UPDATE# 6: Canon HDSLRs vs. Micro 4/3 Panasonic GH4 – In-Stock!

– UPDATE #6: June 12, 2014: Panasonic GH4 Back In Stock!

Limited Supply – Check it [HERE] & check updated FULL List of MFT (M4/3) Lenses, Lens Adapters & Hi-Speed SD Cards below on this post

– UPDATE #5: May 20, 2014:

Panasonic Lumix DMW-YAGH Interface Unit for GH4  IN-STOCK!

Limited Quantity – Click [HERE]

– UPDATE #4: May 17, 2014: Updated FULL LIST of MFT (M4/3) Lenses, Lens Adapters & Hi-Speed SD Cards below on this post

– UPDATE #3: April 28, 2014: Panasonic GH4 is IN-STOCK!

• Limited quantity, order quick! –  BUY Panasonic GH4 at BHPhoto

– UPDATE #2: March 12, 2014 – Added Ultra High-Speed SD Cards & FULL LIST of MFT Lenses

– UPDATE #1: March 10, 2014 – Panasonic DMC-GH4 is available for Pre-Order:

• Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH4 Mirrorless Micro 4/3 Digital Camera (Body Only)
• Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH4 Mirrorless Micro 4/3 Digital Camera with Interface Unit
• Panasonic Lumix DMW-YAGH Interface Unit for GH4
• Check them all: Panasonic DMC-GH4 Kit & Accessories

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Contents:

• Brief History of Canon HDSLR, MFT Cameras & Panasonic GH4
• Pre-Order Available (it will run out fast)
• Storage – Fast SD Cards
• Panasonic Lenses
• Adapters for Canon EF Lenses
• Panasonic GH4 Features & Full Specifications

Brief history of Canon HDSLR, MFT & Panasonic GH4

BIG QUESTIONS: will Canon be able to beat Panasonic GH4 Price & Features in DSLR cameras? Canon COULD improve Firmware in some extent in most current DSLRs to make them more competitive in video, but will they do it? We’ll see…

This is really worth knowing and understanding, but if it’s a long read for you, skip to next point about lenses & adapters for the GH4.

We have been working with Canon gear since several years ago. To be honest we started with Nikon SLRs on the 35mm film age.

When it was time to switch to Digital we considered many aspects and the BIG importance of having very good lenses to get the best possible result from DSLRs. So we realized we needed to update most of our lenses. That “problem”, plus some other facts like the introduction of EOS 5D Mark II with video recording feature encouraged us to move to Canon. (We still keep few Nikon gear indeed, very helpful for 35mm work)

Nikon was the first company to introduce an affordable DSLR with Video recording capability in August 2008: the Nikon D90 (APS-C/DX sensor DSLR).

However they didn’t realize the potential video had and let it just like that. Most conservative photographers didn’t realize either.

Less than a month later, in September of 2008, Canon unintentionally started a worldwide revolution in the low-budget filmmaking field with their EOS 5D Mark II implementing “Full HD” video recording on a full frame DSLR. The video function was completely automatic, though. They never considered it very important when devloping the camera…

After LOT of customers requests Canon finally released a Firmware Update to enable “Full Manual Control” on video in 2009, allowing it to be used for professional purposes.

At that time (and for some years) Nikon just didn’t do anything to enter the game… Unbelievable indeed.

That success was HUGE and extremely important for Canon, letting them to expand their company and start a new line of cameras called EOS Cinema (like Canon EOS-1D C and the specific EOS C line: EOS C100, EOS C300 and EOS  C500).

Even when Canon was the first manufacturer to put a real “low budget” tool capable of serious work in the video/filmmaking field on customers’ hands, Canon was pretty conservative delivering the features needed to sell more and nothing else. Even the “real” video resolution is considerable less than 1920×1080, just the output signal is 1920×1080 (FullHD compliant)

Around the time companies like Panasonic and Sony started to release a new kind of camera called mirrorless using smaller sensor, and implementing a LOT of video features on them (like Peaking which is an essential function to help focusing while recording) and even delivering more “real” video resolution (nearer to 1920×1080 pixels than Canon)

Panasonic and Sony are worldwide renowned brands in the video field for their big line of professional cameras.

Ironically these companies implemented (and keep doing so) LOT more video features on the consumer-level cameras than Canon, which did not have such a big line of video cameras to “protect” (Canon did and does have a camera line, but not as big as Panasonic and Sony did)

The bottom line of this strange story is that Canon (and Nikon) have been LOT MORE CONSERVATIVE than Panasonic and Sony, which have put lot more efforts and innovation on their products.

We always ask: If Magic Lantern team has achieved so AMAZING features via Firmware add-on, without knowing a piece of source code, demonstrating the HUGE potential inside Canon DSLR cameras, how much more could Canon do and release to customers?

Sadly, Canon has been crippling the entire EOS DSLR line and selling them overpriced, taking advantage of their brand name and big line of lenses to sell. But when we look at the products themselves we found LOT OF THE SAME since many years ago, with some few exceptions of improvements in specific features.

