VaricamLT: VariCam LT and GH5 side by side test shots, V-log, 120 FPS

Erik Naso said:
Shoot from today using V709 color. I like this setting. Easy to grade. Really like the VariCam. Wish it wasn't so heavy.
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I had a chance to try the Varicam LT on for size at Cinegear 2016... the first thing that struck me was, this is a real camera! The second thing
as I hoisted it upon my shoulder was the weight. It's deceptively heavier than it looks, albeit with a large cinema lense. But the pictures... my goodness!! I guess what I'm saying is yes, I hear you on the camera weight factor Erik.
 
Thanks for the test Eric...IMO your test proves that the GH5 can comfortably work alongside the Varicam LT as a B/Crashcam which is good news for me, as the Varicam is definitely my dream camera...and of course, if the EVA is close to the VCLT in image, the GH5 would work well alongside the EVA as well...perhaps most telling in your test, is that you have to "look" for the differences in IQ between the two cams, and for any audience member (public) the difference will be unnoticeable!...the GH5 is indeed a little powerhouse!
 
Re: weight.
I am skinny as a rail, and I lugged an LT (this summer) and a Ursa Mini (last year) around tropical jungle areas in India for 2 weeks solo dolo. The weight isnt thaaaaat bad.

I tried a Varicam LT with an Easy Rig at NAB. Definitely the way to go if your planning on doing lots of hand held. I will get one soon.

Last year I shot with the Arri Amira and the next day on an LT in Chicago. And the LT was much lighter, and has the superior sensor. Using both cameras back to back, made me jump ship and buy a Pany. And I am very happy with the decision, even tho I always have to explain to people that "Varicam is a new state of the art camera thats like an Arri or Red but better."

The LT is easily more heavy than a DSLR, but only slightly heavier than a Ursa Mini or Arri Mini (or Sony F55?) The EVA on paper is like a loaf of bread compared to all of the said cameras, but keep in mind without the dual 800/5000ISO, you'll probably still be lugging around a lot more lighting gear, which translates into more money and more weight. My Varicam production setup is lean and mean, and I'm finding that I need more black material to help sculpt available light than I need lights when working at 5000ISO or some derivative higher or lower ISO.

After going thru the EVA1 specs, I'm going to hold off and continue saving for another LT body. More people are realizing that increases in pixels ultimately only create larger files with little optical pay off. (Great test by DP Steve Yedlin @ http://nofilmschool.com/2017/08/yedlin-camera-resolution-myths). Right now, I'd rather stay with the flagship imager. I see no reason to go beyond 4k vraw and get hit with $$$ on HDs trying to manage all that data from an 4K+ workflows.

The GH5 looks to be a great little camera to use like a digital viewfinder and some inserts. I would probably also use it to scout with to help to get an approximate idea how Varicam colors would look. The small size is great for stealing shots, where both an EVA or V LT would be too conspicuous.

Just my 2 cents as a solo-dolo indi shooter hustling some decent cash in LA w a single LT body.

Have a great weekend :)
 
@Erik Naso - they look pretty close :)
would be really appreciated if you get the opportunity to do a similar EVA1/GH5 skin tone comparison,
I'll be upgrading to the EVA1/GH5 combo from our 2 x AF101's in 2018, would give me some confidence going forward knowing they'll cut together
without too much work for the 2 x cam interview setups etc we do.
 
Tough to compare any two cameras with just still images. Would love to see video footage.
In any case, note how the highlights roll off much more nicely with the LT on both sides of the cheeks (especially the right cheek) and are a bit blown out with the gh5.
In terms of color, you are right. They do match quite well for inter-cutting.
 
I would like to do this myself. Need to get my hands on an EVA1. Trying to in December. I'm worried because I might not want to give it back. :-D

They should match even better than the C300 and GH5 did especially if the cameras are both in V Log. Panasonic wanted to make them easy to work with together.
 
Mitch Gross said:
Nice test. The Panasonic cameras are designed to be able to color match as best as possible through the line. That said, the GH5 uses V-Log-L which is a modified version of V-Log. That's because the GH5 has a couple stops less dynamic range. The VariCams and the EVA1 offer V-Log & V-Gamut.
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I had presumed (incorrectly?) that the GH4 and GH5 with V-LOG-L was also V-Gamut - is this not the case?
 
Thats interesting about the C300/GH5 matching, never considered this,
been using C300mk2/1DX combo a lot recently, I'll take along a GH5 as well next time to check it out :)
 
Hey guys,

I have a shooting for a tv format where normally Varicam and eva1 are used with the cine 2 profile. I have a GH5 and would love to know which profile I should use to make the easiest match color wise. Many Thanks!
 
jakobdvx said:
Hey guys,

I have a shooting for a tv format where normally Varicam and eva1 are used with the cine 2 profile. I have a GH5 and would love to know which profile I should use to make the easiest match color wise. Many Thanks!
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I am shooting mostly Cine2 on the EVA1 with a GH5 as B-cam. Cine2 and Cinemalike D -2, -5, -2, -2, 0 is a pretty good match imho. Let me know how it works for you.

edit:
as it is published now I can show a sample. I shot a documentation and interviews during a field day customer event.
All statements shot on EVA1 scene2. All field shots are mix of GH5 with settings above and EVA1 scene2. When I review it I can't tell you which scene was which camera. Except at 1:11 where you can see me with the grey shirt and the white cap filming with the EVA1 -> this is GH5 :smile: All shots handheld. I was aiming for nice skins, vivid colors but natural and not oversaturated. Of course client's brand green color should look nice. Small 3 wheel corrections in FCPX ColorFinale. Aerials Inspire2 H264 in standard.

 
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