Panasonic GH3 Vs Sony VG30
- Thread starter RyanKhoo
- Start date
Bamboopictures
Senior Member
The launch of the GH3 is not as pivotal an event as the launch of the lenses that comes with it. If compactness is an important factor for you, the 12-35mm /f2.8 and the 35-100/f2.8 Lumix really makes life a lot easier. Now you have a pair of fixed aperture zoom less than half the size and weight of the 35mm or APS-C equivalent. The GH3 will come and go, but these two lenses will outlive a few more generations of GHs. This really makes a compelling case for micro43. It may just be physically impossible to create such a dynamic duo for the e-mount standard.
Lensing choices aside, the GH3 also has another big advantage, especially for wedding videographers who does same day edits and uses FCP.(suicide?) A native MOV, full i-frame compression. 72Mps directly onto the timeline. No prores transcoding.
Where the VG30 wins: Peak focusing, cleaner gain (better low-light), XLR expandability and power zoom function, longer battery life.
Lensing choices aside, the GH3 also has another big advantage, especially for wedding videographers who does same day edits and uses FCP.(suicide?) A native MOV, full i-frame compression. 72Mps directly onto the timeline. No prores transcoding.
Where the VG30 wins: Peak focusing, cleaner gain (better low-light), XLR expandability and power zoom function, longer battery life.
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Can share your thoughts as to why a camera with Micro 4/3 sensor is better than one fitted with APS-C sensor ?
I thought the APS-C sensor is bigger ?
Thanks
How much this 2 lens cost ?
Sorry dont get you. U meant to say it is goog or no good for those using Final Cut Pro X to edit ?
I want to put the camera on top of a jib. Do you happened to know if the remote control that comes with VG30 can control the optical zoom ? Or the remote controls only the digital zoom ?
Thnaks
Bamboopictures
Senior Member
The lens, if bought alone are upwards of $1500 each. Rumor has it that the micro4/3 sensors in the GH3 are made by Sony. I can't say for sure how it stacks up against the VG30 as I have neither of these cameras. I do however have both the GH2 and the VG20. Keeping in mind that the GH2 has a lower ISO rating than the GH3, my experience is that the VG20 is conspicuously better in low light than the GH2. I was about to write off micro4/3 in my arsenal until the annoucement of the lenses. This comes when I was searching for a fast zoom for the VG20. It became quickly obvious to me that going with a Alpha lens and an e-mount adapter was going to add enormous heft to my handy VG20.
Due to the shorter flange distance, micro4/3 lenses can be much smaller than APS-C and full frame.
So the grass (or glass) became apparently greener on the micro4/3 side again with GH3's new sensor and codec.
For portable jib users, micro4/3 lenses are very light and do not require as much counterweight to operate. I do not zoom on a jib shot, so that is not a consideration for me. Olympus cameras have power zoom controls if you are into micro4/3.
Here's a video with I shot with both GH2 (cars) and VG20 (speeches) footage.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSQSF9Egw78&list=UUwsoYzk5peLqeGTAAsokSSg&index=6
Due to the shorter flange distance, micro4/3 lenses can be much smaller than APS-C and full frame.
So the grass (or glass) became apparently greener on the micro4/3 side again with GH3's new sensor and codec.
For portable jib users, micro4/3 lenses are very light and do not require as much counterweight to operate. I do not zoom on a jib shot, so that is not a consideration for me. Olympus cameras have power zoom controls if you are into micro4/3.
Here's a video with I shot with both GH2 (cars) and VG20 (speeches) footage.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSQSF9Egw78&list=UUwsoYzk5peLqeGTAAsokSSg&index=6
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Deunamist
Senior Member
The crop factor on the M4/3 sensor makes shooting at 16:9 not any much different from shooting on APS-C sensor. And for the GH3 you get a top of the range M4/3 camera, while the VG30 is not exactly top of its range.
