Panasonic GH3

[f16sunshine]

With wifi and cloud bu. Plus it is still pretty small sized and, with reasonably compact files at 16mb sensor. This looks like the perfect event camera.
It looks like I may finally give m4/3 a try.

http://blog.gadgethelpline.com/photokina-2012-panasonic-lumix-gh3-revealed/

 

[f16sunshine]

550g without lens! Maybe that is too lightweight 😀

 

[zwarte_kat]

I am considering this camera for the following reasons:

1. I want a competent and flexible photo-video hybrid, this rules out traditional DSLRs for me with their mirror designs and clumsy live-video implementations. I want a screen active all the time with no issues, and to be able to either shoot a photo or video at any time.

2. I want to have video quality higher then the 28mbs usually found in pretty much any DSLR excepts the 5DIII to have more options for color grading. Even Sony doesn't have this.

3. I want 60P Full HD video for slow motion. Until now only the Sony cams have this.

4. Being able to use wifi to (reference) monitor and control the camera with a phone or tablet is awesome. No other serious photo camera can do this at the moment, though I think Sony is implementing this too.

5. Price, though it's more expensive now, it is still less than half of a A99 or 5D III, the only other cams I am considering.

6. Flexible lens mount (bye bye Sony A99)

7. Relatively light compared with other options, and just the right size and weight for video I think.

8. Decent audio implementations

9. The Noktons give Shallower DOF options then APS sensor cams equivalents . The 25mm 0.95 gives a full frame equivalent of 50mm 1.9, but with the sensitivity of 0.95. This is great.

10. The ability to use only the center of the sensor for video doubles my focal lengths.

If you buy this for the right thing (creative video production for people who know how to do post production), then is is a steal at the current price and weight.

If you just want to make photo, look elsewhere IMHO

 

[markwatts]

The GH3 is the reason why the OM-D EM5 left me unmoved.

 

[biomed]

I just had a good look at the GH3 at a Panasonic demo day at a local store. That was enough to make up my mind to place an order. I should have it in the next week or so.

 

[markwatts]

Mine is still on order waiting for stock.

 

[sanmich]

The best part of the GH3 is the current price for the GH2 😉

Just bought mine a month ago for family video/photo with emphasis on High Q video, with a pancake zoom 14-42 for 750$!

In use, the difference between it and the GH3 is, for me, zero.

 

[Archiver]

The thing that keeps me with the OM-D as a fun and travel camera, and away from the GH3 for those purposes, is the in body stabilization. The OM-D's stabilization is amazing, and makes any lens super steady. I've shot hand held video that almost looks like I've done it with a fluid tripod head, thanks to the OM-D's IBIS.

I just wish that the video implementation was good enough to use it as a primary camera on jobs, which is what is tempting me about the GH3. I use the 5D Mark II on jobs but the GH3 does a number of things so much better, like touchscreen focus pulling, AF tracking, the All-I codec, etc. If Oly come out with the EM-6, with GH3 level video functions and quality but with the same kind of IBIS, I would be sold instantly.

 

[biomed]

My GH3 arrived yesterday. I was feeling under the weather and did not open the box until this morning. Currently charging the batteries before I try it out.

It feels very good in the hand and is probably one of the most ergonomic cameras I have held. Not perfect, but very good. I have not decided whether to use a lug mount or base mount wrist strap (both from Gordy).

Mike

 

[markwatts]

Mine is supposed to arrive today but the tracking update looks suspiciously confused this morning.

 

[biomed]

GH3/self portrait

GH3/self portrait

Taken with a DMC-G1. All decked out with a new wrist strap from Gordy.

 

[markwatts]

Mine did arrive yesterday afternoon. It feels more robust than the GH2, is very comfortable to me both with and without the vertical grip. It is still light even with two batteries. I only had time for a quick play last evening but one thing I noticed was slow write speeds for high quality RAW+jpeg. Other than that combination write speeds seem fine. Viewfinder and screen are both much improved. I need to explore more.
This, the Oly 12, 45 and 75 plus the 12-35 and 25 1.4 will be a good holiday kit.

 

[Archiver]

Congrats to all of you with your new GH3's!

@ markwatts - the kit you describe would be the bomb. I traveled with the OM-D and Pana 14/2.5, Oly 45 and 75, and Pana 12-35. I found that I used the 12-35 most of the time, the 14/2.5 when I wanted a 'compact' camera, and the 45 and 75 a reasonable amount. The 12-35 is so versatile it is on the camera most of the time unless I want something much smaller, or longer and faster.

 

[markwatts]

I forgot to mention the 7-14. That is too good ( and too expensive) a lens to leave behind.

My camera is intermittently powering down immediately after power on. It may be a function I am not yet understanding. When this happens it comes back to life with only a half press of the shutter. This is with the 12-35 attached. I will try to repeat with another lens and better understand the situation.

 

[Gordon Coale]

I've had my GH3 since December and it keeps getting better and better! I've been using is for personal and product photography for my website and now I'm starting to do video for my website. It's the most versatile camera I've ever owned!

 

[Keith]

So how does image quality stack up against the OMD and what is the usable ISO range? I found the Oly to be pretty decent at ISO 3200.

I still have my 25mm Panaleica Summilux and my 17.5mm f0.95 kicking around and was wondering about the performance of this camera. In the end I found the OMD too squeezy ... this GH3 looks much more comfortable!

 

[Gordon Coale]

Keith - Very comfortable and lots of external controls that make life much easier. Image quality is apparently pretty much the same.

 

[wintoid]

Would love to hear any impressions of using the EVF for manual focus in low light. Does the refresh rate keep up, and can you see what you're doing?

 

[biomed]

Would love to hear any impressions of using the EVF for manual focus in low light. Does the refresh rate keep up, and can you see what you're doing?

IMHO the EVF has an improved refresh rate. I would rate it the same as the latest from Olympus - usable but not perfect. There is still noticeable refresh lag. EVFs are not anywhere close to what you would see with a SLR VF.

Mike

 

[twopointeight]

Does anyone have direct comparison of high iso between the OMD and the GH3? Against popular advice, I'd be getting the GH# for stills only. I agree that the OMD is too tight a fit for my hands, louse a fully articulated screen is better, IMO.