After seeing a few pretty awesome hacked gh2 videos, I purchased one off ebay yesterday in a jealous rage. I've always secretly loved the gh2, all the while defending canon like a fan boy. It feels good to finally dive in. I'm gonna be selling my 7D over the weekend, and was just curious about anyone else whose made the switch, what the major differences are your work flow. And, have you sold any lenses to acquire any native 4/3 micro? Any pitfalls using a 4/3 micro adapter? Also, how awesome is the GH2? Watching things like this... http://www.vimeo.com/26818589 just makes me salivate in anticipation.
GH2 Going from the 7D to the GH2. Anyone else made the switch?
- Thread starter L1N3ARX
- Start date
Ben Totman
Active member
welcome to the realm of mft. i made the switch from a t2i to the gh2 about 3 months ago and i have no regrets about my decision, ive been extremely happy with it. much like you i couldnt stand ignoring the benefits any longer and dove in. it was on my mind for a while when i owned the canon but it was something about the canon crown that kept me around, not the camera.
as far as work flow goes, mine got easier. yes the first few days navigating the menus and getting used to the camera will be a slight pain in the ass but once your past that point its gravy, some people make it sound like a nightmare but once you figure out where everything is, the cameras super easy to set up and make adjustments. everybody has a different workflow in post but for me i much prefer working with the avchd files from the gh2 over the canons .mov files. and using ptools with this camera is so easy theres no reason not to do it. i had no problem with lenses because i wasnt using any eos glass with the canon, it was all MF, so it was an extremely easy switch.
be aware that if you plan to do photography with this camera as well, theres some big differences, but once you overcome that it can produce great results on par with the best aps-c cams out there.
as far as work flow goes, mine got easier. yes the first few days navigating the menus and getting used to the camera will be a slight pain in the ass but once your past that point its gravy, some people make it sound like a nightmare but once you figure out where everything is, the cameras super easy to set up and make adjustments. everybody has a different workflow in post but for me i much prefer working with the avchd files from the gh2 over the canons .mov files. and using ptools with this camera is so easy theres no reason not to do it. i had no problem with lenses because i wasnt using any eos glass with the canon, it was all MF, so it was an extremely easy switch.
be aware that if you plan to do photography with this camera as well, theres some big differences, but once you overcome that it can produce great results on par with the best aps-c cams out there.
robmneilson
Veteran
I made the switch and loved the GH2 (though I'm now selling mine). It only took a short time to learn to navigate the new menus, but after I became accustomed the live histogram, ETC crop mode, made me not regret the switch one bit. I shot two shorts with the camera, and loved the results.
I'm tempted to keep the camera as a B-cam and install the hack, but since I moved to a new city and I'm trying to gain some new freelance clients I decided that it might be best to sell the GH2 and bank the money. Regardless a really great little camera.
I'm tempted to keep the camera as a B-cam and install the hack, but since I moved to a new city and I'm trying to gain some new freelance clients I decided that it might be best to sell the GH2 and bank the money. Regardless a really great little camera.
Switched from 7D to t2i (t2i came out just one week after I bought the 7D, which I returned) and I have no regrets.
The t2i had been a terrific workhorse for me, unfailingly (Ok... it did over heat... several times in one shoot, had moire problems) but the video IQ does not compare with the GH2, especially after the Vitality Hack.
The Canon footage looked so soft in comparison... I kept thinking it was out of focus, especially in wide angle shots. In contrast, the still captures from the GH2 footage looked like real photo stills. I'm thinking of getting another Gh2 camera as a backup, and relegate the Canon t2i for still photography.
The t2i had been a terrific workhorse for me, unfailingly (Ok... it did over heat... several times in one shoot, had moire problems) but the video IQ does not compare with the GH2, especially after the Vitality Hack.
The Canon footage looked so soft in comparison... I kept thinking it was out of focus, especially in wide angle shots. In contrast, the still captures from the GH2 footage looked like real photo stills. I'm thinking of getting another Gh2 camera as a backup, and relegate the Canon t2i for still photography.
I switched from the 7D to the GH2 about 6 weeks ago. I almost feel the same as everyone else that's replied so far. The user interface change isn't such a big deal. The resolution and overall image quality is far superior to the 7D. Everything is tack sharp on the GH2 with little/no moire or aliasing in comparison (using the same lenses - with the appropriate m4/3 adapters) --this is 7D vs stock GH2.... Hacked GH2 is even better.
The only thing I miss about the 7D is the Cinestyle color profile. The GH2 (even with the various high bit rate hacks) still cannot touch Canon DSLRs in terms of latitude when the Technicolor Cinestyle color profile is utilized (vs. the smooth or nostalgic GH2 settings with all adjustments set to -2). I really wish Technicolor could hash out a deal with Panasonic to bring this feature to the GH2 (unlikely), or that further developments to the GH2 hack will include a Cinestyle-like color profile adjustment (I heard this would be very difficult on Vitaliy's website).
Still worth the switch though! Just my 2 cents
-Will
The only thing I miss about the 7D is the Cinestyle color profile. The GH2 (even with the various high bit rate hacks) still cannot touch Canon DSLRs in terms of latitude when the Technicolor Cinestyle color profile is utilized (vs. the smooth or nostalgic GH2 settings with all adjustments set to -2). I really wish Technicolor could hash out a deal with Panasonic to bring this feature to the GH2 (unlikely), or that further developments to the GH2 hack will include a Cinestyle-like color profile adjustment (I heard this would be very difficult on Vitaliy's website).
