Member of the Month

KilaTsunami
October, 2024

Online

Welcome to the Newschoolers forums! You may read the forums as a guest, however you must be a registered member to post. Register to become a member today!

Opinions on GH2 vs. GH3

profile picture
[J_Gasper]
Posts: 2983 - Karma: 1,594
Hey guys,

Yes I have used the search bar, and no I havent found jack shit in most of the threads.

Thinking about making the switch from Canon EOS to a GH series. I have done some extensive research, and I have come up with some pros and cons, but ultimately wanted to hear NS's opinion.

I know there are rumors of the GH3 showing much more aliasing/moire.

From what I know, the GH3 has much more DR, better low light capabilities. 1080p 60fps, better menu layout, better photo capabilities.

With the GH2, some of the pros are: Hackable, much cheaper, ????



Whats everyones opinion?
Apr 24 2013 4:30PM
14 4
profile picture
=nick=
Posts: 10471 - Karma: 2,182
well sure, my explanation was vague, but trying to help people understand.

the analogy is h.264 in post is like trying to alter a clay pot you've already baked, rather than shaping the wet clay (Prores) and baking it on the export (h.264)

or something like that, probably butchered it, sorry landis
Apr 29 2013 5:26AM
0 0
profile picture
eheath
Posts: 61601 - Karma: 123,020
This is an okay way to put it, but avchd is I'm no way a wet clay codec and just encoding to prores doesn't automatically turn your shot into something you can edit freely with no breakdown of the image.
Apr 29 2013 12:50PM
0 0
profile picture
[~_~]
Posts: 20239 - Karma: 1,273
Way to be the fingernail in the cobb salad.

Like Evan said, its a subtractive process. Transcoding to PreRes is not the same as shooting in ProRes because you simply cannot add something that isn't there (Cinestyle shooters, take heed). Transcoding to ProRes simply takes what little information you have (AVCHD or h.264) and packages it in a more palatable format. It's like taking your camera out of a cardboard box and putting it into a Pelican case for transport: the basic qualities and abilities have not changed, but the new container makes it easier for you to fulfill its same degree of potential.

h.264 and AVCHD are actually very similar codecs; h.264 is deliberately meant for web output whereas AVCHD, if I understand correctly, is meant to be a similarly shitty codec for acquisition (hopefully one of NS' retired camera gurus can elaborate. Where's Grizzly?) The difference is that the Panasonic GHx cameras package their footage in a more malleable way into that AVCHD container, which is why hackers are able to change the camera's acquisition "preferences" before the camera puts the footage into that shitty codec "box."

All else being equal, the h.264 v.s. AVCHD argument is sort of a moot point. AVCHD is only slightly better, but it doesn't get the credit because the codec alone is not the reason why AVCHD cameras are unanimously better than h.264 cameras. People just like to pick out and invest their praise into certain specs because it's less cumbersome than admitting the fact that quality imagery comes from a huge combination of things, much of which are not included in specs (A/D conversion, scaling algorithms, etc.)

And on the other side of the umbrella, let me reiterate: none of this really matters.
Apr 29 2013 1:05PM
0 0
profile picture
=nick=
Posts: 10471 - Karma: 2,182
/poop
Apr 29 2013 2:36PM
0 0
profile picture
j-cal
Posts: 693 - Karma: 3,295
I had a 60d, gave it to my dad. The 60d was a great little camera. After that i bought a gh2 and some vintage canon lenses. Loved it. Sadly got it all stolen. Insurance was nice so i got a gh3. Love it. I can say i like gh3 better than gh2 for 2 reasons. I love the 1080 60 and i think the iq is a little better than my hacked gh2. But that could be thrown completely out by lens choice. I shot manly with the canon 24mm 2.8 fd with my gh2 and now i shoot with a vogtlander 17.5 on my gh3. So my geaus is the lens on iq but not sure. Any way i would send the gh2 or gh3 both great cams and fun to shoot with.
Jun 11 2013 9:59PM
0 0
All times are Eastern (-5)