How would you evaluate the GH3 for filmmaking?
 

I have to say I fully appreciate all the features of a proper ENG camera and have tolerated the deficiencies of HDSLR for video in some productions using a 5DM2 + ML + DP4 as a b-camera. However, for traveling I need a b-camera that doesn't require an external monitor to get well exposed and properly focused shots.

The GH3 looks interesting with it's Wifi, new CODEC and flip out LCD but from what I can tell, it still lacks such things as peaking for focus assist and zebras for exposure assist. Also, from what I can tell, you basically are left to rely on the camera's auto focus and auto exposure (histograms don't count in my book). It also looks like the equivalent to the Magic Window (1:1 PIP) disappears during recording.

For those who've actually made some productions with this camera, how would you evaluate the GH3 without the aid of an external monitor for focus and exposure?

Re: How would you evaluate the GH3 for filmmaking?
 

It's workable with some practice. A loupe helps with manual live focusing and there is a form of blinking exposure assist that's very irritating but it works. It really depends on what you are shooting.

Re: How would you evaluate the GH3 for filmmaking?
 

It's not a camera you can use quickly like ENG cameras. But I like it for more contained shooting inside and for interviews. You can get really creative with fast primes and shallow DOF. I've tried using it handheld for quick location stuff in daylight and it really is pretty difficult with focus, exposure and just seeing your subject in the LCD. A good loupe or EVF is a must.
Having said all that I love the camera and what it does...and of course what you get for the price is sensational.

Re: How would you evaluate the GH3 for filmmaking?
 

Is that basically hard coded 100% brightness or can you adjust the value like zebras?

I want to use it a couple ways with a Panny 14mm f2.5:
1) Locked down B camera in manual focus and exposure for interviews
2) POV in cars and tight interiors on AE and AF controlled via WiFi

Re: How would you evaluate the GH3 for filmmaking?
 

Varavon has a "Loupe for the GH3" that works fairly well for focus.

Varavon Loupe for GH3 - Personal View Talks

AFAIK they are only available thru Personal-View at this time & only on certain days. If your registered there you can follow the "Catch-It" thread & receive daily emails about the rotating deals. Seems the Loupe comes up every week, or so, & sells for about $170 with USPS shipping to the USA.

CatchIt Deals - Personal View Talks

Although I primarily use EVFs on larger cameras, I bought a pair of Varavon's loupes for my GH3(s), & so far have been relatively happy with them. The GH3s are mostly used for B-Roll (stills & motion), backup for other cameras when traveling, & documentary work where a small package is desirable. They rarely get too dressed up before I decide to switch to a more full featured camera, & at most I'll slap on a loupe, Rode VideoMic Pro, & small CF monopod with ballhead (doubling as a shoulder rig when needed).

The only downsides I've noted so far:

-Not sure how well the baseplate would hold against a follow focus.

-The Loupe can't be rotated upwards if headphones are plugged in.

-The spacing is a bit off, so about 1mm of the right hand side of the LCD is cutoff (Been meaning to contact Varavon about this, but at worst it seems a bit of Dremeling of the L-bracket would bring it into alignment).

If you do pickup the Loupe note Zacuto's Z-Finder 16:9 Sun Mask & Anti-Fog Shield fits below the eye-cup & will likely reduce the risk of a burnt LCD. While the loupe could just be flipped up when not in use, it's lens would still point at something, so I also use a Fotodiox 37mm lens cap (& a retainer strap) attached to the eyecup. And a bit of Velcro keeps the cap out-of-the-way when not in use.

http://store.zacuto.com/z-finder-16x9-sun-mask/

http://www.amazon.com/Fotodiox-Snap-...odiox+37mm+cap

Best,
Bern

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Re: How would you evaluate the GH3 for filmmaking?
 

Seems we have similar usage for this camera. If the Black Magic camera shipped in time, I'd get it since it's clearly a filmmaker feature set.

But instead, with a GH3 and no zebras, are you guys able to judge exposure from the LCD well enough to avoid over exposed skin tones and bad white balance?

Re: How would you evaluate the GH3 for filmmaking?
 

Les, call me simple, but I don't use Zebras - I find them annoying. My simple tip is switch the camera to auto to gauge a reference exposure and then I usually stop up/down 1/2 or 1 stop. Same with WB. Check it against Auto then hit the Kelvin temp menu and warm up or down. Mind you, grading and colour correction in post takes care of WB unless you are way, way off, so auto is usually pretty close. I think the Varavon is a good, cheap and reliable supplement to what is a very ordinary LCD in daylight.

