GoPro4 v GH4?

[Dave Allen]

Now that GoPro has come out with their 4K camera, which U supposed would theoretically allow more digital stabilization in post if even needed, or Ken Burns moves done digitally in post, I am thinking of why I should get a DJI S900 with the Zenmuse and a GH4.

There has to be at least a $3000-4000 difference between both rigs. What meaningful will a Panasonic GH4 and S900 do for me that the Phantom 2 and GoPro 4K cam won't?

[Jody Arnott]

I'm trying to make the exact same decision myself... Obviously the quality of the GH4 is going to be better than the GoPro, especially with the higher bitrate. Plus ability to changes lenses and control the camera remotely is a bonus.

But after seeing sample footage from the GoPro 4, I'm leaning towards buying one. The new Align M690 hexacopter is looking very tempting, and at a much lower price-point than the S900. It is more expensive than the Phantom but has a lot more features.

[Chuck Spaulding]

Originally Posted by Dave Allen

Now that GoPro has come out with their 4K camera, which U supposed would theoretically allow more digital stabilization in post if even needed, or Ken Burns moves done digitally in post, I am thinking of why I should get a DJI S900 with the Zenmuse and a GH4.

There has to be at least a $3000-4000 difference between both rigs. What meaningful will a Panasonic GH4 and S900 do for me that the Phantom 2 and GoPro 4K cam won't?

Its a GoPro, no matter what the resolution its a tiny camera with a crappy lens. If your doing this for a hobby they're great but I have rarely been able to charge good money for GoPro footage. Occasionally I get shots with a GoPro that I couldn't get any other way, but there's no comparison between a GoPro and GH4. I know people will make the comparison but its that old saying, "Guys who say its not the size of the boat its the motion of the ocean." well they almost always have a dingy...

Originally Posted by Jody Arnott

I'm trying to make the exact same decision myself... Obviously the quality of the GH4 is going to be better than the GoPro, especially with the higher bitrate. Plus ability to changes lenses and control the camera remotely is a bonus.

But after seeing sample footage from the GoPro 4, I'm leaning towards buying one. The new Align M690 hexacopter is looking very tempting, and at a much lower price-point than the S900. It is more expensive than the Phantom but has a lot more features.

GoPro demo footage always looks great but the overwhelming amount of GoPro footage on Youtube doesn't look great at all. I think everyone should have a GoPro, they're fun and you can try shots with this camera you'd never try with a more expensive "fragile" camera.

When color grading and comparing GoPro footage to a GH4, you can make the GH4 footage look much better than the GoPro footage.

[Noa Put]

I think you have to place it a bit into perspective, just because the gopro can do 4K doesn't mean it's equally good as a gh4 at 4k, lot's of things that need to be considered like bitrate, codec, sensor, lens, how the image is processed that all have a effect on the image. It doesn't mean the image of the gopro doesn't look good, goppro's own advertisement film looks amazing, under the right circumstances it can look very good.

[Dave Partington]

Noa, I'm waiting for your GoPro 4 to arrive so you can post some comparison footage ;)

I'm right at the point of looking at the Phantom 2 (which I have) + GoPro 4 --OR-- go for the S900 + Zenmuse (I already have a GH4) or Align M690.

To me the advantage of the M690 is that it claims it can handle both GH4 and 5D3 (which I also have) whereas the S900 you get to choose one or the other. It's also cheaper.

The problem is that we don't yet have any real world experience of the M690 or it's flight controllers, nor can I find an AUW with gimbal & GH4. It needs to be under 7KG or it's a no-go.

I'm also now aware of another manufacturer coming to market shortly with options for Quad, Hex and X8 and built in the USA, so I may just hold off a little bit longer.

Damn, choosing a camera is bad enough, choosing an aircraft as well is just making it exponentially worse!

[Mark Dobson]

Naturally the 4k on the Gopro 4 is not as good as the G4 or on the growing number of cameras now being
released with a 4K option.

However it is surprising good for what it is and really adds a huge improvement to the Phantom 2, H3 / 3D type of set up. For me this makes this level of drone / camera set up ideal for the smaller scale operator, predominately operating on their own.

I've just started experimenting with the Gopro 4K and here is an example. This files are 1080p because Vimeo has yet to go 4K!

