Panasonic 4K GH4 possibly coming next Spring...

Is it me or is that much firepower for a still camera a little too far in one direction? I do think it is great for those that will buy this camera and need to use all of the connections. Yes, no brainer. But I also see this as everything on a pro camera without being a pro camera. My first thought is about the audio preamps in a still camera. Yes they can be useful but are they to the level of a pro camera? I know, I know, we are just happy to have XLRs but if consumers are 99% of sales so to speak then this is crazy. Just make a real video design and make it for its intended market... Hopefully Panasonic will follow suit with this thinking at NAB this year. I can not see why a 4K Varicam and an AF-200 can't be made at the same time. They sell to different markets.

I thought we were moving on a little from the DSLR form factor.

There's a ton of photographers using 4K video and then picking out frames to use as photos.
 
On one hand, this won't win any awards for "most seamless design integration ever..."

...on the other hand, it looks like this baby is set up to take rails! (note those two receptacles at exactly the right place?)

GH4_slant_YAGH_zps2fe945db.jpg
 
if they shoved updated sensor into AF100 body, with a 10bit codec recorded on microP2, it would make the camera sell like hotcakes

Then it would likely cost $5K to start, and would not take still photos.

I do agree that Panasonic needs a prosumer 10-bit 4:2:2 AF200 camera ASAP, but at least this GH4 sounds like a good stop-gap while they get their act together.

An AF200 next year, with newer sensor tech, would then be the upgrade solution for all the GH4 video shooters.
 
If those are for rails, they win all of my money. But they look a bit small. Or maybe the massive size of the input box is fooling my brain into thinking it's too small.
 
Looks like the Camera body designer and the input box designer are NOT friends.

:D

They look to be at the right height and width apart... the smaller size may be a "female" to a threaded rod. Or it may be something completely of their own design. We'll find out soon enough.
 
In order to keep up with the demands of 4K recording, the GH4 uses the new UHS I class III SD card format, and indeed is the first camera to do so.
http://webcache.googleusercontent.c...x-dmc-gh4-first-look.html+&cd=2&hl=en&ct=clnk

To go along with the new Panasonic GH4 4K camera that will be announced later tonight / early tomorrow, Kingston is first out of the gate with its official announcement of a new SDHC/SDXC UHS-I Speed Class 3 card in 16GB, 32GB and 64GB capacities. The new Speed Class 3 card guarantees minimun write speeds of 30MB/s.
The minimum write speed of these cards translates to roughly 240Mbps, which fits well within the max on-board data rate of the Panasonic GH4′s 4K capture at 100Mbps for its IPB .mov/.mp4 4K capture and 200Mbps for its ALL-Intra .mov and .mp4 HD capture. Additionally, the new Kingston card provides max speeds of 90MB/s read and 80MB/s write.
Pricing isn’t all that bad either, considering the performance they offer. The 16GB cards run around $40 street and the 64GB cards are around $105 street. Check them out here on Amazon.com.
http://www.photographybay.com/2014/...s-i-speed-class-3-cards-for-4k-video-capture/

4193jwGoeeL.jpg
http://www.amazon.com/KINGSTON-SDA3...&qid=1391735380&sr=1-1&keywords=kingston+sda3
 
Then it would likely cost $5K to start, and would not take still photos.

I do agree that Panasonic needs a prosumer 10-bit 4:2:2 AF200 camera ASAP, but at least this GH4 sounds like a good stop-gap while they get their act together.

An AF200 next year, with newer sensor tech, would then be the upgrade solution for all the GH4 video shooters.

By the time you add all the extras for GH4, that make is actually work as a video camera you are spending additional $1500-$2000. To be honest I would rather spend 5K, with ergonomics of a video camera vs dslr crap. I like buttons, instead of menu driven touch screens. That is why I still prefer to grab Canon XF100, I can switch things on the fly by pressing one button, and not dig through entire menu. I mean honestly if someone would merge BM Cinema Camera and put it into AF100 body I would buy it for 5K for sure. BMCC has a great IQ, but it's like trying to drive a car with steering and accelerator up front, but clutch and brake in a back seat. AF100 has great ergonomics, but it majorly lacks in IQ.
 
By the time you add all the extras for GH4, that make is actually work as a video camera you are spending additional $1500-$2000. To be honest I would rather spend 5K, with ergonomics of a video camera vs dslr crap. I like buttons, instead of menu driven touch screens. That is why I still prefer to grab Canon XF100, I can switch things on the fly by pressing one button, and not dig through entire menu. I mean honestly if someone would merge BM Cinema Camera and put it into AF100 body I would buy it for 5K for sure. BMCC has a great IQ, but it's like trying to drive a car with steering and accelerator up front, but clutch and brake in a back seat. AF100 has great ergonomics, but it majorly lacks in IQ.

Who uses any camera without a ton of rigging these days though? It has the strength of being super portable, and actual ergonomics compared the BMCC box.
 
Holy moly, this thing is a monster!*1 It seems like Panasonic really threw the kitchen sink at this one.*2 Oh, I've also never seen a press release with more asterisks and notes than this one. *3 That's a lot to process...

*1 Not literally, but figuratively
*2 Except built-in ND
*3 Really, though
 
Wow! Looks awesome.

I knew it was not realisitic to expect 10bit 4:2:2 in camera recording. Would have been nice. But the option to do it externally is great. There is seriously nothing to complain about here.

I too am interested in what the dymanic range will be and also the price. I think we'll have to wait till it's in users hands for the former but hopefully we get the price soon.
 
Wow! Looks awesome.

I knew it was not realisitic to expect 10bit 4:2:2 in camera recording. Would have been nice. But the option to do it externally is great. There is seriously nothing to complain about here.

I too am interested in what the dymanic range will be and also the price. I think we'll have to wait till it's in users hands for the former but hopefully we get the price soon.
My only concern is the bitrate at 4K and QHD is only 100Mbps. I hope that's enough to keep away the appearance of mud...
 
Killer camera for the price! I know some are going to wish it had this or that but honestly you have to be in heaven right now for what you will get for less than $2,000.00.

100mbps for 4k should be enough. Remember the pixels are so small that is really becomes that much harder to see artifacts. It is also 4x higher than the 24mbps normal mode on the GH3 which is still a great looking format. Sure 100mbps may not be 100% perfect but I think it will be pretty darn solid. For a first 4k camera for many of you it will be a phenomenal experience and hard to judge critically.

200mbps Intra for 1080p is just amazing. Yeah it isn't 4:2:2 or better yet 4:4:4 but it is still virtually at the compression level of ProRes. Add some chroma resampling and you are in business. Still not good enough then shoot 4K and down convert to a darn good looking 1080p or 2k at 4:4:4 (my desired choice of shooting with this camera and a method used by a lot of Hollywood FX movies)

One area I'm just waiting for people to get nasty about is the crop mode for 4k shooting. Yes it gets a bit longer. 2.3x crop mode. A bit of a bummer but not when you consider the tradeoff that is made. Instead of binning the slightly larger resolution sensor Panasonic has finally taken a 1:1 pixel readout at 4k for a pristine clean 4k frame. Getting wide shots may be a bit tougher but what we gain in clean video will be a huge advantage and worth the tradeoff. I for one am very happy about this. Considering my main lens is the 25mm f1.4 I know I could always go wider anyway. Not sure I want to go back to the 20mm for the same FOV but there are other options.
 
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