Panasonic DMC-GH1 12.1MP Four Thirds Interchangeable Lens Camera With 1080p HD Video
Panasonic DMC-GH1 12.1MP Four Thirds Interchangeable Lens Camera With 1080p HD Video
Excellent for professional video
This review is for the GH1 in shooting video. Stills-wise, it is very good but doesn't compare to the Nikon cameras and lenses we use for production stills so we've rarely used it for photography.
As a cinematographer and director making broadcast documentaries, I picked up a GH1 a few months ago as a 'suicide camera' - a lock off camera to use in dangerous industrial areas where we didn't care if it survived or not. But the GH1 proved so good that we quickly developed it as a secondary camera on all shoots - it is now a part of our standard kit alongside Sony HDCAM cameras.
There are a lot of indepth reviews on the GH1 so I'll just add some of the most important aspects from our experience...
Video quality is excellent (with the hack) and sits nicely in our shows alongside the main HDCAM footage. We use it for picks ups, awkward/dangerous places, timelapses and B Roll. Converted to ProRes or imported direct to Avid MC the quality is dependable and good.
Choice of lenses. The stock lens is pretty good - we've used it in all sorts of places. But the true gift of the GH1 is being able to use lenses from other systems via adaptors. We use ours with Nikon lenses (70-200, 24-70, macro and superwide angle glass) as well as the Voigtlander 40mm f1.4 - which gives a beautiful look. Adaptors are available on ebay and cheap. Have a play.
The stock lens has stabilisation - which is very good - any other type of lens does not. But use the thing on a tripod - or a mount for mobile work.
Rotating flip out screen - very useful for those awkward spots or lower angles on the tripod. Once you've fitted a Zacuto finder on it though it tends to droop. Jam some gaffer tape on the hinge to help. Using one of the Canon's without a flip out screen is a true pain for real world filming.
Autofocus. We tested it but avoid it. I never use autofocus on our cameras - don't even have it on the high end ones of course. Its nice that you can move the autofocus area around on the screen - so you don't have to keep your subject centered - but ultimately it is too easy for the auto to fix on something else - and in the heat of the action it isn't always obvious that it is shifting focus from one thing to another. Autofocus not available on other brand lenses of course.
No zebras - so use the histogram - it works just fine.
Can set color temp direct - dial in degs K. This is a very nice feature missing on a lot of high end minicams even.
There are a vast array of accessories for the HDDSLR world - largely because they are a pain to use mobile. But you don't need everything you see, tempting tho it is. Essentials are Audio system, ND Filter and Zacuto style viewfinder hood (I know there are other types but the Zacuto seems best to me). That'll give a good working system. Shoulder mounts, follow focus and matte boxes etc depend on your style of shooting - we have them but tend to use the GH1 with just the ND filter and a clip on lens hood.
Takes a Zacuto finder ok - if you use the Jr you'll need the special GH1 mount - available from Zacuto direct. You really do need something like this to be able to use any HDDSLR in the field - and they help in handheld stability as well so are worth the money. You can also switch them between cameras so it's not an investment only for the GH1.
The electronic viewfinder is really very good - and perfectly good enough for a lot of work. But the flip out screen allows better use on a tripod.
ND Filters. Can't get around this - you need one/several depending on type. We settled on the Singh Ray (the Fader ND is cheaper and supposed to be equally good) and it does the job nicely. Buy a clip on lens hood and you can do away with a matte box for a lot of work. The filter rotates but the clip on hood is easy to shift back into position. The 77mm thread of the Singh Ray fits directly to the front of Nikon professional glass, and accepts the Nikon lens cap.
As with audio and Zacuto style finders, your ND filter will work with other HDDSLRs so isn't a wasted investment.
Audio. You need an external recorder and decent mics. Same is true for any of the HDDSLR cams - most of which have worse mics than the built in stereo mics of the gh1. Nothing you can do about it - bite the bullet and pickup an external recorder - we use a Sony PCM-D50 because we had one around - but there are a bunch of cheaper ones available. The GH1 audio track is then used for sync - buy a clapper board and look ridiculous or click your fingers for free.
SD cards are cheap. Very. Buy loads. I love them - and have filmed with P2, SxS as well as every type of tape. Get Class 6 at least to cope with the higher data rates with the hack. Class 10 better.
I've used the GH1 in a range of environments - including the desert in 127 degrees of mid-day heat. It runs hot but still works. Battery life is good - but if it's your main camera then get spares.
It's a little small - easy to hit buttons accidentally as you use it. The menu system is straightforward. This is a very easy camera to use and I remain amazed at the quality of the video.
The poor cousin to the Canon range - and usually ignored in all the books and blogs - the GH1 is a stunning little video camera with a range of features all its own.
