Panasonic Lumix GH1 shoots some sample footage, gets examined
By Donald Melanson 
posted May 4th 2009 7:06PM
posted May 4th 2009 7:06PM
We've already gotten a pretty good look at Panasonic's new Lumix DMC-GH1, and even seen a few sample shots, but filmmaker and blogger Philip Bloom has now come through with yet another hands-on with the camera, and he's thankfully also gone the extra mile and included some sample video footage. As with some other lucky folks that have gotten their hands on the not-quite-a-DSLR, Bloom seems to be mightily impressed with it, saying that the image out of the camera is "utterly terrific," and that it's "a dream to use operational wise." He also found that the built-in mic was "way better" than the ones found on comparable, or even higher-end, Nikons or Canons (like the 5D Mark II pictured alongside the GH1 above), although it's obviously made even better by the optional top mic. Of course, it's the sample footage really tells the story, and you can find somewhat compressed version after the break, and an even higher quality sample at the link below.
I wan't this camera soooo badly. I love the footage. Shooting HD videos on cameras of this level would be amazing.
OMG my first first! hahaha.
Second.
While I congratulate you on the charm displayed in your own reply to yourself, try not to make a trend of mindlessly blurting post position.
Sweet.... just does it take a nice photo?
WOW.
Wouldn't even need much more extra light for even better image.
Wonder what other kind of mics you could plug in...
Too bad it still does the staircasing with any fast movement. It's still not good enough for filmmakers.
I'm sure there are industrious coders working on a software solution to process that effect out of the footage.
I've been keeping close watch over on DVXusers.com and that problem is barely noticeable, except when looking at a frame with a magnifying glass. It's 90 percent better aliasing-wise than the D90. Same with rolling shutter, which can be eliminated when shooting in 720/60p.
It's worth going to exposure room or vimeo and downloading the .mp4 version. it is much better. Also check out my site www.philipbloom.co.uk for some lovely slow motion footage shot at sunset in Hwaii
Its still leaps and bounds forward..... But the staircasing is still somewhat of a problem.....
The GH1 is offering a bit more for features than the other HD enabled DSLR cameras currently available.
But does that mean the image quality is as good or better than the others? Yes and no.
When compared to the Nikon D90/D5000, yes the GH1 produces a better HD image. On top of that it's got full manual controls, and reportedly very well implemented auto functionality. Thus, it beats the Nikons without a doubt.
However, when compared to the 5DMkII, the GH1 doesn't quite achieve the same image quality.
It doesn't have same level of sensitivity, dynamic range, and the file is more compressed.
But since the GH1 should be easier to use and costs about half, it seems it will probably be favored among most indies on a budget.
I don't know whether to throw up or drool over your avatar.
I apologize if you covered this in the video somehow, I'm in a library and forgot my headphones.
Did you do any kind of test of the dynamic range of the video? I guess it could be the cloudy day but some stuff looks a little lost in the highlights.
The 5D has a greater selection of native lens = the entire Canon EF range, from ultra-wide to bazooka zooms. The GH1 only has the micro 4/3 (18-140, 14-50 and 50-200) plus part of the 4/3 range with an adapter. Of course, you can get adapters for manual focus M-mount, Canon FD and a whole host of things.
The Nikons are really tough sells if video use is important - the D5000 doesn't even take external mics. But they do have at least one more stop of ISO sensitivity.
Panasonic has a 20 f1.7, a 45 macro and a 7-14 ultrawide zoom coming.
And then there is Olympus, who will be offering two mFT cams this year with an as of yet unknown lens selection, some sources say 6 lenses this year. And given Olympus' track record with the fourthirds lenses, they will probably be very, very good.
That's nothing man, I just picked up the new 12 megapixel pocket cam from Bell & Howell! Shoots with great clarity, and greater ease! Comes with a free set of ultimate ears, and the perfect pancake pan and ultimate omelet too!
The 5D Mark II can take hotshoe mics in much the same way as the GH1, as can the D90, or am I missing something extra here?
The article was referring to the internal mic.
D90 has no external mic input
Think they could have hired a model with a fatter ass?
I love how she sways to the beat of the intro music.
lmao at the giant mic and the guy shooting with an iPhone...
The model has a large dumper or the lens is making it look that way. It's like a family of donuts are living up in there...
nerds
And dang proud of it!
Take a look at some slow motion low light stuff I did with the camera here:
http://philipbloom.co.uk/2009/05/02/kauai-sunset-lumix-gh1-slow-motion/
I apologize if you covered this in the video somehow, I'm in a library and forgot my headphones.
Did you do any kind of test of the dynamic range of the video? I guess it could be the cloudy day but some stuff looks a little lost in the highlights. Are there any first or second party primes available for the mount yet? What about WA and UWA?
Hate the music on the video, but I'm expecting that now with such video.
Someone is probably gonna rip on me for this, but does this camera take advantage of x.v. color when shooting video like other Panny video cameras do?
Can you use the popup flash for photos when the microphone is attached?
no you can't
I am going to have a hard time holding on to that hefty chunk of my wallet when this hits US retail. I have any number of "reasons" why I "have" to get a new camera...
I believe the mic input is a standard 2.5mm stereo jack, and is independent of the hot shoe, so you don't have to user Panasonic's mic. But I haven't seen that confirmed just yet.
Dorks!
who's the MILF?!?
seriously, the low light shots were amazing. I hope that the Olympus micro 4/3 camera has similar abilities as I like that form factor much better.
I'm an actor in the short film "Nightlight" which was created with two of the GH1 cameras.
"Nightlight" is an entry by Solomon Chase in a short film contest. The theme for the contest was to make a film about a Quest.
go to the contest website to manually download:
http://www.dvxfest.com/questfest/index.php?id=3300587
- OR -
if you click here the film will first download to your system (over 50Mb / about 20 minutes!) before running:
http://dvxfest.ramjetfilms.com/quest2009/Nightlight-Solomon_Chase.mp4
Terry Thomas
Actor and Film Stills Photographer
Atlanta, Georgia USA
www.imdb.com/name/nm1669504/
Lumix GH1 might been made with a movie makers in mind. It certainly shoots better videos in poor light conditions than anything I've seen so far, apart from high end digicams that would cost you twice as much. One interesting piece of calculation I did was that, you can get Panasonic Lumix G1 for £450 and buy a descent HD camcorder for say £400, that is £850. So you still have spent less money then when buying on Lumix GH1 for £1,200.
Anyway, you can have a look at some good low light photos taken with Lumix GH1, which show how good the camera really is:
http://jacktr.xanga.com/
Wow... that video is really sweet. I'm coming to still photography from video production work and usually don't really think much of the video on still cams... not because I am some expert or anything, it's just that I am used to using pro vid cams... so I guess maybe I have a prejudice that whatever folks smack onto a DSLR or--in this case a similar to DSLR cam-- just won't be very good. Um. hmm- have to say, this looks pretty darn fun. And maybe i need to open my mind a little bit, eh?
Tnx for posting this. I also just read DPReviews take and P. Burian's review/field test of the Lumix GH1,/a> over on Photocrati... he had a nice set of vimeo vids of the raw footage and many still pix, so it is cool to see the combo of what can be done in raw and what can happen with some good writing and post-processing.