I have used both GH2 and VG20, and the form factor of the VG20 is also a problem for me. although they have improved the VG30 over the VG20 by adding a power zoom control, I really really really really hate the button configurations, which remain largely the same. The dynamic range on the GH2 is rather limited and colour profile a little dull but can be fixed with a hack and in post for the latter.
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Hi Bamboo,
Just an update, I went to 3 shops at Funan & make an enquiry of this GH3 & the prices quoted are as follows:
Shop 1:
a) Body only - ($1,830)
b) Body with 14-140 / F4-5.8 ($2,130)
c) Body with 12-35 /F2.8 ($2,640)
Shop 2:
a) Body only - ($1,400)
b) Body with 14-140 / F4-5.8 ($2,130)
c) Body with 12-35 /F2.8 ($2,600)
Shop 3:Shop 1:
a) Body only - (dont sell)
b) Body with 14-140 / F4-5.8 ($2,499)
c) Body with 12-35 /F2.8 (dont sell)
Question 1:
Which is the best option to buy ? (a), (b) or (c) ? All 3 shop do not sell the lens separately so I do not know how much does the lens in itself cost, do you know ?
Question 2:
But all salesman at the 3 shops said the GH3 is good for video but for still photos, they advise me to get other brands. Are they correct in that this GH3 is so bad for stills ?
Question 3:
You mentioned that the 35-100/f2.8 is good but all the 3 shops do not bundle with this lens leh. Which shop in Spore can I buy this lens ?
Thanks
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Bamboopictures
Senior Member
Hi Ryan,
The choice really boils down to your zoom range preference. If you shoot primarily close range and if you do not currently own any micro4/3 lenses, go with the body + 12-35f2.8 bundle. B'cos if you buy the body and the lens separately, you will be paying $1400+ $1800. This is the top-of-the line zoom lense for micro4/3. In 35mm equivalent, it is a 24-70mm f2.8. Once you get over the short pain at the cashier counter, you will really enjoy using this lens. This will likely be the lense that will stay most of the time on your camera.
The 35-100f2.8 is even more expensive at $2000. Again, this is great for run-and-gun video. You can buy from Alan Photos or Cathay Photos
Personally , I think the mileage I get out of the 35-100mm zoom range is greater for the kind of work I do. I can live with just a cheap 14mm f2.8 pancake on the wide end. The minimum focusing distance for primes are shorter than for zooms, so the prime has an advantage. Olympus 12mm f2 is also another keeper although it is $900-1000.
About still photography: for travels, birthdays, baby steps etc, GH3 and the fast lenses will not dissapoint. But GH3 is definitely limited in terms of ISO performance, noise, strobelight compatability and even dynamic range. You should get a Canon or Nikon if you are serious about stills.
The choice really boils down to your zoom range preference. If you shoot primarily close range and if you do not currently own any micro4/3 lenses, go with the body + 12-35f2.8 bundle. B'cos if you buy the body and the lens separately, you will be paying $1400+ $1800. This is the top-of-the line zoom lense for micro4/3. In 35mm equivalent, it is a 24-70mm f2.8. Once you get over the short pain at the cashier counter, you will really enjoy using this lens. This will likely be the lense that will stay most of the time on your camera.
The 35-100f2.8 is even more expensive at $2000. Again, this is great for run-and-gun video. You can buy from Alan Photos or Cathay Photos
Personally , I think the mileage I get out of the 35-100mm zoom range is greater for the kind of work I do. I can live with just a cheap 14mm f2.8 pancake on the wide end. The minimum focusing distance for primes are shorter than for zooms, so the prime has an advantage. Olympus 12mm f2 is also another keeper although it is $900-1000.
About still photography: for travels, birthdays, baby steps etc, GH3 and the fast lenses will not dissapoint. But GH3 is definitely limited in terms of ISO performance, noise, strobelight compatability and even dynamic range. You should get a Canon or Nikon if you are serious about stills.
