I Got Some Decisions To Make. I like my Canon 7d its a great camera I do video and photography. However I do not like the AGC on the 7d and wish a firmware changed this. I was considering downgrading to a T2i or 60d. But however Lumix just released the GH2 and apparently they are saying this is the best DSLR on the market with AF on video. What are the pro's and con's ? Also I would like to continue to use my Canon lenses as well if I switch to GH2 . Also I hear the GH2 has a different codec which makes editing harder. Advice please.
Switching From Canon 7D To Lumix GH2 What Are The Pros And Cons Of This Switch Advice
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William_Robinette
Shallow Member
Search this forum and you will find your answers. There are many threads on this very subject.
stoneinapond
Veteran
So having ploughed through the gobs of information available here, what specific advice do you still require?
as far as i know there is no adaptor that will give control yet, one is forcast soon but that is expected to cost as much as a T2i,the AF on the GH2 is good i find as long as you are in good light in lower light it can hunt,i find editing footage from this GH2 a real pain compared to my previous 550D.
majikfraug
Well-known member
To answer the editing question, what system are you editing on?
William_Robinette
Shallow Member
Thinking you are going to get good audio out of DSLR ACG or no is folly.
If you are in controlled environments you don't need AF, if it is uncontrolled you have the wrong camera for the job *or* learn to focus on the fly manually.
Advice? Keep the 7D and hone your skills. The GH-2 isn't going to magically change your work.
Ben_B
Veteran
The editing is pretty much the same. Convert your footage to an I-frame codec, and then edit. If you're one of those people that insists on editing natively then you can do that to at the same speed using your NLE that does that. Both cameras use H.264, just in different wrappers. Overall the workflow for the 7D is slightly easier because of persistent clip numbering.
"This statement is verifiably incorrect." (sorry couldn't resist, google that lol.)
There is an adaptor available that has a built in aperture ring that is used instead of the ring in your lens for $125.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Canon-EOS-Micro-4-3-M4-3-adapter-w-Build-in-Aperture-/280611604024
"This statement is verifiably incorrect." (sorry couldn't resist, google that lol.)
There is an adaptor available that has a built in aperture ring that is used instead of the ring in your lens for $125.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Canon-EOS-Micro-4-3-M4-3-adapter-w-Build-in-Aperture-/280611604024
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I am in a similar situation as you, but with different circumstance. My 7D package got stolen and I'm super bummed. I have insurance on the package so I'm starting to rebuild. I talked with Stephen Mick and he gave me probably the BEST advice I could have got. He said to buy lenses that are neutral and not platform depended. Basically, try to avoid Canon EOS or M43rd mounts if possible. I am going to be getting some Zeiss ZF manual focus lens in Nikon mount and a Tokina 100mm macro with an aperture ring, also in Nikon mount.
As for a zoom, you kind of can't avoid buying a platform lens, but for the primes you can.
Right now, the GH2 is the better camera, but in a few months, Canon could bounce back. And that way, you have lenses that interchange between the 2 platforms.
Plus, the Zeiss lens have really nice focus throws and mechanics which you just can't get with modern autofocus lenses. They're better for video for sure. If I didn't get my lens stolen, I would probably sell off my Canon primes and try to buy lenses that are platform independent.
I'm hoping to use the GH2 for a bit, until the 5d mark 3 comes out, then probably use both. Canon has been painfully slow in addressing their cameras shortcomings, so I've lost a lot of faith in them. But who knows, they may bounce back this year.
Honestly, I think a lot more is going on with the GH2 these days with the hacks and what not. Canon just seems to be stuck in a rut that they don't seem to want to get out of. I mean.... the T3i is their next camera coming out and I hear it has the exact same problems with Moire and aliasing. That's 5 cameras in a row with same problem. That is crazy and they are just trying to milk it at this point.
Just my 2 cents.
As for a zoom, you kind of can't avoid buying a platform lens, but for the primes you can.
Right now, the GH2 is the better camera, but in a few months, Canon could bounce back. And that way, you have lenses that interchange between the 2 platforms.
Plus, the Zeiss lens have really nice focus throws and mechanics which you just can't get with modern autofocus lenses. They're better for video for sure. If I didn't get my lens stolen, I would probably sell off my Canon primes and try to buy lenses that are platform independent.
I'm hoping to use the GH2 for a bit, until the 5d mark 3 comes out, then probably use both. Canon has been painfully slow in addressing their cameras shortcomings, so I've lost a lot of faith in them. But who knows, they may bounce back this year.
