The GH4 is an evolutionary camera, we all know this, but why am I seeing posts in the Marketplace and other forums, that people are selling them? Is there some issue no one is talking about? Is it the quality? I considered getting one, but after seeing a number of users getting rid of them, it has made me pause...
GH4 - Why are people selling them?
- Thread starter trifilmer
- Start date
Mark Williams
Veteran
Well, it could be for several reasons. Some may be selling because they made the transition from conventional video camera to the GH4 form factor and didn't like it. Others may be moving on to the newest camera. There is nothing wrong with the GH4 except for the audio recording problem in the first batch which Panasonic will repair for free.
combatentropy
Veteran
With any product that gets a lot of attention, there will be some people who get caught up in the excitement and buy it when they don't really need it. Buyer's remorse sets in, and they're like, "eh, this isn't quite what I wanted." It may be a great product, but not for them.
Also, there will always be some returns and resales no matter the excitement. A small percentage, say 0.1%, but if there are a million sold, then 0.1% is 1,000.
Also, there will always be some returns and resales no matter the excitement. A small percentage, say 0.1%, but if there are a million sold, then 0.1% is 1,000.
David Del Real
Well-known member
I almost sold mine. Don't get me wrong, the GH4 is incredible for what it does at this price point - but it's no Full Frame killer. I decided to keep mine since I found a way to match (somewhat) my 6D. Not to mention that internal 4K detail is nothing short of amazing. Picked up an adapter and use my EF glass on it as well. The colors are tricky, you really gotta get WB and Exposure right in camera (I know, you should anyway - but still). I did learn the hard way that you don't need to flatten out the image as much as a lot of people have suggested to get a good look in camera or even for post. Just a minor tweak or two for a good look or to match another camera brand. I'm actually getting another GH4 and yes, another 6D. They both have their place and since I can (somewhat) match the two, I can do a two camera shoot for specific scenarios (6D for low light situations, Gh4 for well lit) or a 4 camera shoot if needed. Your mileage may vary.
Hahah, Arri Amira, no sh...it!
That being said, the GH4 with a metabone speedbooster get's really close to a super35 sensor witch , I would argue, is much better for real cinema/video work. Working with moving actors on a real set with a full frame camera (made for still photography) is a f.. nightmare, period. Extreme shallowness and bad focus became fashionable just because the Canon's full frame is just unfocusable ( at 2.0 all the way to 5.6) unless you shoot talking heads, and/or documentary static style interviews.
I agree the DR and the low light could improve but i think there is nothing close to the GH4 at the price range yet ... Won't be long though ...
I would not sell mine just yet , I would actually buy another one at a good price second handed ...
-L
That being said, the GH4 with a metabone speedbooster get's really close to a super35 sensor witch , I would argue, is much better for real cinema/video work. Working with moving actors on a real set with a full frame camera (made for still photography) is a f.. nightmare, period. Extreme shallowness and bad focus became fashionable just because the Canon's full frame is just unfocusable ( at 2.0 all the way to 5.6) unless you shoot talking heads, and/or documentary static style interviews.
I agree the DR and the low light could improve but i think there is nothing close to the GH4 at the price range yet ... Won't be long though ...
I would not sell mine just yet , I would actually buy another one at a good price second handed ...
-L
Mark Williams
Veteran
I think some may have sold theirs because the fooled around with the setting too much and could never get good color reproduction. The secrete IMO is to forget a flat setting and all other drastic tweaks and use the stock scene file settings. These were developed for a reason.
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the folks that bought this camera to solve all their problems still had problems and are movin on to other camera systems which will surely solve all their problems.
That, or they couldnt live with the glitchy timecode. That right there is my biggest pain. Useless for freerun multicam shooting.
That, or they couldnt live with the glitchy timecode. That right there is my biggest pain. Useless for freerun multicam shooting.
Egg Born Son
Veteran
+1
Or less cynically (but not necessarily more accurately) there's those that are always chasing the next thing and their GH4 is almost a year old, so time to move on.
David Del Real
Well-known member
Yep, another reason I held on to my GH4.
Agree about the low light noise, those situations make me go to my 6D. Something about those colors on my Canons that I really like. I still have trouble with the colors on the GH4.
ROCKMORE
Veteran
Interesting you are using a 6D with a Gh4. I've been shooting with a Canon 5D3 and a 60D for a few years and looking at a GH4 because of the 4K and details I've seen. I guess you like the 6D since you added another. I like the FF look and wide applications, it's just that my canon footage is looking pretty soft without a lot of post sharpening. What kind of footage are you shooting with your 6D and Gh4?
