Chris and Jordan from TheCameraStoreTV tested the GH4. And once you will finish to watch this video you will want to buy a GH4 🙂
North American GH4 preorders, shipping date and price:
GH4 camera at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here), BHphoto (Click here), and Panasonic (Click here). Price: $1,698. In Canada at Vistek (Click here).
GH4 camera with interface unit at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here). Price: $3,298
Interface unit only at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here), BHphoto (Click here) and Panasonic (Click here). Price: $1,998
European GH4 preorders, shipping date and price:
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.
64 Responses
Impressive 4K video especially on the man hitting the drums .
No doubt this camera is born for videographer .
As for still , it’s shock to learn that such highend Lumix flagship GH4 without body IS .
Hmm … The message is clear here .
In body IS only designed exclusively for GX7 .
How many professionals do you see running around shooting limp-wristed video without a stabilizer rig? If you want to shoot video like an amateur then just buy a GX or an Olympus and save yourself some money. If you don’t mind spending the cash, then just get an IS lens like the 12-35mm and leave Panasonic engineers (and the rest of us) in peace.
@Tron +1
What?
I can understand him. There are countless cameras with good video output but no IBIS. Just because you don’t need it does not mean nobody could use it.
“There are countless cameras with good video output but no IBIS.” Yet you still haven’t managed to put two and two together relative to that statement. As was already stated, high performance video demands proper sensor cooling and IBIS doesn’t play well with heatsinks and the active cooling required to get the job done. Time to use some critical thinking skills in favor of those unrealistic expectations.
But this heating problem applies to all mirrorless… Do you think Panasonic has built in special heat sinks in the GH4? Have they made any statement?
PS “relative to that statement” is funny English. Better nothing.
Yes, they have. Panasonic did state that sensor cooling was re-designed and improved for the 4k output when the camera was being announced.
Thank you for daring to point out engineering tradeoffs. Too often we just want everything for nothing, as if there are no real world realities of physics for engineers to cope with.
Now some day the technological hurdles may be overcome and we will be able to have both IBIS and high quality video…but thanks again for pointing out this basic engineering tradeoff.
Engineering trade-offs? That could be a possibility but there is also such a thing as lack of progress caused by other motives. For instance, why has Olympus suppressed variable framerates for its video output? Who here believe that they couldn’t offer 60fps when much lower-end cameras do? If that is still a technological impossibility, then 24fps would surely place less strain on the sensor and the processor than the 30fps already implemented. Furthermore, if we can’t trust Olympus in this regard, how can we be sure that higher bitrate codecs are not being intentionally suppressed as well? How do we know Panasonic isn’t doing the same? Maybe you are correct that IBIS and 4k cannot be done with today’s technology, but that shouldn’t prevent us from yearning for improvements in the foreseeable future.
No problem with asking for improvements in the future. That is good. But demanding the impossible or unreliable now, is not. Olympus has openly stated that they chose to focus on still photography first to build their OMD brand. They also acknowledge there is an immediate demand for improved video and that has to be a bigger priority going forward and they need to work on solutions. — Now as to their lower models having better video specs, I’ve noticed that too, but I don’t think those lower models use IBIS (in body). Rather they have fixed lenses and use OIS (optical) – The Panny GX7 has a simpler IBIS that works with stills but not with video, but do have better video spec. Still images, even in bursts (which are limited) have a limited period where the sensor is working at maximum capacity. Thereby there is less opportunity for overheating, and less heat to be dissipated. Video, especially at higher frame rates and bit rates for the higher quality, runs not for bursts lasting seconds but for periods lasting many minutes to greater then 30 minutes non-stop, and result in higher sensor temperatures and more extensive heat dissipation efforts from the sensor and the more powerful processors. It is similar to over-clocked computers, you have to beef up the cooling to keep them running. That is also one of the reasons that the GH3 and GH4 have larger bodies. The extra space is needed to help with heat dissipation efforts. Yes they could have built everything into a smaller body, but they couldn’t have maintained the frame rates or higher bit rates, plus the data processing and buss bandwidth needs without overheating in the smaller bodies. Now as digital technology and chip production methods continue to improve, resulting in smaller sizes, improved efficiency and reduced heat production, then the things we are wanting can happen. — if I were a betting man (which I generally am not unless I know the details of the odds), I would put my money on Olympus to come up with a solution (to be shared in some form with Panasonic along with paid licensing of IBIS) for the heat problems with sustained higher end video and IBIS. Likewise I am sure that having gotten their feet wet with the IBIS in the GX7, Panasonic will also be working on solutions. The next year or two should be exciting.