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Bamboopictures
Senior Member
As a GH2 and VG20 shooter, the GH3 does not have sufficient improvement to justify a switch yet. It does not replace the capabilities of both these cameras. If you are still shooting with the VG30, why not consider the GH2 or even the GF6 as your B-cam? Save on the body and spend more on good glass.
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For a feel of the lens pricing:
From a user who posted in the 4/3 price guide / Dated Jan 2013:
There have been a couple of CSers who've bought via amazon Japan, shipping via Tenso. (search for the thread).
Gotta do your own calculations to see if the savings make sense for you, i.e., no warranty.
Example:
12-35 @ 76390 yen approx S$1100
35-100 @ 90355 yen approx S$1400
(assuming S$30 shipping + GST).
Depends on what you're comparing to. To call it "bad for stills" is a bit too simplistic. Browse photos tagged 'GH3' on flickr and 500px to judge for yourself: Flickr Search: gh3 / http://500px.com/search?tag=gh3
Correct, there's no such bundle. Try SLR Revolution... I got my GH3/12-35 kit from them a couple of months back when all the neighbouring shops said they had no stock. Btw, they gave me a quote last month for the 35-100 for $16XX.
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Thanks for the info. Really appreciate them
Looks good leh. But I saw some of them use lens like 100-300mm
Yeah looks like the 12-35 is the bundle to go & buy separately the 35-100.
But why cant Panasonic just produce a 12-100/F2.8 so that we no need to keep changing lens ?
Thanks
How cheap is cheap that u r referring to ? Thanks
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Thanks Bamboo,
With GH3 out already, still got shop keep stock and selling the old GH2 meh ?
Any ideas, how much will a GH2 cost now ?
Thanks again
Bamboopictures
Senior Member
Lumix 14mm F2.5 is less than $300 brand new.
GH2 was selling for around $600 on bhphotovideo. But you're right, the stock has run out. G6 has the same sensor but does full HD.
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Thanks all,
I have actually went to a lot of shops in Spore searching for GH2 but all have ran out of stock. So, looks like I will most probably look at GH3 option though it is more pricey.
I have actually trying to compare this GH3 with Sony A77. How come the Sony A77 is so much cheaper than the GH3 when the Sony A77 has better specs (must be something that I miss out). The Sony salesman said that their Sony comes with 24.3 MegaPixels but GH3 is only 16 MegaPixels. Anyway, am not sure if in our photography to printout up to A4 size whether 16 MegaPixels is more than sufficient.
Another thing is that the Sony salesman say that their Sony A77 has a very fast shutter speed range from 1/8000 sec to 30 sec and bulb and their Flash Sync Speed is 1/250 sec.
He said he dunno the shutter speed range of GH3 and asked me to find out and compare.
I looked at GH3 specs and the following are the specs for GH3:
Shutter speed range: 1/4000 to 60 sec, bulb
Flash sync speed: 1/160 sec
Any comments from experts here with regards to the Sony A77 vs GH3 is greatly appreciated.
Thank you.
I have actually went to a lot of shops in Spore searching for GH2 but all have ran out of stock. So, looks like I will most probably look at GH3 option though it is more pricey.
I have actually trying to compare this GH3 with Sony A77. How come the Sony A77 is so much cheaper than the GH3 when the Sony A77 has better specs (must be something that I miss out). The Sony salesman said that their Sony comes with 24.3 MegaPixels but GH3 is only 16 MegaPixels. Anyway, am not sure if in our photography to printout up to A4 size whether 16 MegaPixels is more than sufficient.
Another thing is that the Sony salesman say that their Sony A77 has a very fast shutter speed range from 1/8000 sec to 30 sec and bulb and their Flash Sync Speed is 1/250 sec.
He said he dunno the shutter speed range of GH3 and asked me to find out and compare.
I looked at GH3 specs and the following are the specs for GH3:
Shutter speed range: 1/4000 to 60 sec, bulb
Flash sync speed: 1/160 sec
Any comments from experts here with regards to the Sony A77 vs GH3 is greatly appreciated.
Thank you.
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