Questions about GH1 / GH2 from 5D2 user

skulpt

skulpt

Member
Hey all. This is my first post.

I've been really getting into video lately with my 5D2, and have been annoyed with some of the limitations of the 5D2 video. Anything with a lot of contrasting detail gets jaggie artifacts, and of course there isn't the autofocus of the GH1. I realize these aren't issues with the GH1/2, but I have some questions.

1) I see that with the firmware hack that people say that there is more detail compared to the 5D2. But the examples seem to never post process the 5D2 footage and sharpen it to match the GH1. Doing simple sharpening to the footage matches it seems the detail of the GH1. Are we then talking better dynamic range? What sort of quality are we talking about? The 5D2 video seems more raw, and the GH1 footage seems already processed.

2) Is there ever going to be a way to get a new GH1 and hack it? Are they close?

3) How is this camera in shadow noise at say ISO 400? It seems like there is more noise even at ISO 100 in the shadow areas.

I really want this camera. I love the size, love the 720p 60, and love just the idea of it. I would also love to sell my 5D2 and save some money on this setup and save some space. I'd still keep a 1.6x crop for my L telephoto lenses, but wouldn't mind doing a switcheroo for video. I'm hesitant to buy used though, and would buy one in a heartbeat if I could buy new and get the firmware for a good price. Buying used on a hacked camera that has probably had a lot of heat working on the sensor seems like a bad idea.

Maybe I'm just yapping here. I'll stop. Any thoughts on anything I brought up? :Drogar-BigGrin(DBG)
 
Doing sharpening process to the 5DmkII does NOT match the detail of the GH1.. go shoot a res chart with a hacked GH1 and a 5DmkII, and go shoot say, some wide shots of a big city daytime.. and see if sharpening helps you with the mess you get on the 5DmkII.

The camera is not as noise free as the 5Dmk II but I have some amazing beautiful footage from 400 to 800 iso, and even pushed 1200 although that starts to get lil noisy but it was definitely a usable shot. A prime 1.3 and the 20mm pancake lens are indispensable for the GH1.
 
While the charts seem to show some benefit to using the GH1 in specific circumstances, my tests showed I much preferred the 5D2 footage over the GH1 (even with hacked firmware).

The GH1 was too noisy at higher ISO settings (yes, even with hacked firmware and C settings), something I need quite frequently.

Yes, moire is more of a problem on the 5D2 (and even more so on the 7D @ 720p) but I still got moire on the GH1 and even get it on the HMC video cameras from time to time (I saw it while editing HMC footage today). Moire is not simply a function of line skipping. Check out Nyquist on wikipedia. Moire / aliasing is going to happen when ever you record digitally. The question is really how can you minimise it, and that's where you really need to be looking.

While there are a few people in the TV & Film industries shooting with the GH1 you will find many more shooting with the Canon bodies, including high value feature films and TV programs. Think about it carefully before you dump the 5D2 in favour of the GH1, even with hacked firmware.

I have 5D2 and 7D bodies and had them side by side with the GH1 for testing (as well as testing the HMC). I sold the GH1. For some people the GH1 is the perfect product while for others it isn't. I really wanted to like the GH1, really, I did, but it just didn't produce footage that I was happy with compared to the 5D2 and 7D bodies. I never found the GH1 footage to be sharper, even when manually focusing using a variety of (great) lenses.

Now, I don't expect many people here to agree with my decision, this is the GH1 forum after all, but don't be drawn in to thinking the GH1 has to be awesome and significantly better than you already have just by listening to the enthusiasts for it.

Go careful and be lucky ;)
 
Exact said:
For some people the GH1 is the perfect product while for others it isn't. I really wanted to like the GH1, really, I did, but it just didn't produce footage that I was happy with compared to the 5D2 and 7D bodies. I never found the GH1 footage to be sharper, even when manually focusing using a variety of (great) lenses.
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That's what it is all about. Doesn't really matter who uses what. What matters is if footage works for you and if you can afford the total package necessary to produce that footage.
 
