(FT4) More small Panasonic GH2 details (24Mbit/s and 1 stop ISO improvement)
IMPORTANT: Days ago a DVXforum user spotted and photographed the Panasonic GH2 on the beach. He contacted me and asked me to remove the leaked images I posted on 43rumors. I had to fulfil his request. Anyway, that’s one more proof that this was the real GH2! For those of you that didn’t see the camera don’t worry. Imagine the Panasonic G2 with flash card door on the same place of the Panasonic GH1…that’s it!
I already told you the GH2 uses a new 18 megapixels multi-aspect sensor (16 effective Megapixels).
Today 43rumors learned that the GH2 will record 1080/60i (UPDATE: this is the container! we will give you more details about the real output as soon as we can but it could be 60p!!! This because the AVCHD specification doesn’t include 1080/60p). The camera can also record at a higher bitrate 24Mbit/s AVCHD. I was a little bit worried because of the Megapixels number increase but according to our sources Panasonic managed to improve the High-ISO performance by 1 stop (if true that would be an awesome news!).
Price of the camera $1499 (The current Panasonic GH1 is in Stock for $1149).
If you have more news about the GH2 feel free to contact me using the right sidebar. It doesn’t store your IP-address and neither Name or Email are required. Every little help…helps! Thanks!
The rumor classification explained:
FT= FourThrids
FT1= 1-20% chance the rumor is correct
FT2= 21-40% chance the rumor is correct
FT3= 41-60% chance the rumor is correct
FT4= 61-80% chance the rumor is correct
FT5= 81-99% chance the rumor is correct
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Recent comments
Comment from Neville: lol...
Comment from efix: Seriously, when i read about higher pixe...
Comment from Temptag: Then perhaps you are on the wrong site? ...- Comment from Temptag: Good point. If 60p (or at least 24p wit...
Jules
2 years ago |Suggested price is with the 14-140?
I want different combo, or body alone!
admin
2 years ago |Yes with 14-140mm
iMikl
2 years ago |So no new Kitlens?
1 Stop ISO-Improvement would be nice!
admin
2 years ago |My speculation. The new kit lens will come with the AG-AF100. We recieved some rumors about that lens but not from our trusted sources. I hope to know more about it soon!
iMikl
2 years ago |Thanks for the info.
Very exciting times…..
Joseph
2 years ago |Most people say that the AF100 will be sold body only…
Eric
2 years ago |Man that stinks, after I saw that the GH2 looked exactly like the GH1 the only interest I had left in it was the new kit 12-75mm f/2.8-3.3 lens. Now I have zero interest in it.
Jules
2 years ago |So far I can remember, the *rumored* 12-75 has never been ft4, let alone ft5.
Not much of a disappointment if you ask me.
YeahYeah
2 years ago |Do you have any price without any lens?
Seems nice! But why can’t they increase the bitrate?
admin
2 years ago |Vitaly (The Hacker) will improve the bitrate
Alan
2 years ago |So you mean Panasonic actually allowed him for bitrate hacks?
admin
2 years ago |No!
43 photo
2 years ago |Wow! 18MP + 1 stop better high iso over GH1?
How will such a body AF with Olympus zuiko (SHG) lenses?
I love to buy this cam if it focuses with my olympus SHG glass!
(The E5 would be a killer cam with this sensor. Why did Olympus choose for the old sensor?)
Michael
2 years ago |The E5 would be a killer cam with this sensor. Why did Olympus choose for the old sensor? This is the question. All of us was hoping for at least multiaspect GH1 sensor. Seems like Panasonic keeps top sensors for use in their flag models only (other question would be what’s the point of Micro Four Thirds development to not sharing those such relevant parts as best sensors they can produce). If Olympus cannot access all sensors from Panasonic they could look up elsewhere (Fujifilm, Kodak etc.).
E-3 early adopter
2 years ago |Because, when the E-5 was designed and tested, they had to select a sensor that was available. Testing the camera before release, maybe takes 6 months? I don’t think the Panasonic sensor was available one year ago, when the E-5 priject did freeze the design specification.
Things take time.