Re: How would you evaluate the GH3 for filmmaking?
 

Right. I have a z-finder pro and can adapt it to the flip out screen myself. But for a minimal b-camera kit in the field without an external monitor and times when loupes aren't practical, a decent LCD can get you "b-camera" close enough. My ex1r is like that. I can see when I ought to be at 4100K instead of 3200K or whatever. With 70% zebras, I can reliably expose faces compensating with my eyes and brain. That's what I'm asking about the GH3. Are you able to get adequately close focus, exposure and white balance using just the LCD?

Re: How would you evaluate the GH3 for filmmaking?
 

Re: How would you evaluate the GH3 for filmmaking?
 

Has anybody seen or have any interview footage done with this camera?

Re: How would you evaluate the GH3 for filmmaking?
 

The expanded focus is very good for close focus, the histogram is very good and white balance has plenty of manual settings, but in bright daylight everything on the LCD is compromised. I've never had a problem using the LCD, but of course it's easier with a loupe or EVF - is that what you're asking ??

Re: How would you evaluate the GH3 for filmmaking?
 

Re: How would you evaluate the GH3 for filmmaking?
 

Nice stuff Bill - great light and an amazing looking guitar. He is giving that 1.3 DOF a workout by moving backwards and forwards - don't they kill you when they do that - but nicely held !!

Here's one of mine - most 100% interviews are start and end. GH3 with olympus 45mm F1.8 and 12mm F2, natural light

Re: How would you evaluate the GH3 for filmmaking?
 

Chris,

I found that a very moving and human story, filmed in a very interesting manner. I feel it would have been essentially the same emotionally involved experience with anything you used (due to your sense of vision and your touch), but seeing the GH3 used to this effect is very motivating to me.

Thanks for sharing.

Re: How would you evaluate the GH3 for filmmaking?
 

Found this review of the GH3 for video written by the producer of the Deborah Rushton piece:
In-Depth Review of the Panasonic GH3 for Video: Episode 1 – Chaos&Cosmos | MirrorLessons – The Best Mirrorless Camera Reviews 2013

Re: How would you evaluate the GH3 for filmmaking?
 

Thanks Bill and Chris for those awesome examples.

Re: How would you evaluate the GH3 for filmmaking?
 

I just received a Varavon LoupeEX for the GH3 and it's a big difference for live focusing and handholding the camera. Their website is temporarily off-line so no link right now. After I have some time with it, I'll post an opinion but it already feels good.

Re: How would you evaluate the GH3 for filmmaking?
 

Thanks Bruce and Al - always nice to receive feedback - especially if it's positive !!

Re: How would you evaluate the GH3 for filmmaking?
 

I got my Varavon LoupeEX as well today and I have to say it's GREAT!!! Just perfect for filming in bright daylight, and sits really well on the camera. Although it's just a loupe not an EVF, the articulation with the LCD makes it very functional.

Re: How would you evaluate the GH3 for filmmaking?
 

William and Chris, here is a simple way of adding a bracket to the Varavon LoupeEX:

Re: How would you evaluate the GH3 for filmmaking?
 

Thank you for opening this thread! It is of big importance to me (and I'm sure many others) since I am going to buy a GH3 very soon to use almost entirely for filming events.

My main income is from filming weddings and for a year and a half I've done just that SOLELY with a Pana TM900 (very happy clients too, if you can believe it). I would like to spice it up a bit by adding a GH3 to my (tiny) arsenal. My first thought was to get the AC90, but upon studying it closely, I realized it offers too few improvements over the TM900 to be worth spending that much money on.

Therefore, I thought that spicing up my wedding vids with shots that actually have DoF and a better dynamic range would be the smarter thing to do. However, since I'm new to DSLRs and especially filming with them, I find myself in need of advice pertaining to what lenses I should get for the GH3. I will probably buy it with the default 12-35 2.8 which, I think, should be a good starting lens. Since my budget is limited, what second lens do you guys recommend I get, if you had to shoot weddings with only 2 lenses?

Also, is the Merlin2 a good steadicam for it? Someone recommended I buy a Manfrotto 561 BHDV-1 (monopod) instead of a steadicam, but I intend to film while going up and down stairs and the like, and I doubt even an expensive monopod can make that look smooth. I'm open to any stabilization suggestions you might have, looking for a budget product that still offers decent results.