Michael Thames
Carbonite Member
I think the GH4 is a great camera. At first I resisted it for various reasons which to me are still an issue, but I think the GH4 has certain applications where it exceeds, particularly wide angle shots and landscapes where detail is desired. Quite frankly I would buy the LX1000 over the GH4.... I like the image more, and you don't have to mess around with those m4 3rds lenses.... I have a hard enough time converting metric to inches.
When the GH4 first came out and the hype was swirling, I said: "Only fools rush in".
After that all the youtube videos appeared in which people were dumping their 5D's for the GH4, it got to the point where it became just another cliche. The Canon bashing reached a peak and everyone jumped ship. Not only did they jump ship, they feel the need to proclaim the GH4 the best camera in the world, above all others....... hell, you even see comparison video to the Red.
GH4 owners carry on the tradition of 5D bashing to the point of nausea. Now the dust has settled, and those of us who didn't run out the next day and sell our 5D3's are reaping the benefits. The GH4 doesn't appear to be the miracle camera it was hyped as, problems in low light, colors, video look. If you mention a low light issue GH4 owners will tell you they have no problem shooting in low light, if you tell them that blues look green they will deny that too, if you point out the benefit of a FF sensor to get SDOF they will tell you the GH4 can do the same thing. I think some GH4 owners verge on being delusional in understanding what that camera is capable of..... in the meantime it seems to help justify their purchase by bashing all other cameras.
I wonder how many wish they never sold their 5D's........
Reminds me of the old Zen proverb.
A farmer and his son had a beloved stallion who helped the family earn a living. One day, the horse ran away and their neighbors exclaimed, “Your horse ran away, what terrible luck!” The farmer replied, “Maybe so.”
A few days later, the horse returned home, leading a few wild mares back to the farm as well. The neighbors shouted out, “Your horse has returned, and brought several horses home with him. What great luck!” The farmer replied, “Maybe so.”
Later that week, the farmer’s son was trying to break one of the mares and she threw him to the ground, breaking his leg. The villagers cried, “Your son broke his leg, what terrible luck!” The farmer replied, “Maybe so.”
A few weeks later, soldiers from the national army marched through town, recruiting all the able-bodied boys for the army. They did not take the farmer’s son, still recovering from his injury. Friends shouted, “Your boy is spared, what tremendous luck!” To which the farmer replied, “Maybe so.”
When the GH4 first came out and the hype was swirling, I said: "Only fools rush in".
After that all the youtube videos appeared in which people were dumping their 5D's for the GH4, it got to the point where it became just another cliche. The Canon bashing reached a peak and everyone jumped ship. Not only did they jump ship, they feel the need to proclaim the GH4 the best camera in the world, above all others....... hell, you even see comparison video to the Red.
GH4 owners carry on the tradition of 5D bashing to the point of nausea. Now the dust has settled, and those of us who didn't run out the next day and sell our 5D3's are reaping the benefits. The GH4 doesn't appear to be the miracle camera it was hyped as, problems in low light, colors, video look. If you mention a low light issue GH4 owners will tell you they have no problem shooting in low light, if you tell them that blues look green they will deny that too, if you point out the benefit of a FF sensor to get SDOF they will tell you the GH4 can do the same thing. I think some GH4 owners verge on being delusional in understanding what that camera is capable of..... in the meantime it seems to help justify their purchase by bashing all other cameras.
I wonder how many wish they never sold their 5D's........
Reminds me of the old Zen proverb.
A farmer and his son had a beloved stallion who helped the family earn a living. One day, the horse ran away and their neighbors exclaimed, “Your horse ran away, what terrible luck!” The farmer replied, “Maybe so.”
A few days later, the horse returned home, leading a few wild mares back to the farm as well. The neighbors shouted out, “Your horse has returned, and brought several horses home with him. What great luck!” The farmer replied, “Maybe so.”
Later that week, the farmer’s son was trying to break one of the mares and she threw him to the ground, breaking his leg. The villagers cried, “Your son broke his leg, what terrible luck!” The farmer replied, “Maybe so.”
A few weeks later, soldiers from the national army marched through town, recruiting all the able-bodied boys for the army. They did not take the farmer’s son, still recovering from his injury. Friends shouted, “Your boy is spared, what tremendous luck!” To which the farmer replied, “Maybe so.”
It's a spec monster for sure, which was always going to lure some people in.
