A highly trusted source confirmed that there will be no “entry-level” GH camera from Panasonic. The simple strategy from Panasonic is to lower the price of the camera that gets replaced. Like it happened with the GH3 after the GH4 release.
The source said the GH4 sales exceeded the expectations and Panasonic is also preparing a “surprise” for current GH4 owners…
GH4 North American store links:
GH4 camera at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, Ritz Camera and Panasonic. Price: $1,698. In Canada at Vistek.
GH4 camera with interface unit at Adorama and BHphoto. Price: $3,298
Interface unit only at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto and Panasonic. Price: $1,998
Save $100 on the Open BOx GH4 sold by [shoplink 47293 ebay]Samys one Bay (Click here)[/shoplink].
GH4 Europen store links:
Germany: Wexcameras, Marcotec-shop.de.
UK at Wexphotographic, CameraWorld, UKdigital, CVP, TipTop.
Holland at Fotohanskeuzekamp.
Belgium at Fotokonijnenberg.
Norway at Fotovideo.
Sweden at Cyberphoto, Skandinavianphoto.
Finland at Telefoto, Topshot, Verkkoauppa.
France at Photocineshop.
Spain: Fotoboom.
Asian store links:
Digitalrev and Digidirect Australia.
4K cards
Kingston 16-32-64 GB SDHC UHS-I Speed Class 3 at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here).
Sandisk 16-32-64 GB Extreme PRO SDXC UHS-II Memory Card at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here).
Transcend 64-128 GB High Speed 10 UHS-3 at Amazon (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here).
Panasonic 16-32-64 GB SDHC-UHS-I U3 Card (90MB/s) at Adorama (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here).
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94 Responses
maybe I should get a GH4.
still in love with my GH3 at the moment though 🙂
‘Panasonic is also preparing a “surprise” for current GH4 owners…’
Mmmkai. Wonder what that would be. Maybe internal recording of ProRes LT, huh. 😛
It’s possible. They did just license ProRes from Atomos. This guess would go along well with my guess for internal 10bit 4:2:2 recording. Though I am more likely to believe they will just stick with H.264.
Hopefully its not just a photo contest 😉
Well yeah, doesn’t the H stand for High-End? Not Hamateur.
Hibrid.
And ‘F’ oin ‘GF’ stands for ‘F***wit’?
And ‘X’ stands for ‘Expert’
Hmmm, perhaps a firmware update with log gamma and a 4.6K recording mode that spans the entire width of the sensor.
How about electronic stabilisation in video mode as a firmware upgrade ?
I think some Panasonic P&S allready have electronic stabilisation in video mode. That way the 4K crop would make more sense.
There is no sensor stabilization in ANY mode on the GH4, and that’s a hardware thing, not something firmware can effect. If you have optically stabilized tenses, you can use that stabilization in any mode.
Entry level GH doesn’t make sense IMO. That camera would be the G7.
No, it’s the FZ1000.
no it’s fixed lens and not mft camera.
Well, of course, but it’s the only other (except GH3) video-centric Pany, and it has many of the features of the GH4 (4K, DOF tool, etc.). The GX7 is a stills-oriented camera; even Pany said that not too long ago. In fact, I don’t think it even has a mic port. I wasn’t referring to format in the above post, but of the place in the line of Pany cameras with superior video capabilities, and tests of the newer Sony RX models show that their 1″ sensor performs very well against m4/3.
Note, I own multiple m4/3 cameras and an RX10; will be upgrading my GH3 to GH4 soon.
Too many rumors too few products announcements are always postponed. Disappointing.
perhaps you should be reading http://www.four-thirds.org/en/ rather than http://www.43rumors.com ?
I have an FT5 too: no organic sensors this year!!!
add RAW video and i’m sold 😉
Have you been editing a lot RAW videos? Be careful what you wish for. : )
Editing the compressed 4K is taking enough of a toll on my computer as it is.
I just love surprises from panasonic
Makes sense. However what doesn’t make sense is the lack of an AF-100 update.
I thought the entry level GH4 was the G6.
…Sounds good for the consumers, but is it good for Panasonic an the GH4?…
so that mean we will never see an new G series anymore? then the next m43 panasonic cam will be an GF?
The best “surprise” for GH4 owners would be a smaller YAGH-like attachment the size of a normal vertical battery grip. For many, the SDI inputs are unnecessary and the two XLR ports plus an additional battery would be all we need. I hope Panasonic one day makes this possible.
Panasonic preparing “surprise” for GH owners .
The one above the GH called GL ?
hope a firmware update with log gamma, in-body stabilization and improved ISO :)))
How can a firmware add an in-body stabilization?
electronic stablization aka hello jello
The surprise has got to be something good for Panasonic to be playing “I’ve got a secret but I’m not telling hehehe” lol. My mind is racing with possibilities.
