GH3: Buzz buzz b-buzz

Jeff Harper · September 26th, 2012, 10:50 PM

I'm extremely happy, Mike. The images are just amazing to me. I love my XA10. I probably would not want the bigger brother to it, I actually love the small size, it works really well for me. Audio quality from the cam is stellar too.

Lee Ying · September 28th, 2012, 03:02 PM

I must be in the small minority here that find GH3's form factor a big turn off. A major reason I came to GH from Canon DSLR was its more portable size, especially with pancake lenses. I think the appeal of micro4/3 to many people was its smaller size relative to APC-S with little compromise of IQ. Panasonic just put GH3 out of their consideration with its decision to target the niche pro-video market.
In fact, only after the GH3 announcement did I decide to settle on a GH2 instead; GH3 is just too big for a hobbyist.

Tony Davies-Patrick · September 30th, 2012, 08:28 AM

Lee, if you need small size and weight, the GF-1 and GX-1 are great cameras in a tiny packet...and the GX1 performs very close to the GH2 in terms of video and stills images (or the G3, which has video/stills performance equal to the GX1).

Lee Ying · September 30th, 2012, 08:48 PM

Thanks Tony for suggestions. I think GFs and GX1 lack EVF and manual video. Those would be features any video enthusiast would want and cannot live without. I would imagine there are ways to put some bulky cover over a small body so that if people want better handling they can get a larger grip and look, and people like me would have the option of having a more portable body.

Jeff Harper · October 1st, 2012, 03:53 PM

Lee, we each have different likes about the camera, but many of us, me included, find the small size of the camera an issue.

Most of us here purchased the camera because of price and the amazing video quality, not for it's small size, the small size was a downside for many of us.

For day to day use in the field it is fiddly and too easy to hit buttons unintentionally. As a hobbyist, I can see the small size would be a plus. But as a pro shooter it's a different thing altogether. Just my two cents.

William Hohauser · October 2nd, 2012, 02:55 PM

Another interesting interview with Panasonic:

Q&A with Panasonic: The story behind the new video-centric GH3 and other compact system camera tech advances - Imaging Resource

Dennis Vogel · October 2nd, 2012, 08:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff Harper

For day to day use in the field it is fiddly and too easy to hit buttons unintentionally. As a hobbyist, I can see the small size would be a plus. But as a pro shooter it's a different thing altogether. Just my two cents.

It's not just pros. Even for some of us hobbyists, the GH2 size is an issue. I'm not a big guy but I'd say I have slightly larger than average hands. I find using the GH2 buttons to be difficult at times. I'm not ready to spring for a GH3 but I do like the larger size.

D

Bill Thesken · October 2nd, 2012, 10:26 PM

Put a handle on it. I borrowed this from my Craftsman drill that cost about $50.
I use it for any camera I have, Coolpix, GoPro when I'm in the water, GH2.
It takes the big mitts out of the equation.
I saw a guy with a retractable monopod that looked like the ticket for on land run and gun use.

Don Litten · October 3rd, 2012, 09:01 AM

I've gotta say that the small size is a blessing and a curse, depending on how it's set up.

One GH2 is on rails with a Rode Videomic and Loup and depending on what lens, a follow focus. It's far from small but easy to handle.

The other is in a Shrigg Rig with a smaller mc. Smaller than the rails but still easy to use.

Anytime I need small to get into a "No Professional Cameras" venue or just because I don't want the bulk, I can take them off and use the bare camera.

Dennis Vogel · October 3rd, 2012, 11:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill Thesken

Put a handle on it. I borrowed this from my Craftsman drill that cost about $50.
I use it for any camera I have, Coolpix, GoPro when I'm in the water, GH2.
It takes the big mitts out of the equation.
I saw a guy with a retractable monopod that looked like the ticket for on land run and gun use.

Great idea but you still need to use your fingers to adjust settings. That's as much of a problem for me as just holding the camera. I don't see any solution to that other than to be careful and watch every move so the wrong button doesn't get pressed.

But thanks for the tip.

D

Tim Polster · October 8th, 2012, 06:44 PM

Thanks for posting the interview william. I am still confused about the HDMI output. The word uncompressed is being used a lot but I have also heard that the uncompressed stream might be 4:2:0 I would like to know if this is true. If it is, kind of a bending of what we all think of as uncompressed output for external recorders.

Anybody know this info?

