My First Panasonic... Hackable GH1, New GH1, or GH2?

H

Harorld

New member
Hey everyone,

Was wondering if you could give me some feedback. I'm looking to purchase my first "serious" digital camera and I'm torn between the GH1 and GH2.

I'm a multimedia artist interested in video, still photography, and using images/video I capture in animations etc.

I'm not entirely certain if I should spring for the facebook deal on the panasonic site for a new GH1 and 14-140mm lens for $425, or if I should spend approximately the same amount for a used, hackable GH1 on ebay.

Or, should I nix the GH1 altogether and get a GH2?

$425 for the combo sounds like a great deal, but am I going to regret not having a hacked GH1 when I start shooting video?

Thoughts, comments, advice would be greatly appreciated.
 
Harorld said:
...I'm not entirely certain if I should spring for the facebook deal on the panasonic site for a new GH1 and 14-140mm lens for $425, or if I should spend approximately the same amount for a used, hackable GH1 on ebay.

Or, should I nix the GH1 altogether and get a GH2?

$425 for the combo sounds like a great deal, but am I going to regret not having a hacked GH1 when I start shooting video?
Click to expand...

Firstly, I think you are mixing up lenses. The 14-140 alone is worth almost twice the $425. You most probably mean the 14-42.

Secondly, IMHO, it's a matter of money. If you can afford it and are willing to wait, the GH2 will more than justify its cost in IQ over a GH1. A hacked GH1 is another question, but there you have to figure if you are up for modifying the camera.
 
GH2 if money is no object.

For half of that, a used, hackable GH1

Forget the unhackable GH1 as it is not cheap enough to justify the downgrade.

The 14-140mm lens is expensive and not great for low light, but in the daytime, it's superb and highly recommended as a 1st lens.

Oh yeah, that deal is for the unhackable and the 14-42mm lens. Not ideal.
 
Definitely not unhackable gh1.

GH2 will give you great lowlight and HDMI out, if these aren't important to you, hacked GH1.
 
I was in a similar boat, and I went for the GH2. Panasonic fixed a lot of issues that came with the GH1, such as muddy blacks, and made a camera whose video is arguably as good/better than the hacked GH1 right out of the box.

I'd do as I did (because I did it); buy a Gh2 now, hopefully in the coming months we'll see a hacked firmware for the GH2 that will up the bitrate significantly and make it a truly awesome camera.
 
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