P.S. The upcoming E-40 might have a generation newer of the Panasonic sensor, but first we’ll se then in the PEN. PEN is still awaiting 1080i @50/60fps
Tobias W.
2 years ago |Do you really believe there will be another FT DSLR from Olympus after the E-3?
ANGRY Olympus Owner
2 years ago |not a chance,
but I do believe OLY when they say there will always be a FT body to make the best of the SHG and HG glass…
It just may not have a mirror that’s all
Inge - M.
2 years ago |GH1 sensor was available in soon 2 year, but reason for the is modular camera so coming later.
Inge - M.
2 years ago |Modular camera coming by GH2 sensor from start of, think i.
ANGRY Olympus Owner
2 years ago |OLY chose not to take the GH1 sensor
It was a strategic decision
Boooo!
2 years ago |Stupidity is not strategic, unfortunately…
I have a feeling that the GH2 sensor will blow the E-5 (PEN) sensor out of the water
ANGRY Olympus Owner
2 years ago |It sounds crazy, but i think thats kinda what oly wanted
Inge - M.
2 years ago |Yes i think also it is right.
ANGRY Olympus Owner
2 years ago |@43 photo
THAT IS MY EXACT POINT!
If this thing or even the GH1 could focus SHG I would buy it in a second. Sadly just about all of olys best glass wont focus on pannys m43 cameras, see link below.
http://panasonic.jp/support/global/cs/dsc/connect/g1.html
can this be fixed with a firmware or something, I dont know, maybe because oly m43 cameras can focus SHG, not like a e3 but it still can focus them
look at the gh2 and gh1, they are VERY VERY CHEAP
the kit lens is 800!, so the camera is less then 700 itself
OLY wants us to pay more for the E5 with no lens then this brand new GH2 with a decent superzoom
only bad thing about panny is not body Image stabilization
I will not be surprised if this 16MP sensor outperforms the E5 in IQ and HI-ISO
I know it sounds crazy but i honestly think the E5 was not made as good as it could have, because oly is going to come out with a new line up and they dont want old E series to conflict,
But they just could not ignore the cries for a E3 replacement and they knew they could not turn there back on a promise of one.
So they took old scrapes and threw the E5 together, look at the features and IQ of panny cameras, do you really think oly is going to have the E5 as there “model of advance technology” for more than a year. that would be a joke.
They have something coming soon but it more then like will not be able to outperform the E5 in some things like focus and maybe FPS but…
OLY want this “new” thing to replace the mirror-E-series cameras like E5 so to make sure people flock more to the new mirror-less cameras they made sure that the E5 which they could not afford to NOT release, would be inferior in important respects to the “new” system cameras… if that makes sense
Thats my opinion
PURE speculation
BS Artiste
2 years ago |If most of the 4/3 lenses are manual focus on u4/3 bodies, then where is the system compatability and upgrade path for 4/3 users?
Couldn’t 4/3 users get the same functionality by just mounting older manual focus lenses on a u4/3 body?
Why would 4/3 users invest in more HG and SHG 4/3 lenses right now if those lenses are likely to degrade to manual-focus-only operation on mirrorless u4/3 cameras of the future?
Only six Olympus and zero Sigma 4/3 lenses will work with auto-focus on Panasonic u4/3 cameras. I guess the good news is that four of my eight 4/3 lenses will work with auto-focus on Panasonic u4/3 cameras. Also, at least my FL-36R and FL-50R would work on Panasonic bodies.
I thought that u4/3 was supposed to offer ALMOST complete backward compatability with 4/3 lens functionality. Looking at that Panasonic chart, I don’t see it. For most 4/3 lenses, the compatibility is nearly the same as would be obtained from a mechanical-only adapter and any third-party lens.
Does anyone know whether either Oly or Panasonic have plans to improve the auto-focus compatability for 4/3 lenses on u4/3 cameras, especially if 4/3 lens development seems to be non-existent? To gain the latest commercial product features that are market-competitive with offerings from other manufacturers, 4/3 users seem to be encouraged to migrate to u4/3. However, that migration path is pretty rocky if most of the 4/3 lenses only work as manual-focus equipment on u4/3 cameras. Also, that migration path is a problem if there is no high-end u4/3 camera with fast processing and flash write times.