Honestly, I think a lot more is going on with the GH2 these days with the hacks and what not. Canon just seems to be stuck in a rut that they don't seem to want to get out of. I mean.... the T3i is their next camera coming out and I hear it has the exact same problems with Moire and aliasing. That's 5 cameras in a row with same problem. That is crazy and they are just trying to milk it at this point.
Just my 2 cents.
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William_Robinette
Shallow Member
You have asked the same question 4 times in this thread. The answer you are obviously looking for is "yes."
Seriously there are hundred post threads on this subject. Read them.
Loic
Active member
I did a test between my 7D and my friends GH2 in low light conditions for a sensor ISO test but also for the movement of objects and how the codecs hold imformation in movements.
There are two major points from the test:
GH2 has better noise to ISO ratio. The noise is not chroma noise but luminance noise. Kind of like the Nikon D3s noise, which is more cinematic like the noise you find on 35mm. Canon starts to have choma noise at around 1250 ISO, there are reds and green dots starting to boil in the mids and the shadows.
Canon seem to have a better color mapping on the sensor. the reds and greens pops out more and are more clean. It's a color sheme that is more appealing to the eye. The gh2 seems to have all the colors meshed on each other. The greens in low light will get brownish and the reds attenuated. It changes in each environnement but I am just saying gh2s colors are not vivid as Canons.
The big upper side : Gh2s sensor information gathering and codec is a tank compared to canons series: NO ANTIALIASING, NO MOIRE, 2x THE RESOLVING POWER. We can really say the Gh2 has a HD image. The canon is a 600 lines image blown up and soften.
Now the best part : we did movements in front of the cameras and blocking would occur in the canon 7d 47mbs codec and not in the GH2 24mbs codec. The GH2 codec is stronger and I am not even talkin about the tweaks you can do with Tester 13 hack on it to bring it up to more mbs seconds.
In my mind, you will get a bigger bang from the GH2, but there is still that color mapping from the sensor that I would like to investigate further because canons image is just really appealing strait from the cam.
There are two major points from the test:
GH2 has better noise to ISO ratio. The noise is not chroma noise but luminance noise. Kind of like the Nikon D3s noise, which is more cinematic like the noise you find on 35mm. Canon starts to have choma noise at around 1250 ISO, there are reds and green dots starting to boil in the mids and the shadows.
Canon seem to have a better color mapping on the sensor. the reds and greens pops out more and are more clean. It's a color sheme that is more appealing to the eye. The gh2 seems to have all the colors meshed on each other. The greens in low light will get brownish and the reds attenuated. It changes in each environnement but I am just saying gh2s colors are not vivid as Canons.
The big upper side : Gh2s sensor information gathering and codec is a tank compared to canons series: NO ANTIALIASING, NO MOIRE, 2x THE RESOLVING POWER. We can really say the Gh2 has a HD image. The canon is a 600 lines image blown up and soften.
Now the best part : we did movements in front of the cameras and blocking would occur in the canon 7d 47mbs codec and not in the GH2 24mbs codec. The GH2 codec is stronger and I am not even talkin about the tweaks you can do with Tester 13 hack on it to bring it up to more mbs seconds.
In my mind, you will get a bigger bang from the GH2, but there is still that color mapping from the sensor that I would like to investigate further because canons image is just really appealing strait from the cam.
Rory_B
Well-known member
7D Pros
Better Stills
Better ability to tweak in camera picture profiles
Weather Sealed so you have no worries about inclement weather
Looks more "pro" for whatever it's worth
1080/30p which I prefer to 1080/60i But who knows if there's much difference if you de-interlace the 1080i from the gh2.
Constant bit rate regardless of shooting mode Gh2 is 24/Mbs for 1080/24p everything else is 17Mbs I believe. I need to actually read through the manual more
Cons
Brutal Moire and Aliasing
No Flip Out LCD, no EVF so you need to buy a z-finder or lcdvf to be able to focus off the back lcd.
720/60P is virtually unusable
I always found my 7D quite tough to judge focus regardless of what I used in terms of a monitor or whatever. The image always looked very soft to me.
