Panasonic 4K GH4 possibly coming next Spring...

I think this might signal good things to come for video cameras. If the DSLR bodies have strong codecs the pro/prosumer video-only designs have to match up or they look weak. I can sort of deal with DSLR ergonimics but I am tired of mixing DSLR video with "video camera" video. The colors are just different due to RGB/YUV. A proper video camera form factor with YUV color is what I hope is around the corner for my kit but will be keeping an eye on the GH4. Great news if the specs are on target.
 
What I want to know about:
* Dynamic range (no word, again, in the cached review), in particular in video mode (log profile?)
* Crop factor in video mode (the math works out real strange: 4096-wide video from a 4626-wide sensor; we already discussed somewhere how other Panasonic cameras were dealing with this while staying full-sensor, but it's just weird)

Other interesting things:
* fps, codec and bitrates at 4K (straight to card)
* fps, codec and bitrates at 1080p (straight to card)
 
What I find really interesting is the spec showing the cinema 4K resolution rather than quad HD resolution. That means they aren't just aiming this at selling UHD TVs. Wonder if we can expect some dedicated cine lenses from Panny for the m43 format in the near future.
 
Relax. Get your snacks ready. Announcement is coming very soon. After that everybody here will have the same set of questions as in other camera just announced. Is like Deja Vu all over again!
 
RatLabProductions said:
Different divisions and it wouldn't surprise me to see same sensor and guts in an AF style body down the road.
Click to expand...
Yes, different divisions, and this is coming from the stills division. It's a GH__, same as it's predecessors, and is first and foremost a stills camera. Though it does look as if the video side has made some huge improvements. But.... ergonomically, it is first and foremost a stills camera and that shouldn't be a surprise to anybody.

The video division of Panasonic is apparently about to announce a 4K Varicam, and I doubt we'll see any "AF200" until that is well established. Further down the line, I think it's more likely that the video division will announce something which may be seen as an AF100 replacement - but it's far more likely (at least IMO) to be s35 based than 4/3. A simplified version of the Varicam rather than a souped up GH4, if you like. That would make much more sense for that division. Would rationalise the video division behind s35, the stills division behind 4/3. Would mean an entry point true VIDEO camera at s35 to encourage people to get lenses, and a migration path to the Varicam.

So personally, I don't expect to see the guts of this in an AF style body. You'll never please everybody, and I'm sure there are some who won't want to believe this. But really, whilst the AF100 was first of type, when the dust had settled it was seen as betwixt and between in so many respects. If you want a large format video camera, it couldn't compete with the competition which came along soon afterwards - with designed for video, s35 sensors. If price was important, it couldn't compete with the GH2/3!

I do expect any "AF200" to have a true video sensor - and I don't see much likelihood of Panasonic specifically designing such for 4/3. Not when they can use the same sensor as the Varicam with no extra development costs, and when such will really be able to compete with such as the FS700, C300 etc on a level playing field.

All that's really saying is that they will be in the same situation as Sony is now with the FS700 and F5 - and sensor development costs spread between them.
 
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