Nikon D7100 vs Panasonic gh2 sharpness

Yes the fix pattern noise is the real problem about this camera. I have not tried to remove it until now, but others have reported that Neatvideo did a very good job about it.
 
The image from the D7100 is basically the same as with the D5200, and I know that one is killer. I'm not surprise it is close to the GH2 in terms of sharpness (and yes, if you're looking only at sharpness, I'm fine with playing with the color a bit so that the blind test is actually blind), though I've aimed the D5200 at a resolution test chart and know that in fact it is resolving less, but it is very clean and that helps. And it does have A LOT better DR, and a decent internal codec, and clean HDMI out if you need it. For me it's the best <$1K camera right now (the pBMC may change that, at least for those who don't mind a small sensor).

The only shortcomings I find are:
* APS-C sensor, and it can't take a speed booster (this is a shortcoming only because my lens set is designed for full frame)
* no RAW: it is much more expensive, but the 5D3+RAW runs circles around any of these, and it is about to become even more awesome (grab some popcorn, this is gonna be great)
 
From some report I heard people have been saying that the D7100 video image is a little sharper than the D7100. The second thing people who have tested the hdmi out is that it is a little sharper than the internal codec. I was on my way to buy a Blackmagic pocket cam, but now I think that my money will go into a Ninja. The first reason is that if the d7100 is about the resolution of the gh2, then it is good enough. Add the high bitrate of the Ninja to it and it should be good enough for me. If the DR is in the 11+ to 12 stop of the D800, then it is good enough for me. There is a test here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFsvEAiWr_8 that is very encouraging that we could even get better result than D800 (Mine is in servicing so when it get back will do a test between them). This could be due to the true binding on the D7100 toshiba sensor.

Another reason is that I already have a set of Nikon lens because I am a Nikon shooter. If I had to buy the BMPCC I would need to find all type of solution from new set of lens to speed-booster. Another view from some of the above post, if you want the most native lens choice in any camera system, then I think the Nikon one is the best. With advances in image stabilisation and autofocus like in the Canon 70D, native lens support could be much more important.

The last thing might look like blasphemy from someone who has been using raw still camera since the d70 in 2005 to a 2012 D800. But raw is overblown, as a proof go on any photography sharing site and look at the amount of junk posted in those forums from people that have being using raw camera for a decade. For 90% of jobs, from 90% of shooters it won't matter, because there limited skill-set won't make any difference. So in only 1% of job that it will matter. Another thing to consider is that not all RAW are equal. The 5d3 is ratted at 11.7 stop by DXOmark, I don't expect it to reach by magic an alexa because it is raw. A d800 or D7100 would get closer to an Alexa.

The last thing for me, but that is purely a personal choice. If I had to buy a raw camera I would go for the Blackmagic production camera. If it reaches the 11.5 stop of DR it would be the equal of the 5d3 with a much more manageable work-flow, I would say realistic work-flow and even cost. After the test and wow phase will be off, reality will creep in.
 
Just to add that the d7100 won't be perfect. The FPN and more annoyingly 8 bit is my main problem with this cam, compared to the pocket cam 10 bit prores or 5d3 raw output. But people have already done so much with cameras that were much lower to this one.
 
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BobbyMurcerFan said:
One thing you really have to think about is how you will remove the pulldown if you use the Ninja.
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Not sure what format the Ninja save in but,
I'd use the baby method if possible ...
Import source clips in iMovie6.04(MAc)
import resulting cips from iMovie6.04 (Media Folder) into your 'better' NLE and viola!
Pulldown removed
;)
 
BobbyMurcerFan said:
One thing you really have to think about is how you will remove the pulldown if you use the Ninja.
Click to expand...

The Ninja 2 does the pull down at least on the D800, I think it should be the same for the D7100. I could have bought the Ninja 1 much more cheaply but I don't know if it is compatible with the D7100.
 
The dxomark numbers are for raw stills, if someone managed to get something like ML working on that toshiba sensor, so it records RAW, it would be a hell of a camera: 14 stops of usable DR on an APS-C sensor with no aliasing or moire and recording uncompressed RAW? It would be a killer. But so far that's only an opotion on the Canon side, which has much more limited DR.
Also, as I said, the 5D3+RAW is about to get even better. If you're thinking about buying a camera in the next couple of weeks and it's not that one, I would say: wait. Just wait.
 
BobbyMurcerFan said:
I suggest confirming this before you buy a camera and recorder.
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I already have the camera as a back-up to my D800 which work perfectly with the Ninja 2. I have seen some example like this one http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFsvEAiWr_8 which is very encouraging with the Ninja (look at the shadows lift with the lens cap) and this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUrQCKYIsFA . I have also seen report that it does work well (no talk about pull down) on Atomos forum with only one issue. There is a sound sync problem like there was before with the D800. I think it will get addressed by a firmware update like they did with the D800.
 
Did you consider the Sound Devices Pix 220? I am using it with the D7100 and it works fine. I am in Europe so I record 1080 25p. The Pix has XLR inputs which you can sync up with the video output from the camera.
 
Danielvilliers said:
I already have the camera as a back-up to my D800 which work perfectly with the Ninja 2. I have seen some example like this one http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFsvEAiWr_8 which is very encouraging with the Ninja (look at the shadows lift with the lens cap) and this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUrQCKYIsFA . I have also seen report that it does work well (no talk about pull down) on Atomos forum with only one issue. There is a sound sync problem like there was before with the D800. I think it will get addressed by a firmware update like they did with the D800.
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I hope that this information is correct. My concern stems from three things. 1. I have a D5200 and the HDMI out is only 24 PsF when recording, which means I need to remove the pulldown while recording or in post. 2. The Ninja 1 cannot remove a pulldown; the Ninja 2 can but it's sounds a little wonky. http://atomos.activehosted.com/kb/article/input-sources/g5 3. Atomos' camera compatibility list has "720p/60 output only" next to the D7100. http://www.atomos.com/discovery-what-cameras/ That all said, good luck and I hope it DOES work!
 
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Yes, I had do double check :), the NO 1 is the gh2 and the second one was the D7100. I don't know if it was you or someone else but you should not put too much conclusion on the exposure or DR. I did the test very close in term of time but the light might have change a little bit. The second thing is that I wanted a deep dof so the aperture on the Nikon it was 7.1 but I had to second guest the exposure by eye on the gh2 (Nikon g adapter with no markings) .
 
Thanks for the clarification Daniel. It wasn't me who asked about the exposure, but I do remember someone else mentioning the exposure. I use f/4 to f/5.6 for most things outdoors and use f/7.1 to f/9 for deeper depth of field, depending on outdoor light, and I never use anything above ISO 100 outside. I use f/1.8 to f2.8 for indoors.
 
Daniel,

Also, when you think about it, the f/7.1 aperture you used for the D7100 normally falls into around the defraction/ center softening zone of most nikon lenses on an APS-C sensor. That makes the results even more interesting.
 
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