Still worth the switch though! Just my 2 cents
-Will
Jester2138
Well-known member
I loved my 7D, but then the GH2 came along and I discovered what true love really was.
aemonk
Active member
switched from 7D to GH2. The howl hardware and software interface thing was a complete nightmare. The 7D/Canon is so much better on this than Pana. After I got familiar with the GH2, everything was better. Legacy lens choice, crop mode, much less aliasing, no 10 minute shooting limit, detail and sharpness ... all stuff that I don't want to miss anymore. The GH2 has a color issue though. Banding in dark gradients (blue dusk sky) and a tend towards a geenish, yellow look under some light conditions (tungsten) ...
Switched from Canon 60D to GH-2, then sold my Canon EF lenses ( 50mm f/1.4 and 100mm /f2.0 ) to buy Zeiss ZF 50mm f/1.4 and Zeiss ZF 85mm /f1.4 lenses, then added a Voightlander 25mm f/0.95 lens. At some point in the future I will add the Olympus 12mm f/2.0 lens.
Totally happy I switched, though I do miss the build quality of the Canon.
Totally happy I switched, though I do miss the build quality of the Canon.
I made the switch a couple months ago from a 7D to a GH1. It was around the time the GH1 was discontinued. I haven't regretted it at all. I love my new little camera. I do miss the stills quality from the Canon. IMO, the GH1 doesn't even come close to any of the Canons in stills quality.
griplimited
Well-known member
how about having both?
I started with the 7D, mostly for stills - I shoot wildlife, and 8fps is great for that. 7D was great for getting started in video, and I still use it for video at times.
Then I got a GH1 (w/ hack), then a T3i, then a GH2. I still have all four cameras.
I've been keeping a comparison of the 3 main bodies I use for video - GH1, GH2 and T3i.
GH1(3) vs GH2 vs T3i for wildlife shooting.
Common strengths
- interchangeable lenses
- articulating LCD screens
- large sensors, good high ISO
- relatively small bodies
- 1080p24 and 720p60
GH1(3) - good battery life
- ISO goes down to 100, important for bright conditions
- good image sharpness, workable AF
- good EVF
- GH13 hack quite stable
- high ISO to 1600 only for video, adjustable by 1/3 stops
- no telecrop, no audio control
GH2 - excellent AF, good image sharpness even in telecrop mode
- high ISO to 3200 for video, adjustable by 1/3 stops
- 3x & 5x telecrop feature in 1080p and 720p
- audio control
- even better EVF
- ISO only goes down to 160 which may require ND filters in bright conditions
- battery life is less than GH1 but I'm not noticing a huge difference
- firmware hack only just available
- works with 3rd party batteries w/o the hack
The Lumix 14-140 and 100-300 both have very good OIS that's silent and even works on a tripod with wind
vibrations etc, still tends to overshoot on a pan though. Many of the Canon lenses have noisy IS and can be
jumpy on a tripod.
On the other hand, the choice of lenses for the EOS system is huge and easily found, and I have f2.8 lenses from 11mm out to 300mm. Lots of choice for telephotos too.
T3i - good battery life and 3rd party batteries are very cheap
- ISO goes down to 100, important for bright conditions
- high ISO to 6400 for video, adjustable by full stops only
- 3x telecrop in 1080p, some softness
- audio control
- no EVF, but very good LCD
- firmware hack only just available
- AF useless for video
For comparison:
7D - no articulating LCD
- no tele-crop
- no audio control
- no EVF, but very good LCD
- no useable firmware hack
- AF useless for video
- ISO goes down to 100, important for bright conditions
- high ISO to 12800 for video, adjustable by 1/3 stops
- very good battery life
- dual control wheels + joystick + 3 custom settings, extremely configurable
Then I got a GH1 (w/ hack), then a T3i, then a GH2. I still have all four cameras.
I've been keeping a comparison of the 3 main bodies I use for video - GH1, GH2 and T3i.
GH1(3) vs GH2 vs T3i for wildlife shooting.
Common strengths
- interchangeable lenses
- articulating LCD screens
- large sensors, good high ISO
- relatively small bodies
- 1080p24 and 720p60
GH1(3) - good battery life
- ISO goes down to 100, important for bright conditions
- good image sharpness, workable AF
- good EVF
- GH13 hack quite stable
- high ISO to 1600 only for video, adjustable by 1/3 stops
- no telecrop, no audio control
GH2 - excellent AF, good image sharpness even in telecrop mode
- high ISO to 3200 for video, adjustable by 1/3 stops
- 3x & 5x telecrop feature in 1080p and 720p
- audio control
- even better EVF
- ISO only goes down to 160 which may require ND filters in bright conditions
- battery life is less than GH1 but I'm not noticing a huge difference
- firmware hack only just available
- works with 3rd party batteries w/o the hack
The Lumix 14-140 and 100-300 both have very good OIS that's silent and even works on a tripod with wind
vibrations etc, still tends to overshoot on a pan though. Many of the Canon lenses have noisy IS and can be
jumpy on a tripod.
On the other hand, the choice of lenses for the EOS system is huge and easily found, and I have f2.8 lenses from 11mm out to 300mm. Lots of choice for telephotos too.
T3i - good battery life and 3rd party batteries are very cheap
- ISO goes down to 100, important for bright conditions
- high ISO to 6400 for video, adjustable by full stops only
- 3x telecrop in 1080p, some softness
- audio control
- no EVF, but very good LCD
- firmware hack only just available
- AF useless for video
For comparison:
7D - no articulating LCD
- no tele-crop
- no audio control
- no EVF, but very good LCD
- no useable firmware hack
- AF useless for video
- ISO goes down to 100, important for bright conditions
- high ISO to 12800 for video, adjustable by 1/3 stops
- very good battery life
- dual control wheels + joystick + 3 custom settings, extremely configurable