Bill Bruner
Forum Replies Created
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Hi Daniel – in the $1000 class, I recommend the $1092 Panasonic GH3. My first video DSLR was a Canon T2i and my first DSLR was a Nikon D50, so I’m not biased against these brands or APS-C sensors, but I’ve switched to micro 4/3, and the GH3 is the best DSL for video, period.
The other cameras in this class are the $1199 Canon 70D and the $1146.95 Nikon D7100. Here is a short comparison of their video features:
The GH3 can shoot for hours continuously, the Canons and Nikons cannot (they are limited to 30 minutes of continuous video – which doesn’t work for events, speeches, etc.)
The GH3 and D7100 have headphone jacks, the 70D does not.
The GH3 and 70D have good tracking autofocus (the 70D is better), the D7100 does not.
The GH3 and D7100 are highly resistant to moire, the 70D is not.
The GH3 gives you the option of recording to 3 different codecs (AVCHD .MTS , Quicktime .MOV and MP4) at bit rates up to 72mbps. The 70D and D7100 record at a fraction of this bit rate.
The GH3 records progressive HD at up to 60fps, neither of the other cameras record at 1080/60p
The GH3 and the 70D have built in wireless connectivity. The D7100 requires the purchase of an external accessory.
The GH3 and the 70D have fully articulated LCDs. The D7100 has a fixed LCD, which can be inconvenient for high and low angle shooting without an external monitor.
The D7100 has an all metal weathersealed body, the GH3 is metal and splashproof. The D70 is a plastic body over a metal chassis.
The GH3 and the D7100 resist a phenomenon called moire (shimmering colors on patterned objects such as printed fabrics, brickwork and rooftops). The 70D and all Canons (except the $3,000+ 5D Mark III and their $5,000+ Cinema EOS cameras), are susceptible to this shot-ruining phenomenon.
The GH3 is the least expensive of the three cameras and is the clear winner in every category except autofocus and perhaps weathersealing. In both of these areas, it is a close second.
But it stands absolutely alone in the codec, bit rate, frame rate, and continuous clip length options that it offers the shooter.
If the GH3 is above your budget limit, its little brother, the $699 (body only) Panasonic G6 may be a good second choice.
The G6 lacks the larger camera’s metal splashproof body, headphone jack and .MOV codec, but its built in wi-fi and NFC, moire-resistance, tracking autofocus, focus peaking, 1080/60p 28mbps progressive recording and hours-long continuous clip length make it a much better video camera than the comparable Canon T5i and Nikon D5200.
Hope this is helpful,
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Hi Gilles – here is a good piece from camcorder shooter Philip Johnston on shooting with the GH3:
https://www.hdwarrior.co.uk/2013/09/24/why-i-used-the-lumix-gh3-for-ibc/
Personally, I avoid dual system sound. If you have a battery powered pro mic with XLR out, all you need is a $17 Hosa MIT-156 line matching transformer/adapter and you can plug a high quality mic straight into the camera. You’ll be pleasantly surprised at the sound quality you can get from the GH3’s preamps.
Here is my Audio Technica AT835b plugged directly into the GH3 via the Hosa:
You can also avoid the focus challenges that Philip describes if you use a parfocal power zoom lens such as the Panasonic PZ 14-42 and 45-175.
Are there other challenges you’re struggling with?
Good luck,
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I would definitely buy another crop sensor Canon for video, but they are going to have to do something about the moire. It’s not like they don’t have the engineering know-how to do it.
They fixed their swivel LCD problem starting with the T3i, their moire problem (at the high end) with the 5D Mark III, and their autofocus problem with the 70D – but they really need a single camera that deals with all three of these issues (plus the 30 minute limit).
What would be ideal would be a new APS-C sensor EOS M with a real EF mount (no adapter needed), an OLED viewfinder, a swivel LCD, the moire resistance of the 5D MkIII, the dual pixel autofocus of the 70D, unlimited clip length and a headphone jack – all in a tough 7D style weatherproof body (only smaller) for less than $2000. Multiple codecs and 1080/60p would be nice too, but I’m trying not to be greedy.