Angry Olympus Owner
2 years ago |I think OLY is going to work more on it then panny will, (constant AF for FT SHG and HG that is)
right now all zFT lenses can AF on OLY-m43 bodies, but not that well, OLY should be working hard at making it much better and with the statment that all bodies will be mirrorless… Im pretty sure they are
It would be great if panny came out with a firmware to allow SHG and HG glass to AF on there bodies but I don’t think OLY will let them….yet MAYBE….
At least until oly has some bodies comparable to the GH1 which is what I think (if not) they should be working on.
If SHG and HG glass, LOTS of people like myself would have gotten the GH1 or G2 already, OLY knows it and that would destroy there market share growth in the future when they do come out with bodies like the GH1 market,
They know people in my group are waiting faithfully and they do everything they can to make sure we wait and not get any other bodies, while they make sure everything is just PERFECT before they release there stuff…
I’m use to waiting…
Thats my guess
cL
2 years ago |4/3 has 9 contact connector on the mount. m4/3 has 11 contacts. The extra 2 is for CDAF. Just a little fact.
IpNextGen
2 years ago |Admin : Do you know when DXOMark will have tested the E5 sensor?
kesztió
2 years ago |No need for new test as the senor is identical to the one from E-PL1.
IpNextGen
2 years ago |They will have to test it, to see how the new algos reacts.
admin
2 years ago |No
Appareil photo hybride - Nouveaux détails sur le Panasonic GH2 ! | hybridcams.fr
2 years ago |[...] Alors que son annonce officielle est imminente (date prévue : le 21 septembre), les informations filtrent de nouveau sur le Panasonic GH2 via 43rumors. [...]
Th
2 years ago |Thanks for the info Admin!!
1080 60i: improvement but still disappointing
24Mb/s: improvement but still disappointing
1 stop ISO improvement with 16MP: great!
Overall: if no other improvements I’m a little disappointed.
E-3 early adopter
2 years ago |Re: 1080 60i: improvement but still disappointing
Why is that disappointing? Be specific!
spam
2 years ago |What’s the improvement with with 1080i at 60Hz? 1080p at 60Hz would have been an improvement. 24Mb/s is an improvement though.
mpgxsvcd
2 years ago |1080/60i is 1920×540 instead of the 1920×1080 for the GH1′s 1080p after it is deinterlaced. Still think 1080/60i is an improvement?
RichT
2 years ago |1080/60i is what the GH1 uses now
admin
2 years ago |In reality it’s a 24p.
clark
2 years ago |this sounds perfect to me. The GH1 is already a superb cam, with these improvements we should have a real winner!
The 1080i is a little disappointing… however I really don’t perceive an absolute need to have 1080/60p. With improved low light performance, touch swivel screen, 16mp, and a hacked firmware I’m sure it’ll be the perfect cam.
Frosti7
2 years ago |totally agree!
let me just add that if the high ISO is not better then 5DmkII i’d be a little disappointed, also if they wont include XLR connectors or phase detection AF like the new translucent sony’s, i’d be a little disappointed as well!
Gabi
2 years ago |“I was a little bit worried because of the Megapixels number increase but according to our sources Panasonic managed to improve the High-ISO performance by 1 stop (if true that would be an awesome news!).”
That sounds too good to be true, and I don’t believe it before different review sites confirm this. I remember that there was some preliminary info on the Pana FZ100 and its putative improved high-ISO performance and then it turned out to be all hot vapor…
spanky
2 years ago |I would have much rather had 14MP with a 2-stop ISO improvement than 16MP with a 1-stop improvement. Let’s hope it’s actual 1-stop improvement because of the new hardware improvements, and not the fake 1-stop over-processed improvement in the G2! Right now I’m lukewarm about dumping my GH1 for this, although a 1-stop improvement if they also get rid of the banding may be significant enough. Maybe if I can get a great deal on it because it’s the hackable version it might be worth it. I’d like to see what the NEX-7 and the potential new cameras from Nikon can do.
