelity on the LCD

7) 1:1 pixel focus assist during recording (as long as we're dreaming :)).

Do this and all for $1K body, and I buy it immediately - and I bet it would become a huge hit and take away all the sales the 5Dmkiii is getting from those who only buy it for the video recording (not stills)... Panasonic, I promise you, this would happen - don't you love hits? Well, you can have one!
 
Personally I would just be happy with a headphone jack. In situations where it just isn't possible to have outboard sound such as run and gun shooting it would be nice to know I'm actually recording something when I have an external mic plugged in. This is super easy for them to do as well and should only really add $1.00 to the price if that.

Outside of better audio control and perhaps a clean HDMI output I think the only thing that really needs to happen is more M43 lens options.

People are already highly impressed with the picture quality. Lets just give it some better glass and better audio controls.

When it comes to low light I think people have some pretty screwed up expectations. We have a Red One and a Red Epic at work and they are not exactly great in low light either. I would rather light a scene properly then try to cram a good shot with only the camera sensitivity. The low light issue becomes much less important if we had the faster glass as well. On the wide end M43 is pretty well covered now with fast glass but the zooms are really lacking. Make the glass and the GH3 sensitivity will not be as much of an issue.
 
Add my vote for a beefed-up metal housing, reduced rolling shutter artifacts (preferably just that -- reduced, not eliminated), and eliminate the banding/FPN issues (and the ISO bug, but that should be an obvious request).

12-bit depth from the video, please.

Clean HDMI out a huge plus -- but I thought the GH2 already did that?


Improved stills quality would be a nice plus, for one-off situations where it might actually see some small use as a stills camera...
 
I forgot to add some picture profile that you can update and save like with Canon/Nikon. A constant I-dynamic range function like Nikon D-range. For now the I -dynamic is a useless tool. You should be able to activate it when you want and need it.
 
Expected:

- 3.5mm stereo headphone jack!
- real manual audio gain control
- 1M dot EVF, 1M pixel LCD
- reduce the banding

Merely Unrealistic, but Panasonic could surprise us:

- clean progressive HDMI out
- 1080/60p
- global shutter or some other jello fix
- weathersealing (or at least more robust construction)
- 3.5mm mic input jack (like your camcorders, Panasonic!)

Would be nice, but not expected:

- fix for the gamma shift between preview and record
- fix for the 'Panasonic green' color issue
- variable or high speed progressive frame rates above 60p
- XLR inputs (or even a grip that provides them)

ADDENDUM: Panasonic - Please keep the unlimited recording time in the US or I'll bolt to the D800 (and please don't change the battery again!)
 
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here are things i predict that will likely happen
.mp4 mode (4gb limit)
1080 60p @ 28mbps

anything else would be surprising.
 
Improved dynamic range and a more gentle highlight roll-off would be nice. I don't know if we'll see that on the GH3. Sensor wise, they are so marketing driven. The megapixel race and all that jazz...
 
When it comes to low light I think people have some pretty screwed up expectations. We have a Red One and a Red Epic at work and they are not exactly great in low light either. I would rather light a scene properly then try to cram a good shot with only the camera sensitivity. The low light issue becomes much less important if we had the faster glass as well. On the wide end M43 is pretty well covered now with fast glass but the zooms are really lacking. Make the glass and the GH3 sensitivity will not be as much of an issue.

Yeah I don't really understand this either. I only own a GH1 but it's pretty remarkable in low light, at least in my opinion. Banding aside. Get rid of banding and that wierd halo effect around lights and we're all set. If you're going to do any kind of film shoot you should be using some lights. The basics of filmmaking still haven't changed.
 
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