Or you could prefer to live in fear of conspiracies. As a former Corporate Fraud and Compliance Investigator, I can tell you there are very few conspiracies and just generally poor executive decision making allowing too much decision making power to go to the Sales, Marketing and Bean Counting (Accounting) departments as a response to Stock Market demands for greater short-term profits. Conspiracies require cooperation across many levels. Reality is the big egos who control the information, and influence bad decisions, don’t like to cooperate with anyone. They hate conspiracies because then they would have to share the power. The just want to control the show and keep the power to themselves.
Professionals shoot video with everything at their disposal. I shoot corporate promotion and training videos, and will sometimes use a hand-held rig and a stabilized lens to quickly get the shot I am after. The OIS system gets rid of the “jitter” movement that would normally make a hand-held shot unusable.
As an E-M1 owner, I have to say – IBIS is not quite there for video yet. ANY camera movement and the frame warps and rolls on the edges as the sensor adjusts position. It’s great for static handheld shots, but any sort of movement and the image falls apart (and not due to the codec). It’s simply not reliable enough for critical cinema work, least not as it’s currently implemented.
Sensor based stabilization prevents proper sensor cooling
+1, if stabilization was that easy to be implemented, we’d have seen it on many other higher end video cameras. Technology is still not there yet.
I totally agree, and instead of IS (image stabilization) in the next GHx iterations I definatly prefer 60p and full sensor readout and no more 4K cropping.
How do you know that?
Are you a sensor/camera designer?
I disagree.
these are the words of Vitaliy Kiselev.
And the words of Panasonic themselves. Not to forget that the GX7 IBIS implementation is quite limited, and does not work with video, only stills, so would not help with the GH4 video anyway, even if it was implemented. — Could it be that Olympus’s 5 axis IBIS is also at present a barrier to implementation of a better video codec in their cameras (higher frame rates and data transfer)? I don’t know the answer, but it is something to consider. We have come a long way in chip design and heat management but sensor overheating has been the bane of digital since its foundation. I remember when even the simplest digital still sensors would overheat after 15-30 seconds. Consider then how far digital and all its supporting technologies have come in a few short years and it is amazing.
If you’re shooting video projects and need sensor sensor stabilization to get a steady shot you’re doing it wrong. Get a tripod and when you’re ready get a shoulder rig, steadicam, dolly, etc.
I’ve been shooting pro video for 5 years and have never once wished I had sensor stabilization, even when I have a lens with IS I switch it off because any camera movement I make is deliberate and I want it to play in the shot.
Not everyone feels the way you do. You say you shoot pro video but some of us are not pros, nor will ever claim to be. The GH series has always been targeted at enthusiasts and is still priced for that market to this day. The fact that it is good enough for some professional use is a bonus to all. That said, enthusiasts will usually choose not to carry multiple gear while filming and many would prefer in-body stabilization instead. Regardless, even if it was a feature its not something you will be forced to use. Like you said about lens stabilization, you can always turn it off.
As mentioned above, IBIS is a problem when it comes to very high resolution and bitrates. This generates a lot of heat on the sensor which degrades image quality and stability if not dealt with. A lot of the design effort put into the GH3/4 was spent creating a passive cooling system. With IBIS you can’t have heavy heat sinks attached to the sensor. I think you would have to have some kind of active cooling system (e.g. fans, liquid cooling) to combine IBIS and very high bitrates.
well done, panasonic!
