Panasonic GH3 - wow!

"There are pro-focused additions to the GH3's video capabilities, with timecode-supported broadcast quality video that is capable of bit rates as high as 72Mbps." "Timecode support in MOV(H.264) and AVCHD formats"

I am sure that I can make more money with this camera than with a T4i and you can have it in a bag where ever you go.

What about continuous focus during video shooting?

@wideweb.: The fastest of all DSLRs so you can use it as an ENG camera if you need. Only worry about zooming manually. It has the usual face detection and object tracking. Improved low light with the new sensor (of course not as good as the 5D). A camcorder turned into a still picture camera.

Bloom is a fan of the GH2 (hacked). Let's wait till he gives a full review of the GH3. If there is a new GH2 (the GH3) than only means that soon there is going to be a new AF101.

Price at BHPHOTO = $1,299.99 (Body Only) Wow!!! At this price bracket I am going to see if I can pre-order 1.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/892456-REG/Panasonic_Lumix_DMC_GH3_Mirrorless_Digital.html

I know all of you are Canon and FS700 fans now but this video filmed with a GH3 looked interesting.
I SEE NO APPARENT MOIRE IN THAT BRICK WALL


http://vimeo.com/52005342

I'm using a 176mb GH2 that I'm very satisfied with. I don't think there is anything remarkable about the GH3 if you already have the GH2. The only really great feature I can see is the addition of a headphone jack so you can monitor sound with an external mic..why they didn't put that in the original GH2 is beyond me.

I'd save your money and get a GH2 body. Spend the money on some good lenses and sound gear. You can use any 35mm lenses on this camera, you just need a cheap M4/3 adapter.

@MichaelWard - I am using a T2i and considering purchasing a T4i but these Canon Rebels are very prone to aliasing and moire problems which you do not notice until you see the clip in a monitor. The new Mosaic Engineering anti-moire filter must be about $300+ and should be available this month. I have always been tempted in purchasing the GH2 but they have told me it also suffers to some degree of moire problems but much less than Canon Rebels. The GH3 is a bigger temptation if it has less or no aliasing and moire. Will a moire free video signal justify the extra $621.00? $621 can buy a good lens. If I buy the GH2, I would have to hire someone to hack it. I do not feel confident in doing it myself. The GH3 today is $1300 and maybe 6 months from now it will be $1100. The general advice in all GH2/GH1 forums is to buy a GH2 now before they are no longer available. Anyway I will not decide until the end of this month.

I still do not understand how can a 176mb/sec signal be recorded into a 90 mb/s memory card.

Thanks for your advice.

I've only had one shot in all of mine that showed any moire and I've had this camera for a year. I paid $1170 at B&H Video and it came with the 14-140mm lens. This lens is actually pretty middle of the road, but great for us who are involved in video since it has an internal stabilizer and cuts down on rolling shutter when panning or with movement. I picked up a bunch of old glass on Ebay and Amazon. I'm eyeing the 20mm pancake lens because it looks awesome in low light and that's what I like to shoot in.

You're never going to get rid of moire completely..even Hollywood movies have moire sometimes. Did you ever see Donnie Brasco? The scene where they're giving Lefty the lion as a present. His 70's plaid leisure suit is moving all over the place on the screen.

I got this camera for filmmaking and I'm very impressed with it. I use a Rode NTG-3 mic and a Juicedlink box and I have pro quality sound and picture for under $1800. I rig up all my own dollies and lighting, etc. I'm pretty frugal, I'm not paying for anything unless I absolutely have to. I'm only concerned with how the finished product looks, I don't care how I look doing it. Some people who do a lot of weddings or public events will say that the GH2 is too small and doesn't "look" professional in your hands and I can understand that. It is much smaller than the Canons or Nikons, but in my opinion it is why its even more perfect for indie filmmaking or microstock videos.

You can easily hack the GH2. There is one great website in particular where a guy who knows NOTHING about cameras has hacked his and goes through it step by step. Its as easy as uploading a file on your computer, sending it to your camera and waiting a few minutes for it to load on. But you HAVE to follow the directions. There is a whole website dedicated to hacks where people who actually developed the hacks are on there daily and can guide you through it. Don't let that sway you because its a 5 minute process and its done and you can always un-hack it back to the original settings or try a new hack. Each hack is suited for different purposes, some for low light, some for smooth movement, etc.

http://vimeo.com/33025136

Check out that trailer for the movie Musgo, it was filmed entirely on a GH2.

OK, I have some technical questions. What lens are you using for very wide angle, for example 15mm lens equivalent in a full frame camera?
Also, why the aspect ratio in the above Musgo trailer is longer than HD? Thanks.

I use the 14-140mm as my widest angle lens...so with the crop, that is a 28mm lens equivalent at its widest. So for 15mm lens equivalent, you're going to need a 7mm lens. Personally I haven't had the need to go that wide in filmmaking, but now that I'm shooting stock I see the value in very wide angle lenses for effect. I just don't own one yet.

I'm assuming maybe he just cropped it in post, I don't know. He does have a website where he goes into depth on what lenses he used and different lighting techniques, etc. Here is a link to it. Below is a list from that website of the lenses he used and what patch and settings. I also use the Smooth -2 settings because it gives you room to tweak it a bit in post, but leaves more room for buyers to do their own renderings as well.

http://www.eoshd.com/content/8549/watch-the-first-five-minutes-of-gh2-feature-film-musgo-warning-nsfw

GH2 picture profile – Smooth, all -2. Further grading (of course) done in post
Tokina 11-16 F2.8, Nikkor 28mm, Nikkor 50mm
Hoya ND filters
Older version GH2 patch at 42Mbit