I’m going to guess 10bit 4:2:2 internal recording is the surprise. If the camera can output that through the HDMI port, it seems like something they could enable for internal recording.
This would be the holy grail of updates as far as I’m concerned. I hope you’re right!
Same here. This seems like something Panasonic would pull out of their hat in September around the same time Canon announces their new cameras (7DmkII – which the original 7D sold for close to the same price as the GH4 does). So they may know something about Canon we don’t (or preparing for the unknown) or they may just be preparing to have something else to help up the ante to compete against the Sony A7S.
nice insight 🙂
Doubtful. Gamma log will be the “surprize”.
To me, gamma log by itself seems like more of a stretch than 10bit 4:2:2. The log profile would be wasted on the 8 bit codec. I feel as if Panasonic really has something big up their sleeve since they keep dropping little hits of the “surprise” to come. If gamma were to come, I would bet that internal 10bit 4:2:2 would come with it to facilitate it.
How much are you willing to wager? =)
“The simple strategy from Panasonic is to lower the price of the camera that gets replaced.”
That is a very good strategy which, for example, earned Apple hundreds of billions.
There should be different products for natural differentiation (for example, DSLR form vs “rangefinder” form, with a viewfinder vs no viewfinder), but making artificially crippled products for the purposes of price differentiation is waste of R&D.
Make just the best you can in each natural category and you will win.
100% agree.
I agree it’s a good strategy, but I’m not sure I agree that Apple does it well. As much as I am a fan of their products. The difference in cost between a 16 and 32 or a 32 and 64GB iPhone always being a $100 price difference? Are we really to believe that it cost $100 to go from 16 to 32GB but also only $100 to go from 32 to 64?
The same can be said for the mac line, especially when it comes to their Macbook (Pros). Are we really to believe that a 15″ screen costs more than a 13″ model when we have PC laptops with 15″ screens for half the cost of a 13″macbook pro?
There is definitely a level of artificial product differentiation compared to cost going on at Apple.
And yet people keep buying millions of them. There is no question that the strategy is a good one for Apple. It may seem unfair to consumers but, as far as Apple is concerned, if the strategy wasn’t successful for them they would have stopped doing it a long time ago.
You could say the same thing about other companies like Canon that artificially (as far as most of us believe) cripple their cameras. That it’s a good strategy because they continue to sell more cameras that most other companies.
So I don’t buy that argument. Just pointing out that Apple is not the best role model for a company that “makes the best they can for the price at that moment” and then lowers that price when they introduce something new that is better than that. But Apple is certainly better than a lot of other companies in that regard.
Maybe Panasonic itself is the best example.
“The difference in cost between a 16 and 32 or a 32 and 64GB iPhone always being a $100 price difference?”
Cost has nothing to do with it. It is not a commodity, they set prices as they think will earn them more money.
But memory size IS natural differentiation, because memory costs them money, and is needed for some while not for others. And including this or that amount of memory does not cost them much in terms of R&D – it is still essentially the same device, I am sure the flash chips used inside are even pin-compatible.
iPhone 5c on the other hand is deviating from the strategy which earned them money and fans – but what do you know, Tim Cook is not Steve Jobs.
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
I don’t shoot video…only stills….but that is a smokin nice product shot of the GH4. It looks simple…but a lot of work went into that. Very fine!!!!
It looks to me like it might be a rendering…its getting hard these days to tell which is which. I just watched a CGI movie trailer yesterday that looked pretty close to the real thing.
Well..a shot like that is HEAVILY retouched….it just has to be ….dust, flaws etc…you would be surprised what shows up with great lenses, resolution and excellent lighting. …..even if you are sitting there with a blower…there is still dust etc… I love the perspective and the reflection in the lens…the shooter really made the camera look bigger than life…very cool.
I’m pretty sure it is a render, I have an eye for it! (it’s my job 🙂 )
I don’t know enough about this camera to speculate about what it might be missing in software, but a major firmware update with great new features that take advantage of all of that existing processing power would be a great, customer centric move by Panasonic.
No entry level GH? They are all entry level, except for the price.
Wait, are we talking about cameras or your date nights?
You ever had a date night? With that tiny sensor?
SD insists that his photography match his posterior. Full frame and raw.
I have the right equipment for any posterior!
Not just plugs, but beads, dildos, vibrators, lubricants,
enema equipment, or spanking paddles and whips if that’s your thing.
Whoa I should never mention dating in a post with our forum girlie LOL.
Your full frame certainly created a frenzy SD. Please keep the pictures to yourself though. Thanks.
What is going on there? Trying to pull again girlie?
