Panasonic GH2 beats the Canon 5D MKII

jogiba · 12-02-2010, 06:53 PM

in HD video mode !
"Image quality is subjective. Some have valid reasons for liking the 5D Mark II and it's full frame sensor. Some will love the 60D's image. But Canon are now significantly behind Panasonic in terms of the overall video performance.

The Panasonic GH2 resolves significantly more detail with less noise than even the 5D Mark II at ISO 3200."
EOSHD.com - Canon 60D versus Panasonic GH2 - Full Review - Part 2

[YT]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sme39NMh6sE[/YT]

[YT]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25zlRuePrRc[/YT]

johnmflores · 12-02-2010, 08:01 PM

How many cameras do you have? I know one thing - you have nearly all the ones that I want LOL! I'm really torn between the K-5 and GH2. One is clearly better for stills - the other is clearly better for video. I'm coming from a K20d and need a step up in both categories. I may need to play the lottery.

Thanks for sharing.

jogiba · 12-03-2010, 09:18 AM

I just ordered the GH2 body and a Pentax K mount adapter for it and hope that the video quality is as good as my Panasonic TM700 3MOS 1080p60 camcorder. I like how my Canon SX30 IS works in video mode with articulated screen so I could use it with my Optika Xgrip and the GH2 should work even better since it has a larger LCD and the best EVF on any camera with 1,530,000 dots.

Another GH2 video from the guy who posted some K-5 videos about a month ago:

[YT]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAcoK4ECrbo[/YT]

jogiba · 12-06-2010, 07:14 AM

MR with Nokton f/0.95 mounted on a Panasonic GH1
Photo by Nick Devlin taken with Pentax 645D

Voigtlander f/0.95 25mm Micro 4/3 Nocton

Quote:

Buried on page 67 of the GH2's English language user manual is a confusing and poorly written description of something called Extra Tele Conversion (EX Tele Conv). This is discussed together with a function called Digital Zoom, both of which work in JPG stills mode. There's a 2X mode, a 4X mode, a 4.8X mode – Oh, I give up.

It's a confusing mess, and since these either reduce image quality (Digital Zoom) or reduces the size of the stills files (EX Tele Conv), and don't work with raws, I simply ignored the whole thing when I previewed the GH2 back in October, 2010.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

What It Is?

But as the GH2 started to come into the hands of early users it became clear that there was something very special going on – a video mode called EX Tele Conv. Since this as such an awkward name I'm simply going to call it ETC from now on.

When shooting in 1920X1080 HD (including 24P Cinema mode) and when ETC mode is engaged, the GH2's 4608 x 3456 sensor is "cropped" to 1920X1080. In other words, only the central 2 Megapixels of the sensor's overall 18 Megapixels is recorded.

This has significant implications, almost all of them positive. Firstly, no line skipping, binning, or digital interpolation are needed. It's as if the sensor was only 2MP rather than 18MP. As a consequence the image recorded has a crop factor of 2.6X over the full Micro Four Thirds format. The best way to think of this is being akin to the crop factor of APS-C over full frame 35mm; which in that case is either 1.5X or 1.6X.

As a consequence, any lens put on the GH2 when shot in ETC video mode has an effective focal length of 2.6X of what's marked on the barrel. The new 100–300mm zoom therefore becomes a 260–780mm, with no loss of light! It's like shooting with a 2.6X teleconverter but without the image quality loss and without the light loss. There is essentially no IQ loss because the original sensor output is used; just a cropped portion of it. There is no light loss, because though it acts like a teleconverter, it isn't. There are no optical elements involved and no upressing or downressing.

SIDEBAR. Since a Four Thirds sensor already produces a 2X field of view as compared to full frame 35mm, this means that in ETC video mode the focal length marked on the lens is actually 5.2X what it would be in full-frame 35mm terms. So the long end of the new 100-300mm zoom is equivalent to 1,560mm in Extra Tele Conv video mode. Wildlife cinematography anyone?

Panasonic GH2 1:1 Mode Revealed

jogiba · 12-06-2010, 05:10 PM

[YT]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gaq2iJwr3Pg[/YT]

jogiba · 12-10-2010, 05:46 PM

Here is a GH2 video on Vimeo that has the best 1080p quality I have seen on Vimeo. Play it in full screen 1080p mode.

youtube version:
[YT]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hGB25jJoNs[/YT]

johnmflores · 12-10-2010, 06:12 PM

Originally posted by jogiba

Here is a GH2 video on Vimeo that has the best 1080p quality I have seen on Vimeo. Play it in full screen 1080p mode.

youtube version:
[YT]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hGB25jJoNs[/YT]

That was quite nice. The only place I saw the image break down was around :30 where the camera is still and the 2 girls are walking across the frame left to right. The focus is on the growth in the foreground, but there's some odd OOF ghosting going on. Have you seen any samples with more action? Maybe that's what 720P60FPS is for.

Also, have you tried any Pentax glass on your GH2?