Read More About Panasonic DMC-GH1 12.1MP Four Thirds Interchangeable Lens Camera with 1080p HD Video
Excellent for professional video
This review is for the GH1 in shooting video. Stills-wise, it is very good but doesn't compare to the Nikon cameras and lenses we use for production stills so we've rarely used it for photography.
As a cinematographer and director making broadcast documentaries, I picked up a GH1 a few months ago as a 'suicide camera' - a lock off camera to use in dangerous industrial areas where we didn't care if it survived or not. But the GH1 proved so good that we quickly developed it as a secondary camera on all shoots - it is now a part of our standard kit alongside Sony HDCAM cameras.
There are a lot of indepth reviews on the GH1 so I'll just add some of the most important aspects from our experience...
Video quality is excellent (with the hack) and sits nicely in our shows alongside the main HDCAM footage. We use it for picks ups, awkward/dangerous places, timelapses and B Roll. Converted to ProRes or imported direct to Avid MC the quality is dependable and good.
Choice of lenses. The stock lens is pretty good - we've used it in all sorts of places. But the true gift of the GH1 is being able to use lenses from other systems via adaptors. We use ours with Nikon lenses (70-200, 24-70, macro and superwide angle glass) as well as the Voigtlander 40mm f1.4 - which gives a beautiful look. Adaptors are available on ebay and cheap. Have a play.
The stock lens has stabilisation - which is very good - any other type of lens does not. But use the thing on a tripod - or a mount for mobile work.
Rotating flip out screen - very useful for those awkward spots or lower angles on the tripod. Once you've fitted a Zacuto finder on it though it tends to droop. Jam some gaffer tape on the hinge to help. Using one of the Canon's without a flip out screen is a true pain for real world filming.
Autofocus. We tested it but avoid it. I never use autofocus on our cameras - don't even have it on the high end ones of course. Its nice that you can move the autofocus area around on the screen - so you don't have to keep your subject centered - but ultimately it is too easy for the auto to fix on something else - and in the heat of the action it isn't always obvious that it is shifting focus from one thing to another. Autofocus not available on other brand lenses of course.
No zebras - so use the histogram - it works just fine.
Can set color temp direct - dial in degs K. This is a very nice feature missing on a lot of high end minicams even.
There are a vast array of accessories for the HDDSLR world - largely because they are a pain to use mobile. But you don't need everything you see, tempting tho it is. Essentials are Audio system, ND Filter and Zacuto style viewfinder hood (I know there are other types but the Zacuto seems best to me). That'll give a good working system. Shoulder mounts, follow focus and matte boxes etc depend on your style of shooting - we have them but tend to use the GH1 with just the ND filter and a clip on lens hood.
Takes a Zacuto finder ok - if you use the Jr you'll need the special GH1 mount - available from Zacuto direct. You really do need something like this to be able to use any HDDSLR in the field - and they help in handheld stability as well so are worth the money. You can also switch them between cameras so it's not an investment only for the GH1.
The electronic viewfinder is really very good - and perfectly good enough for a lot of work. But the flip out screen allows better use on a tripod.
ND Filters. Can't get around this - you need one/several depending on type. We settled on the Singh Ray (the Fader ND is cheaper and supposed to be equally good) and it does the job nicely. Buy a clip on lens hood and you can do away with a matte box for a lot of work. The filter rotates but the clip on hood is easy to shift back into position. The 77mm thread of the Singh Ray fits directly to the front of Nikon professional glass, and accepts the Nikon lens cap.
As with audio and Zacuto style finders, your ND filter will work with other HDDSLRs so isn't a wasted investment.
Audio. You need an external recorder and decent mics. Same is true for any of the HDDSLR cams - most of which have worse mics than the built in stereo mics of the gh1. Nothing you can do about it - bite the bullet and pickup an external recorder - we use a Sony PCM-D50 because we had one around - but there are a bunch of cheaper ones available. The GH1 audio track is then used for sync - buy a clapper board and look ridiculous or click your fingers for free.
SD cards are cheap. Very. Buy loads. I love them - and have filmed with P2, SxS as well as every type of tape. Get Class 6 at least to cope with the higher data rates with the hack. Class 10 better.
I've used the GH1 in a range of environments - including the desert in 127 degrees of mid-day heat. It runs hot but still works. Battery life is good - but if it's your main camera then get spares.
It's a little small - easy to hit buttons accidentally as you use it. The menu system is straightforward. This is a very easy camera to use and I remain amazed at the quality of the video.
The poor cousin to the Canon range - and usually ignored in all the books and blogs - the GH1 is a stunning little video camera with a range of features all its own.
Read More About Panasonic DMC-GH1 12.1MP Four Thirds Interchangeable Lens Camera with 1080p HD Video
