GH2 Help deciding between GH2, G3, HC-V500M!!!!

J

jayhawk92

New member
I realize I'm posting this in the GH forum but I'm not sure where else to put it. We're about to have a baby and want quality stills and video for a long time to come. I want video that will translate well to a big screen (42-50") HDTV. So my question is, what would you do and why? I'm really leaning toward the G3 as a camera, but what makes it so inferior to the GH2 for video purposes? So, is the G3 alone great for both? Or should I go with G3 and something like the HC-V500M Camcorder, or just the GH2? What would you do and why? PS if I should re-post this somewhere else let me know!!
 
I get great stills and video out of the GH2. The G3 is much more limited for video, both in terms of the default setup and in terms of current hack options. I have no experience with the HC-V500M, but I have experience with everything from modern cams like the GH1, GH2, RED Scarlet and HV30 to older Hi8 and Sony Digital8 camcorders. I've even spent a few minutes with a Canon C500.

The GH2 is a great camera for taking pictures of children (though the G3 might be as well) because it has sufficient ISO capability and lens support to work well in a variety of situations, including indoors.

Here is a set done using the GH2 with the Panasonic 20mm f/1.7, from the original JPEGs in Dynamic B&W (not the RAW files I shot at the time as well).
http://perlichtman.com/pasdenapulse/wordpress/2012/03/09/emma-and-molly/

And here is a set shot with a GH1 using the a Rokkor 58mm f/1.4 (which is cheap and also works on the GH2 with a ca. $30 adapter). The image quality is similar to the GH2, though I generally give the GH2 a slight edge. Gaby featured several of these on her Facebook, where the show album got over 700 likes within 48 hours of being posted.
http://perlichtman.com/pasdenapulse...-at-the-bootleg-theater-june-7th-2012-part-1/

For the above show, I was shooting it alongside a Canon APS-C DSLR using L-series glass and both appear in Gaby's aforementioned album. So you should not have any doubts about the ability to take good pictures with a GH2 - it shoots a lot faster than a GH1 but not nearly as fast a Canon 50D, 7D or similar DSLR models from other brands.

The GH2 has a very, very, very good price to performance ratio for video and I have shot several music videos with it, as well as documentaries and interviews. My most recent music video mixes it alongside footage from the RED Scarlet.

Here are a few opinions that people have on the topic of G3 vs GH2.
http://www.mu-43.com/f43/panasonic-g3-gh2-18534/

As for me, I would get the GH2 again, in a heartbeat.
 
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Also, the GH2 goes to ISO 12,800 while the G3 stops at ISO 6,400. You may not use it very often, but it is still nice to have the option.
 
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