Why I Ultimately Had to go with the GH2

J

jrod81

Veteran
For me, it was the camera that made the most sense. I have recently been hired by a law firm to shoot 3 things: a) online commercials (so I need good DOF that a proper camcorder can't provide) b) live events (such as the attorneys' various speaking engagements and they sponsor some high school football games as well as community events) and c)testimonials/depositions

Now first and foremost, I am asking for the HMC150 in addition to the GH2 but I think they will strike that down due to budget restraints. In order to save money for audio, lighting, editing software, and a new MBP I will stick with the GH2 if they make me choose between the two and here is why:

For me, it came down to 2 things: 1. No file limit (this was a must for testimonials/depositions) and 2. the autofocus ability (i suppose the jury is still out on just how good this feature will be, but i am sure putting alot of value in its ability to do this for the live events).
Other features that I am excited about are 1. swivel screen 2. audio metering on screen 3. no moire/alaising (or at least better than canon for now).

No I am onto to finding lenses. My plan is to get the 14-140mm kit and add the 20mm 1.7 Pancake. Then I plan to add a couple Nikon lenses to the mix with some adapters (see other thread on this matter at this link: http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthrea...sues-with-using-adapters-on-lenses&highlight=)

Looking forward to my new relationship with Panasonic (at least for now)
 
lol- you guys aren't helping me with my over analyzing that i have been doing for weeks (look at all my other posts)... if i could talk them into 2 cameras i would do both but i opened my mouth at the initial meeting saying that an SLR can shoot video now and they are cheaper... i guess another option would be for me to get the GH2 for myself and ask the firm to get the HMC150... that would be a pretty good 2 camera setup that should "play" nice together since they are both panasonic... do you think footage would be close or would it require tons of post color work?
 
If you only get the budget for 1 camera, get something along the lines of the HMC150. It will be way better suited for 95% of what you will be shooting. If you find a way to also get a GH2, I'm not sure if you would ever be in a position in which you have to mix footage from the two cameras. Use the GH2 for the commercials, and the HMC150 for everything else. If you absolutely have to match footage, I'm sure it is possible, but haven't tired it myself.
 
What sort of law firm wouldn't be able to easily afford both? Times must be hard if lawyers are feeling the pinch
 
well they pay a company in Nashville (CJ is what it is called) tons of money a year to shoot their TV commercials... it is top notch for tv... i am at the bottom of the totem pole here and am going to be a one man show doing the stuff mentioned in the thread... it is mostly a "trail" until mid year to see if it spurs more online traffic. if it doesn't work, then i am scrapped... so they are not wanting a huge investment to start... they gave me $10k but that has to get a computer, editing software, lights, audio, and lastly a camera and lenses... they are far from a struggling firm... they were just ranked #1 in the little rock, arkansas market. rainfirm.com
 
I think you could make the Gh2 work for you. If I were in your position I would add a juicedlink DT454 to make better use of the manual audio control and audio meters on the GH2's screen. This would give you a way to monitor your audio with headphones and give you better input options.
 
I have to agree with cordvision on this. In your position I would get an adaptable dedicated video camera to cover all the bases with no sweat. I can see why you are tempted getting the GH2, and I am not saying you couldn't produce good footage, but no need to make things more difficult than they need to be.
 
+1 for a "dedicated" video camera, because its easier to setup, sound is definitely more reliable and it will probably take you less time to edit and process.
 
Jrod, I have to agree with the rest. A dslr, is not the best tool for that job. In fact, that would be at the bottom of my list. I would go xf300 and a mac book. Thats all you need to get for what you want to do. It's a fabulous low light cam, beats the ex series in that dept too. Or better yet, wait till the xf100's come out, get two and shoot your depositions in 3D. That should get their attention, especially when they pass out the 3d glasses. lol


oh, and If I remember corretly, depositions, cant be editited, they have to be continous, and show that in the time code. Although that was years ago, and may have changed, or I may may be remembering incorredtly, something to look into.
 