SD, you’re not making sense again. Are you mad (again)?
For the record though, I’m sure there’s almost continuous pulling going on behind your keyboard.
Hey, when are you going to explain the advantages of 4k like you promised? You know, like actual camera stuff?
You’re not making sense again SD, although I’m sure there’s almost continuous pulling going on behind your keyboard.
Drunk answers won’t do any good, Brianna. Get out of school first.
More gobbledy gook SD. It never occurred to me before, but you’re drinking. That’s the only explanation.
And it’s official, I have a stalker. Who is apparently the mod.
No, SD is not drinking. I am.
Cheers.
Perhaps he should start. Only possible excuse for his opinions.
Taking the mickey out of geeks is fun 🙂 This dimwit with the camera icon must be 14 and yet look how he fights!
Amazing, ain’t it? The forum girlie pulled out the b***s.
Oh SD. So much name calling and so much anger. At least your spelling has improved. It appears you can be taught.
LOL tell the salespeople over here… M43 is even better than FF LOL.
This is one camera I might give a try. On another note- finally got my Sony A7R adaptor today. I’m going to rent the camera and see if it blows me away. If not I’m selling all my full frame glass. That’s how much I’m enjoying my Olympus lenses.
G1, G10, G2, G3, G5, G6, GH1, GH2, GH3, GH4, GF1, GF2, GF3, GF5, GF6, GX1, GX7, GM1, that’s 18 m43 cameras, Panasonic! Really, do we need that many? That’s a huge line-up!
Three is enough: an entry-level model without EVF, a rangefinder-styled model with EVF in the corner for enthusiasts, and an SLR-styled model for professionals. Get your act together, Panasonic, and stop confusing us with this GARGANTUAN deluge of similar cameras!
And make the sensor bigger while you’re at it, because full frame is the way to the future, to the pinnacle of photographic glory, rapture and orgiastic ecstacy! Are you listening, Panasonic, or are you heading towards your DOOM?
M43 is full frame. At least they made progress. Look at canon ti series….
Trolling again?
Dude, get a grip. Cameras like the GH1 and GH2 aren’t “in the lineup” … Because they are, y’know, discontinued.
How many models would be in the Canikon lineup if you counted discontinued cameras?
Idiot.
But why discontinue a camera, if you’re gonna replace it with another one? Then you could just have continued selling the first one.
MAKE A CAMERA THAT’S PERFECT FROM THE BEGINNING, AND SELL IT FOREVER! IS THAT SO HARD, PANASONIC?
This is business, bear in mind these improvements take processing power – these are basicly computers with sensors and lenses. It’s not all black and white.
Well said! Too many models, most of them except the GH series are poopy doop.
Well said! Too many models, most of them except the GH series are shit.
full frame? maybe medium format is better for you? what about 4×5, 8×10 format? : )
4K at 60fps would be a big surprise. Guess we won’t see that until GH5 however.
I see all the lame pixel peepers are out again expecting perfection……get real clowns.
Another genius posting here… It must be the atmosphere.
My wishlist: prores or a log profile (preferably 10bit) in cam, faster than 96fps in 720p or improvement to the overall codecs. Either way im already happy with the GH4. But when can we expect this to be revealed??
I’m guessing the log profile.
Hopefully in 10 bit ^^
Man, people are going nuts with impossible expectations from a “surprise”. Seriously, try to have reasonable expectations. 10-bit recording might be theoretically possible, but I think it’s unlikely. I’d personally be happy with AF-ON or focus magnification working during video recording. If they’ve improved the peaking, I’ll be very happy.
I see all the lame pixel peepers are out again expecting perfection……get real clowns!!
I don’t think my expectations are unreasonable! When Panasonic say they have a surprise for ‘existing’ GH4 customers, I’m presuming firmware. Therefore it has to be an improvement to something in cam, more than likely video related, so a profile, frame rate, or codec improvement seems most likely.
@Chris Exactly my thoughts. @kadmium:disqus Panasonic has become very savvy in this market. They know what we want. Look at the progression from GH2 to GH4. You can’t tell me it is not obvious they’re listening to the market. When they say “surprise” it does not mean some tiny update. They will unveil something big that many of us have had on our wishlists. Keep in mind that the first firmware update was hardly announced ahead of time at all; this is different.
AdobeDNG Raw output to internal cards.
I think they ad support for Atomos Shogun and NinjaStar recorders, like start/stop detection via HDMI.
that would be great.
You can only afford to split the market into so many parts. If there was an entry level GH, someone would be asking why there is not a “mid tier” GH and so on. If you need an entry level GH and do not want to pay for a GH4, get a G or GX. An entry level GH probably would not have what you want anyway.
any follow-up on this? whats the big surprise?