I want to see this compared to Sony FDR AX100 4k camcorder. Sony footagle looks better to me so far but who can tell on youtube? Maybe Sony marketing is better. GH4 looks fantastic though -wonder why they didn’t go for a killer EVF though?
AX100 and slopey windows https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDYxQ_kBrDA
Ouch! wow that is bad; Gh4 it is then.
Heh, that’s exactly what I said too.
Got to love that rolling shutter effect. (cough, cough) GH3 had that problem also to some degree. Panasonic claims the GH4 with its 50% faster readouts (hope that is the right number) greatly reduces or in some conditions eliminates it. Will have to see how that works with production models, but early comments from the Lucky test Pro’s indicates it is a good improvement.
I was wondering the same thing as mfifty, that the ax100 youtube vids really seem better at the moment. Then I saw the train vid… I just hope the current problems with blur and general terrible GH4 youtube is a problem with youtube or the encoders in the editing and not the GH4. Eventually comparison videos side by side will show how much rolling sloppiness there is. I mean shutter.
The GH3 has the lowest amount of rolling shutter for any DSLR/Mirrorless camera, so the GH4 being 50 percent faster is a big deal.
The review was great, but the shooting was spotty. There was some stunning stuff of Chris fly fishing and the drumming part was well done. it was very bright out there and there was a lot of overexposed video otherwise. can’t say I blame them though, it was BRIGHT!
What’s the point buying expensive cams and not using ND filters? This video shows once again that technique beats gadget and marketing hype.
You can see the ND filter attached to the lens. All footage was shot at a 180 degree shutter (i.e. properly)
Some great improvements in the GH4. Panasonic’s codec is amazing. Already preordered. That said … not happy to hear that the EVF issue is still there. Haven’t heard that from other reviewers.
DPR got it wrong, this is the mini marvel….
+100
yup,.its possibly this will be the best selling M43 camera in 5 years or in history of M43 ,coz the video capability its really phenomenal,.this will suck many videographer who wants a 4K but have a low budget.
I’m an Oly fan,.but this camera has a tremendous potential and really tempting
Indeed when video people love a camera they really love it, they will often buy 2-4 models of the same for a project/job and video people spread word of mouth better than photographers…
Don’t forget that the horsepower to move that 4K data directly improves the still IQ. I’ll have full sized downloads available tomorrow on SCBP.
Cool Giulio. Will keep an eye out for that. And I was thinking the same thing about data processing bringing improvements across the board. Hasn’t hurt the continuous still frame rates, buffer capacity or focus speeds either. Curious at how they might have tweaked JPEG processing, especially in the area of noise processing and reduction. I PP from RAW usually but like to use JPEG for a reference frame or quick show for family and friends.
Really? Does it improve RAW? I am just curious…
It should but we won’t know until RAW is supported within the RAW processors. The GH4’s I used we’re firmware 0.1 and were hand made engineering samples. Even still it was an impressive camera.
We’ll see. For now, I am sticking to my Canons with a large sensor and similar-sized lenses – I found out on this forum that equivalent lenses are the same size.
🙂 Wow you found out something sensible in a marketing forum – the internet is magical.
@same size, haha, people can say that until the moon rises on Pluto, but every time someone goes to m43 their bag size and weight drops to half. That’s the difference between theory and practice, my friend. Enjoy your aching arms and shoulders and feet, backed up by theory.
Naw, DPR got it right. GH4 isn’t a mini marvel it is a maxi marvel in terms of all its features and what it offers. Now I’m not a video person as such, always been a stills photographer, but have dabbled a little with video and enjoy it as a new challenge in my later years. Lots to learn though and have made a lot of video mistakes (which no one but me has seen). I see the GH4 as the ultimate hybrid, to date. Excelling at stills or video, if the person is capable of handling it correctly. So stills for my life long passion, and video as my future challenge. Yeah, if I had the money, I would buy it in an instant. Still miss my old GH1, which was nothing like what we have today, but was really nice in its day.
Could done with more slow mo options at least up to 120 fps and maybe 240fps, maybe in the firmware update 😉
And I doubt it makes double espressos yet.
