So in a couple of days, Canon will release new firmware that gives the 5D Mk II full manual control. No 24p still, but seems like a good first step.

Just thought it was interesting with all this talk of whether manufacturers listen to their customers or not. Apparently, Canon half listened and did what they could for now. Hackers have made strides toward disabling AGC in audio. You'd think it'd only be a matter of time before 24p makes its way around.

Hope Panasonic is listening too. If the GH1 was what it could have been, nobody'd even care about the 5D anymore.

-M

I m hoping Panasonic will update GH1's weak codec to 21mbps or something with B frames after Canon's manual update action.

For quick run and gun shooting, the GH1 still has a thing or two going for it which the 5D Mk2 in its current form cannot catch up, continuous AF and silent OIS when shooting video. To be really useable, these two features have to be implemented at the hardware level i.e. on the new lenses, body or even lens+body combo. This, plus the fact that it costs about half that of the 5D Mk2 will ensure Panasonic still has a segment of the video market to itself.

Wacharapong

The 5d still lacks 24/25p... The GH1 still lacks a good AVCHD codec implementation... It's up to you.

Additional disadvantages of the 5D Mark II is lack of a tilting LCD and no 29.97 fps. I had a 5D for a short time and decided to return it for a lot of reasons. To get the thing remotely usable I was looking at a $5500+ investment. That's a lot of money for a transitional technology.

I can stomach the $1500 for the GH1 even if I only get a couple years out of it. Hopefully it's good for pictures too, I'm hoping to retire my 1st generation Canon Digital Rebel.

Additional disadvantages of the 5D Mark II is lack of a tilting LCD and no 29.97 fps. I had a 5D for a short time and decided to return it for a lot of reasons. To get the thing remotely usable I was looking at a $5500+ investment. That's a lot of money for a transitional technology.

I can stomach the $1500 for the GH1 even if I only get a couple years out of it. Hopefully it's good for pictures too, I'm hoping to retire my 1st generation Canon Digital Rebel.

Exactly. In any case, with a 2X price difference there is no reasonable way to consider them at the same time. The Canon has to be 2X better unless you really don't consider cost as part of the equation. And, that's not the audience Panasonic is aiming at so they have nothing to "watch out" for.

The 5d still lacks 24/25p... The GH1 still lacks a good AVCHD codec implementation... It's up to you.

Choose your venom!

the big one for me is 50p or 60p Panasonic

compared to....

30p only Canon.

People making narrative films will love the Canon (if you have the smarts to convert it to 24p well that is)

Everone else, from TV, corporate, weddings and even slowmo sequences in movies, will perefer the Panasonic just for the frame rate alone.

Anyone have a release date on this puppy? I know the site says "June", but I wonder if anyone has heard anything more specific.

If you mean the 5D Mark II firmware, it’s already out:
Canon EOS 5D Mark II Firmware Update (http://web.canon.jp/imaging/eosd/firm-e/eos5dmk2/firmware.html)


If it’s the GH1 that you’re referring to than you may have to wait until July because that seams to be the new release date for some places. Some people in the US have already received it although a lot of them have pre-ordered it for a long time.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/608940-REG/Panasonic_DMC_GH1K_Lumix_DMC_GH1_Digital_Camera.html

You might be lucky if you preorder direct from Panasonic.
http://www2.panasonic.com/consumer-electronics/shop/Cameras-Camcorders/Digital-Cameras/Lumix-Digital-Interchangeable-Lens-Cameras/model.DMC-GH1K_11002_7000000000000005702

Thanks Paulo, I did mean the GH1. How did you confirm that some in the U.S. have received theirs?

Lately, it looks like a lot of Panasonic’s top consumer cameras and camcorders has a supply problem especially in the US.