Frosti7
2 years ago |yea, 12mp is enough, at least Olympus sticks to its guns (although too much so)
Jules
2 years ago |This makes it sound like this resolution vs ISO trade off really exist, when in fact we don’t really know.
You know, I would have taken only 8 mega pix only provided 4 full stop increase in ISO and dynamic range…
Alisdair
2 years ago |It’s not all about the bit-rate! Plus anything higher than 24Mbps would be ‘out of spec’ would it not?
FWIW, I’m quite sure with improvements in the sensor, the “pre-encoding” scaling phase (as a result of new generation Venus engine) and tweaks to the encoder itself, there is potential for much improved video quality in a ‘stock’ GH2. 24Mbps is actually a nice upgrade.
Nice, clean ISO3200 and ‘emergency use’ ISO6400 would be great, and I’m also hopeful that we’ll see no blackout during burst shooting feature per the G2 – both would be very appealing. Touch screen, meh, but gimme some “focus confirmation” options with legacy glass and I’ll be reaching for the credit card…..
I’m ever hopeful that Panasonic will bring out a fast 12-60mm f2.8-3.5 OIS lens, but I sincerely doubt it’ll happen next week
Visitor
2 years ago |Don’t you think the 1 stop improvement means when you resize the 16M pixel to 12M pixel?
steve
2 years ago |I suspect the 1 stop improvement in noise is due to more NR and smearing. Call me sceptical.
Greg
2 years ago |Well it’s a new sensor, not just an old now with more filtering software behind… so everything is possible… wait and see
Dan
2 years ago |Photographers and videographers are much more sophisticated now, so old marketing techniques don’t work too well. We want quality, not quantity.
In the 1950′s the US car industry went ballistic with their marketing. “Longer, lower, and wider”, “bigger is better” and “form over function” were the themes. Quality? Screw the quality as long as it it looked good. Since we are now more sophisticated and better car options are available, those simplistic, surface values are now seen as nothing more than the hype created by the marketers.
Like many people, I’ll buy a GH2 if the camera’s inherent quality is improved. I don’t care about more megapixels. In the vast majority of situations, it’s not needed. I want better DR, better color, better pics and videos at high ISO, and a better video codec. I want quality over quantity (i.e., marketing hype)!
Dan.
mpgxsvcd
2 years ago |Thanks Panasonic. You made my decision to keep my Nikon D7000 pre-order much easier.
There is one critical thing to realize here. If the GH2 records true 1080i at 60 Fields per second then you are going to lose half of your vertical resolution when displayed on a progressive display(All computer monitors and TVs are now progressive displays). However, if it is 1080p @ 30 frames per second encapsulated in a 1080i container like the Sony AVC-HD then you won’t lose the resolution.
That being said I don’t see even 1080p @ 30 FPS being an improvement if they omit 1080p @ 24 FPS. You need both if 1080p @ 60 FPS is not an option. 1080p @ 24 FPS is ideal for low light shooting because it allows a longer shutter speed than 30 FPS.
If the camera does not have a new fast lens and it is almost $1500 m4/3s will not survive. There is just too much competition now. The GH2 has to hit a home run. What is listed above is strike 3 looking.
ANGRY Olympus Owner
2 years ago |true,
I don’t think the camera is overpriced though, its 1500 with the kit.
I DO think they need to offer body only because many people are turned off because it looks expensive when it really is just the $800 lens
It was a bad move in my opinion to only offer the GH1 with the 14-140mm only
mpgxsvcd
2 years ago |The GH2 will never compete in a market with sub $1000 A55 cameras and sub $1500 Nikon D7000 cameras if the GH2 has the 14-140mm lens and costs $1500.
This news could be disastrous for m4/3s in my opinion.
George
2 years ago |i totally agree with you. Take me for instance i own g1 and i do like m4/3 concept. I will buy a good camera with good movie mode. Waiting for gh2. But if it comes out with that price tag and 14-150mm as kit lens there is no way i am going to buy GH2. Instead i will go and buy 550d or a55. Even if i decide to spend that money again i will buy and buy d7000.
I can’t believe panasonic is such stupid.
admin
2 years ago |I don’t know yet if there will be a GH2 body only option.
