Got my GH2 - Need help...should I keep it???

Plus 1.4 lens on GH2 at 3200 has better low light performance than 2.8 lens on 5Dii at 3200.

Long live to GH series. I'm a proud fanboy. I love Panny m43 lenses. So much fun to play with GH. If someone can't see it, good luck.
 
Barry_Green said:
Scientifically, maybe. But perceptually? Definitely not. Telephoto shots "feel" like the background is a lot softer.
Click to expand...

Yes, because you see less of the background so the unsharp objects are bigger but DOF is definitely the same.

http://www.imagebanana.com/view/tgy9dn9g/20mm.jpg (20mm F2.8, Lumix)
http://www.imagebanana.com/view/5awu3g5m/50mm.jpg (50mm F2.8, Canon FD)

I tried to get the red christmas thing (don´t know the english word) equal big in both shots.
You can see me in the reflection as I step back when using the 50mm
 
Last edited:
John Caballero said:
Not if you step back. Anybody would know that. And of course at 140mm you will see a more shallow DOF. That's Photography 101.
Click to expand...

You're assuming you can always do that though. Try and shoot 100mm in a small room or most rooms for that matter. It's not that simple either. That's like telling someone they don't need a wide angle because they can just back up.

There are pros and cons to each camera:

5D2:
Better control of DoF
Brighter lens options
Better dynamic range (under rated)

GH2:
Better detail
Smaller
Just built more for video
Better with AA and moire

It's not just clearcut for everyone. I think the GH2 is the better camera overall, but if people value the things I list for the 5D2, they might be better off with it overall.
 
Blah blah

getting super-fast lenses to "fix the problem" is a quite odd approach to filmmaking...

Roman707: Bigger sensor = higher DoF.
Fullframe stills camera is NOT equalent to 35mm film, rather about 70mm
motion picture film MOVES horizontally and often in anom. format

APS-C sensor size is your best bang for the buck currently if you aim to simulte 35mm film look
get 5Dmk2 if you want maximum DoF
 
Roman707 said:
I have thought about getting an 85mm 1.2, but this would push me back further away from the subject and make it harder for portrait shots.
Click to expand...

heh.

You do realize that 85mm is pretty much the de-facto standard for portrait lenses right?


oh and in case nobody has posted this to squash the whole "need APS-C or full frame to get 35mm looks!" misinformation:

http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthrea...actor-35mm-Motion-Picture-film-and-Micro-4-3s

I just shot a short on a couple GH1s and the director had one of those neat-o viewfinders with a 35mm setting. We found that what the viewfinder said was pretty close to the lens that was used. Take a look at the chart in the first post of that link. It was pretty much dead on.

PS: I also shot somewhere around F4-F8 for most things and the DOF was just fine. Looks like a normal movie to me.
 
Last edited:
I really dont see that wow DOF in that pic you posted up with the vario Roman, i may be brass enough to say that the 20mm could give you similar results if correctly composed..then again i'm visually not to sure on your specifics. DOF is over rated in my books...lol Im no pro, but i quickly got over chasing it. It became abit of a nuisance at times because it was too shallow making losing the subject in focus too easy...ie nose is in focus but not eyes, that kind of thing..ha.

Just thinking, what happens if you get a camera that does give you that DOF you are after, but it lacks all the other stuff that the gh2 can do.
 
Last edited:
Not enough DOF with GH2? Get right lens...

Not enough DOF with GH2? Get right lens...

Not enough shallow DOF with GH2? Must get right lens for that job...

Although Voightlander Nokton 25mm f/0.95 has more shallow DOF but that lens is pretty fuzzy wide open and that continues even till f/2.0 at available light.

GH2_DOF_Canon50mm_L_1.2_FD.jpg

Shot on GH2 with Canon 50mm L f/1.2 FD @ wide open f/1.2 (focus is on the red star at the bottle label).
 
Last edited:
Roman707 said:
OK, after a year of waiting for the announcement of the GH2, I finally got my hands on one. During the wait, I have tried the following cams (GH1, GF1, NEX3, d7000). I must say the video is excellent. There are no issues with it at all. I really like the ex telle conversion feature, and the low light video shots with the 20mm are great. Also, I am using a Nikkor 35mm 1.8 DX and a Cannon 50mm 1.4 FD. Once again, video is great. I am using a Gini Rig for stabalization and manual focusing actually went surprisingly well. 20mm autofucusing during video was very unreliable as expected.

My ONLY problem with this camera is the lack of sufficient dreamy depth of field. I had a buddy let me borrow his full frame Sony dslr and I took a few snaps of my daughter, all I can say is that I was blown away.

I know I cant get that with the GH2, but I was hoping one of my lenses would be able to come close. No cigar, not even close. I have thought about getting an 85mm 1.2, but this would push me back further away from the subject and make it harder for portrait shots. Not even sure if it would yeild sufficient dof. I am starting to feel that lenses are a truley limiting factor with m43, even with the 25 1.4 and fast zoom on the horizon.