Some thoughts

A few advantages of the GH2 -

- Price vs value. No contest.

- Some of the images I have seen coming out of it are stunning, and I mean when it is done right - it looks great.

- but ....you may have to consider using faster lenses with a lens mount adaptor to give you a pro look with control over DOF. The HD lens is great but slow. It's autofocus is dependable most of the time. But imagine being able to put a fast Nikkor on it for interior shots....yum. Can't do that with the other guys.

- low light is - well to die for if you have a fast prime.

- The codec is improved and is more robust than the Gh1 unhacked. It looks good.

- You can put it easily on a steadicam type contraption and it works very well....or a slider. Or a shoulder mount.

- The swivel touch screen LCD is fantastic.

- it is small and compact and doesn't frighten too many people off ( I am on TV but don't want to be ) or draw any attention from over zealous security guards.

Cons

As far as I can see - the biggest problem with the GH2 over the others is some aliasing. Not as bad as the Canons but filming in an office environment with a sharp lens with all those straight lines may just be asking for trouble. Don't know how bad it is yet thou.

Also the banding issue at low exposures is a worry.

Audio? If you are happy to record separately and use plural eyes, it's not big issue.

Availibility.

If you are PAL and want to shot in 25p you may be so outta luck. Also the time limit can be an issue.

Advice - test. test , test. It isn't hard to do and you can come to a conclusion for yourself. As for me - I am excited about the GH2 becasue it promises uncompressed HDMI. If it delivers - then it may well be the best bang for buck indie camera period for its versatility alone.

Mine arrives in theb next two days so I am looking forward to testing this.

peace.
 
I would not do depositions with a GH2. They can talk for 2 hours without a break. On a hot day that big CMOS is going to get mega hot. More importantly how are you going to handle audio. You need 4 separate mics, so you need a mixer, can the GH2 even take a line-level input from a mixer? If so, how are you going to monitor with no headphone jack? The sound is probably even more important than the image.
I mean, you could probably make it all work, but I would say it's far from ideal. Also, depos are better show in 4:3 aspect because you don't want to see extra stuff next to a witness that would be unavoidable in 16:9, like court reporters laptop and lawyers waiving hands around etc. The legal industry is far from having depos in HD also. SD is fine. And you really should have time/date with seconds burned....can GH2 do that?
Commercials, yeah, go with GH2.....everything else......nightmare with GH2.
 
Yes, as many have been saying here already, you should absolutely forget going with the GH2 in this scenario. HDSLRs are a low-budget cinema camera replacement, not a replacement for a typical video camera. You're not shooting cinema in this situation, only video.

Get the HMC-150.
 
HMC-150. No brainer. I'm getting GH2 because i can use it as run-and-gun style photo/video camera. Occasional amateur video stuffs.
 
well i would say i have officially been ganged up on- ha ha... well, i am messing with another idea and i hope you guys will come back and check this post to give me some feedback.
the main thing they are wanting me to do is the online commercials and the live events. the depositions really don't happen much anymore in our law firm due to skype... and for the times i have had to do it for them in the past, quality was not really massively important and i would just use an hv30 and hand the tape to the attorney at the end of the shoot (audio is fine on the hv30 for this type of thing). so all the emphasis that has been put on the deposition, please let that rest... that is not what i am being hired for in the most part. the focus is the online commercials and the live events.

here is my new plan (please tell me your thoughts). they want a low investment so i know i can't talk them into a GH2 and an HMC150. So what I am thinking is seeing if they will buy just the pancake 20mm 1.7 lens and perhaps one nikon lens. then i will buy the GF1 (GF here not GH). i know it only shoot 720p but for web content I think that would be fine. i would use the GF1 for the commercials and have the HMC for the live events and the depositions.

so now my question is... can the GF1 hold up in the DSLR game? keep in mind, this is for video content online...
 
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