Alan
2 years ago |Don’t know what’s your point.
But other cameras have body only option, too.
Angry Olympus Owner
2 years ago |GH1 does not
Lesmes
2 years ago |GH1 has body only option:
http://www.fotoboom.com/pagina2.php?id=31127&comienzo=0
Fish
2 years ago |The real people who have bought into ‘marketing hype’ are those who actually believe that cars today are built to a higher quality than they were in the ’50′s. Could you have been talking about “performance” instead?
In that case yes, modern cars have improved in function, but even then it hasn’t been as huge an improvement as the advances made in the preceding 60 years. Modern automobiles enjoy more of an ‘E-3 to E-5′ pace of improvement : )
ANGRY Olympus Owner
2 years ago |True,
and the reason they do it is to bring in more money
I love OLY and Panny, but there MAIN goal is not to make us happy, its to bring in money
And if making us certain choice makes us a little “ANGRY”, but brings in more money… they will do it
It just a matter of what will bring in more money, I dont want them to make different choices to just make me happy, i seriously think it will bring them more money, though it may be risky.
I think there business attitude/strategies are a little out dated, they need to involve the user community a little more
the car example is a very good analogy, they will never make cars as good as they did back in those days,
they want give us just enough to keep us happy and there ROI as high as possible, if they make us too happy they wont make as much money as they could
I don’t take it personal, its just business
cL
2 years ago |If they want to bring in money, they should not even release E-5 to the market. It’s a guaranteed money loser. Just look at all the parts it uses you’d know the overhead cost is huge. How many units you have to sell to be able to break even? In plain words, Olympus would be better off scraping the whole E-5 project, take a tax write-off, pretend such project does not exist and move on and disappoint people who waits it.
Good business needs to know how to keep customers happy, while keep the cost low. It’s a compromise (like most things in life). It’s impossible to please everyone. Usually a company puts money where it will generate more money, which 4/3 is not…. m4/3 is. You’re in 4/3 camp…, the minority of Olympus business. Don’t take it personally, it’s just business. :-p
And honestly, I don’t think you understand Fish’s analogy. You have a tendency to interpret something your mind tells you. I still don’t know where you got the idea that Olympus chose not to use GH1 sensor, rather than maybe they have no access to it. You spoke of it as if you knew it as a fact…, then you get all angry for something you made it up….
Duarte Bruno
2 years ago |Good enough for me. Unless Olympus comes up really quickly with an ubber E-P3 before the GH2 goes on sale I won’t look at it. I seriously hope the E-5 fiasco means they are diverting all their resources to the E-P3.
Yet, I’m extraordinary suspicious that the 1 stop improvement is not RAW but a JPEG trick from the JPEG engine with intelligent resolution processing à la LX-5. It’s hard to imagine a rise in MP like that with a 1 stop improvement in ISO.
Spiny Norman
2 years ago |It’s not at all hard to imagine if Panasonic has driven down the read noise, gone to a back-illuminated sensor, or improved fill factor with improved micro-lenses. And it’s a good bet they’ve done at least two of those three things. In addition, they may be doing more image processing (e.g. binning dim pixels) upstream of the so-called RAW output (which is seldom genuinely “raw” on *anyone’s* sensors anymore). There are few more rabbits left up the engineers’ sleeves.
four thirds photo
2 years ago |If the Olympus modular cam will have the new GH2 sensor + truepic v+ engine + low AA filter… it will blow every non FF cam out of the water including the E5.
Admin: do you have modular rumors? When will Olympus release/ announce the modulr cam? Do you have spec rumors? Thanks!
kenw
2 years ago |I guess we’ll wait and see on the 1-stop ISO claim. There is always the issue that often much of said performance gains come from more NR in the JPEG engine and results in detail smearing for JPEGs and little improvement if any in RAW images. We’ll probably have to wait for some reviews and comparisons of RAW images to really see what is at work.
And yes, sell the dang thing body only without the expensive lens and I’ll be more likely to buy it. That said, the way Panasonic pricing seems to work even if they do offer body only it will be more expensive than just buying the kit and selling the unwanted lens.
