Panasonic GH3 - wow!

It is difficult to identify things that "i do not like" in a camera like this that is only $1300; but here I go. Things I do not like about the GH3.
1- No focus peaking.
2- No 60p All-Intra
3- No screen magnification when using autofocus , so you cannot verify if the autofocus is working properly. It can only be activated in manual focus mode.
4- No pre-record mode.
5- The record button is not placed properly It should be where the AF/AE button sits.
6- Overcranking and undercraking sucks (on camera Slow and fast motion). It records at 24p / 24 mbs / mov. You easily notice the quality loss compared to 50 mbs IBP or 72mps All-I.
7- US model does not have 25p
8- It doesn't speak - LOL

All of these can be solved through firmware updates.

The lens image stabilization is better than the Canon lenses I have used. You can start recording almost immediately after you turn the camera on. Just turn on and hit record instantly. Great for ENG.

This afternoon I was out in the field under the rain shooting urban floodings. I only had to worry about aperture and shutter speed. Never had to worry about focus.

I still can't part with my GH2..I love this camera. I just did a short film contest and most of my competitors were bragging about the Canon 5D MKIII they either rented or owned. They played the films in the theater on the big screen and there was no difference quality-wise between the GH2 and the MKIII. The GH3 does have a headphone jack to monitor sound though from what I hear. That's a big plus!

Yes , it does have a headphone jack that operates in 2 modes. (1) real time audio as it enters the camera and (2) actual recorded sound that has a very slight delay. You check the recorded sound and then you switch back real time audio. And (this is a big advantage for me) all does customizable buttons which are menu short cuts are great.

I took this shot with left hand holding an umbrella and the GH3 on my right hand. Focus set at area focus in the center and my index finger just had to worry about the top aperture wheel just behind the shutter button. If I had a T2i, It would have been so difficult to set this shot. . The camera was full of rain drops. The Police car is a little over expose but I wanted to capture the man in the shadows trapped in the bus station surrounded with water (you can barely see his legs).

NO MOIRE ISSUES UP TO NOW,

The ONLY thing that stopped me from getting a GH3 is that the European models don't have 29.97, just 25p. Since I do most stock at 29.97 and I don't want to import one, I'll stick to my Canon 7D and hope for a GH3-type 7D mark II...

I took my GH3 to Miami this past weekend. I was amazed at it's quality. Here's a clip straight from the SD card.



https://vimeo.com/66096191

The buildings look great. If there is moiré, it's very minimal.

That lens is in my buying and probably will end up on the BMPCC.

@eurospider - that is a marketing error from Panasonic. If the GH3 is meant for professionals who travel all the world it should have all frames rates possible.

FOCUSING FROM ONE SUBJECT TO THE OTHER BY JUST TOUCHING THE SCREEN - a test that both T4i's and T5i's fail drastically.

Minuscule focus hunting no lens focusing motor sounds.

Great little camera.

I have a second clip which is even better.

Nice results with the Rack Focus demo! - I do wish the T4i had audio monitoring, but we have a good work around - so no issue.

Do you have a T4i or a T5i as well? I did not see the footage for comparison.

I had nothing to do this afternoon ( Yeah right... LOL! ) and I haven't used my Vimeo Channel in quite some time, so I did a quick little test with the T4i using multiple subjects in the frame for fun.

The details on the distance / exposure etc. are on the Vimeo page - looks pretty good to me, but admittedly I'm prejudiced ;)

Cheers!



https://vimeo.com/66364370

No I do not own a T4i nor T5i. My comments are based on the many reviews in Youtube where some of owners sold their T4i for Gh2s because they where not satisfied how it work. My test was done outside to represent closer real field situations. Before buying the GH3, I sent an email to a T5i owner asking if Canon had corrected the autofocus issues. He replied no. In my GH3 autofocus works just like a camcorder fast and reliable.

My test are not done to convince people to buy a GH3. I guess they are meant to convince myself that paying $1300+ for this camera was a good decision. So far with an inexpensive lens I am happy with low light results, weather proofing (shooting under rain), auto-focus, video quality. leveling on-screen horizon, slow-motion 60p to 30p in full HD, audio monitoring, touch screen quality and brightness under the sun, how fast it can start recording as soon as you turn the camera on, I had a lot of problems losing "opportunity shots" with the Canon T2i. The GH3 up to now seems to solve many of my expectations for a camera that I will carry with me all the time.

I still have to do the wireless test, timelapse, see how the time code works and see the quality of the HDMI output.

In my camera the earphone volume was set close to zero it took me a minute to find where to raise the volume. So microphone volume and earphone volume are set independently.

For what it's worth, your information and enthusiasm have made me open to the concept of considering delving into an entirely different system in addition to what I have.

Biggest downside so far is the lack of focus peaking.

Do you have to press hard to get the touchscreen to react?

Keep posting, please!