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GH3 user reviews and opinions
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  • Video in AFF mode with the 35-100mm F2.8 lens.

    I am not a professional photographer. I am simply a dad that wants a camera that can make me look like a better photographer than I really am. The GH2 accomplished that for video but it didn't really work as well for stills.

    Now with the GH3 I almost have to try to get a picture I don't like. I know these images are not show quality. However, they are all shot in very difficult situations with no extra lighting or staged scenarios. It is simply me clicking the button and hoping the camera can get the ever changing focus and exposure correct.

    I shoot jpgs in Program Priority and Shutter Priority mode depending on the lighting. I shoot jpgs because I have no intent to ever edit these images. I simply use the GH3 wireless capabilities and my smart phone's hot spot capabilities to upload them straight to Facebook.

    These images are hard to take because the horse is trotting directly towards the camera and the depth of field is very shallow with the 35-100mm F2.8 lens at 100mm and F2.8.

    Real World Pictures including stills from video http://www.dpreview.com/galleries/4222674355/albums/gh3-horse-riding

    AFF continuous Auto Focus examples of subject coming towards camera. http://www.dpreview.com/galleries/4222674355/albums/gh3-continuous-auto-focus-aff

    GH3 Electronic Shutter examples that failed. With moving subjects this does not work very well. It works fine if the subject is stationary though. http://www.dpreview.com/galleries/4222674355/albums/gh3-electronic-shutter-mode-samples

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  • here is an (almost) out of the camera time lapse done with the GH3 and it's awesome built in time lapse capabilities. The format is a third of the raw resolution (1536x1152). Not ideal for vimeo, sorry. I made this by using the electronic shutter function of the GH3. The last shot (nightfall) was done using a Leica R 90mm lens in aperture priority mode ("A"). The shutter went all the way down from around 1/200 to the electronic shutter limit of 1/1. The shot flickers but its quite ok for an auto mode. I din't try to fix the flickering. All other shots were done using the 12-35 2.8. The time lapse was shot at the coast of the black sea in Anapa, Russia. I just recovered highlights and lows from the raw files in Adobe Lightroom since After Effects couldn't read the GH3's raw format.

  • I'm still very happy with my upgrade from GH1 to GH3. The stills are far better from the GH3 (I only shoot raw). The video is also much better (I use the lpowell 75 MHz Peak Performance Pathc in the GH1).

    I used to get lock ups and fails to write to the memory card in 1080p, and, I lost the ability to use 720/60p with the hack and my GH1.

    Now: with the GH3 I have 1080/60p.

    Here's a clip of some birds at the backyard birdfeeder, taken at 1080/60p with many instances of slow motion where I slowed down to 10% of actual speed in PP.

    I can't compare the GH3 to the GH2, since I never had one. But...I love everything about the GH3. I have zero regrets about upgrading. I just wish I could afford some good glass. :-)

  • screenshots...

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  • @TheWindcharger

    Both of your uploads look great! Could you give us some more details i.e.: shutter speeds, what sort of, if any grading you did in FCP, did you convert to Prores, was solo-mo done in cam or in FCP?

    Thanks for your examples!

  • @Shian

    Really looking forward to your tests and comparisons!! I too have noticed a lot of noise when using 72mbps. If possible could you please do some slow panning tests using the 12-35mm panny lens @ 50mbps-24fps-1/50? With and without OIS? Ive never seen this much judder on the 7D or 5D. Might be my particular unit.

    Thanks!

  • no conclusions yet, just a teaser pic from day one.

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  • @From_paris

    Ok. I understand. Thanks for clearing it out! I haven't done so many in depth tests but I haven't seen that 50mbits is jerky. Will be interesting to see what you have found. From what I have experienced the 50mbit .mov mode is the best with the camera.

  • @filmiwilliam

    Sorry for my english : the word is jerky? Saccadé = jerky?

    @vitaliy

    I will post tomorrow evening examples of the problems.

  • @From_paris "50mbs (. Mov) 25P (1:50) = saccades and therefore unusable. The problem is visible on the screen of the camera until final edition."

    • what does this mean? What is "saccades"? I tried to google it but didn't get any good answer.
  • Ok, something else and POSITIVE :)

    I started flying the GH3 on my Wondlan Leopard and the level gauge function is such a helpful tool for practising and shooting. The levels are displayed on my Lilliput monitor at the bottom even during recording. Plus, with the wifi-remote function, you (or an assistant) can set all camera functions on an iphone/ipad so you don't have to touch the cam anymore and get out of balance.

    Only problem: the gauge function goes off after some time. Does anyone know how to keep it on constantly? That would really help. THX!

  • Should that shootout go in this thread or another? or new thread?

    You can just post it in all corresponding topics :-)

  • Footage to back it up coming. Also might have BMCC and 5DmkIII flying in this weekend for full shootout with GH3 and GH2. Should that shootout go in this thread or another? or new thread?

  • Well those are not good news about its performance. If hack is possible, we may need it badly then. GH3 is more capable hardware tha GH2...i wonder why GH3 is being slaped so hard ?

    Is this cos more people is now buying GHseries or is cos its really bad?

  • After 48 hours trials of GH3, I think I can say that the camera has big problems:

    • 50mbs (. Mov) 25P (1:50) = saccades and therefore unusable. The problem is visible on the screen of the camera until final edition.

    • 72 MB Intra (. Mov) = images too noisy in the shadows even at low ISO. It is very very ugly. Worse, the clip is amputated last 3 or 4 seconds of recording! For this last problem I need to do other checks (I use FCPX on Macbook Retina 32gb ram). A friend of mine has the same problem via AVID. So...

    • 24mbs AVCHD (as the GH2) : I prefer the image of the GH2 without hesitation. Around me too, Over 10 persons = 10 respondents chose the GH2 AVCHD pictures.

    !!!!!

  • @filmingart your workflow must be off. shooting in avchd 24 didn't improve my results. what you claim about shadow detail improvement is utter nonsense.

  • @Shian

    Shoot in Avchd mode 24Mbits. Many users as well as myself have stated it looks better. Also noise is not even close, I own a GH2 and GH3. At least testing in the Avchd 24mbits at 24fps iso 1600 is cleaner than iso 800 on the GH2. Also details in the shadow are Greatly improved.

    Try running some test in Avchd 24mbits mode.

  • thx @shian i saw that but didnt realize the patch was still in experimental status. i'll download it and give it a whirl.

  • @shian i also saw lots of shadow noise - a common trait among sony sensors. maybe part of the tradeoff for better DR.

    by the way, can you give me a link (and page #) for the Intravenus patch? i've looked for over an hour and still can't find it. i want to compare it with the footage i've been getting w/FM2.

    many thx

  • I wont be commenting on GH3 vs GH2 till next wednesday when Part 8 of my reviews 'GH3 v GH2: Sogni d'oro Don Canoneone' comes out. :-)

  • @shian I thought I was alone here with the noise thing. while filming in what I believed to be a well lit room, discovered the footage to be very noisey on computer screen. I have tried different noise reduction settings but can't seem to make it any better.

    Did you find any settings that improved it?

    I found ISO 800 looked pretty clean but too dark if that makes sense. Once I got the lens down to 1.7 - 2.0 i didn't really notice it. Guess I won't be using the 12-35 in low light then

    Overall I am very impressed with the camera, with plenty of light the image looks great and I believe the Auto focus has been greatly improved over the gh2. I know a lot of people have complained about size and weight but for me this is a good thing. It feels solid, it looks solid and behaves very responsively. Ability to change settings very quickly is the big selling point for me, it makes it a little bit closer to run-n-gun for wedding stuff