I’m one of the many people who have put down a deposite on a Black
Magic Cinema Camera. However now i’m thinking if I would be better off
with a GH3 paired with an Atmos Ninja II setup.

The price, compactness and utility of the GH3 intrigues me.

I was in the same boat Martin - I have had a BMCC (http://www.adorama.com/VDBMCC.html?kbid=68009) on pre-order since it was announced, but I recently switched to the GH3. I certainly like what I've seen from the BMCC, but for the type of shooting I do, I didn't want to deal with its ergonomic and workflow challenges. I understand that the GH3 won't have the BMCC's killer dynamic range - but I can live with that.

As long as the GH3's DR is decent, the moire control is as good as the GH2's, and the HDMI out is truly clean and recordable, the GH3/Ninja 2[/url] combination could be a real winner - especially for the ProRes/Final Cut crowd.

Cheers,

Bill
Hybrid Camera Revolution (http://hybridcamerarevolution.blogspot.com)

P.S. You may get a wider range of answers if you ask this question on the Panasonic GF/GH series sub-forum (http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/panasonic-lumix-gf-gh-series/).

I'll try that sub-forum Bill.

Just on the Ninja combination though. Are you aware that the GH3's HDMI output is only 4.2.0 ?

On the GH2 there is also a HDMI output problem to Ninja - there is plenty about it on the Gh2 forum. Not sure if this same problem exists on the GH3.

There was a software fix to the GH2 - which allowed it to record video to the Ninja that looked like this:

https://vimeo.com/26510222

As far as the GH3 goes, the preliminary field report on the GH3 from Luminous Landscape (http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/cameras/panasonic_gh3_field_review.shtml) says:

"One of the GH3's capabilities will perk up the ears (and eyes) of serious videographers is that the camera puts out a clean recordable HDMI signal (4:2:0 colour space and in 8 bit). One could have wished for 4:2:2 and 10 bit, but not at this price point, I suppose.

I tested the GH3 with my Atomos Ninja 2 (review coming soon) and with the exception of a major bug in the camera's pre-release firmware it worked well. Unlike the Canon 5D MKIII which inexplicably can't put out a "clean" recordable HDMI signal (an upgrade is coming), and the Nikon D800, which can, but only with the memory card removed from the camera, the GH3 can output a clean signal for recording and can simultaneously record to the camera's memory card. In other words, an external recorder becomes an on-site backup as well as a primary if you so desire.

The problem is though, if you have highlight warnings turned on you then may have a scene with flashing highlights and the flashing will be recorded by the external recorder. In other words, the HDMI signal output isn't completely clean; it transmits flashing highlights. Panasonic has been made aware of this issue but has indicated that this is the way the camera was designed. Keep highlight warning turned off and you'll be fine.

One other thing to bear in mind is that while the camera can record 1080/60p, the Ninja 2 can not. The highest it can handle is 1080/60i. 1080/24p and 1080/30p can also be recorded fine. Only much more expensive recorders ($5K+) can record the bandwidth of 1080/P60. The Ninja 2 is only USD $995."

Not bad for a $1299 camera (http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-DMC-GH3K-Digital-Single-Mirrorless/dp/B009B0WREM).

Cheers,

Bill
Hybrid Camera Revolution (http://hybridcamerarevolution.blogspot.com)