UPDATE: Now also Amazon US is accepting preorders!
North American 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 preorders and price:
UK at Wexphotographic, CameraWorld, UKdigital, CVP, TipTop.
Holland at Fotohanskeuzekamp.
Belgium at Fotokonijnenberg.
Norway at Fotovideo.
21 Responses
VERY interesting, and confirms what I have been saying. Panasonic with the intro of the GH4, has turned the camera makers on their heads. Some of the GIGANTIC camera makers who have been asleep at the switch for years concerning video, will henceforth be FORCED (by the marketplace) to ante up.
Not only must Sony answer the challenge from Panasonic, but so too Nikon, Canon and even Olympus and FujiFilm will now scramble to quickly develop 4K video and put it in affordable cameras such as Panasonic has done with the GH4.
This article from SonyAlphaRumors – (current thread).
http://www.sonyalpharumors.com/panasonic-announces-price-of-their-4k-gh4-sony-will-have-to-make-an-affordable-competitor/
you are absolutely correct…makes my E-M1 look like a toy…not really but it will become my backup to the GH4…I think this is the frontrunner for camera of the year
If Olympus release a E-M2 with good 4K and 5 axis stabilization, it ll creat a buzz even bigger than the GH4.
If “ifs and buts – were beer and nuts, we could have a hell of a party.”
James Carville
If wishes were horses we’d be eating steak right now.
actually from further reports…the E-M1 still focuses better and faster has better image quality…better at higher ISO…just barely…and better dynamic range
Ships on May 1st according to Amazon.
I can’t wait to see test results and actually try this camera out for myself but all signs point to it being a real game changer. At north of US$10K, one can’t really call the Canon a competitor. Even the BlackMagic costs considerably more and lacks the still capabilities of the GH4. I’m particularly interested to see how the 4K video to 8+ megapixel still image workflow works for me. I’ve heard very mixed reports about that process, with some photographers claiming that the effort in identifying “decisive moments” from video is more trouble than it is worth, and feels less like “photography” than they like. But I’m open minded about new methods and workflows and find the notion of simultaneously shooting stills and video quite intriguing. And even if I don’t move from traditional still shooting to 4K video/continuous light shooting and frame grabs, I do think I’ll find new products and uses for the extraordinary video that the GH4 promises. And while Canon and Nikon no doubt have the facilities to rise to this challenge, both have historically been slow to release radical new products and reluctant to cannibalize their DSLR markets. But they have a lot of weight to throw at this, should they opt to move. In the short term, I’d expect Sony to be the first to respond. They’re already deeply invested in mirrorless, have great video technology, and huge resources at their disposal. Two of my favorite still camera makers also seem well behind in video: Fuji and Olympus. But Oly’s amazing stabilization tech will get them back in the game pretty fast. Interesting times, indeed
I think the 40 fps 16MP burst (electronic shutter) may even be more interesting than the 8MP still extraction from video. And burst mode will record in raw, so this could make for a great studio tool in a fashion shoot w/maximum grading latitude – particularly good for catching action moments with continuous lighting. The reduced rolling shutter will afford more flexibility here as well (faster action with minimal warp from CMOS readout). So many awesome features to utilize in this camera, I’m really looking forward to it!
and in Holland:
http://www.cameratools.nl/shop/product/zoekresultaat/?alstart=0&artsearch=gh4&artsearchmode=AND
I think this is the right time for Olympus to start dropping the price of EM-1. As i see in Europe the price of both cameras is about the same (1500 euros). Its only logical…
It would be very hard to justify price parity with the GH4 (with IBIS and phase detection on old lenses being the only positive differentiators for Olympus). They’d be better off to offer a new frame rate for video (24P) into the firmware and at least give the impression of some development momentum in that area.
I fail to feel the heat of this new videocamera. Yes it might come in with new features, they always do, but how many are going to use it properly? With microphones, a dolly, rig, stabilizers, lights etc? Very few, right? So why so much ado for a niche product?
And if one doesn’t use it properly, what on earth is 4K for? For cropping out more shake? Now that would be an idea: a piece of software to crop out the shake quickly and effectively.
We are using them Now………… Shot on Panasonic GH2’s ========> I can only imagine what we will be able to do with GH4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wb7O_mY5abo&hd=1
Cool video, I like it, and I doubt many people will go to that type of trouble to create videos. Most folks here in the forum can’t tell a flash from a tripod, and yet they make so much buzz around this. Weird.
I doubt that those folks will put their money where their mouth is – most are probably marketing men and not photographers anyway.
The New Panasonic GH4 represents the future of image acquisition/recording technology. It is a hand-held portable recording studio of limitless potential. There is no turning back.
Increasingly, camera systems must become fully-functional recording/acquisition devices to have any relevance compared to cell phones.
A “modern” camera must capture High Quality imagery, both Still and Movies, as well as record High Fidelity sound. It must all take place within the same small, lightweight, reasonably priced package.
If some camera makers can’t deliver such a product they will probably not survive.
Since the early 1950’s introduction of the television, we have evolved past a STILL IMAGE ONLY reality. There is simply no way to hold back the tide. Almost ANY YouTube video has been seen more than most still photos, even the best of them. Since the advent of the “Smart-Phone”, future players in the image acquisition game WILL NOT SETTLE for crippled recording devices.
If any camera maker thinks they can compete with cell-phone technology by limiting the capabilities of their cameras or making them less of an all-purpose acquisition device they will lose.
Change is inevitable. Camera users need to embrace the change, challenge ourselves to get out ahead of the curve, dabble in video, audio recording, HD & 4K, so as not to become irrelevant and so not to foolishly attempt to block progress.
Well said Ricky! But remember: shooting skills are not an optional, even with the best tools!
What are YOUR skills? Do YOU have ANY qualifications, whatsoever? Skilled trades? Professional status? Pictures? Art work of any kind? Any acclaim for anything you’ve ever done?
If you can’t establish YOUR own credibility, who cares what you think?
You would do well to remember that YOU are NOT Rick Karam. Rick Karam has made a good name for himself over a 60+ year life span.
I haven’t done anything to you except appeal to you to be less of a punk. But you are what you are.
You really need to get a life. You can’t have mine.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/cmountm43/