UPDATE: MyPanasonic GH4 Tutorial Training Download is now available for purchase!
On a super tight schedule, and unable to do an Epic Shootout, but I wanted to get this out as soon as possible because of all the emails I am getting:
Panasonic GH4 vs Canon 5Diii – Is the GH4 a DSLR Killer?
I’ve been shooting with the new Panasonic GH4 for a couple weeks now, and wow…what an amazing, ground-breaking, game changing camera for videographers. If you shoot a lot of video and haven’t heard about it, you definitely need to take a look at what it can do:
– 4K in Camera Video
– Peak Focusing
– Variable Frame Rates
– Wi-Fi
– Flippy Touch Screen
– $1700
Additionally, the size and weight are significantly smaller than traditional DSLRs, especially when we consider the heavy lenses. I had never been interested in the GH line until I heard about the 4K and at that time I knew I needed to take a look. I am SO glad I did!
There are a number of really fantastic reviews already on Youtube that compare lots of video & features:
Luke Neumann’s GH4 Comparison:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kwMWb2KPB4
Dave Dugdale’s Comparison: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxGekOHEPuc
Is it a new standard of value, features and quality for video? ABSOLUTELY!
Is it a DSLR killer? Read on…
Nearly all of the questions I have been getting have been about using the GH4 for stills photography, as just about everyone is agreeing the GH4 is simply amazing for video, so I decided to take a look to see how it matched up against a DSLR, in this case the Canon 5Diii. Yes, it is an apples or oranges comparison, but the 5D3 is a really good benchmark for an excellent all round camera.
Having spent some quality time with the GH4, I found a lot of strengths and weaknesses worth noting, and in these quick comparisons, I try to really focus on what matters most, and get to the point as quickly as possible. Consider it me doing your research and testing for you. There were a lot of little things that I liked, didn’t like, but left them out for the sake of time.
A thought on the Dynamic Range Test: I made mention of the curves feature, which when used with jpgs and video could really squeeze a lot more detail out of shadows and highlights and give the GH4 a distinct advantage over the 5Diii for those file types. That said, because the shadowns/highlight feature doesn’t apply to the raw images, this is a processor feature, and therefore, is something you can easily do in post with both camera files.
Some of the information I have in my video directly conflicts with what I have been seeing and reading in other reviews. It is possible that I had a bad copy, but due to the fact I was able to consistently reproduce the issues I was seeing, (sports focusing for example), I do feel obligated to tell you what I see before you all run out and buy one. It is a very, very good sports shooting camera for mirrorless system. It is not a DSLR slayer…yet, and I knew this after literally a couple minutes.
All that said, yes, I have purchased a GH4 and a couple lenses for it. No, I am not giving up my Canon gear at this time. I see the GH4 and the 5Diii that are different tools that do different things. I will say that the bigger camera companies have been put on notice, the Panasonic and the GH4 are a force to be reckoned with and if it continues, they will soon take over a huge chunk of the video shooting market. The GH4 should win multiple awards and I wouldn’t be surprised if it won camera of the year.
Not quite a DSLR killer yet, but the writing is on the wall…that day is coming, its just a matter of time.
I sure do appreciate your comments and thoughts, please let me know what you guys think!UPDATE: MyPanasonic GH4 Tutorial Training Download is now available for purchase!
On a super tight schedule, and unable to do an Epic Shootout, but I wanted to get this out as soon as possible because of all the emails I am getting:
Panasonic GH4 vs Canon 5Diii – Is the GH4 a DSLR Killer?
I’ve been shooting with the new Panasonic GH4 for a couple weeks now, and wow…what an amazing, ground-breaking, game changing camera for videographers. If you shoot a lot of video and haven’t heard about it, you definitely need to take a look at what it can do:
– 4K in Camera Video
– Peak Focusing
– Variable Frame Rates
– Wi-Fi
– Flippy Touch Screen
– $1700
Additionally, the size and weight are significantly smaller than traditional DSLRs, especially when we consider the heavy lenses. I had never been interested in the GH line until I heard about the 4K and at that time I knew I needed to take a look. I am SO glad I did!
There are a number of really fantastic reviews already on Youtube that compare lots of video & features:
Luke Neumann’s GH4 Comparison:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kwMWb2KPB4
Dave Dugdale’s Comparison: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxGekOHEPuc
Is it a new standard of value, features and quality for video? ABSOLUTELY!