I'm still very intrigued - too bad nobody has them in stock!

jogiba · 12-11-2010, 08:09 AM

I did not get my GH2 yet, Panasonic Direct says I should get it soon. Here is a GH2 video that was shot in 720p60 mode.

johnmflores · 12-13-2010, 09:30 AM

Wow. The GH2 just got a very positive review at Photography Blog

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2 Review | PhotographyBLOG

The more I read about it the more likely it will be my next camera. As much as I covet the K-5, I'll wait until the price settles...maybe even pick up a string-of-pearls refurb cheap!

twitch · 12-13-2010, 02:47 PM

Wouldn't that crop video mode impact greatly on the apparent depth of field? Like a P&S camera for stills? So if it has a crop factor of 5.5x, then f2.8 lenses would have a DoF like they were f20 FF equivalent. Doesn't that take away the main benefit of video on DSLRs?

jogiba · 12-14-2010, 05:43 PM

Originally posted by twitch

Wouldn't that crop video mode impact greatly on the apparent depth of field? Like a P&S camera for stills? So if it has a crop factor of 5.5x, then f2.8 lenses would have a DoF like they were f20 FF equivalent. Doesn't that take away the main benefit of video on DSLRs?

Try shooting this video with a Canon 5D MKII and 2000+mm lens:

[YT]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NBX94meEi0[/YT]

RayGunn · 12-19-2010, 01:37 PM

then I Googled Bruce Dale and no wonder... He's a National Geographic photographer, LOL.
RayGunn

RayGunn · 12-19-2010, 01:39 PM

Oh, yeah... One other item: What are your impressions of using the Optika Xgrip?
I thank you, again, jogiba.
RayGunn

jogiba · 12-19-2010, 03:18 PM

The Opteka Xgrip is great for getting low angle shots like in this video:
[YT]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUoUgc3mW7I[/YT]

[YT]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5becmLKcU4[/YT]

johnmflores · 12-19-2010, 03:25 PM

Found a GH2 with the 14-140 yesterday on OneCall.com. It was a tough decision - GH2 or K-5? Mine is on it's way.

12-02-2010, 06:53 PM	#1
jogiba Banned Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Millstone,NJ Posts: 6,491	Panasonic GH2 beats the Canon 5D MKII in HD video mode ! "Image quality is subjective. Some have valid reasons for liking the 5D Mark II and it's full frame sensor. Some will love the 60D's image. But Canon are now significantly behind Panasonic in terms of the overall video performance. The Panasonic GH2 resolves significantly more detail with less noise than even the 5D Mark II at ISO 3200." EOSHD.com - Canon 60D versus Panasonic GH2 - Full Review - Part 2 [YT]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sme39NMh6sE[/YT] [YT]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25zlRuePrRc[/YT]

12-03-2010, 09:18 AM	#3
jogiba Banned Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Millstone,NJ Posts: 6,491 Original Poster	I just ordered the GH2 body and a Pentax K mount adapter for it and hope that the video quality is as good as my Panasonic TM700 3MOS 1080p60 camcorder. I like how my Canon SX30 IS works in video mode with articulated screen so I could use it with my Optika Xgrip and the GH2 should work even better since it has a larger LCD and the best EVF on any camera with 1,530,000 dots. Another GH2 video from the guy who posted some K-5 videos about a month ago: [YT]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAcoK4ECrbo[/YT] Last edited by jogiba; 12-03-2010 at 07:10 PM.

12-10-2010, 05:46 PM	#6
jogiba Banned Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Millstone,NJ Posts: 6,491 Original Poster	Here is a GH2 video on Vimeo that has the best 1080p quality I have seen on Vimeo. Play it in full screen 1080p mode. Vimeo youtube version: [YT]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hGB25jJoNs[/YT]

12-11-2010, 08:09 AM	#8
jogiba Banned Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Millstone,NJ Posts: 6,491 Original Poster	I did not get my GH2 yet, Panasonic Direct says I should get it soon. Here is a GH2 video that was shot in 720p60 mode. Vimeo

12-14-2010, 05:43 PM	#11
jogiba Banned Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Millstone,NJ Posts: 6,491 Original Poster	Originally posted by twitch Wouldn't that crop video mode impact greatly on the apparent depth of field? Like a P&S camera for stills? So if it has a crop factor of 5.5x, then f2.8 lenses would have a DoF like they were f20 FF equivalent. Doesn't that take away the main benefit of video on DSLRs? Try shooting this video with a Canon 5D MKII and 2000+mm lens: Vimeo [YT]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NBX94meEi0[/YT]

12-02-2010, 08:01 PM	#2
johnmflores Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Somerville, NJ Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,361	How many cameras do you have? I know one thing - you have nearly all the ones that I want LOL! I'm really torn between the K-5 and GH2. One is clearly better for stills - the other is clearly better for video. I'm coming from a K20d and need a step up in both categories. I may need to play the lottery. Thanks for sharing.