William Hohauser · October 8th, 2012, 08:27 PM

The question is where In the processing chain are they referring to the the term "compression". The image goes thru a number of processes before recording or monitoring. Compression is possibly applied in several places, but definitely in the AVCHD transcoding process, some compression at 50mbs, much more at 19mbs. Since AVCHD is a 4:2:0 codec (at least in the GH2 and most other HD cameras), it's not unreasonable to assume that the raw image is first processed into 4:2:0 and then distributed to the various outputs the camera has; EVF, LCD, analog video port, HDMI, AVCHD encoder). However, my understanding of the HDMI standard (certainly a very basic understanding) is that it's a 4:2:2 video data stream not 4:2:0 but it's certainly possible that all HDMI receiving devices can automatically convert a 4:2:0 signal to 4:2:2, of course without improving the quality of the signal. The interviewees are probably talking about the AVCHD compression since 4:2:2 is a compression as well. I hold a very, very modest hope that the video signal is 4:2:2 until it's encoded into AVCHD.

Ron Fabienke · October 18th, 2012, 03:26 PM

I'm not up to speed on all the differences in bit rate terminology. On the Nanoflash sub forum the highest bit rates I have read that are available in "I-Frame" mode seem in most situations not to be worth the large increase in memory needed vs lower "high" rates in the "Long-GOP" mode in perceived increase in PQ.

With the Panny GH3 the highest choices are "ALL-Intra" at 72Mbps vs "IPB" at 50Mbps.

Is the "IPB" the same as, or different than "Long-GOP" and can the same deduction be made that 50Mbps in IPB is virtually indistinguishable from 72Mbps in All-Intra and far less memory required?

Ron Fabienke · October 18th, 2012, 04:23 PM

Will stay with 64GB SanDisk Extreme Pro cards and be safe. 95Mbs read / 90Mbs write

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/824149-REG/SanDisk_SDSDXPA_064G_A75_Extreme_Pro_64GB_SDHC_SDXC.html

Bo Skelmose · October 23rd, 2012, 03:17 AM

Hi
Considering the new Lumix GH-3.
I need a silent camera for making photos of deers - I can see that there is a silent mode for making video - but can the beeps and miror flapping sounds also be silenced in photomode ?

September 26th, 2012, 10:50 PM	#91
Jeff Harper Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 8,425	Re: GH3: Buzz buzz b-buzz I'm extremely happy, Mike. The images are just amazing to me. I love my XA10. I probably would not want the bigger brother to it, I actually love the small size, it works really well for me. Audio quality from the cam is stellar too.

September 28th, 2012, 03:02 PM	#92
Lee Ying Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Atlanta, Ga Posts: 73	Re: GH3: Buzz buzz b-buzz I must be in the small minority here that find GH3's form factor a big turn off. A major reason I came to GH from Canon DSLR was its more portable size, especially with pancake lenses. I think the appeal of micro4/3 to many people was its smaller size relative to APC-S with little compromise of IQ. Panasonic just put GH3 out of their consideration with its decision to target the niche pro-video market. In fact, only after the GH3 announcement did I decide to settle on a GH2 instead; GH3 is just too big for a hobbyist.

September 30th, 2012, 08:28 AM	#93
Tony Davies-Patrick Trustee Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Worldwide Posts: 1,589	Re: GH3: Buzz buzz b-buzz Lee, if you need small size and weight, the GF-1 and GX-1 are great cameras in a tiny packet...and the GX1 performs very close to the GH2 in terms of video and stills images (or the G3, which has video/stills performance equal to the GX1). __________________ www.WILDCARP.com www.NIKON.me.uk Last edited by Tony Davies-Patrick; September 30th, 2012 at 09:23 AM.

September 30th, 2012, 08:48 PM	#94
Lee Ying Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Atlanta, Ga Posts: 73	Re: GH3: Buzz buzz b-buzz Thanks Tony for suggestions. I think GFs and GX1 lack EVF and manual video. Those would be features any video enthusiast would want and cannot live without. I would imagine there are ways to put some bulky cover over a small body so that if people want better handling they can get a larger grip and look, and people like me would have the option of having a more portable body.

October 1st, 2012, 03:53 PM	#95
Jeff Harper Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 8,425	Re: GH3: Buzz buzz b-buzz Lee, we each have different likes about the camera, but many of us, me included, find the small size of the camera an issue. Most of us here purchased the camera because of price and the amazing video quality, not for it's small size, the small size was a downside for many of us. For day to day use in the field it is fiddly and too easy to hit buttons unintentionally. As a hobbyist, I can see the small size would be a plus. But as a pro shooter it's a different thing altogether. Just my two cents.