Roman Road - Stane Street - A29 at Roman Gate on Vimeo

[Noa Put]

Even if vimeo does 4K, almost no-one can view it in 4K but regardless, it looks very good on my full hd screen. :)

[Mark Rosenzweig]

Originally Posted by Chuck Spaulding

Its a GoPro, no matter what the resolution its a tiny camera with a crappy lens. If your doing this for a hobby they're great but I have rarely been able to charge good money for GoPro footage. Occasionally I get shots with a GoPro that I couldn't get any other way, but there's no comparison between a GoPro and GH4. I know people will make the comparison but its that old saying, "Guys who say its not the size of the boat its the motion of the ocean." well they almost always have a dingy...

GoPro demo footage always looks great but the overwhelming amount of GoPro footage on Youtube doesn't look great at all. I think everyone should have a GoPro, they're fun and you can try shots with this camera you'd never try with a more expensive "fragile" camera.

When color grading and comparing GoPro footage to a GH4, you can make the GH4 footage look much better than the GoPro footage.

None of these opinions apply to 4K from the Hero 4 Black, for two reasons:

1. The 4K videos are stunning, and have a flat mode suitable for grading. They are very much competitive with the GH4 4K, ooc or graded. I have both cameras.

2. The poster does not have a Hero 4 Black to try 4K mode, nor are there many videos posted showing 4K videos from the Hero4 to back up any claims about the "overwhelming" number of (4K) Youtube GoPro videos that don't "look great."

The point is that the new Hero 4 Black 4K changes the game, prior conclusions, and the current choice (for 4K aerial shots).

[Noa Put]

Mark, what is the highest usable iso setting on the gopro 4 for you? I think I read it can do 1600 iso, is that true?

[Mark Rosenzweig]

Originally Posted by Noa Put

Mark, what is the highest usable iso setting on the gopro 4 for you? I think I read it can do 1600 iso, is that true?

I don't know what is "useable", but one can set the max ISO to 400, 1600 and 6400 in Protune (video) mode.

[Mark Dobson]

Generally I have been taught / learnt that the best results come from using Protune Native - Colour flat - ISO 400 - Low sharpness - Default Exposure and then processing in your NLE or with Resolve.

I use FCPX and add sharpness back in, bring up the saturation, apply masks to separate the sky from the rest of the image and adjust the levels. I also sometimes use a film emulation software called Film Convert.

Another thing I have learnt to use is a ND Filter on the lens which is a real pain as it weighs 10-12 grams and you have to counter weight that with coins on the back of the camera.

But it makes a big difference tp movement in the frame - car wheels etc and also helps to balance out the sky.

People use it remove the jello effect - but I've found that has gone with the Gopro 4 in 4 k.

[Noa Put]

Originally Posted by Mark Rosenzweig

I don't know what is "useable"

I have no idea how that little camera performs under low light conditions so 400 iso sounds very limiting and maybe 1600 iso and above might be too noisy or introduce lots of artifacts? I"m not expecting it to have the same performance as a sony a7s but was wondering how high iso you can select before the image falls apart.

[Mark Rosenzweig]

Originally Posted by Noa Put

I have no idea how that little camera performs under low light conditions so 400 iso sounds very limiting and maybe 1600 iso and above might be too noisy or introduce lots of artifacts? I"m not expecting it to have the same performance as a sony a7s but was wondering how high iso you can select before the image falls apart.

Here you go: Shot 4K, 30p in the following sequence - Protune Color, ISO 400; Protune Color, ISO 1600; Protune Flat, ISO 400; Protune Flat, ISO 1600.

You can see from the first frame how dark this setting was. Chroma noise seems relatively low.

GoPro Hero 4 Black 4K Very Low-Light Test Video: ISO 400 and ISO 1600, Protune Color and Flat on Vimeo

This video underwent no re-compression, and the 4K original is downloadable. You can thus play with it in your editor to reduce noise and add color (to the flat clips).

[Noa Put]

Thx Mark! Protune Flat, ISO 1600 looks best by far after I colorcorrect it and apply neatvideo to it. Only neatvideo is soooooo slow on 4K but worth the waittime. Protune Color has too much contrast applied to it.

[Mark Rosenzweig]

Originally Posted by Noa Put

Thx Mark! Protune Flat, ISO 1600 looks best by far after I colorcorrect it and apply neatvideo to it. Only neatvideo is soooooo slow on 4K but worth the waittime. Protune Color has too much contrast applied to it.

I also played with the clips, and I agree.