GH3 or BMPC? at DVinfo.net

John Cash · January 23rd, 2014, 11:20 AM

Hi All

I have a few posts up asking about these two cameras. I will be using one of them for aerial video work. I know how well the GH3 works in the air at 60fps in 1080, but do you have to "pitch" the camera if your doing work for someone or do most accept that you can get pro quality footage fronm this camera?
If I ask indy producers Im sure they are going to pick the BMPC for its film look , but the fact that it wont do 60fps in 1080 is he only reason Im torn

any input would help

Thanks

Noa Put · January 23rd, 2014, 11:38 AM

It looks to me that you need to get what your clients are asking most for as they pay the bills, or get a gh3 and a bmpc as you can exchange lenses easily. :)

Bill Bruner · January 23rd, 2014, 12:58 PM

Hi John - I have both of these cameras. I shoot with the GH3 when I need 1080/60p for in-camera slow motion or "no muss no fuss" shooting. Your mileage may vary.

I have not flown them, but I plan to. I am confident that either one will do a great job with a stabilized mount, as seen in these examples.

Here's the GH3 over San Francisco (please watch at 1080p):

Here's the BMPCC shooting ProRes:

And another:

In my view, your decision should be balanced between what you're comfortable with, and, as Noa says, what your client wants.

Hope this is helpful,

Bill
Hybrid Camera Revolution

Phil Goetz · January 23rd, 2014, 02:11 PM

That San Francisco footage is amazing. Makes you wonder where the operator is standing.

John Cash · January 23rd, 2014, 02:50 PM

Budget is going to force me into the GH3. Not camera and lens but I'm using a 2009 MacPro and Lion. I don't have enough ram to deal with the BMPC nor can I buy Davinchi
I will start researching the BMPC and hopefully pick it up later
Thanks

Bill Bruner · January 24th, 2014, 07:20 AM

The GH3 is a a fabulous choice, and I recommend it highly - but it may be easier to deal with BMPCC footage than you have been led to believe.

Unless there's some specific feature of the $945 version of DaVinci that you absolutely need, the free version does a fabulous job of grading and rendering and 90%+ of what the paid version can do: Blackmagic Design: DaVinci Resolve Compare

And your 5 year old Mac Pro should do just fine with 220mbps ProRes files (they're not that big) - although RAW might be a problem.

I'm running a 2011 Windows 7 machine with 4GB of RAM, so I feel your pain :)

Again, hope this is helpful,

Bill
Hybrid Camera Revolution

Bill Bruner · January 24th, 2014, 07:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phil Goetz

That San Francisco footage is amazing. Makes you wonder where the operator is standing.

I wondered the same thing. They may have been on a boat for the overwater Bay Bridge shots - but maintaining visual contact with the copter at night must have been a real challenge. I hope they had insurance - that would have been a lot of money to splash in the Bay. My hat is off to them.

Stephen Brenner · January 24th, 2014, 04:37 PM

BMPC has a slight weight advantage at 12.5 oz vs. 19.4 for the GH3. Would that allow for a cheaper
copter?

Ron Fabienke · January 25th, 2014, 06:27 PM

As well, quality RAM to be had for Mac at OWC (Other World Computing…. Mac Specialists) for a lot less than Apple pricing.

January 23rd, 2014, 11:20 AM	#1
John Cash Major Player Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: San Diego CA Posts: 253	GH3 or BMPC? Hi All I have a few posts up asking about these two cameras. I will be using one of them for aerial video work. I know how well the GH3 works in the air at 60fps in 1080, but do you have to "pitch" the camera if your doing work for someone or do most accept that you can get pro quality footage fronm this camera? If I ask indy producers Im sure they are going to pick the BMPC for its film look , but the fact that it wont do 60fps in 1080 is he only reason Im torn any input would help Thanks

January 23rd, 2014, 11:38 AM	#2
Noa Put Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Belgium Posts: 9,510	Re: GH3 or BMPC? It looks to me that you need to get what your clients are asking most for as they pay the bills, or get a gh3 and a bmpc as you can exchange lenses easily. :)

January 23rd, 2014, 12:58 PM	#3
Bill Bruner Major Player Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Sunny California Posts: 513	Re: GH3 or BMPC? Hi John - I have both of these cameras. I shoot with the GH3 when I need 1080/60p for in-camera slow motion or "no muss no fuss" shooting. Your mileage may vary. I have not flown them, but I plan to. I am confident that either one will do a great job with a stabilized mount, as seen in these examples. Here's the GH3 over San Francisco (please watch at 1080p): DJI S800 EVO Zenmuse Panasonic GH3 San Francisco - YouTube Here's the BMPCC shooting ProRes: BMPCC Aerials (Black Magic Pocket Cinema Camera - First aerial test) - YouTube And another: TAEAN Coast aerial video with BMPCC on Vimeo In my view, your decision should be balanced between what you're comfortable with, and, as Noa says, what your client wants. Hope this is helpful, Bill Hybrid Camera Revolution

January 23rd, 2014, 02:11 PM	#4
Phil Goetz Austinite Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Austin Posts: 550	Re: GH3 or BMPC? That San Francisco footage is amazing. Makes you wonder where the operator is standing.

January 23rd, 2014, 02:50 PM	#5
John Cash Major Player Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: San Diego CA Posts: 253	Re: GH3 or BMPC? Budget is going to force me into the GH3. Not camera and lens but I'm using a 2009 MacPro and Lion. I don't have enough ram to deal with the BMPC nor can I buy Davinchi I will start researching the BMPC and hopefully pick it up later Thanks

January 24th, 2014, 07:20 AM	#6
Bill Bruner Major Player Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Sunny California Posts: 513	Re: GH3 or BMPC? The GH3 is a a fabulous choice, and I recommend it highly - but it may be easier to deal with BMPCC footage than you have been led to believe. Unless there's some specific feature of the $945 version of DaVinci that you absolutely need, the free version does a fabulous job of grading and rendering and 90%+ of what the paid version can do: Blackmagic Design: DaVinci Resolve Compare And your 5 year old Mac Pro should do just fine with 220mbps ProRes files (they're not that big) - although RAW might be a problem. I'm running a 2011 Windows 7 machine with 4GB of RAM, so I feel your pain :) Again, hope this is helpful, Bill Hybrid Camera Revolution

January 24th, 2014, 04:37 PM	#8
Stephen Brenner Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Brownsville, OR Posts: 116	Re: GH3 or BMPC? BMPC has a slight weight advantage at 12.5 oz vs. 19.4 for the GH3. Would that allow for a cheaper copter?

January 25th, 2014, 06:27 PM	#9
Ron Fabienke Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Burbank, CA Posts: 184	Re: GH3 or BMPC? As well, quality RAM to be had for Mac at OWC (Other World Computing…. Mac Specialists) for a lot less than Apple pricing.