GH2 Panasonic GH2 vs Canon 60

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petrspetla

Active member
Hello everyone! I have Canon 60D http://vimeo.com/32772066 (my showreel shot on canon 60D) and i am really stuck with question "shall i change it for Panasonic GH2?". I heard many great things about output of Panasonic GH2, but also many bad things about workflow (battery doesn't last long, evf and lcd aren't sharp enough to focus, rolling shutter is really bad,...).

What do i like on Panasonic GH2? In right hands it looks like Red, when Canon DSLR still looks like Canon DSLR...

Could you please share with me your experiences? Thanks a lot! =)


http://www.sensorgen.info/PanasonicDMC_GH2.html
http://www.sensorgen.info/CanonEOS_60D.html
 
I would absolutely go with the GH2 if your primary focus is video. The battery life isn't as good as the 60D, but the batteries are a lot cheaper. Also the GH2 comes with an AC adapter, which is another $100 for the 60D (If they even make one...). The evf and viewfinder are fine for focusing if you use the focus assist, but you can also use HDMI out on the GH2 for focusing on a monitor (you should). The 60D has a pretty terrible rolling shutter and moire problem as well, not just the GH2. The GH2 has much much better video quality and it can also accept almost any lens ever created (especially with the built in etc crop mode) with the right adapter. About the only advantage I can see to using a 60D instead of a GH2 is if you already have a bunch of L glass and you do a lot of photography. I personally have a 7D and two GH1s and I would NEVER use my 7D to shoot a video that I could do with my GH1. I was able to find a whole kit of Lomo OCT-18 primes and anamorphic adapters for much less than 2 or 3 Canon L lenses. However, I have not sold my 7D because I get a lot of paid photography work and I have about 3 grand invested in Canon glass (which I bought an adapter to use on my GH1 as well).

60D=DSLR quality and Good Photos
GH2=Better than DSLR quality and OK photos
 
If you've already got a 60D and don't have a problem acquiring the images you need with it, there's no reason to sell what you already have.

If your camera is giving you fits, then we need to know what those problems are to suggest a camera which might solve those issues.
 
twotonepunkkid said:
60D=DSLR quality and Good Photos
GH2=Better than DSLR quality and OK photos
Click to expand...

So 60D has DSLR quality and GH2 has better than DSLR quality? What does that mean? 60D has DSLR quality video and GH2 has better than DSLR quality video? You have to quantify what DSLR quality video is before you say something else has better than DSLR quality. Is DSLR quality inherently bad?

And the GH2 doesn't come with an AC Adapter.

You really need to check your answer before giving one.
 
I think that the gh2 evf is about 800 x 480 resolution which is about the same than most external monitor, higher than the canon rear lcd which is 640 pix large. Now the Canon also don't have any evf, you have to buy a loupe that place behind on the rear lcd. The second thing is that apart from the 7d if I am not mistaken none of the canon have true hdmi output, contrary to the gh2. So on the focusing the gh2 is much better than the Canon at least in this domain.
 
flinty said:
GH2 comes with an AC Adaptor ? mine didnt or is one listed in the book.
Click to expand...

Someone got confused with the GH1, which does come with an AC adapter.

Back to the OP, I have the GH1 and GH2, Canon 7D and T3i.

For rolling shutter, I find the Panasonic's better than the Canon's.

For battery life, yes, the Canon's are _much_ better.

For focusing, I find it easier to focus on the Canon's with a hoodloupe, but EVF on the Panasonics is also very good, and having the EVF _and_ LCD available is a very big plus.
 
I switched myself from a 7D myself which is essentially the same as a 60d and also from a Mark II. How I wish I had started with a GH2. I didn't even want to consider the camera as I thought it was a toy by comparison. Once I saw a few hacked videos on Vimeo I was sold instantly. Everything about this camera is truly amazing. From size, functionality, image quality... you really can't beat it. It also doesn't have an over-heating issue like other Canon aps-c sensor bodies or moire. Some people never experienced it, but it has happened to me many times during the summer. This hasn't failed me a single time. But really what it comes down to is image quality, and to compare the 2 is almost a joke. Once you buy it... it's almost mind boggling how you put up with Canon.

That was all relative to video, however if you depend on stills as much or more than video... Canon is king definitely.
 
I went with the GH2 for the following reasons:
-Full HDMI Out
-Lack of Moire
-The hacked footage is unbelievable!
-FD canon glass
 
I just switched from the T3i/600D to the GH2. Instantly seeing elimination of moire and severe aliasing, plus the clarity of a hacked GH2 is unrivaled by a T3i or my 7D I had before that. If you hack the GH2, it seems unrivaled in the DSLR realm.

(8 bit?) color banding does seem slightly more present though in the GH2...possibly due to the increased clarity.
 
Thanks a lot! :)

So iam going to buy an Panasonic GH2. Is Pancake 20mm f1.7 good lens for start or shall i buy and old m42 lenses?
 
I would get the 14-45mm kit lens if you don't need the speed of the pancake, and supplement that with maybe a fast canon fd 50mm and adapter.

my 02
 
buy old lenses. dirt cheap. i stick with old nikon AIS lenses for a bit of future proofing. it's the most compatible i find with old and modern cameras. and it works well for me since i shoot 35mm photos. and the focus is nicer. 20mm is nice though. But i have problems attaching my lens gears for FF on it.
 
L1N3ARX said:
I switched myself from a 7D myself which is essentially the same as a 60d and also from a Mark II. How I wish I had started with a GH2. I didn't even want to consider the camera as I thought it was a toy by comparison. Once I saw a few hacked videos on Vimeo I was sold instantly. Everything about this camera is truly amazing. From size, functionality, image quality... you really can't beat it. It also doesn't have an over-heating issue like other Canon aps-c sensor bodies or moire. Some people never experienced it, but it has happened to me many times during the summer. This hasn't failed me a single time. But really what it comes down to is image quality, and to compare the 2 is almost a joke. Once you buy it... it's almost mind boggling how you put up with Canon.

That was all relative to video, however if you depend on stills as much or more than video... Canon is king definitely.
Click to expand...

I just really wish Magic Lantern (or something similar) was available for the GH2. The tools it offers are hard to give up once you've been accustomed to shooting with them.
 
petrspetla said:
I need fast lenses :) with nice bokeh.
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Leica DG 25mm 1.4. I think it captures beautiful video. It's my next lens. I have the 20mm pancake, and I'm very happy with it. If you're a fan of bokeh, probably not the best lens for you (the 20 1.7 pancake). But it also captures really nice video.
 
The Gh2 has many advantages, but I'm surprised that no one has mentioned the crop factor of the Gh2. I consider this a disadvantage. I love my nikon 50mm 1.4 lens on the Gh2, which I got for $40, but it's a 100mm on the GH2. Yes, wider glass exists but getting good deals on it isn't that easy. I know the Canons (save the 5D) have a crop factor as well but it isn't as significant. Got to take the good with the bad.
 
M. Gilden said:
I just really wish Magic Lantern (or something similar) was available for the GH2. The tools it offers are hard to give up once you've been accustomed to shooting with them.
Click to expand...

What does Magic Lantern add? (I am not familiar with it as I have only used stock Cannons for work).

I find the grass roots hack community support was a major encouragement for me to purchase the GH2. The fact that so many features left out by Panasonic are now unlocked to the public is amazing to me.

Each camera system has its pluses and minuses. My advice to the OP is to write these down and figure out which are easier to work around or fit into a specific shooting style. When I compared the pros and cons the GH2 was a stand out choice for me and the shooting I do. Might not be the same for everyone. Isn't that why we are so fortunate to have so much choice at this budget price point?
 
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