GH4 + 4k + XLR wow!!!

@Videostock50, I have the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema camera and have a few micro 4/3 lenses, the Lumix 20mm f1.7 and the newer 14-45mm with switchable O.I.S. I intend to "test" the GH4 with these and if all goes well will get the Lumix 12-35 f2.8. I'm thinking the pocket camera and the GH4 will make a nice compact set, I get HD ProRes 10bit 4.2.2 with the BMPCC and real time 4K and stills with the GH4. So the common lens mount is very attractive to me, my fall back if the GH4 doesn't produce the quality I want is the Blackmagic 4K camera and keep my Canon system both having the same lens mount.

I have not heard about your "trick" yet but will search for that. I believe the GH4 does not line skip?

I think that "crop sensor" mode works with any DSLR that has that feature. It does produce much crisper video (no stair steps), but you do lose a LOT (re: wideness).

I've also used it to make a longer reach shot if I don't have a long enough zoom lens. But you have to be VERY STABLE as this not only increases your zoom, but also amplifies any movement.

Normstock: This is going to be interesting re the lenses. I have my fingers crossed re the new HD 14-120 but maybe it's a zoom length too far.

I sure hope it doesn't "line skip" as that's the recipe for moire.

OD: when you say - "loses wideness". Not sure exactly what you mean.

Do you know if the 5DIII has this "crop sensor" mode?

The GH4 isn't quite a crop sensor mode as in some full frame cameras being able to offer an APS-C crop size as well. What the GH4 is, the full sensor size is for stills at 16 mp, for video you need to loose some pixels because there are too many for HD or 4K, so on the GH4 for full HD they take the full width of the sensor but crop the vertical until they get a 16.9 format size of recording area, then out of this area they crop the 4K real estate this results in a crop factor of 2.3x but for still's the crop factor is only 2x so wide angles on 4K cinema are not going to be as wide. They take less sensor area for 4K than 1080 so they don't have to downsize the 4K signal and because of that get a higher picture quality.

I have the GH2, my 14-140mm is a 28-280mm.....saves money on the zooms, but you get beat up on cost the wide angle lenses.

I have sold all my video gear to finance the GH4 and a couple of lenses. I have the camera on pre-order in the U.S. The vendor is citing delivery 1 May. I am really excited about this camera. I have historically used camcorders and have no experience with the GH4 form factor. So I have a big learning curve ahead of me. Here is my kit I have on order. It is compiled to go "light-weight" in remote areas.
- GH4
- Panasonic 14-45mm zoom
- Panasonic 45-175mm zoom
- Olympus 35mm macro with 4/3 to m 4/3 adaptor
- Benro S6 head/tripod
- Cinevate Duzi slider w/all terrain legs
- Lowepro 400AW backpack

That was just my dumb way of saying a 35mm lens in crop mode now becomes a 100mm (or whatever the ratio is).

If I go with the GH4, I'll have to get one of these since I have a lot of Canon EF lens and don't really want to buy another brand.
Has anyone played with this?

http://store.redrockmicro.com/livelensmft
http://store.redrockmicro.com/livelensmft

I have the cheap ( no communication ) EBay Nikon AI to Canon EF adapter so I use legacy Nikon manual lenses on my Canon 5D MK2, works great.

OD: Oh yes, see what you mean - sorry I'm a bit dozy tonight - must be that extra glass of wine and being over-dosed on camera specs.