12 Minute Record Time and Overheating
Gh2 Pros
Great EVF
Flip LCD
720/60P and 1080p have fantastic clarity
ETC Mode
Throw the 20mm 1.7 on the front and you've got an extremely portable camera that can go anywhere
No Record limit other than the size of your car and doesn't overheat
Rec Highlight to see if your highlights blowing out
Live histogram on the camera when shooting video
cons
stills not as appealing in certain situations
wish the LCD was higher rez, but it's still good enough
Picture profiles are not afforded the same amount of tweaking as Canon profiles
No fast wide glass, the 7-14mm looks like an awesome lens but is only f4 so might limit it's ability, but the perspective is insane
14mm f2.5 pancake lens would be fine more most practical situations or the 20mm 1.7 is really versatile
Concerning your questions on the 20mm = 40mm question. The 20mm lens has the same FOV as a 40mm lens would have on a FF Camera due to the 2x crop factor when comparing to a FF camera like a 5d mark 2. But in Cinema terms the 20mm is more like a 24-30mm in terms of FOV. I'm definitely off on the math in my head, but you get the idea.
Better Stills
Better ability to tweak in camera picture profiles
Weather Sealed so you have no worries about inclement weather
Looks more "pro" for whatever it's worth
1080/30p which I prefer to 1080/60i But who knows if there's much difference if you de-interlace the 1080i from the gh2.
Constant bit rate regardless of shooting mode Gh2 is 24/Mbs for 1080/24p everything else is 17Mbs I believe. I need to actually read through the manual more
Cons
Brutal Moire and Aliasing
No Flip Out LCD, no EVF so you need to buy a z-finder or lcdvf to be able to focus off the back lcd.
720/60P is virtually unusable
I always found my 7D quite tough to judge focus regardless of what I used in terms of a monitor or whatever. The image always looked very soft to me.
12 Minute Record Time and Overheating
Gh2 Pros
Great EVF
Flip LCD
720/60P and 1080p have fantastic clarity
ETC Mode
Throw the 20mm 1.7 on the front and you've got an extremely portable camera that can go anywhere
No Record limit other than the size of your car and doesn't overheat
Rec Highlight to see if your highlights blowing out
Live histogram on the camera when shooting video
cons
stills not as appealing in certain situations
wish the LCD was higher rez, but it's still good enough
Picture profiles are not afforded the same amount of tweaking as Canon profiles
No fast wide glass, the 7-14mm looks like an awesome lens but is only f4 so might limit it's ability, but the perspective is insane
14mm f2.5 pancake lens would be fine more most practical situations or the 20mm 1.7 is really versatile
Concerning your questions on the 20mm = 40mm question. The 20mm lens has the same FOV as a 40mm lens would have on a FF Camera due to the 2x crop factor when comparing to a FF camera like a 5d mark 2. But in Cinema terms the 20mm is more like a 24-30mm in terms of FOV. I'm definitely off on the math in my head, but you get the idea.
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nyvz
Veteran
What they mean is that the field of view of a 20mm lens on a GH2 is approximately the same as the field of view of a 40mm lens on a Full Frame 35mm camera like a Canon 5D Mark II. Such a statement is only particularly helpful to someone who is more familiar shooting on FF35mm stills cameras and how various focal length lenses appear on those cameras.
the darn link wont work, all the adaptors i have been told of do not allow lens control and have to be used wide open, if this one will allow control why are they bringing out this very expensive one, i hope you are right i would love an adaptor around $125
i forgot to say everyone says the lack of moire/aliasing on the GH2 i wish i did not get any.
The link works now but i am confused as to what lenses work with the adaptor i have tamron 10-24/28-300 and canon 50mm f 1.8
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I really do think the Canons have a nicer color rendition, but yes.... the aliasing is too brutal. I was helping a friend out and shot some clothing and shoes up close, and the aliasing was brutal with clothing patterns. And that's using 1080p. The 720 is barely useable at all.
Canon has the nicer aesthetic IMO in terms of color and Shallow DOF, but the horrible aliasing and Canon's extremely slow action to do anything about it is making people go to Panny. Canon is losing the huge lead they had by simply ignoring the problem.
Canon has the nicer aesthetic IMO in terms of color and Shallow DOF, but the horrible aliasing and Canon's extremely slow action to do anything about it is making people go to Panny. Canon is losing the huge lead they had by simply ignoring the problem.
jascination
Member
It's also useful to people who are familiar with other lenses and want to compare. For instance, I know my Nikon 50mm f/1.8 has a 1.5x crop factor on my old D40, so is 75mm equivalent, whereas the Panasonic 45-200mm f/4.0-5.6 on a micro 4/3 camera will give an equivalent of 90-400mm. So even though the Nikon has a higher number, it is actually a closer lens than the Panasonic.
Actually, I never really thought about this; if I was using my Nikon 50mm with a micro 4/3 adapter on the GH2, would the lens become 100mm equivalent? Or does the mount adapter affect the crop factor so that it's still 1.5x?