October 2nd, 2012, 02:55 PM	#96
William Hohauser Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: New York City Posts: 2,650	Re: GH3: Buzz buzz b-buzz Another interesting interview with Panasonic: Q&A with Panasonic: The story behind the new video-centric GH3 and other compact system camera tech advances - Imaging Resource __________________ William Hohauser - New York City Producer/Edit/Camera/Animation

October 2nd, 2012, 10:26 PM	#98
Bill Thesken Major Player Join Date: May 2008 Location: HI, USA Posts: 622	Re: GH3: Buzz buzz b-buzz Put a handle on it. I borrowed this from my Craftsman drill that cost about $50. I use it for any camera I have, Coolpix, GoPro when I'm in the water, GH2. It takes the big mitts out of the equation. I saw a guy with a retractable monopod that looked like the ticket for on land run and gun use. Attached Thumbnails

October 3rd, 2012, 09:01 AM	#99
Don Litten Major Player Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Richmond Va Posts: 400	Re: GH3: Buzz buzz b-buzz I've gotta say that the small size is a blessing and a curse, depending on how it's set up. One GH2 is on rails with a Rode Videomic and Loup and depending on what lens, a follow focus. It's far from small but easy to handle. The other is in a Shrigg Rig with a smaller mc. Smaller than the rails but still easy to use. Anytime I need small to get into a "No Professional Cameras" venue or just because I don't want the bulk, I can take them off and use the bare camera.

October 8th, 2012, 06:44 PM	#101
Tim Polster Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Arlington, TX Posts: 2,231	Re: GH3: Buzz buzz b-buzz Thanks for posting the interview william. I am still confused about the HDMI output. The word uncompressed is being used a lot but I have also heard that the uncompressed stream might be 4:2:0 I would like to know if this is true. If it is, kind of a bending of what we all think of as uncompressed output for external recorders. Anybody know this info?

October 8th, 2012, 08:27 PM	#102
William Hohauser Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: New York City Posts: 2,650	Re: GH3: Buzz buzz b-buzz The question is where In the processing chain are they referring to the the term "compression". The image goes thru a number of processes before recording or monitoring. Compression is possibly applied in several places, but definitely in the AVCHD transcoding process, some compression at 50mbs, much more at 19mbs. Since AVCHD is a 4:2:0 codec (at least in the GH2 and most other HD cameras), it's not unreasonable to assume that the raw image is first processed into 4:2:0 and then distributed to the various outputs the camera has; EVF, LCD, analog video port, HDMI, AVCHD encoder). However, my understanding of the HDMI standard (certainly a very basic understanding) is that it's a 4:2:2 video data stream not 4:2:0 but it's certainly possible that all HDMI receiving devices can automatically convert a 4:2:0 signal to 4:2:2, of course without improving the quality of the signal. The interviewees are probably talking about the AVCHD compression since 4:2:2 is a compression as well. I hold a very, very modest hope that the video signal is 4:2:2 until it's encoded into AVCHD. __________________ William Hohauser - New York City Producer/Edit/Camera/Animation

October 18th, 2012, 03:26 PM	#103
Ron Fabienke Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Burbank, CA Posts: 184	Re: GH3: Buzz buzz b-buzz....bit rate question I'm not up to speed on all the differences in bit rate terminology. On the Nanoflash sub forum the highest bit rates I have read that are available in "I-Frame" mode seem in most situations not to be worth the large increase in memory needed vs lower "high" rates in the "Long-GOP" mode in perceived increase in PQ. With the Panny GH3 the highest choices are "ALL-Intra" at 72Mbps vs "IPB" at 50Mbps. Is the "IPB" the same as, or different than "Long-GOP" and can the same deduction be made that 50Mbps in IPB is virtually indistinguishable from 72Mbps in All-Intra and far less memory required?

October 18th, 2012, 04:23 PM	#104
Ron Fabienke Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Burbank, CA Posts: 184	Re: GH3: Buzz buzz b-buzz....bit rate question Will stay with 64GB SanDisk Extreme Pro cards and be safe. 95Mbs read / 90Mbs write http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/824149-REG/SanDisk_SDSDXPA_064G_A75_Extreme_Pro_64GB_SDHC_SDXC.html Last edited by Ron Fabienke; October 19th, 2012 at 09:11 AM.

October 23rd, 2012, 03:17 AM	#105
Bo Skelmose Major Player Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Denmark Posts: 495	Re: GH3: Buzz buzz b-buzz Hi Considering the new Lumix GH-3. I need a silent camera for making photos of deers - I can see that there is a silent mode for making video - but can the beeps and miror flapping sounds also be silenced in photomode ?