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#1 |
Major Player
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Ireland
Posts: 579
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Has anyone here switched from 5D3 to GH4 for weddings?
Hi all.
About 10 years ago we were all debating whether or not there would be a need for a photographer in the future, with the ability to framebrab from the 4k footage. I think anyone who knows weddings will agree that there will always be a need for a photographer, if only to organise groups etc. But lately Ive been considering moving to the GH4 from the 5mk3 for this exact reason. I do get asked for stills from the footage quite a bit and have to dissapoint couples in my reply. I would love to be able to at least be able to to provide the service to those that need the framegrabs later for whatever reason. Perhaps the photographer missed the key moment etc. Its a delicate issue that we are all going to have to address in the near future with our photographer pals. Has anyone moved from the 5d3 to the GH4 for this purpose? And if so are you happy with your decision? Im really hesitant as for the first time in my career Im truely happy with the look Im getting from my camera/lens combo (50L on 5d3 for most of the day). 720p 50 is gorgeous on the 5d3. Id be thowing that shallow DOF and smooth slowmo away in a trade for printable footage. Logic tells me to wait for a Canon or Nikon FF 4k solution to keep the FF look and lets be honest, the A7s with shogun is an akward and slightly expensive solution (I'd need 2). |
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#2 |
Inner Circle
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: LIncolnshire, UK
Posts: 2,213
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Re: Has anyone here switched from 5D3 to GH4 for weddings?
Ii wouldn't worry about what photographers think. As they have over 90% of the wedding market and videographers about 10%, I'd be more worried about photographers offering video on their dslrs and taking the rest of the market.
Roger |
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#3 |
Trustee
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Sydney, Australia
Posts: 1,149
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Re: Has anyone here switched from 5D3 to GH4 for weddings?
Hey Ger, I've got a feeling no one has made the swap for that particular reason, and that, therefore, you yourself are best placed to answer whether it's a swap worth making, since you know your market and know how many people are actually asking for or would be happy with frame grabs.
Just to rehash old ideas, frame grabs are never going to be as good as a dedicated creative photographer, for a whole bunch of reasons, including lack of raw capability, motion blur at 1/50, and restrictions in portrait framing and Dutch tilts. That said, I believe you could extract enough usable frame grabs from general video footage, without specifically shooting for that, to make the process worthwhile, if the couple are on a low budget. And the reason I say that is mainly because Nigel, who posts on this forum, has done so, using HD grabs from C300 footage. Whether shooting on a GH4 would compromise your video quality, given that you're really happy with your current setup... Well, I think it's the operator that matters much more than the camera, that a GH4 would bring plusses as well as minuses, and that you could work around any limitations to get great footage. In terms of waiting for a 4K Canon (assuming a 1DC is out of the question), I think the main factor is how pressing your need is. If a 5DIV with 4K came out in fourth quarter next year, is that too late for you? Do you really want to provide frame grabs to couples right now? You're in the best position to answer that... |
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#4 |
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Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Liverpool
Posts: 495
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Re: Has anyone here switched from 5D3 to GH4 for weddings?
You'd need to consider the drawbacks of the GH4 vs the 5D3 even more... like how does low light performance compare to the 5D3 on the GH4? Personally, I find myself looking at the A7S with a sad face, wishing my GH4's ISO performance was similar. With the discussions around organic sensors (Panasonic / Fuji) and Sony's ASPC chips around the corner, I'd personally wait until a breakthrough similar to the A7S comes alongside 4K in-body.
You sound like you enjoy the Full Frame look - that in itself is harder to achieve on a GH4, even with the flurry of great prime lenses. E.g. your 50L would be replaced with the 25mm f/1.4 Panasonic-Leica lens on a GH4, yet would only provide you with f/2.8 equivalent on a full frame. I'd recommend waiting to see if Canon is willing to take away the 1DC's current position as being the only body with 4K and whether the 5D4 arrives with 4K in body. If it was to do so, then you have the best of both worlds. However, do you think Canon will offer 4K in body in the near future? Their C100 MK2 didn't receive 4K. |
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#5 |
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Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Romsey, UK
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Re: Has anyone here switched from 5D3 to GH4 for weddings?
If I was a betting man, I'd wager that 4k will make it's introduction with either a 5d Mark IV or a C400 (should such a camera occur). The C100 Mark II was hardly likely to upstage the C300 with 4k, no more than the 7d Mark II would upstage the 5d Mark III.
I've used the GH4 very happily since May, love the camera. The stills I get from 4k are more useful for DVD Covers than to the couples. Few ask for the service. Personally I'd stick with whatever system you have. I wouldn't switch to another system on the basis of one feature. Not unless you're sitting on a fortune. Last edited by Steve Burkett; November 13th, 2014 at 01:17 PM. Reason: Cock up |
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#6 | |
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Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Liverpool
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Re: Has anyone here switched from 5D3 to GH4 for weddings?