Is it a DSLR killer? Read on…
Nearly all of the questions I have been getting have been about using the GH4 for stills photography, as just about everyone is agreeing the GH4 is simply amazing for video, so I decided to take a look to see how it matched up against a DSLR, in this case the Canon 5Diii. Yes, it is an apples or oranges comparison, but the 5D3 is a really good benchmark for an excellent all round camera.
Having spent some quality time with the GH4, I found a lot of strengths and weaknesses worth noting, and in these quick comparisons, I try to really focus on what matters most, and get to the point as quickly as possible. Consider it me doing your research and testing for you. There were a lot of little things that I liked, didn’t like, but left them out for the sake of time.
A thought on the Dynamic Range Test: I made mention of the curves feature, which when used with jpgs and video could really squeeze a lot more detail out of shadows and highlights and give the GH4 a distinct advantage over the 5Diii for those file types. That said, because the shadowns/highlight feature doesn’t apply to the raw images, this is a processor feature, and therefore, is something you can easily do in post with both camera files.
Some of the information I have in my video directly conflicts with what I have been seeing and reading in other reviews. It is possible that I had a bad copy, but due to the fact I was able to consistently reproduce the issues I was seeing, (sports focusing for example), I do feel obligated to tell you what I see before you all run out and buy one. It is a very, very good sports shooting camera for mirrorless system. It is not a DSLR slayer…yet, and I knew this after literally a couple minutes.
All that said, yes, I have purchased a GH4 and a couple lenses for it. No, I am not giving up my Canon gear at this time. I see the GH4 and the 5Diii that are different tools that do different things. I will say that the bigger camera companies have been put on notice, the Panasonic and the GH4 are a force to be reckoned with and if it continues, they will soon take over a huge chunk of the video shooting market. The GH4 should win multiple awards and I wouldn’t be surprised if it won camera of the year.
Not quite a DSLR killer yet, but the writing is on the wall…that day is coming, its just a matter of time.
I sure do appreciate your comments and thoughts, please let me know what you guys think!
Great review as usual Michael – Thanks.
Have you tried any of the Fuji X systems, particularly the Fuji X-T1?
Heard a lot of rave reviews about them for stills. How about your review as well 🙂 ?
Best Regards.
Hi
Thank you for your videos
I have few questions (excuse me if my english is not so good) :
1) during recording a video, is focus peaking always visible, or is it only visible during few seconds after we touch the focus ring (i hote it’s always visible, to see when we loose focus)
2) is there a way to do this : a sort of instant aufocusing : during recording a video, touch the screen somewhere to say "focus on this now, and after that lock the focus". The things explained in p 109 of the manual for advanced users seems to be a such feature, but it don’t say if it works during recording a video. If it mean that we can instant autofocus during recording a video in manual focus mode that’s really a great feature.
3) is there a way to do tha same as 2) but for the exposure (The things explained in page 90 of the manual for advanced users seems to be a such feature, but it don’t say if it is working during recording video). This would be a great feature too.
4) If the response for 2) and 3) is "yes, this is working", could they work together, i mean : – without changing ùenu configuration, during a video recording, can you do instant focusing by touching [AF] and then the region the screen when you want it to autofocus, and then choose to do an instant autoexpose (by touching the icon with the hand and "EA") , by touching the screen where you want it to instant autoexpose, and after why not do a manual focus with the ring (of course all this with the focus peaking always shown), and after that change manualy exposure, and do those things again and again during the same video recording, controling manually focus and exposure, and eventually winstant-focus, or instant exposure ?
If all this is possible the GH4 is very great. Those features are all needed for shooting live events.
I have a GH2 and with it, i can do a af lock before recording, and while recording touch the screen ti do an autofocus on the region, but then there is no way to lock autofocus again.
And also with gh2 if you put autofocus and for example speed priority, if you change focus region by touching the screen, it also change exposure region, witch is not very good. The fact that it could be independantly would be a very good feature.
Thanks for readink and thanks a lot i
@Francois- I may have not understood perfectly, but you can do most of these things. I would change exposure with the control wheels mainly, but yes there is touch exposure control during video.
Just wanted to say thanks for taking the time to do this review. I am the team photographer for the LA Galaxy soccer club and I was thinking about investing in the GH4 to supplement my game coverage. In an case, many thanks, wish you the best.