The footage I've seen is pretty good, but I am concerned about the color science. The 'mojo', which is ultimately more important than specs.
I think people are finding that you can't color grade a nice look quite so easily if the raw footage isn't all that great to start with.
The canon stuff, despite the flaws, had very pleasing color science to a lot of people and I'm not surprised those folks are disappointed coming to the GH series.
The footage I've seen is pretty good, but I am concerned about the color science. The 'mojo', which is ultimately more important than specs.
I think people are finding that you can't color grade a nice look quite so easily if the raw footage isn't all that great to start with.
The canon stuff, despite the flaws, had very pleasing color science to a lot of people and I'm not surprised those folks are disappointed coming to the GH series.
Theory: when comparing available online footage, cameras with lower prices will always seem worse than cameras with higher prices because a greater number of less experienced, less capable people will be able to create footage with the lower-priced camera.
Just checking on the For Sale section... 4 C100's and 0 GH4's on the first two pages, so I guess the GH4's weren't selling because of "color science." C100.2 is on the way. Just folks chasing the 'new.' None of the cameras being sold are horrible or tragically flawed, people just like to get newer things for various reasons.
Just checking on the For Sale section... 4 C100's and 0 GH4's on the first two pages, so I guess the GH4's weren't selling because of "color science." C100.2 is on the way. Just folks chasing the 'new.' None of the cameras being sold are horrible or tragically flawed, people just like to get newer things for various reasons.
Zephyrnoid
Veteran
I started the Panasonic GH4 group on FB earlier in 2014 and it has grown to over 3K members, but I handed it off as soon as I read some of the lies regarding color space: 4:2:2 with the brick yada yada and so I knew Panasonic was up to it's Old Hype again.
Many of us know that it's time for the feature set of the GH4 + S35 sensor and onboard Pro-Audio inputs and mixing in a small Camcorder-like casing. Panasonic refuse to deliver this in anything that resembles a VIDEO camera. Hence the incessant DSLM form factor and obvious tip of the hat to soccer moms, casual sunday stills shooters and of course, hybrid indy shooters and the events crowd.
Yes it's a lot of bang for the buck. Yes it's a worthwhile improvement over previous GH cameras.
NO it's not the turnkey compact PRO camera many of us keep lobbying for and struggling to adapt with a plethora of work-arounds.
The GH series is still a 'Beta' project for a lesser Panasonic R&D team. The Pros know where to go for a serious video camera made by Panasonic.
Sure we'd all like to get Varicam feature set in a little package but we know about all that right? 'Aint gonna happen.
Why does Panasonic keep feeding us these incremental DSLM upgrades?
Because too many KEEP BUYING them!
Put a stop to the madness. Go back to Super 8 film and Panasonic will shake in their boots and finally deliver what we need.
This guys says it best....
Many of us know that it's time for the feature set of the GH4 + S35 sensor and onboard Pro-Audio inputs and mixing in a small Camcorder-like casing. Panasonic refuse to deliver this in anything that resembles a VIDEO camera. Hence the incessant DSLM form factor and obvious tip of the hat to soccer moms, casual sunday stills shooters and of course, hybrid indy shooters and the events crowd.
Yes it's a lot of bang for the buck. Yes it's a worthwhile improvement over previous GH cameras.
NO it's not the turnkey compact PRO camera many of us keep lobbying for and struggling to adapt with a plethora of work-arounds.
The GH series is still a 'Beta' project for a lesser Panasonic R&D team. The Pros know where to go for a serious video camera made by Panasonic.
Sure we'd all like to get Varicam feature set in a little package but we know about all that right? 'Aint gonna happen.
Why does Panasonic keep feeding us these incremental DSLM upgrades?
Because too many KEEP BUYING them!
Put a stop to the madness. Go back to Super 8 film and Panasonic will shake in their boots and finally deliver what we need.
This guys says it best....
Mark Williams
Veteran
It was a no brainer for me going from the HPX170 to the GH4. The resolution is so much better. The color space had me a little worried as I was used to grading 4:2:2 but I think the GH4 holds up pretty good especially if you nail down exposure and white balance in camera. For my needs I wouldn't have a problem buying another one since I am now invested in m4/3 glass and the GH4 cost is coming down some.
Cosimo Bullo
Veteran
I've come to love the GH4 more and more over the past year. Can't imagine shooting without it.
Perhaps some are thinking it is time to dump the camera so they can buy its successor next year before the second hand price plummets some more. I notice the Panasonic website is selling off GH4s at a discount as well. Don't they do this before the introduction of a new model?