Quote:
Interesting to consider 4K coming to a 5D IV though... and the C400 would be so expensive, I'd say it would be out of the price range (considering 5D3 vs GH4). I also love the GH4, but I'm hoping long term for there to be a significant improvement in the ISO performance. |
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#7 | |
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Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: York, England
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Re: Has anyone here switched from 5D3 to GH4 for weddings?
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What will also be interesting will be to see what Sony's new sensor technology is like ( Sony kills Bayer sensors: Will Olympus next High End OMD use the new APCS (active pixel color sampling) sensor? | 43 Rumors ) and if it will be in Olympus's next body with 4K, perhaps with 5 axis stabiization.... now that could be a very interesting product!
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#8 |
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Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Romsey, UK
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Re: Has anyone here switched from 5D3 to GH4 for weddings?
I'm not hedging bets on major ISO improvements in the Panasonic. Just not seeing that as a priority for them. All the camera companies make decisions more on potential profits rather than customer satisfaction. Nikon and Canon are the top dogs in Photography, so good low light is given a priority more for the Photographers sake than Videographers. Unfortunately an impressive range of cameras restricts innovation. Sony and Panasonic are however pushing 4K, no small coincidence they also both make TV's. I'd be looking at what Sony is doing for next year. Recent news suggests they're pushing ahead on the video side, so fullframe and internal 4k isn't too far away I'm sure.
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#9 | ||
Major Player
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Ireland
Posts: 579
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Re: Has anyone here switched from 5D3 to GH4 for weddings?
Quote:
Quote:
I dont see a fortune being made but i do see the cost of the cameras being covered with a few extra bob in my pocket at the end of the year. Would it be worth all the hassle though? No probably not. |
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#10 |
Major Player
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Santa Fe, NM USA
Posts: 396
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Re: Has anyone here switched from 5D3 to GH4 for weddings?
Sounds like good advice. Its why I havent bit the bullet regardless of how many youtube videos are telling me the 5d3 is no longer the camera to have for video shooting. Personally I like the softness of the image. Its just right I feel for a brides face. I think Id even be tempted to soften the footage out of the gh4.
I dont see a fortune being made but i do see the cost of the cameras being covered with a few extra bob in my pocket at the end of the year. Would it be worth all the hassle though? No probably not.[/QUOTE] I feel the same way, I love the softness and color of the 5D3 it's great for close ups. I don't think the GH4 would be very flattering to a brides face without a softening filter. I too have survived the propaganda Youtube comparisons. |
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#11 | |
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Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Romsey, UK
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Re: Has anyone here switched from 5D3 to GH4 for weddings?
Quote:
I too have survived the propaganda Youtube comparisons.[/QUOTE] In post production it's easier to soften than to create detail, even with a good sharpening filter. RB Looks has a filter that can target faces and soften them. I do like the image of the 5d Mark III, the full frame look though is more than just about softness, it's the ease with which shallow depth of field can be done. For the GH4, I have to use long lenses to get the same effect, not always practical at Weddings. Though it does stop me from over using depth of field too on the plus side. However I'm not just filming faces; I recently did some filming in the Yorkshire Dales, where the 4K made a real difference in creating some great footage. I did something similar years back with the Canon 60D and was very disappointed. So I'm very pleased with the GH4... for now. Just one other point on softness, Photographers are taking photos at Weddings with resolutions far greater than 4K. Are they all softening their images to compensate? |
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#12 |
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Join Date: May 2012
Location: Nashua, NH
Posts: 209
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Re: Has anyone here switched from 5D3 to GH4 for weddings?
Micro 4/3 also has some really fast lens. Voigtlander and SLR magic has some .95 lens that aren't telephoto so you can get that shallow depth of field easier, when you want it.
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#13 | |
Major Player
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Liverpool
Posts: 495
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Re: Has anyone here switched from 5D3 to GH4 for weddings?
Quote:
A shallow depth of field can be achieved with one of the great prime lenses that are available, along with major advancements in recent years with regards to autofocus, lens selection - with the introduction of the pro zooms - and ultimately, video features / codecs. The one main feature missing from the Panasonic line up is IBIS. The GX7 has it, yet it hasn't made its way over to the GH line. Surely, next time, it won't be omitted and Panasonic will have a run at Oly's brilliant IBIS in the EM1? Sony sounds about right though and I found your 4K comment interesting - definitely makes sense!!! |
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#14 | |
Inner Circle
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Norwich, Norfolk, UK
Posts: 3,531
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Re: Has anyone here switched from 5D3 to GH4 for weddings?
Quote:
I like the MFT cameras as they are so much lighter & more agile than using a 5D3 or C100 but the advantage that the Canon cameras have if that the colours look fabulous straight out of camera & with the 5D2/3 the softer less than proper 1080p resolution is actually very flattering. You also don't have to work at getting cool looking out of focus background with exotic manual lenses as even the F/4 lenses will give smooth bokeh. |
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#15 | |
Major Player
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Nashua, NH
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Re: Has anyone here switched from 5D3 to GH4 for weddings?
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