Now that Canon has their EOS Cinema line, they want to “protect” it. BUT when they didn’t have such line they didn’t implement any requested video features either.

Panasonic and Sony DO have higher level video AND cine cams, and they DO implement high-level video features on their low-budget cameras anyway. So WHY Canon does not do it?

The ONLY requirements for implementing some additional video features are firmware (software) related, not hardware, as Magic Lantern already demonstrated in most of current Canon DSLRs.

It’s worth to keep in mind: the sensor and video features on the EOS 7D, 60D & T3i are the same. The sensor and most of video features on the EOS T4i & T5i are the same. Differences are just in the build quality and photo-related features (which in lot of case are not that different).

Canon recently launched the PowerShot G1 X II and lot of PowerShot P&S cameras. Not really too exciting, especially considering the price of the G1 X II, although it can be very interesting for those who don’t want to exchange lenses like in DSLRs or mirrorless cameras and still get better image quality pictures than P&S cameras.

Canon is currently offering EOS-1D C DSLR capable of 4K video recording for $12,000. The new Panasonic GH4 capable of 4K recording with LOT of features that EOS-1D C does NOT have (like Peaking, Zebras, 1080p60, etc) is expected to be available soon for less than $2,000  (already for Pre-Order at $1,698)

HUGE difference not only in price, but also in features and companies’ strategies…

Of course, these cameras do have different sensor’s size and other differences, but you get the point, right?

We will shortly post about new Panasonic GH4 because it seems it will be an awesome camera, not only for video/filmmaking but also for still photography.

Pre-Order

Panasonic GH4 is available for Pre-Order:

• Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH4 Mirrorless Micro 4/3 Digital Camera (Body Only)
• Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH4 Mirrorless Micro 4/3 Digital Camera with Interface Unit
• Panasonic Lumix DMW-YAGH Interface Unit for GH4
• Check them all: Panasonic MC-GH4 Kit & Accessories

Storage – Fast UHS-II SD Cards

To get the best of this camera you will need very fast SD cards (in case you record in-camera 4K video) like:

• SanDisk – 32GB Extreme PRO UHS-II SDHC Memory Card
• SanDisk – 64GB Extreme PRO UHS-II SDXC Memory Card
• Panasonic – 32GB microP2 UHS-II Memory Card
• Panasonic – 64GB microP2 UHS-II Memory Card

MFT Lenses – UPDATED

We’re seriously considering the Panasonic MFT (Micro Four Thirds) as an option for professional work on both fields using some great lenses like:

• UPDATED:  ** FULL LIST of MFT Lenses! **
  (Please note that not everyone may give you full functionalities on GH4)
• Panasonic Lumix G X Vario 12-35mm f/2.8 Asph. Lens
  (Great 24-70mm 2.8  equivalent in full frame DSLR)
• Panasonic 35-100mm f/2.8 Lumix G Vario Zoom Lens
  (Great 70-200mm 2.8 equivalent in full frame DSLR)
• Panasonic Leica DG Nocticron 42.5mm f/1.2 ASPH Power OIS Lens
  (Amazing 85mm 1.2 with Image Stabilization equivalent in full frame DSLR)
• Panasonic Leica DG Summilux 25mm f/1.4 ASPH Micro 4/3 Lens
  (50mm 1.4 equivalent in full frame DSLR)
• Panasonic LUMIX G VARIO 14-140mm f/3.5-5.6 ASPH. POWER O.I.S. Lens
  (Very nice zoom range, mostly for video purposes)

Canon EF to Micro 4/3 Lens Adapters:

Yes!, you can use your Canon EF lenses on the GH4 with an adapter. You loose AF and other functions but you can still use them.

There are many options, some of them are:

• Redrock Micro LiveLens MFT Active Lens Mount
  (The best. It allows full control of aperture of most Canon EF lenses)
• Bower Canon EOS Lens to Micro 4/3 Camera Adapter with Manual Iris
  (Great value. It’s full manual but has a manual aperture/iris to allow some control of light & DOF)
• Vello Canon EF/EF-S Lens to Micro Four Thirds Camera Adapter
  (Inexpensive but Full Manual, without aperture/iris. Ideal for Rokinon/Samyang cine lenses)

Panasonic GH4: Features & Full Specs

Product Highlights:

• 16.05 MP Digital Live MOS Sensor
• 12 fps burst mode (mechanical shutter) & up to 40 fps (electronic shutter)
• DCI 4K 4096×2160 at 24p
• UHD 4K 3840×2160 at 30p/24p
• Full HD up to 60p
• 3.0″ 1,036k-Dot OLED Monitor
• 2,359K-Dot OLED Live View Finder
• Support for 59.94p, 29.97p, 23.98p, 50p, & 24p (NTSC & PAL)
• 4:2:2 8-Bit or 10-Bit HDMI Output
• High-Speed 49-Point Autofocus (customizable)
• Magnesium Alloy, Weather-Sealed Body
• and lot more…

Full Specifications:

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