12-06-2010, 07:14 AM	#4
jogiba Banned Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Millstone,NJ Posts: 6,491 Original Poster	MR with Nokton f/0.95 mounted on a Panasonic GH1 Photo by Nick Devlin taken with Pentax 645D Voigtlander f/0.95 25mm Micro 4/3 Nocton Quote: Buried on page 67 of the GH2's English language user manual is a confusing and poorly written description of something called Extra Tele Conversion (EX Tele Conv). This is discussed together with a function called Digital Zoom, both of which work in JPG stills mode. There's a 2X mode, a 4X mode, a 4.8X mode – Oh, I give up. It's a confusing mess, and since these either reduce image quality (Digital Zoom) or reduces the size of the stills files (EX Tele Conv), and don't work with raws, I simply ignored the whole thing when I previewed the GH2 back in October, 2010. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- What It Is? But as the GH2 started to come into the hands of early users it became clear that there was something very special going on – a video mode called EX Tele Conv. Since this as such an awkward name I'm simply going to call it ETC from now on. When shooting in 1920X1080 HD (including 24P Cinema mode) and when ETC mode is engaged, the GH2's 4608 x 3456 sensor is "cropped" to 1920X1080. In other words, only the central 2 Megapixels of the sensor's overall 18 Megapixels is recorded. This has significant implications, almost all of them positive. Firstly, no line skipping, binning, or digital interpolation are needed. It's as if the sensor was only 2MP rather than 18MP. As a consequence the image recorded has a crop factor of 2.6X over the full Micro Four Thirds format. The best way to think of this is being akin to the crop factor of APS-C over full frame 35mm; which in that case is either 1.5X or 1.6X. As a consequence, any lens put on the GH2 when shot in ETC video mode has an effective focal length of 2.6X of what's marked on the barrel. The new 100–300mm zoom therefore becomes a 260–780mm, with no loss of light! It's like shooting with a 2.6X teleconverter but without the image quality loss and without the light loss. There is essentially no IQ loss because the original sensor output is used; just a cropped portion of it. There is no light loss, because though it acts like a teleconverter, it isn't. There are no optical elements involved and no upressing or downressing. SIDEBAR. Since a Four Thirds sensor already produces a 2X field of view as compared to full frame 35mm, this means that in ETC video mode the focal length marked on the lens is actually 5.2X what it would be in full-frame 35mm terms. So the long end of the new 100-300mm zoom is equivalent to 1,560mm in Extra Tele Conv video mode. Wildlife cinematography anyone? Panasonic GH2 1:1 Mode Revealed

12-06-2010, 05:10 PM	#5
jogiba Banned Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Millstone,NJ Posts: 6,491 Original Poster	[YT]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gaq2iJwr3Pg[/YT]

12-10-2010, 06:12 PM	#7
johnmflores Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Somerville, NJ Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,361	Originally posted by jogiba Here is a GH2 video on Vimeo that has the best 1080p quality I have seen on Vimeo. Play it in full screen 1080p mode. youtube version: [YT]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hGB25jJoNs[/YT] That was quite nice. The only place I saw the image break down was around :30 where the camera is still and the 2 girls are walking across the frame left to right. The focus is on the growth in the foreground, but there's some odd OOF ghosting going on. Have you seen any samples with more action? Maybe that's what 720P60FPS is for. Also, have you tried any Pentax glass on your GH2? I'm still very intrigued - too bad nobody has them in stock!

12-13-2010, 09:30 AM	#9
johnmflores Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Somerville, NJ Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,361	Wow. The GH2 just got a very positive review at Photography Blog Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2 Review \| PhotographyBLOG The more I read about it the more likely it will be my next camera. As much as I covet the K-5, I'll wait until the price settles...maybe even pick up a string-of-pearls refurb cheap!

12-13-2010, 02:47 PM	#10
twitch Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 4,571	Wouldn't that crop video mode impact greatly on the apparent depth of field? Like a P&S camera for stills? So if it has a crop factor of 5.5x, then f2.8 lenses would have a DoF like they were f20 FF equivalent. Doesn't that take away the main benefit of video on DSLRs?

12-19-2010, 01:37 PM	#12
RayGunn Inactive Account Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Northern Nevada Posts: 198	I really, really like that "Summer Morning" video then I Googled Bruce Dale and no wonder... He's a National Geographic photographer, LOL. RayGunn

12-19-2010, 01:39 PM	#13
RayGunn Inactive Account Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Northern Nevada Posts: 198	Oh, yeah... One other item: What are your impressions of using the Optika Xgrip? I thank you, again, jogiba. RayGunn

12-19-2010, 03:18 PM	#14
jogiba Banned Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Millstone,NJ Posts: 6,491 Original Poster	The Opteka Xgrip is great for getting low angle shots like in this video: [YT]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUoUgc3mW7I[/YT] [YT]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5becmLKcU4[/YT]

12-19-2010, 03:25 PM	#15
johnmflores Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Somerville, NJ Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,361	Found a GH2 with the 14-140 yesterday on OneCall.com. It was a tough decision - GH2 or K-5? Mine is on it's way.

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