Panasonic GH3 Vs Sony VG30

[RyanKhoo]

Hi kandinsky,

This is funny. You know what.

Yesterday, when I practice taking video, I just turn off the peaking (which was in red color) and I find the focus is so much easier to judge with my own eye !

This does not make sense, right ? Dunno why ...

See pg 148 - 150 of the manual: http://service.us.panasonic.com/OPERMANPDF/DMCGH3_ADV.PDF

Before you get confused, an LCD viewfinder or (loupe) is a completely different thing from an EVF.

An LCD viewfinder or loupe is usually made up of a hood + magnifying optics (around x3) + eyecup. Yeah, basically it acts like a magnifying glass. There's only one way you can position/mount it — over the built in LCD on your camera. More affordable because it doesn't have electronics.

Examples:
HoodLoupe 3.0 (PATENT US 7,386,229 B2 and 7,034,877)-Hoodman Corporation
Kinotehnik - LCDVF Overview
VF-4 Universal LCD View Finder by Carry Speed | Carry Speed Store
::::Welcome to VARAVON ::::
DSLR Viewfinder, DSLR EyePiece, Optical Viewfinder - Zacuto Z-Finder

The E in EVF stands for Electronic. The GH3 has an EVF. Video cameras come with built-in EVFs too. But in the context of an add-on EVF, it's basically a mini external LCD monitor (maybe higher res than the built-in, more features, etc), with the hood + optics + eyecup. This can be mounted anywhere you want as it's a monitor on it's own.

Examples:
Overview | SmallHD
Kinotehnik - LCDVFE: Overview
Z-Finder EVF (Electronic Viewfinder)



Not uncommon, for professionals at least. Those who shoot MF, need a bunch of wide open shots, have the time & space to set up shots, will probably use one unless they're on a really tight budget, or have found a way to do without. I've seen some wedding shooters who can MF freehand and nail the focus straight off the back of the camera LCD. Maybe combination of good eyesight and loads of experience.

Well, there are some cheaper china brands like Liliput, Wondlan, but the cheapest models will be very basic (non-HD, no additional features).

 

[RyanKhoo]

btw back on topic, for some reason I feel that the GH2/GH3s are not as highly regarded here as serious tools for video production than it is overseas.

Thanks Deunamist,

I know that once I bought a DSLR, I will be committed/stuck with their lens.

Can I know whether the EF Canon lens for 70D are cheaper or the micro 4/3 lens for GH3 are cheaper ?

Thanks

 

[Deunamist]

not sure.. have never been interested in Canon DSLR... moved from camcorder to P2 (school) den back to camcorder and subsequently nex VG20, den GH2.

 

[Bamboopictures]

Thanks Deunamist,

I know that once I bought a DSLR, I will be committed/stuck with their lens.

Can I know whether the EF Canon lens for 70D are cheaper or the micro 4/3 lens for GH3 are cheaper ?Thanks

With some exceptions, M4/3 lenses tend to be cheaper. But Tamron and Sigma have plenty of attractively-priced APS-C lenses which will make Panasonic/Olympus seem expensive considering the M4/3 lenses are so tiny!

 

[kandinsky]

Yesterday, when I practice taking video, I just turn off the peaking (which was in red color) and I find the focus is so much easier to judge with my own eye !

This does not make sense, right ? Dunno why ...

Haha. It's not surprising, peaking, like any other feature probably takes practice to use well.

Not sure if this applies to your camera, but it's a comment I read about Sony's FP.

"It is really rather good, if you choose the right level of peaking (and colour) for the setting. It doesn't, of course, actually show focus—just contrast edges—and it works at the level of pixels you are looking at, not the full resolution, so it might peak with the whole shot in view but not at the pixel level, which can be confusing. Since the NEX displays the actual stopped-down image on the display, and then amplifies the image to get acceptable brightness, it does sometimes find transitory peaks due to sensor noise, and as a result it can be quicker to focus wide open then stop down.

"It takes a little practice to learn how to 'read' the peaks as they build up and drop away while you focus, but with a little learning effort you can get very fast rough focussing that you can quickly refine by zooming in. It will also peak in video mode and with autofocus lenses. It does prefer a contrasty lens, though, and tends to work much better a third of a stop down from open."

http://theonlinephotographer.typepad.com/the_online_photographer/2012/02/sonys-focus-peaking.html

Can I know whether the EF Canon lens for 70D are cheaper or the micro 4/3 lens for GH3 are cheaper ?

Think about the type of lenses you may want to get (primes/zoom), then check out http://www.bhphotovideo.com/ for the prices and make the comparisons.

 

[RyanKhoo]

Haha. It's not surprising, peaking, like any other feature probably takes practice to use well.

Not sure if this applies to your camera, but it's a comment I read about Sony's FP.





Think about the type of lenses you may want to get (primes/zoom), then check out http://www.bhphotovideo.com/ for the prices and make the comparisons.

Thanks kandinsky, you have been one helpful friend ...

Really wish to thank you and all here who have put up with me, read and/or answer all my newbie questions ... just wanna inform you all that I have finally bought the GH3 after being able to compare with the 70D side by side on a real set ...

Thanks again

 

[RyanKhoo]

Hi Bamboo and all Nex VG series video users.

I did some shooting on my Sony VG30 yesterday. For some reason, even after clicking the Display button, I cannot see the following on the LCD screen while recording:

1) the counter
2) number of mins left in the SD card

How do I get those displayed on the LCD screen ?

Thanks