Thank you very much guys! :)

Re: How would you evaluate the GH3 for filmmaking?
 

Hi Luc,
Romania is such a beautiful European country.

Events are not filmmaking but I know some wedding folks are doing them more as documentaries than traditional events.....however, if you look you will find some other threads about using DSLRs in weddings. Many GH2 in use for that.

http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/wedding-...r+weddings+gh2

http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/wedding-...r+weddings+gh2

http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/wedding-...r+weddings+gh2

http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/panasoni...r+weddings+gh2

Re: How would you evaluate the GH3 for filmmaking?
 

Les, beautiful country indeed, too bad its citizens make it a horrible place to actually live in, most of the time :)

Thank you for the links, will get to reading every thread there. I will probably order the GH3 this week, I am seriously excited!

Re: How would you evaluate the GH3 for filmmaking?
 

Right! So I read one of the threads and I immediately have 2 questions:

Tokina 11-16 2.8
Sigma 30mm 1.4
Samyang 85mm 1.4

^---- these are the main 3 lenses recommended. Now, the first two have AF, the third one does NOT. How big of a problem is that? As a TM900 operator, I never have to worry about AF not helping me out (even though it does mess up occasionally), so I currently cannot figure out if the lack of AF is a big problem or not, especially since the DoF on the 85mm is significant. I do know the GH3 has pretty good AF as well. I would also be losing the very nice touch AF feature, which I think would have produced really nice results on an 85mm :(

Second question: I have found those lenses on our local supplier's website, both for Canon and Nikon fittings. I know you can buy an adapter from Nikon/Canon -> Panasonic, but does that still maintain AF functionality? And does it affect the image in any way? Vignetting or otherwise?

Thank you for your patience with me, I admit I am a true noob when it comes to photography.

Re: How would you evaluate the GH3 for filmmaking?
 

Instead of the Sigma, consider the Panasonic Leica DG Summilux 25mm f1.4 which works with all features of the GH3 including autofocus. You have close to the same perspective as the Sigma, same "fast" maximum aperture, and the outstanding optical qualities of a lens worthy of bearing Leica in it's name.

You won't need the Tokina as the Lumix 12-35 covers a more useful zoom range. I'm not sure any autofocus on the 3 lenses you listed work with the Micro Four Thirds AF.

Just my 2 cents worth.

Re: How would you evaluate the GH3 for filmmaking?
 

FYI ... the on his own, Luc moved the lens discussion to here:
http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/panasoni...s-options.html

Getting back on track, I now have a GH3 and 12-35mm f2.8 in my hands.

Two things are troublesome:
1) I have eye detection off yet whenever I use my right hand on the touch screen, it causes the screen to turn off and the VF on. Very frustrating.
2) Pressing halfway is so touchy, it usually fires the shutter. I have to press halfway and release fast. I am unable to press and hold (as I am accustomed to doing on my Canon when I want to focus then recompose).

Re: How would you evaluate the GH3 for filmmaking?
 

If by filmmaking you mean drama then excellent. Run and gun documentary its not ideal but works well. Dont get me wrong, if you can afford a large sensor camcorder then go for that but the GH3 works well if you are on a budget. I would always go for it over a small sensor camcorder. I sold my Z1 to get a GH3 and would do it again (without hesitation).

Re: How would you evaluate the GH3 for filmmaking?
 

Guys!!! Just received my GH3 and i'm panicking! It has a 29 min limit for video! Firmware is v1.1. Have a wedding tomorrow, help!

Re: How would you evaluate the GH3 for filmmaking?
 

Luc, from what I've read this is a restriction on cameras sold in Europe. I don't believe there's a way around it .

Re: How would you evaluate the GH3 for filmmaking?
 

I think you'll get more attention if you create a different thread for these kind of things. You are doing events not filmmaking.

Re: How would you evaluate the GH3 for filmmaking?
 

I believe there is a hack to fix this. The u.s version has no recording limit.

Re: How would you evaluate the GH3 for filmmaking?
 

Wedding Videography is a type of film-making, lets not be snobby;).

And yes the 30 min thing is a UK restriction, its a tax thing. If the camera can do more than 30 mins it falls into a higher tax braket as camcorders are taxed higher than still cameras (apparently, seems daft to me).

Sure you can work round this, it tells you how much you have left, when you are getting near 30 mins simply stop/start at a convenient time.

Re: How would you evaluate the GH3 for filmmaking?
 

Read post #22. There was no snobbery here. There was however a high potential for another hijack.