Not enough processing power to handle 120 fps or 240 fps, so you have to spend $8K on a Sony FS-700 to get these speeds in a large sensor video camera.
I think they could easily have gone to 120 fps maybe they were being cautious , still ordering a GH4 though…
A lot of people been discussing about this GH4 camera, stills photographer don’t need the pro video features! And the problem is, this GH4 has been increased a lot because of the 4K technology. For the videographers of course this 4K camera is not expensive at all. But comparing with GH3 stills photographer might have to pay at least $500 extra for the unused feature. I think Panasonic should make a new line just like the Canon Cinema line, so everyone is happy. Such as GH-C !! haha 😛
If you’re a pro and not shooting video you’re on a sinking ship. For enthusiasts just shoot a GX7 or GH3.
Video is photography’s future.
This is only your view. Having said that, I liked the couple animated portraits I found at your website way more than the still portraits. They remind me of Harry Potter newspaper pictures.
As well as the view of Michael Reichmann.
Wow, that makes two of them. And why should an intelligent person care what some other bloke thinks? Hint: we are not all pointless nerds.
http://www.blackwellreference.com/public/tocnode?id=g9781405106795_chunk_g97814051067956_ss1-54
But of course, you can conveniently call anyone you disagree with “some other bloke” not that it makes you notorious. Hint : some are plain pointless.
It’s so good to think with one’s own brains. So many people here quote others to attempt and cover their own shallowness. It’s an increasingly common practise, I put it down to poor school systems.
Tend to agree to some degree with Giulio. Video, in some form or another is becoming a necessity for Pros. While I doubt I will ever make any movies, I am really getting into video slide shows using short video clips instead of stills or along with stills. Their fun and more interesting, and not hard to do.
Now the idea of the “animated portraits” I could really see that becoming a new Pro market. While the electronic still slide show frames never really caught on well, I can easily imagine a large, low power, thin display film with an animated portrait and fancy frame dominating the high end wall portrait market. @Bollox, yeah, kinda like the Harry Potter thing.
We are not not exactly looking at an entirely dedicated chipset for the video that account for all of the extra price over the GH3. Altho adding the 4K did put pressure up on the price, it brought everything else to a new standard. After that, you take the camera for what it is and you buy it or you dont.
While it’s not as horrible as previous versions of the GH line…rolling shutters still suck and is why I won’t buy another camera that has one.
Well that is a rather ridiculous statement, soooo much amazing stuff has been made already with a rolling shutter (much of what you see on TV and films on the big screen have rolling shutter, but they’re professionals so you don’t notice it. Not unless you’ve got a skilled eye and look super carefully, then *maybe*).
And what out there offers a Global Shutter at an affordable price? Only the BMPC4K and Digital Bolex D16, and there is lots of reasons why you would want to *not* use them and instead use a camera like the GH4 instead.
I work in broadcast. I do notice it.
Which probably means you won’t be buying an affordable camera for the next 5 years, as CCD imagers are not coming back, and CMOS global technology is still years away at the affordable level. ( by affordable I mean $5K and under *** )
*** The Blackmagic Production camera is pretty unique, and comes with a butt load of compromises that many of us would not put up with, so it’s still not a great solution.
http://www.zacuto.com/panasonic-lumix-gh4
At last, some serious GH4 hands on coverage by video professionals who know their stuff! (getting sooo tiring seeing all this “info” from photographers about the GH4) This though is a real early quick look, but looking forward to more like this.
NEW! Zacuto Review of the GH4:
[vimeo 89515795 w=500 h=281] First Look at the Panasonic Lumix GH4 with Zacuto from Zacuto on Vimeo.
This was a really good discussion with a knowledgeable Panasonic Rep, not a demonstration, but good discussion camera features, and good clarification and correction of some the internet misconceptions and incorrect facts that are going around. Definitely worth watching. Not flashy, and not many video or still examples of any serious note, but still really good and correct information. Even a little hedging and hinting around speculation, that people can interpret as they wish.