Well, we’ll see what comes in a week I guess.
mpgxsvcd
2 years ago |Admin, can you clarify your statement? Will the GH2 be 1080i at 60 fields per second like your statement suggests or will it be 1080i at 24 fps like the GH1? Will it offer both modes? This is very important information that your original statement does not definitively say.
TempTag
2 years ago |Uh, how is 1080/60i on a GH2 an improvement over the GH1?
Here are the current GH1 specs from the Panasonic US website:
NTSC: [Full HD] 1920 x 1080, 60i (sensor output is 24fps)(FHD: 17Mbps) [HD] 1280 x 720, 60p (SH: 17Mbps, H: 13Mbps, L: 9Mbps)
So what has changed? (Other than the bitrate) Am I missing something?
mpgxsvcd
2 years ago |1080i is not the entire story. You can embed progressive video in an interlaced frame which is what the GH1 did and is not necessarily a bad thing.
What was stated is that the GH2 will have 1080/60i video. Which is 1080i video recorded at 60 fields per second. In other words it records half of the picture every 1/60th of a second. When you play that video on your TV or computer 1 of 2 things will happen. It will either throw out half of the vertical resolution and try to interpolate it back in or it will display the full resolution with black horizontal lines whenever there is motion.
Both of those options are disastrous for video quality. The reason that most 1080i TV channels look so good is that they use the 1080i/24p option that the GH1 does.
George
2 years ago |i don’t care about max iso but if they don’t improve ISO performance and i mean some serious improvements i am saying bye bye to micro4/3
CRB
2 years ago |ADMIN…any news about DR? improved? thanks…
admin
2 years ago |I asked that my sources. No answer yet…
Jason
2 years ago |So far, the E-5 appears to be a better camera for my needs, although the pricing is completely wrong…
I cannot wait until they include an optical viewfinder with the mirrorless technology.
Dun
2 years ago |1) 1080/60i looks the same as GH1′s spec 1920 x 1080, 60i (sensor output is 24fps).
2) GH1′s hacked firmware already gives 24Mbps to GH1.
3) I don’t believe that there is 1 stop ISO improvement, because companies usually exaggerate ISO improvements. Probably there is at most 1/2 improvement.
As a GH1 user, I do not see a good reason to upgrade to GH2.
mpgxsvcd
2 years ago |When you deinterlace 1080/60i you end up with 1920×540 @ 30 FPS. With 1080i/24p you end up with 1920×1080 @ 24 FPS. Now which one would you rather have?
Your point?
2 years ago |Are you trying to say that more frames = good?
Welcome to the world of video, time to do some learning…
mpgxsvcd
2 years ago |Honestly, I would use 24, 30, or 60 FPS. The frame rate is not absolutely critical to me. What is critical is interlacing.
Interlacing = bad
Progressive = good
GF1 = adequate
GF13 = very nice
GH1 = good
GH13 = great
GH2 = terrible if this news is accurate
admin
2 years ago |We just updated the post!
1080i60 is the container. W edon’t knwo the real output but it could be 60p!
mpgxsvcd
2 years ago |@admin
True 60 frames per second progressive video cannot be stored in an interlaced container. 30 FPS progressive video is the highest progressive frame rate that can be stored in an interlaced container.
You might want to change your update. 60 FPS progressive video is not possible with an interlaced container. Interlaced containers only contain 30 progressive frames per second of video.
Th
2 years ago |What does this mean then?:
“While this mode [1080 50/60p] is not compliant with current AVCHD specification, it uses the same compression schemes for video and audio, packaged into the same container and stored in the same folder as AVCHD-compliant files”
Sorry for triple post
Info
2 years ago |So you know:
30 FPS = Video
24 FPS = Film
mpgxsvcd
2 years ago |I can do any frame rate you want with video. Film is strictly 24 FPS though. Well, unless you want everyone to sound like chipmunks and move like them too.