I would sell my Panasonic GH cameras and every one of my MFT lenses to buy that camera.
If it had practical RAW capability, even if only with ML, I would sell my BMPCC.
But I’m not holding my breath. Canon has no incentive to build a camera with all of these features – because it would cannibalize the sales of the moire-prone T5i, 70D, 6D and 7D, which are all still selling like gangbusters.
Guess I’ll just have to hang on to my Panasonics and the BMPCC 🙂
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Personally, I don’t see moire as a “minor” problem, so I got rid of my Canon, but a lot of people buy these cameras for video anyway.
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Brad – it depends on what you mean by “minor video problems”.
If you’re OK with no viewfinder in Live View (video), no autofocus when shooting video, a 12 minute clip length limit and moire that looks like this compared to Panasonics (60D vs GH2):
Then a used T3i a great deal.
If not, and a used GH2 for $800 is too much, perhaps a new G6 body for $659?
The G6‘s viewfinder and autofocus continue to work when shooting video, its maximum clip length is hours instead of minutes, it shoots at 28mbps 1080/60p, and it has focus peaking and wi-fi.
Best of all, it produces image quality very close to that of the GH2:
P.S. – if you really want a classic GH2, here is a used GH2 body (silver) for $672 at Amazon Warehouse Deals.
Hope this is helpful!
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John – to connect a Tascam to your DSLR you’ll need an attenuating cable that matches the output of your recorder to the input of your camera. I bought a $27 Sescom LN2MIC-TASDR100 from Adorama to connect the Tascam DR-40 to my GH3 and it delivered clean, hum-free audio to the camera.
Good luck!
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Bob – I recommend the Panasonic GH3 – it is a great video camera with full resolution 1080p HDMI out (clean and recordable).
And the best budget 1080p monitors are the Lilliputs,. Very good value for the money.
One note – if you do get the GH3, make sure to turn the “Viera link” off for clean, recordable HDMI out (designed to connect Panasonic cameras with Panasonic Viera TVs).
Hope this is helpful!
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Hi Jamie – the only Canon EF mount camera available right now that shoots both 4K and RAW is the $23,000 Canon C500.
If you don’t have a local rental house, you can rent one for $1140 for 4 days at LensRentals.
If you can wait a couple of months, the new $3995 Blackmagic Production Camera should be shipping. This camera will shoot 4K RAW and has an EF mount for your existing lenses.
Hope this is helpful!
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I agree. I recommended the EOS M 18-55 kit because it was less expensive, but the 22mm kit is a lot better if you plan to do any low light work – and it will give you a nice shallow depth of field when it is wide open, as in this test from Chad Soriano:
Good luck with your decision!
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Hi Daniel – I don’t know what “cheap” is for you, so I picked three cameras at three price levels.
Below $1500:
Panasonic GH3 body- $1098
Panasonic 14-45 lens – $318Almost no moire, multiple codecs and fast data rates up to 72mbps, 1080/60p for slow motion and smooth action, B+ video autofocus, built-in wi-fi, mic and headphone jacks, essentially unlimited maximum continuous clip length, splashproof metal body. Best in this class.
Here is what this camera can do:
Below $1000:
Panasonic G6 w 14-42 kit lens – $749
Almost no moire, focus peaking, 1080/60p for slow motion and smooth action, built-in intervalometer, B+ video autofocus, built-in wi-fi and NFC, mic jack, essentially unlimited maximum continuous clip length. Best in this class.
Here is what this camera can do:
Below $500:
Canon EOS M w 18-55 kit lens – $330 (closeout)
B- video autofocus, mic jack, 30 minute maximum continuous clip length, RAW capable with Magic Lantern – but no viewfinder.
Here is what this camera can do:
Hope this is helpful!
