Yes. Yes it is. That can go both ways.
GH2 Have a feeling the 5D Mark III's video quality won't come close to the hacked GH2s
- Thread starter dtjohns1
- Start date
Yes. Yes it is. That can go both ways.
FrameFarmMedia
Veteran
I wonder how big of a step forward the 5DIII will be in video. With all the rumours of a baby c300 coming out and Cannon committing to a cinema line. Will they cripple the 5DIII in some way to try and force pro video guys towards the cinema line and cater the 5DIII towards full frame photography? It wouldn't surprise me.
I honestly hope Canon delivers. I mean, competition is always good. Here's my question though. If the price is going to be north of $3K, you are talking 3 times a GH2, minimum. Ask yourself, how much better will it have to be to decide to pay over $3K instead of getting a $1K GH2. Also, if you are already putting up $3K, then serious questions are raised about springing for an AF100 (which we've seen around lightly used for $3000), or FS100. So really, at that price, the 5DmkIII is competing against dedicated video cameras... so unless you really really really prefer the DSLR form factor, the 5DmkIII is in danger of falling between two stools - on the one hand the supercheap hacked GH2, on the other AF/FS100. It can't be "just a little better" than a GH2, or who will pay that kind of $? And it better deliver a whole lot otherwise somebody may feel like ponying up a few more benjamins and getting a dedicated video cam.
That said, maybe with time, Magic Lantern will come to the 5DmkIII, and it might get interesting. But honestly, I wonder if the real competitor here is not the video dedicated DSLR Canon hinted at the November C300 introduction. That has me far more excited with anticipation, because if they price that right, and it lives up to its billing, Canon might lap Panasonic pretty badly... of course, Canon are probably gonna be stupid about the price, just as with the C300 - only the market has moved on, and I wonder how many people are going to be excited to pay top dollar for marginal improvements, when you can get so much for under $1K these days (GH2).
That said, maybe with time, Magic Lantern will come to the 5DmkIII, and it might get interesting. But honestly, I wonder if the real competitor here is not the video dedicated DSLR Canon hinted at the November C300 introduction. That has me far more excited with anticipation, because if they price that right, and it lives up to its billing, Canon might lap Panasonic pretty badly... of course, Canon are probably gonna be stupid about the price, just as with the C300 - only the market has moved on, and I wonder how many people are going to be excited to pay top dollar for marginal improvements, when you can get so much for under $1K these days (GH2).
Bunch of subjective "points".
Only thing that matters is usable data. If you can only use 8 stops of 10 DR either way nobody cares. If you can't resolve more than 540ish lines in 2012 you need to go back to R&D immediately.
Shimmering shirts and inability to shoot wides without heavy post processing? Sell that to someone else.
Bottom line: don't care about 5DIII if it isn't doing stock Gh2 quality out of the box.
Only thing that matters is usable data. If you can only use 8 stops of 10 DR either way nobody cares. If you can't resolve more than 540ish lines in 2012 you need to go back to R&D immediately.
Shimmering shirts and inability to shoot wides without heavy post processing? Sell that to someone else.
Bottom line: don't care about 5DIII if it isn't doing stock Gh2 quality out of the box.
M. Gilden
Canon DSLR Moderator
Two words: Full frame.
Even in the world of photography, Canon has cameras that are even cheaper than the GH2. Yet, the 5D was more expensive than the 7D, 60D, and other similar featured DSLRs, and people were practically falling over themselves to buy it. Because it was the only one that offered the full 35mm sized sensor, and that is worth the extra money to a LOT of people. Heck, its initially what made it so intriguing for video use in the first place... the FOV was actually LARGER than not only any other video camera, but even larger than s35 film!
Now if you're wondering who would buy something that's "just a little bit better", might I remind you that coming from the world of Canon, I really miss the clearer display and color rendition. I find it very difficult to judge what my image will look like on the GH2's LCD, including the EVF, and the color shift after hitting record drives me bonkers sometimes. Add to this the lack of native lenses for image stabilization (still don't have any constant aperture zooms with OIS), and there are plenty of reasons I would still rather use a Canon, even a more expensive one. So why do I shoot with a GH2 sometimes?
Resolution. That's the big thing Panasonic has going for them. Canon doesn't even have to beat them at it, they just have to match them. If a Canon DSLR can resolve as much detail as a GH2, you'd better believe people will pay top dollar to use it instead.
Whether they deserve it or not, Canon has already easily outsold Panasonic in the HDSLR market. You see them on production sets everywhere, and many of my clients instantly recognize them. As soon as I pull out the GH2, I get a lot of "what's a Lumix?" remarks. But, that's really neither here not there. Just saying, Canon doesn't need to "lap" anyone, they've already pretty much got this market cornered. That being said, they are not stupid and I'm pretty sure they will fight to keep that stronghold.
Remember, the 5D is only their flagship full-frame model. As we have already seen, the quality of the video has traditionally been consistent across each generation of Canon DSLR hardware. The 5D sporting the largest sensor of the bunch, but the 7D, 60D, and t2i/t3i all had comparable video on a cropped FOV.
After the new 5D launch, the Digic5 will trickle down to a new 7D, and a T4i is already rumored to be announced early March, sporting a Digic5 of its own. With the Rebel series usually launching at around $850, it wouldn't be so unreasonable for folks to consider that the next budget film maker option.
Just to be clear- I fully intend to keep my GH2. I love using FD lenses, love the non-stop recording time, love the community around it, and I'm now a believer in mirrorless cameras. But will I drool over the 5DmIII? Probably- especially if the Digic5 delivers on resolution. But I'll probably opt for a Rebel t4i instead.