Th
2 years ago |What does this mean then?:
“While this mode [1080 50/60p] is not compliant with current AVCHD specification, it uses the same compression schemes for video and audio, packaged into the same container and stored in the same folder as AVCHD-compliant files”
Th
2 years ago |What does this mean then?:
“While this mode [1080 50/60p] is not compliant with current AVCHD specification, it uses the same compression schemes for video and audio, packaged into the same container and stored in the same folder as AVCHD-compliant files”
RichT
2 years ago |And don’t forget Panasonic is using 60p in the same mts file format used by AVCHD in its excellent TM700 videocamera (though it ups the bitrate to 28Mbps)
Angry Olympus Owner
2 years ago |24p
Rafa
2 years ago |Whas that ironic? how can they include an optical viewfinder it there is no mirror?
Chris
2 years ago |Ya… the gh2 doesn’t do it for me at all, especially since I have a hacked gh1. I love the gh1, but to be honest have been more intrigued with canon as of late. I was going to get a gh2 to go along with my gh1 to do multi angles shooting… sigh… Can’t wait to see what happens on the 21st… I see it either going really really good, or really really bad for panasonic… there’s no middle ground here.
YUGOslaw
2 years ago |Well for a seriouse photographer there is no need to update every year! It is the stupid customer which thinks “Oh, this camera is one year old. It must be garbage.”
I remember the good old times, where a camera worked still for 10 years and nobody cried for a new one.
Of course now ever year there is better IQ, but is it THAT much better? Or are you just a victim of marketing.
JR
2 years ago |Interesting times we’re now in… for video, important features are coming to market quickly and yet not quick enough (some buyers may be on the sidelines and rightfully so). Once a standard gets set, its hard to go backwards… mic input, 60fps, 24mbps+, multi-angle viewfinder… the list goes on and will go on until videographers get a much wider range of capabilities for bringing the world footage we’re used to seeing on film of TV… and hopefully far beyond. It will take a few years for things to plateu. Of course, full frame sensors on sub $1,000 DSLR’s is going to be a biggie… probably “the year of the DSLR” as one enthusiast put it. Maybe in a few years. That will be an exciting time.
Eugene
2 years ago |+1000000
sporty883
2 years ago |I’ve followed the NEX-VG10 debate over at DPreview for a while. And someone pointed out that AVCHD only knows 1080/60i – even though the material is recorded in 60p. The only thing you have to do is tell your software to treat the material as 60p.
If that happens to be true for the GH2 as well, that would be a serious improvement.
mpgxsvcd
2 years ago |1080/60i is not 1080p @ 60 FPS. 1080/60i is 1920×540 @ 30 FPS. Basically half of FullHD @ 30 FPS. Ironically, they call 1080i full HD when it is worse than 720p.
Doug
2 years ago |@43 photo
@ANGRY Olympus Owner
@BS Artiste
Unlike with the G1, GF1, and GH1, the newer Pansonic bodies AF (namely, G2, G10, and almost certainly the GH2) almost all 4/3 lenses. You’re not looking at the correct information. See:
http://panasonic.jp/support/global/cs/dsc/connect/g2_g10.html
The AF isn’t going to be fast. But the lenses will AF.
mpgxsvcd
2 years ago |AVC-HD is a standard Sony and Panasonic made up. They could make it do anything they wanted. In fact 720 @ 30 FPS wasn’t part of the AVC-HD spec so they just added it for the GF1 and called it AVC-HD lite. They could just as easily add 1080p @ 60 FPS for the GH2 and call it super double cool AVC-ULTRA-HD.
The only reason they try to stick with 1080i is that it is compatible with every single display. Every TV can accept a 1080i signal. TVs older than about 3-4 years old cannot.
It all boils down to a warranty issue. They don’t want to make a camera that will get 10,000 calls to their service desk. They would love to just put a GH2 label on a GH13 and ship it out. However, they could never warranty a camera like that.
iMikl
2 years ago |Interesting! Didn’t know before.
Angry Olympus Owner
2 years ago |true,
also like mpgxsvcd said, 720p really is better in many ways then 1080i, many sports channels broadcast in 720p as opposed to 1080i because it just about as sharp and plays at a higher frame rate which is good for fast moving action
no one broadcast in 1080p because its to large
1080i replacing the 1080p@24fps would be a downgrade and hopefully panny didn’t do that
24fps is what most moving makers use if im not mistaken
Angry Olympus Owner
2 years ago |@doug
Doug…. I do not think you understand what this link just did….
