Panasonic GH1 vs. Canon 5D ??

G

George D.

Well-known member
I'd be very interested to know if anyone has actually shot video with BOTH the Canon 5D "and" the Panasonic GH1.

If so, what is your opinion on the overall results in video quality, and in audio quality with an external recorder ??

Which camera do you feel gives the BEST quality 1080p HD video in all respects ??

Thanks.
 
There is no such thing as all respects!

There is no such thing as all respects!

You need to decide your priority, search the forums, the comparisons are there. Right now with the hack, the detail coming from GH1 1080p is impressive, however, if you want depth of field FFrame will win through for you maybe.

As a complete package, ie eye level evf viewfinder, in any condition, tiltable lcd screen, built in stereo mics and AC3 recording for sound, lighter-smaller more compact and cheeper then the GH1 is a good package.
 
There is no "best," there is only "right" for the job or for your needs. Like Sam says above, you have to decide what is most important to you. If it's low-light work or the super-shallow DOF of full-frame, it's the 5DII. If the things Sam says are key for you, then the GH1 is a real leader.

Some will link to tests, or charts, and that is all very important to see, as they help us understand what these cameras can and shouldn't be asked to do. But for me, the truest "test" is sitting in a theater, watching finished films on the big screen. I've seen footage from all three (5DII, 7D and GH1) projected in cinemas, and every single one of them looked like they belonged there. Never once did I say to myself, "man that looks like it was shot on a HDSLR."

Of course in each case, the camera was a secondary part of the equation. The talent in front of and behind the camera made the biggest impression.
 
I own a canon 7D and I did spend months on dvxuser to weight the good and the bad between ( at that time 5d mkII and GH1 ). Basically the 7D made it a real deal because it had a bigger sensor then the GH1 so you have a little more shallow deph but you didn't need to invest as much as with the 5D. Basically the codec from the GH1 was not strong enough to do serious projects on my part.

Now the fact that GH1 is not crippled by moire and other aliasing problems in the scan of the sensor + it seems better on the jello effect, you really have yourself a strong competitor with the T2i and 7D. Really their is more to the GH1 then the 7D.

The only downside would be that the lenses choices would need to be relative to the adaptor. You loose some light with these things ( I believe, correct me if I am wrong). + the GH1 is not that great in low light compared to the canons series.
 
Loic, I will agree that the Canons are better in the low-light than the GH1, but it does not lose light with adapters to almost any lens every made, which makes for quite a few choices!
 
Kellar42 said:
Loic, I will agree that the Canons are better in the low-light than the GH1, but it does not lose light with adapters to almost any lens every made, which makes for quite a few choices!
Click to expand...

On top of that it actually is able to be sharp in low light...
 
No one would be shooting with DSLRs at all if it wasn't for the DOF. The 5D has more DOF than the GH1.

Choice made.
 
subtleinspiration said:
No one would be shooting with DSLRs at all if it wasn't for the DOF. The 5D has more DOF than the GH1.

Choice made.
Click to expand...

How much DOF do you need?

There is something called "too much of a good thing".

What if you want to film with the camera held 7' in the air or 1" of the ground. With the GH1 articulating LCD it's a piece of cake.
 
That's a rather poor comparison. You can stick an external monitor to any of the Canon's...can't do that to the GH1 (at least not while recording).
 
I agree about the right tool for the right job, but having owned 5DMKII, 7D, D300s, and D5000 I much prefer the GH1(3) for over all everything. Much clearer images and over-all feel and quality. I'm holding on to this thing for a long time.
 
Actually, that is a very silly comment!

Actually, that is a very silly comment!

subtleinspiration said:
No one would be shooting with DSLRs at all if it wasn't for the DOF. The 5D has more DOF than the GH1.

Choice made.
Click to expand...

The 5D does not have more DOF than a GH1 at equivalent focal lengths and apertures.

Yes, you have more potential with the 5D to extract more DOF, but DOF at what given focal length and aperture? What are you trying to do?

An example, 20mm f1.7 on GH1 = 35mm f3.0 on 5D(about a 2.8 give or take)
45mm f2.8 on GH1 = 80mm f5 on 5D

These are typical fast GH1 lenses(limited, agreed) but with manual lenses you have a lot more scope and as you can see, at the equivalent length they are the same.

Another option is legacy 43 glass, some are MF and some offer some level of AF, eg Olympus 14-54 2.8-3.5, very nice lense from Olympus, quite light and essentially a 26mm - 100mm f5-f6 in 35mm world.ie similar performance to the 24-105 Canon f4 in 35mm world, you get the gist;-)
 
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Not that I want to join in this seemingly fruitless argument but when one says "more" DOF doesn't that really mean everything in focus? Shouldn't you say...less DOF if you are trying to say more blurred backgound?

Ok...I'll shut up now. :)
 
Agreed, shallower DOF!

Agreed, shallower DOF!

Is the correct term if that's what he's trying to demonstrate, but as I say with the same glass equivalent, they can be very similar, very similar.
 
Ian-T said:
Not that I want to join in this seemingly fruitless argument but when one says "more" DOF doesn't that really mean everything in focus? Shouldn't you say...less DOF if you are trying to say more blurred backgound?

Ok...I'll shut up now. :)
Click to expand...

don't be so shallow!:2vrolijk_08:


....seriously, are we really having this discussion--it's been covered ad nauseam !!

GH-1 vs. 5D----old news

GH-13 vs. 5D ----- ahhhhh now we have something to talk about.....

GH-13= 3 cams in one SWEEET $800...:nads:laughing all the way to the bank
 
alignment1 said:
don't be so shallow!:2vrolijk_08:


....seriously, are we really having this discussion--it's been covered ad nauseam !!

Gh-1 vs. 5d----old news

gh-13 vs. 5d ----- ahhhhh now we have something to talk about.....

Gh-13= 3 cams in one sweeet $800...:nads:laughing all the way to the bank
Click to expand...

+1
 
I own both a 5D and a GH1. Since last September I have shot more than twenty paid projects with the GH1 and one with the 5D. All of these shoots having replaced the Panasonic HDX-900 which sadly is starting to collect dust.
 
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