Overheating. Don't miss it.
Just like the MKii, i said rhat the day xanon pits 24 in it is the Exact day i go buy one; I did, ask Pappas. I'll have an MKiii day one if the sample footage is clearly next step type stuff. Count ok it. If it isn't, no thanks.
Canon? Not stupid? Maybe. Late to the party and slow to react? Always. 5D was unprecedented for canon in every way. It was also not their video department involved. Then watch them turn around and go back to their old ways with the C300: 16K for 1080/30P, 720:60P, 8-bit 4:2:2.
Barry was right, and usually is: holding your breath for canon to "bring it" is pretty much commiting suicide.
PappasArts
Veteran
Totally agree Kholi! My thoughts too!
I remember that like it was yesterday Kholi. If Canon takes the MKIII to the next level- That will be awesome... However, something about the excellent C300 now in the line up makes me feel like things may not be as we all hoped the MKIII would become. I hope i'm wrong.
A headphone jack isn't going to cut it either. That's a nothing addition. They'll need to jump higher to overcome the impact the 5DII had to the market. Geez....Consumer camcorders 20+ years ago had a headphone jack...
I actually hope that Panasonic adds a new generation sensor and their higher end codec in the next AF100. Now that could be awesome...
The other thing- if Panasonic consumer could only market their GH2 as Canon markets their line. The GH2 would be such a forefront mass hit, unlike the backstage one it undeservedly receives in the market place.
Pappas
http://pappasarts.wordpress.com/
Last edited:
The GH2 is a nice idea, but let's remember that it is Vitaly and the patchers that actually makes it worthwhile. People shouldn't fall over themselves giving Panasonic credit on that one. Corporations generally behave like, well, corporations. Panasonic still has not managed to make a commitment to even an S35 sensor in this new market of DSLR-ness. The reality is that Canon will not probably provide much more than 8bit 4.2.0 with a clean output (less moire, skew and aliasing) 8bit 422 HDMI and a headphone jack. They will get by with "good enough", just as Panasonic still refuses to commit to S35 in their junior markets, saving that for a later date. But you know what, maybe good enough is just that, good enough. Honestly, a FF that delivers clean output at $3000? We would be spoiled.
Personally, I find it easier to operate a 5D than a GH2. I own 2 of each. The resolution is great on the GH2 thanks to Vitaly. HOWEVER..for all the diversity of lenses on the GH2 I don't like having to deal with limited choices in wide angles (f3.5 or thereabouts on many of them certainly doesn't thrill me), I hate having a viewfinder that doesn't show me what is happening in terms of exposure or color and an EVF just sucks for street photography (hey, I want optical even for the video portion
, but most of all the banding and the noisy gradients of the GH2 - that is what gets me. People just kinda dismiss that as coming with the territory, but no way would I consider shooting a serious narrative piece as long as they are there. Hack or no hack, skies and flat surfaces just suffer. In the end anytime I am shooting outside I deal with the sky, and anytime I am inside I am dealing with flat walls falling into shadow.
So if either Canon or Panasonic can clean up the artifacts and the skew, I'm there. I don't really care much who does it, just so long as it happens.
Personally, I find it easier to operate a 5D than a GH2. I own 2 of each. The resolution is great on the GH2 thanks to Vitaly. HOWEVER..for all the diversity of lenses on the GH2 I don't like having to deal with limited choices in wide angles (f3.5 or thereabouts on many of them certainly doesn't thrill me), I hate having a viewfinder that doesn't show me what is happening in terms of exposure or color and an EVF just sucks for street photography (hey, I want optical even for the video portion
, but most of all the banding and the noisy gradients of the GH2 - that is what gets me. People just kinda dismiss that as coming with the territory, but no way would I consider shooting a serious narrative piece as long as they are there. Hack or no hack, skies and flat surfaces just suffer. In the end anytime I am shooting outside I deal with the sky, and anytime I am inside I am dealing with flat walls falling into shadow. So if either Canon or Panasonic can clean up the artifacts and the skew, I'm there. I don't really care much who does it, just so long as it happens.
Last edited:
Mm i am sick of hearing all this crap about the GH2 needing a hack for good resolution i get good resolution with no hack just the update,then you keep hearing that without setting all the sharpness contrast settings right down the picture is too sharp,how much extra actual horizontal resolution does the average hack give,the colors on average are better than my previous canon 550D/T2i,with the exposure properly set i dont get banding.
Who cares? The 5D is a stills camera & the vast majority of purchasers are stills photographers. The video is a nice to have feature & Canon need to keep it for bragging rights now that Nikon has delivered somewhat decent video on their professional still s camera. The GH2 is not a competitor to the 5D Mk II or III except among a very small number of filmmaker wannabees who cannot afford to buy or rent proper professional equipment.
GioCanales
Active member
LOL. so true, I can hold my breath for Panasonic anytime, I know good "shieeeeeet" is on the way.
Gio.
Last edited:
Ian-T
Veteran
Knee + Grow + Please!!!!
oh snap
Troll be trollin'!
gonzo_entertainment
Veteran
BUT, he's pretty much right. A small fraction of the "DSLR" market is people who are looking at video first. The GH2 is competing fairly well (but still losing pretty badly because of name recognition) amongst those people. It's not even a blip on the radar screen amongst the MUCH larger group of people who are still photographers first and have barely even turned the video functions on their camera on. I stood up for you guys when asked by a young film student girl for camera advice on a budget. I really pitched the GH2 to her... she bought a T3i. Outside of DSLR gearhead nerd circles VERY few people even know the GH2 exists.