I want a DSLR to use to match my HMC-150. This means it probably shouldnt be too good
 

I'm about to start a project where I'll be on the road a lot, filming manual labor. I want a small camera I can roll out with so I'm looking for a DSLR. My main camera these days is an HMC-150 and I still want to use it for interviews and other elements of the film. So, I'm looking for a DSLR I can use with the HMC-150 where the difference between them wont be so big. What DSLR might I want to consider using?

Re: I want a DSLR to use to match my HMC-150. This means it probably shouldnt be too
 

Panasonic GH2, no question. Same media, roughly same codec, easy enough to color match, no record duration limits (so it makes a good 2nd camera for interviews), no overheating, relatively inexpensive, manageable focus depth with fast lenses, use any lens out there via adapters, and (arguably) the best video DSLR quality currently available.

I found it was easier to find a preferred picture profile on the GH2 first, then adapt my HVX and AF100 to match it rather than the other way.

Re: I want a DSLR to use to match my HMC-150. This means it probably shouldnt be too
 

Cool. I was thinking of this, and when I went to B&H, they heavily recommended. That said, given the fact the sensor is so much larger, wont it look very different in the same movie compared to footage with the HMC-150? I guess I'll have to test it out....

Re: I want a DSLR to use to match my HMC-150. This means it probably shouldnt be too
 

Yes, it'll look different. That's partly your intent, isn't it? BUT, not too different.

In a 2-camera style interview, I've set the HVX for the zoomed-in closeup and the GH2 as the wider shot. The colors and matrix can match convincingly enough:
http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/panasoni...e-results.html

If there's ample daylight, shooting stopped down will give you better depth of focus to closer match the HMC when necessary.

Re: I want a DSLR to use to match my HMC-150. This means it probably shouldnt be too
 

Noam - here is an example of the GH2 intercut with the HMC-150:


Here is a side-by-side of the GH2, HMC-150, HMC-40 and Sony A580:


It shouldn't be too much of a challenge to match the two cameras. Bottom line is that the GH2 is the "DSLR" that comes closest to being a camcorder (e.g., unlimited video clip length, noise free autofocus lenses, flip out LCD). It's certainly not perfect, but, as a video guy, I find it the least frustrating of these cameras.

Good luck with your decision,

Bill
Hybrid Camera Revolution

Re: I want a DSLR to use to match my HMC-150. This means it probably shouldnt be too
 

Bill - thanks for the videos. The colors seem pretty close, so i'll likely go with this!