Selling 7d, should I get a GH1

J

jrod81

Veteran
Hey guys,
I am finishing up my thesis film which I shot entirely on a 7d. Loved the camera, loved the images, but just can't afford to own this expensive of a camera at this point. I need to sell it to get money for a editing setup. So here is my question:
It appears that I could buy the GH1 and sell the stock lens and be in pretty good shape. I say this because, while I can't justify having a $2000 7d, I hate not having something to shoot with for jobs here and there. So, could someone please tell me what I am giving up and what I would be gaining with this venture.
So far it seems (and correct me if I am wrong) that the GH1:
1. lacks a monitor out
2. but does have a moveable LCD screen
3. doesn't shut off every 12 minutes (which is ideal because I most deal in a documentary world to make money)
help me out, what else...
 
yeah know this post is going to get heat and i am going to make someone mad... there is plenty of info out there, plenty of pros/cons lists... i can do the research on my own... sorry to bother... i guess we can close this thread to prevent bad blood... lol

maybe i will just sell my 7d and wait for the next thing to come out, thus pushing the price of the 7d down and then i can just buy another 7d but for cheaper... ha ha, who knows.
 
If you like the 7D just keep it. Both cameras get great images. The advantage of the 7D is the codec, it's just better. The advantage of the GH1 is the swivel screen, easier focusing, no time limit on clips. The look is very different to my eyes so while it would be hard to mix both of them together, you should really chose the one where you prefer the look. 7D looks more saturated but a bit softer. GH1 more detail & better wide angle images.
 
jrod81 said:
Hey guys,
I am finishing up my thesis film which I shot entirely on a 7d. Loved the camera, loved the images, but just can't afford to own this expensive of a camera at this point. I need to sell it to get money for a editing setup. So here is my question:
It appears that I could buy the GH1 and sell the stock lens and be in pretty good shape. I say this because, while I can't justify having a $2000 7d, I hate not having something to shoot with for jobs here and there. So, could someone please tell me what I am giving up and what I would be gaining with this venture.
So far it seems (and correct me if I am wrong) that the GH1:
1. lacks a monitor out
2. but does have a moveable LCD screen
3. doesn't shut off every 12 minutes (which is ideal because I most deal in a documentary world to make money)
help me out, what else...
Click to expand...

Yes, very good choice.. though shooting for periods over 12 minutes is just silly. Especially if you're shooting to edit. No shot is held for 12 minutes. You could do that with DV cameras, but shooting with the HDSLR holds a different approach. Those who treat it as a point and shoot, to me are using it for the wrong reasons. The sound will never be as good, and the image not as stable as DV. If used correctly, the GH1 can be an incredible documentary filmakers tool. Swivel LCD, getting awkward shots, great low light with primes, very artistic shots and CHEAP.

So in my opinion, the 7D is the photographers choice, the GH1 is the filmakers choice.
 
jrod81 said:
Hey guys,
I am finishing up my thesis film which I shot entirely on a 7d. Loved the camera, loved the images, but just can't afford to own this expensive of a camera at this point. I need to sell it to get money for a editing setup. So here is my question:
It appears that I could buy the GH1 and sell the stock lens and be in pretty good shape. I say this because, while I can't justify having a $2000 7d, I hate not having something to shoot with for jobs here and there. So, could someone please tell me what I am giving up and what I would be gaining with this venture.
So far it seems (and correct me if I am wrong) that the GH1:
1. lacks a monitor out
2. but does have a moveable LCD screen
3. doesn't shut off every 12 minutes (which is ideal because I most deal in a documentary world to make money)
help me out, what else...
Click to expand...

IMO- The stock lens is very helpful, especially when you want to put the camera on auto and just shoot, or for situations where you only have one change to get the shot. Not to mention the big zoom range of the kit lens. BUT, being a former GH1 owner myself (now a 7D owner), I think you would be disappointed with the image quality after having used the 7D. Maybe not... It's still very good, but when I did side-by-side tests, the GH1 went on ebay immediately.

Neither camera is very well suited to documentary work, mostly due to sound issues, but there are other drawbacks too.

