GH2 Questions about GH2 and GH3 cameras for video

C

Carlos_E._Martinez

Well-known member
There are some questions about the Panas GH2 and GH3 that I would like to ask:

1) What were the main improvements between the GH2 and GH3 for 1080p video applications?

2) Will the GH3 shoot both NTSC and PAL?

3) Is it worth buying a GH2?

Please note that if I'm putting this question here is because I am considering buying a GH2.
 
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The gh3 is suppose to have a bit better DR, I haven't seen it yet. Also a hacked gh2 can run a higher bit rate. The gh3 is an all around better cam. The gh2 is worth buying, especially for the current price point. The gh3 will be worth about half of what it is now next year, so keep that in mind too.
 
1) 1080P @ 60 FPS.

I just got my GH3 in the mail so I'm still learning. But I do own a hacked GH1. I liked it but I really really wanted 1080P @ 60FPS.
The GH1 only did 1080I, I believe the GH2 is also only 1080i. I can't stand interlaced video. So that's the main reason I got the Gh3. I think this camera will serve me for many years to come.

So I think the question you should as yourself is. How much is 1080p @ 60fps vs 1080i @ 30fps worth?

I will also add the GH3 image is pretty good at ISO 3200, Totally usable IMHO. I don't know how the GH2 compares at high ISO.
 
carlmart said:
There are some questions about the Panas GH2 and GH3 that I would like to ask:

1) What were the main improvements between the GH2 and GH3 for 1080p video applications?

2) Will the GH3 shoot both NTSC and PAL?

3) Is it worth buying a GH2?

Please note that if I'm putting this question here is because I am considering buying a GH2.
Click to expand...

What will you be using it for?
Run&Gun, music videos, local news etc etc
 
There is no easy answer to that.

I have both and see it like that:

Downside for GH3 is it has no multi-aspect sensor and thus a slightly different cropping. This is not nice and probably the only real grudge I have.

Upside: Much better, rugged body, better weather protection (gh2 has next to none), WI-FI connectivity, 50/60 fps (!) in 1080, better handling of noise (noise structure is more film like) and less banding, somewhat higher DR (not much maybe - that's discussable), much extended battery life, better monitor (EVF not so), better sound options, build in time-lapse function.

All-in-all it's the better workhorse, handling is excellent and we will see if there are future improvements in a) firmware and b) it can get Vitaly'sed by the Russian magician or someone else.

GH3 is not an international camera like AG-AF than can be switched form PAL to NTSC or vice versa. Very, very unintelligent decision by Panasonic. This is the 21st century. People go places where power grid may run on 50 or 60 Hz. Stupid decision.

GH2 is okay, especially for the price, but it's also a dead end in a way. If you think you will have the budget next year to buy a GH3 then, maybe go for the GH2 now. If not I personally would opt for the GH3. But if you want to save money and invest in lenses more now, getting an GH2 is an option.

Most cameras will be worth less in a year than what they are worth now.
 
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If you can afford the GH3, get the GH3. If you can't afford the GH3, get the GH2 and be happy. And go shoot.

A lot.
 
The GH2 with the Cluster v7 'Apocalypse Now' 12/15 GOP (DREWnet) with cbrandin '444 Soft Matrix' hack will take possibly the best image you can get for less than $5,000. So yes, it is still worth buying the GH2.
 
Both cameras seem to have issues that I need solved and available. My intention is to make film movies using them, so they have to have several things:

1) 1080p. I already have 1080i on my Sony Z1 camera. This sort of discards the GH2 then.

2) Both NTSC and PAL, at least in perfect quality 24p and 25p. This sort of discards the GH3 too.

What do I have left then? Are people shooting theatrical movies with these cameras?
 
Having just bought a Canon XA10 [which is basicaly the same camcorder as the cheap HF G10] i can say it shoots a lot better video than my GH2.
 
The GH2 with the Cluster v7 'Apocalypse Now' will record outstanding 1080p/24 images for 'film movies', as well as 1080p/25. (The hack makes it ATSC/PAL switchable.)
 
flinty said:
a Canon XA10...shoots a lot better video than my GH2.
Click to expand...

An unhacked GH2, possibly. (And even then I'm skeptical, given the difference in sensor size.)

With the aforementioned Cluster v7 'Apocalypse Now' hack, I just don't believe it's possible.
 
carlmart said:
I will try to get a GH2 to make some tests to see what I get before buying anything.
Click to expand...

By the time you do that I wouldn't be surprised to see existing inventory at the few places that have any left get cleaned out. No more GH2's are being made and prices on clean used will climb up to what new are going for now. Or even higher.
 
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