M43photo.blogspot compared the [shoplink 16254]GH2[/shoplink] vs [shoplink 14828]GH1[/shoplink] video quality: “First of all, it is easy to conclude that the colour balance is different. I have the same saturation settings in both cameras (+1), and the lightning was the same. So the difference must be due to different implementation of auto white balance. Overall, I feel that the GH2 colours look more natural. When it comes to the sharpness, I think the conclusion is that the GH2 has better image quality. Even though the bandwidth is a bit smaller than in the hacked GH1.”
That’s the second comparison test I see and it looks like the 24Mbit AVCHD codec does an impressive job. Reminder, the new GH1 cameras that are for sale in stores are not hackeable because they feature the newest firmware which has not been hacked yet! But if you are still interested in getting the cheaper hackeable GH1 there are few of them for sale on [shoplink 18422 ebay]eBay (Click here)[/shoplink].
Travis sent me the following text to explain the GH2 vs GF1 comparison:
“So I had a chance to film a competition this weekend with my GH2. I had filmed the exact same competition last year with my [shoplink 14828]GF1[/shoplink] and the [shoplink 14796]20mm[/shoplink] in true manual focus mode.
GH2 Rise Up comp: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ahT2JHsYZo
GF1 Rise Up comp: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5ePxmdu0k8
This year I felt lazy and stuck it in continuous autofocus for most of the comp and single point auto focus for a few shots where the focus didn’t need to change. There are a few spots where you can see the focus change but not too bad for indoors in horrible lighting.
The biggest advantage to the GH2 is the teleconversion feature. Last year I had to use the 2x digital zoom when I wanted to film with the 20mm pancake. This year I just shot in 1080p with the 2.6x converter on. It gives me extremely detailed 1080p video as if I was using a 52mm lens. The two links below point to similar samples. The first link uses the 2x digital zoom and the second on shows the 2.6x lossless teleconversion. The difference is pretty amazing and both were filmed with the same lens in the same location.
GF1 2x Digital Zoom: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5ePxmdu0k8&t=0m50s
GH2 teleconversion: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ahT2JHsYZo&t=1m36s
The first two clips at the link below were shot at a fixed ISO 3200 with the 45-200mm indoors. I never thought that would be possible until the GH2 came around: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ahT2JHsYZo&t=3m55s
I did have some trouble with the camera turning off periodically because it couldn’t recognize the battery. That made me very mad but I have two spare batteries being delivered that should resolve the issue.
Overall I couldn’t be happier with the GH2. And now that I have the [shoplink 16258]14mm F2.5 lens[/shoplink] I really don’t think I need anything more.”
And here short in Stock status update:
For US: The GH2 is in Stock at Amazon or [shoplink 17664 ebay]eBay[/shoplink].
For Europe: The GH2 is in Stock in almost every online or local stores: Amazon DE, Amazon UK
7 Responses
The 20mm f/1.7 is great for letting in lots of light during video, but lacks one of the benefits Panasonic brings to the table — image stabilization during video. I’m guessing the upcoming 25mm f/1.4 will be a larger “HD” lens and that will further set it apart from the pancake.
Other than the ‘pancake jitters’, the video quality on the GH2 looks great!
Regarding their comment that they don’t need any more lenses… that’s just crazy-talk! 😀
? Could we have the first bug of the new GH2’s? I’ve noticed now several reports of shutdowns due to unrecognized battery. Hopefully it is just a bad batch of batteries, and not the camera firmware.
I too am quite concerned about all these reports of battery failures… I have it on good authority that I’m getting a GH2 for xmas and I’m sure they are all from the same manufacturing batch at this point.
If the 25mm f/1.4 is a HD version It’ll be on my list, if it also has IS, then i’d be pre-ordering. Still can’t understand why there are only the larger telephoto primes with IS.
GH2 versus T3i so excited
1) What does he mean by “saturation setting”? I can’t find that on my GH2.
2) Has anybody heard updates on the hack-ability of the GH2? Amazing to imagine real 1080p at 60 fps and >24 Mbit…
That would probably be in the ‘film mode’ settings, along with contrast, sharpening, NR etc.