If you do mostly docu work, I would suggest a video camera with all the features a dslr doesn't have.
 
themartist said:
Yes, very good choice.. though shooting for periods over 12 minutes is just silly. Especially if you're shooting to edit. No shot is held for 12 minutes. You could do that with DV cameras, but shooting with the HDSLR holds a different approach. Those who treat it as a point and shoot, to me are using it for the wrong reasons. The sound will never be as good, and the image not as stable as DV. If used correctly, the GH1 can be an incredible documentary filmakers tool. Swivel LCD, getting awkward shots, great low light with primes, very artistic shots and CHEAP.

So in my opinion, the 7D is the photographers choice, the GH1 is the filmakers choice.
Click to expand...

It's not silly to shoot over 12 minutes if you're shooting a wedding or an event. Just because you won't use a continuous take in editing doesn't mean it's not helpful to have. (For syncing purposes at least)

I would say the 7D is the photographer's AND filmmaker's choice. And the GH1 is the slightly less expensive filmmaker's choice with some great features, but some drawbacks too.
 
Tim Joy said:
It's not silly to shoot over 12 minutes if you're shooting a wedding or an event. Just because you won't use a continuous take in editing doesn't mean it's not helpful to have. (For syncing purposes at least)

I would say the 7D is the photographer's AND filmmaker's choice. And the GH1 is the slightly less expensive filmmaker's choice with some great features, but some drawbacks too.
Click to expand...

Well, I think what I was meaning, but didn't describe very effeciently was... the 7D is the "photographer turned filmmaker" choice vs the GH1 being the indi filmmaker/Director turned DOP's choice. Obviously price plays an important role, so I agree with what you said.

Regarding needing over 12 minute shots, I honestly don't see the purpose in them.
 
You will love the GH1. I'm not sure how to will help too much in your financial situation though, depending on what you can sell the 7D for, you'll be gaining a few hundred bucks, I suppose.

The good news is, you can get FD glass for it for very cheap, so that will start to make a difference as you want more lens options.
 
I bought a 7D a few days ago and returned it yesterday, I really tried to love the 7D but for me its definitely the GH1, so for now I will keep my GH1 until... maybe the GH2 :)
 
They are just both different. One doesn't 'beat' the other in total. The only thing I really want that the 7D has is the 40mbit codec, and I would then be totally happy with the gh1 in all other aspects.
 
Blackout said:
They are just both different. One doesn't 'beat' the other in total. The only thing I really want that the 7D has is the 40mbit codec, and I would then be totally happy with the gh1 in all other aspects.
Click to expand...

My conclusion after all the talk about these two cameras is that they are the same, that's why all the argument put forwad in favour / against each of them are all inconclusive, and ever since as someone puts it somewhere, the war being fought now is the refusal by individuals to acknowladge bad purchase.
The truth is that both cameras are at par with each other.

I'm still waiting for who wins the war of my "shot" in 7D is better than your shot in GH1 or my "shot" in GH1 is better than your shot in 7D.
So far neither of them has an advantage over the other in that front.
 
>these two cameras is that they are the same

Not at all. The 7D is the betetr camera in low light and the GH1 better implemented as a video cam (except the Codec).

This video uses both cameras:

http://vimeo.com/7563070

Yhe GH1 in good light and the 7D in lower light.
 
ustein said:
>these two cameras is that they are the same

Not at all. The 7D is the betetr camera in low light and the GH1 better implemented as a video cam (except the Codec).

This video uses both cameras:

http://vimeo.com/7563070

Yhe GH1 in good light and the 7D in lower light.
Click to expand...
Ustein, why do you say "Not at all" ? what i mean by the same is that both cameras don't have "the winner takes it all" feature,so a statement like this
"Yhe GH1 in good light and the 7D in lower light" makes them the same in my head. whenever a feature is mentioned as an advantage or disadvantage, it can be easily be countered.
 
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>what i mean by the same is that both cameras don't have "the winner takes it all"

Sorry, I agree. No clear winner.

The winner is the GH1_1D4 :-)
 
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