So my dilemma is, do I keep the GH2, or sell it and move on to something else? (d7000 or 60D) Or perhaps supplement it with an aps-c camera for photo shots, and share lenses between cameras. Perhaps a d3000, or nex3. Trying to keep a budget I can justify carrying two cameras.

I have tried the d7000, not too impressed with the stuck pixels in video mode, but now that problem has been solved with the latest firmware. Did not have a chance to use primes with this camera, but I would assume there would be a shallower depth of field (vs GH2) using my Nikkor 35mm 1.8 DX, holding all other factors equal.

I have even considered a used 5DMarkII, with updated firmware and magic lantern, I've heard many of the previous issues have been resolved.

PLEASE HELP, I DO NOT WANT TO GET RID OF MY GH2, WHAT THE HECK DO I DO????????

I use my camera for video and pictures 50-50. I only shoot casually, family stuff.
Click to expand...

You can use 25mm fast C-mount on your GH2, or the 20mm 1.7 from Pana, you will have what you want
come and watch my work with fast lenses here :
http://vimeo.com/sebfarges
 
There is nothing wrong with the DOF of the GH2, if you have the correct or any lens for that matter and compose the shot right you can get a very good DOF, I will upload couple of pictures form my kit lens 14-140mm.
 
2 things:

1. If the only thing that matters is DOF, no question, (statement of fact) 5d sensor will provide shallower DOF
2. If the only thing that matters is DOF, you may want to invest some time learning other aspects of cinematography. There is SO MUCH MORE to celebrate than DOF. For many of us, DOF is not even a concern. Do I use it? Yes. How often do I intentionally pull it out of my tool box? Maybe 1 in 30 shots. It's actually more common for me (as a microbudget indie) to have shallow DOF as a result of losing light in my shot, and having to open the lens wider. THIS IS NOT IDEAL....it's HACK-A-LICIOUS....but it's true for me....and an indication that I need to address my lighting needs. That said....my point is....there is so much beauty in modern cinematography. DOF is only ONE tool of many. I hope you enjoy there other tools also! Cheers!

ps....I am also implying that MANY cinematographer minded members here use many cinematography tools....and the m4/3 sensor is just fine for them....so from a cinematography standpoint.....this (DOF) should not be the DECIDING factor from a well-rounded cinematography perspective when considering the differences between m4/3 and 5d.
 
Last edited:
Just how shallow do you want? This is with a GH13, Zeiss 100mm Makro f/2.0 and Zuiko 35-100 f/2.0

 
Last edited:
Roman707, you take photo/video for family? Me, too.

I borrowed 5Dii for a few weeks, and I'm returning it to my friend tonight. 24-70mm 2.8L is awesome lens. But 70mm on little kids was not quite long enough. I'd need 70-200mm 2.8L... that is about the size of BAZOOKA. I'm not gonna carry the monster with my family.

If your kids are small, don't worry about the crop factor. Usually little kids have small face. That sorta negates 1.8x crop factor. At home I can get a head & shoulder portrait on my 5 year daughter by using 85mm 1.4 on GH1, and my home is not big. I can't do that on my wife whose face is about twice bigger than my daughter's. Think simple. 85mm on GH2 is sorta 85mm on kids, not 85mm * 1.8.

You want some crazy bokeh? Go outdoor where background is far away. Get very close to your subject. Aperture at max. In that way you maximize the circle of confusion for better bokeh. GH1/2 is capable of delivering good bokeh. You want 5Dii? Get it and try 50mm 1.4 at max aperture. You'd get a crazy bokeh... but it can't focus eyes if nose is focused.

Good luck.
 
Frankly I like 1.8 crop factor. Most people don't need full frame sized sensor. Some noobs like everything in blurred all the time. But sometimes it requires more sharpening to capture more background info to convey meaning. I do have some photos and videos from this Spring that I found too blurred. Oh well I'm learning...
 
You guys are saying that it's possible and doable, but you're not saying what situations you need to get it to work. Can you isolate an actor's body in a room without having to zoom into their face or use a telephoto and back up to get the shot? What if you don't have the room to back up?

I don't think anyone is saying you can't get a nice shallow DoF. Even a small sensor camera can get that with the right situation. But are there situations where you really would like to isolate something without having to have an extreme closeup or use a telephoto to get there? With a 5D, you have that flexibility to get those kinds of shots more readily. That's all I'm saying.

I know there are a lot of 5D2 users that overuse the shallow DoF and have just a few inches in focus all the time. But I'm talking being able to get that DoF look you guys like on your GH2 more often without being forced to do an extreme closeup or using a telephoto to get there. If that's important to you along with good dynamic range, the 5D2 might be the better option for some. That's all I'm saying. It's useful to be able to replicate a look anywhere. I'm not saying I'm the kind of guy that constantly is shooting stuff that a GH2 couldn't DoF wise. But it is nice knowing I have a broader control of that without having to use a closeup of a guys face to get there.

I still think the GH2 is the best overall choice between the two. But people seem to want the GH2 to be the best in every way when that might not be the case for everyone.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top