GH3 Lumix GH3, worthy over a dedicated camcorder?

[TheDingo]

No DSLR will ever completely replace the need for an ENG camera, but you many find that you end up shooting a lot more with the DSLR than the ENG camera.

I've had my HMC-150 camera for almost 4 years now, and over the past year I've used it for maybe 5 percent of my shoots. I won't get rid of it, because I know that I have to own an ENG camera for the odd corporate/educational job that comes along, but I won't put any more money into ENG cameras from this point on.

If I could afford it, the next step up for me at 5 times the price would be a Canon C100 with a few fast L zooms.

And if I could afford to go beyond the C100, then it would be a Sony F55 at almost three times the price of the C100.

For now I am very happy to work with the little GH3, until I can financially justify something better.

 

[TheDingo]

I can’t understand why anyone, especially for paid work would risk losing footage due to using a hacked GH2 when the GH3 can deliver at least (I’d argue better) quality and with 100% stability.

I've been using FlowMotion since the summer, and have never lost a single frame shooting with my GH2. ( I only use fast 64GB SDXC UHS-I memory cards, which I think makes a difference in reliability )

 

[LyleGorch]

I've been using FlowMotion since the summer, and have never lost a single frame shooting with my GH2. ( I only use fast 64GB SDXC UHS-I memory cards, which I think makes a difference in reliability )

This is my experience as well, shooting FlowMotion since maybe June, hours of material and never lost a frame. Sandisk 32gb 95mbs cards. I find FlowMotion so reliable I am a little nervous to employ Apocalypse. The first hack I used on a paying gig was Sanity, just playing it conservative, then I accidently used FlowMotion on one camera in a 2 camera setup and realizing what had happened when reviewing the footage I decided to give it a go. Haven't looked back. I did lock up a GH2 once a couple weeks ago, but I think that was a thermal issue.

 

[P13]

I've been using FlowMotion since the summer, and have never lost a single frame shooting with my GH2. ( I only use fast 64GB SDXC UHS-I memory cards, which I think makes a difference in reliability )

Like I say I use (formatted before a shoot) 95Mb/s Sandisk cards, and I still encountered problems now and then, ironically it wasn't where I'd expect problems either. I'd be fine in a nightclub, or live gig with lights going on and off everywhere, smoke and lots of movement, yet having a simple inside shot under bright fluorescent light and kaboom! the GH2 locked up. I'm still going to be using my GH2 for additional angles so I'll give Flowmotion another look (I'd changed to Cake instead).

 

[0100]

I have a hacked GH1 and love it for video, but hate it for stills. I am going for the GH3 mainly for the stills. Now I don't have to carry 2 cameras around. I bought the GH1 originally right after it came out for that very reason (could do video and pictures) but was really disapointed in the pictures. I can't wait to get my GH3 in.

 

[RieniO]

So the question is why are folks raving so much about the GH series? Are they that much better than pro camcorders with three CCDs let alone used Canon XL1? Why not get Sony XDCAM if people are serious about the cinematography? I just don't understand peope who would rather purchase and carry stablizer accessories that are larger than life.

I somehow feel that my purchasing decision on GH1 was mostly influenced by the marketing gimmicks and the fads over the hacking phenomenon.

lol you want to compare any GH cam to an XL1? I have an XL1, GH1 and GH2 and would use the XL1 for starting a fire in my wood stove. Plastic is great for that.

And I didn't buy my first GH1 because I stepped on the marketing trap, I did it because I loved the videos that popped up on YouTube.

 

[maranfilms]

Second, does it even matter? People need to stop harping on BBC approval specs because it's cliché now and a misnomer at the same time. If the BBC wants your footage, and you render them out an XDCam 50Mbps 4:2:2 file, do you think they're going to sit there and go, "Ooooooooooo, you shot at that 4:2:0 24Mbps didn't you! You naughty, naughty, boy!"

Thank you gary! BBC, meh