Gh1 really have no heat issues at all. I have a GH1 hacked for sale right now in the marketplace, and it's in great condition.
 
GH1's are so cheap right now, I would keep the 5d and buy a GH1 body. Both cameras have there strengths and weaknesses. The GH1 crop factor is a good way to get cheap and fast telephoto work done. You also get slow mo. Totally worth it for $500 bucks on eBay.

Its a different story if you are thinking about replacing your 5D for a GH1.

But you have to ask your self where are you going to be shooting and what are you shooting. As they are important factors in which camera system will work best for you.
 
Thanks for the feedback guys. I probably would keep my 5D2, but this awesome pricing of the GH1 right now will probably push me over the edge and get one as well. Is the 14-140 worth the price? Or is a 14-45 a better start for now? I have some Zuiko primes, so I'd be looking for a zoom with autofocus.
 
hi , i got same question ¨3) How is this camera in shadow noise at say ISO 400? It seems like there is more noise even at ISO 100 in the shadow areas.¨

yes, i got shadow noise at ISO100 too, and is it normal ？

as discussed, iso 320 and higher would less shadow noise than lower ISO... not sure about that.
 
http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?t=214113

Lacks resolution:
http://www.flaretastic.com/5dface.jpg

Compared to this:
http://www.flaretastic.com/gh1face.jpg

Regarding GH1 vs GH2? GH2 is definitely superior, buy it.
And no, I'm not saying the GH1 is useless now, I have one and shot some episodes of a web-series with it. With the 14-140 I only needed to go past ISO 500 once (I used ISO 500 as my base ISO).

Now I'm bringing faster lenses so I have more flexibility on other projects. http://www.bhphotovideo.com/wl/360AA05979
 
Does anyone have favorited a Barry Green post where he lists everything he likes about the GH2 and conclude that's the reason he loves the camera? I can't even search Barry's posts because they are like 200 a day, hehehe.

Edit: Found it!


Barry_Green said:
Well, to me, the things about the GH2 that make it overwhelmingly more desirable than the GH1 include:
1) ability to actually use a monitor
2) a sort-of zebra system so you can get decent exposure
3) the ETC mode for alias/moire-free images and super telephoto
4) a RELIABLE, problem-free, no-hassle, no problems 24p mode. That was the biggie.
5) no banding. That's another biggie.

I'm sure there are many other things in there that I don't have the faintest idea how to use. I don't care whether I learn how to use them or not. Just getting a high-quality, high-performance codec with no need to hack it, no card write errors, and no need for Class 10 cards, is a huge improvement, and the occasional vertical bands are gone gone gone, which is another huge improvement. And the ETC mode is just plain fun, it's got enormously less skew, and it's reportedly moire-free (haven't put it to the test yet so I can't verify that) so it's really like two cameras in one -- a shallow-DOF large-sensor (but potentially aliasing/moire'ing) camera, and a small-sensor nearly-skewless alias-free camera too.

What do I miss from my GH13?


Um...


Hold on, I'm thinking here...


Uh, okay, I miss that it included an AC adapter for being able to run off of wall power.

Other than that, no ... sayonara and goodbye, and hello GH2!
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I'd like to thank Ian-T for always commenting on vehement affirmations from Barry, because I always find old posts because of him, hehehehe.
 
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Sweet lord! If I was a tech engineer I'd be drooling, but I just want distance from that! hehehehe

Why not just shoot and see it visually? I'm really comfortable with my GH1 until ISO 500, I find it very clean.
 
skulpt said:
Thanks for the feedback guys. I probably would keep my 5D2, but this awesome pricing of the GH1 right now will probably push me over the edge and get one as well. Is the 14-140 worth the price? Or is a 14-45 a better start for now? I have some Zuiko primes, so I'd be looking for a zoom with autofocus.
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the GH1s on sale now are very likely unhackable. and without the hack I don´t think you´ll gain much by buying one no matter how cheap they are.
 
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