GH4 GH4 vs. FZ1000 Setup Comparison

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dpavid

Active member
1st, I know there shouldn't be any comparison but the price of the FZ1000 is so hard to ignore.

I bought a GH4 with 12-35mm f/2.8 in December after reading so many reviews on how great this camera is. I never thought I'd love it this much! Now I want more. Ideally, I'd like to have 4 GH4's for live event coverage (wedding, music concert, TV series, etc.) Nothing live as we'll use the HPX370's for those events. This would strictly be for capture and post edit.

Here's the part I'm not getting. The FZ1000 cost $797 right now at bhphoto! I can't even buy the 35-100mm f/2.8 lens for that price. To make it more messed up, the FZ1000 built in lens covers the same range even though the f-stop might not be as great. What am I missing? Battery life (weak compared to GH4), record time (29min and 59sec max), record format (no mov).

So given the scenario. A GH4 with 12-35mm and 35-100mm cost about $4000ish vs. a FZ1000 right out of the box for $800 with 25-400mm f/2.8-4 and OIS. Very rarely do I exceed 100mm so the extra zoom is not a bonus to me and the built in lens specs aren't too terrible.

What am I missing or did I overlook? At the least, I think it'll cut great as a B Camera to a couple GH4's.
 
Is 24p important to you? FZ only does 4k at 30p.

Are your events all well lit? The GH4 isn't exactly a lowlight king, but it does noticeably better than the FZ1000: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Ppd39JbtYc&feature=youtu.be

You've already mentioned it, but for me a dealbreaker is the recording limit. It's why I returned the LX100. For events, I need to be able to let fixed cameras run. 4k is great for fixed cameras since there is so much latitude for pans, zooms, etc, in post. However, the time limit is unacceptable for that use.
 
the recording limit "problem" is essentially bogus - the camera automatically ends one file and begins a new file with no delay. you just connect the two files in post for a seamless video. even with the GH4 there is a 4gb limit, but it also just starts a new file.
 
So wait, the record limit is non-stop on the FZ1000 too? Meaning it'll shoot 29 minutes 59 seconds but keep going 30 minutes plus without having to restart the recording again? I know the GH4 can seam together the clips in post. Does the FZ1000 do the same. I was under the impression is stops the recording at 29min 59 secs and you had to start it again, making seamless long record times not possible.
 
I'm in the same boat. Just picked up a GH4 and and now I need to decide on the 35-100 or a FZ-1000. I think I am leaning towards the FZ-1000. A second camera on interviews would be worth it for me. You can always rent a lens, but a second body would be used more. here is a link to a nice comparison between the two (seems highlights are clipped in the FZ-1000): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRgo9t8BBSA
 
It's hard to ignore the FZ1000 at its price point. That video pretty much sold me, it'll cut great with a GH4 in ample lighting. Going to make all my purchase decisions after NAB but 1-2 of these in the bag would make a great addition for greater coverage.
 
dpavid said:
Meaning it'll shoot 29 minutes 59 seconds but keep going 30 minutes plus without having to restart the recording again?
Click to expand...

Nope. The camera stops recording, so you have to manually restart it again. I have access to an FZ1000 but I haven't found time to play with it yet. ( also, one of the shooters I work with says the FZ1000 stops after 20 minutes, I can check this if it's important to you )
 
That's what I thought. The record would auto stop at 29m59s just like bhphoto says. Then you would have to start it again and resync the clip in post. Bummer! Someone needs to make a "Magic Lantern-ish" hack to bypass this and sell it. I'd easily drop some coin to have it removed!
 
The other shooter I work with uses his iPhone to control the FZ1000, so he can restart recording remotely without having to touch the camera. As long as you pay attention to the recording time, you only lose a couple of seconds. ( maybe someone could hack the lumix control software to automatically restart the FZ1000 )
 
TheDingo said:
The other shooter I work with uses his iPhone to control the FZ1000, so he can restart recording remotely without having to touch the camera. As long as you pay attention to the recording time, you only lose a couple of seconds. ( maybe someone could hack the lumix control software to automatically restart the FZ1000 )
Click to expand...

I tried that and had very mixed results when using the LX100. I find the iphone app to be a bit stress inducing on an important gig. If you accidentally exit the app, etc. Connections lost, control lost. However, it's good to hear that others are having success with it in real world scenarios.
 
jnorman34 said:
the recording limit "problem" is essentially bogus - the camera automatically ends one file and begins a new file with no delay. you just connect the two files in post for a seamless video. even with the GH4 there is a 4gb limit, but it also just starts a new file.
Click to expand...

It ends one file and begins a new one...until 30 minutes are done. As a matter of fact, the countdown timer that normally shows you how much space is left on the card, instead counts down from 30 min the moment you start a recording. The GH4 will keep creating 4.27GB files that are continuos until the card is full or you press stop. The FZ will not. After 30 minutes, it stops recording even if you still have space on your card. This is not really new information and holds true for many cams, panny included. I'm not sure what is bogus here, but quit bogarting the facts! ; )
 
From the fz1000 manual:
  • [AVCHD] motion pictures:
    Recording stops when the continuous recording time exceeds 29 minutes and 59 seconds.
  • Motion pictures with their file size set to [FHD], [HD] or [VGA] in [MP4]: Recording stops when the continuous recording time exceeds 29 minutes and 59 seconds or the file size exceeds 4 GB.
  • Since the file size becomes larger with [FHD], recording with [FHD] will stop before 29 minutes 59 seconds.
  • Motion pictures with their file size set to [4K] in [MP4]: Recording stops when the continuous recording time exceeds 29 minutes and 59 seconds. (You can continue recording without interruption even if the file size exceeds 4 GB, but the motion picture file will be divided and played back separately.)
 
"Motion pictures with their file size set to [4K] in [MP4]: Recording stops when the continuous recording time exceeds 29 minutes and 59 seconds. (You can continue recording without interruption even if the file size exceeds 4 GB, but the motion picture file will be divided and played back separately.) "


Ok..does it actually "stop" or continue and create a new file?
 
Last edited:
Gweilo66 said:
"Motion pictures with their file size set to [4K] in [MP4]: Recording stops when the continuous recording time exceeds 29 minutes and 59 seconds. (You can continue recording without interruption even if the file size exceeds 4 GB, but the motion picture file will be divided and played back separately.) "


Ok..does it actually "stop" or continue and create a new file?
Click to expand...

It does stop recording at 29 minutes and 59 seconds. The you need to physically press record again to start another 29 minutes and 59 seconds or recording. You can keep recording in 29 minutes and 59 seconds intervals until memory runs out. It will not seamlessly keep recording them together non-stop for long durations.
 
dpavid said:
It does stop recording at 29 minutes and 59 seconds. The you need to physically press record again to start another 29 minutes and 59 seconds or recording. You can keep recording in 29 minutes and 59 seconds intervals until memory runs out. It will not seamlessly keep recording them together non-stop for long durations.
Click to expand...
Exactly. After 29 minutes 59 seconds the camera stops recording, period. It doesn't create a new file. You must press record again to continue recording.

This is the ONLY reason I don't run out to buy the FZ1000. For event video I need to be able to record 2+ hours with no interruptions.
 
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