WOW, I did not know this!
Doug words cannot express…………..
I’m definitely going to buy the gh2!
All i need know if a vertical grip from them
DOUG THANK YOU SOO MUCH
Im sure I may have found out later but you made my day!!
sorry BS Artiste & 43 photo for misleading
RichT
2 years ago |Mmm, that’s not quite right. The GH1 scans the sensor progressively 24 times a second then outputs that into an interlaced wrapper. I know it’s a bone-headed way of doing things since it would be much easier to just offer a 24p output option: that’s what the camera is natively doing (and IS supported by the AVCHD standard if I’m not mistaken). Hopefully they’ll give the option of 60i or 24p (or 30p) but I wouldn’t get my hopes up. I think the best we can hope for is improved resolution and better ISO and (hopefully) dynamic range
calxn
2 years ago |Thanks for the news. I was holding onto my pana 20mm lens and selling off my GF1 + 14-45mm waiting for this news. This is like the G2 announcement — ho-hum. Panasonic and Olympus proceeding with 43 and u43 like the big boys proceed with p&s. A little improvement here and there and new body. Contrast this with the DSLR market where the improvements are breathtaking or the new NEX camera, and these improvements are very disappointing. I will wait for the official GH-2 announcement. If these are the new improvements, my 20mm will be on the selling block too. I wanted a u43 camera with as much DR as a regular DSLR, but I’m losing faith. Using the history of 43 as a guide, I am not hopeful Pana and Olympus will deliver.
Eugene
2 years ago |Do you think that Canon (Nikon) do not make market moves? Do you think that only the Olympus “disappointing”, but at this time Canon runs forward to perfection? Naive! Here is what users are asked to Canon from the manufacturer:5D Mark III / 3D
A full frame camera with at least the 7D autofocus system and all the bells and whistles in a smaller package than the 1D series camera. Don’t increase the megapixel count, just take the 5D Mark II to the next level.
steve
2 years ago |Admin,
Could you confirm if the 1 stop improvement is in RAW? Improvments to JPEG can be deceiving as software can lower detail while lowering noise.
yosemite
2 years ago |Question to All: Does the GH1 allow limitless recording time? Or is it limited to 30 minutes like with the NEX cameras? I really need recording to be only limited by the storage medium size, and if GH1 has that chances are so will GH2. Thanks.
Dana Curtis Kincaid
2 years ago |And I thought people were whiny about the E5… Just wow. What WOULD make y’all happy?
If you want to do serious video, then get a serious, dedicated video camera. You guys are whining about frame rates and bit rates for first grade school plays that no one will ever watch, right?
calxn
2 years ago |Give it a rest. What are you? The thought police?
mpgxsvcd
2 years ago |Actually people are shooting commercials and short films with the GH1. Frame rate is everything for that because if it is not in the correct format it won’t get played.
The fact still remains that the GH13 is probably the best video camera in the $1000 price range on the market today. However, the m4/3s cameras might be surpassed by the Nikon D7000 if the GH2 does not deliver the goods.
Brad
2 years ago |A 1 stop improvement in real sensor noise (RAW) would inherently indicate an incremental increase in the sensor’s dynamic range, as well. DR is derived from the sensor’s SNR.
Th
2 years ago |NEW SPECS!!
updated from my old post:
1080 60i: improvement but still disappointing -> possible 1080 60p: great !
24Mb/s: improvement but still disappointing -> possibly higher than 24Mb/s: great!
1 stop ISO improvement with 16MP: great! -> no change, still great!
Overall: if no other improvements I’m a little disappointed. -> I’m really thrilled about the possible new specs and almost sure to buy it!
Thanks Admin! I hope the new info is correct.
YUGOslaw
2 years ago |I am asking myself, why did they cut down the hacking. Where there many broken/overheated GH1 and GF1 which arrieved for service?
Where they affraid, that nobody would buy a GF2 (cant believe that, because of the better/newer Sensor)?
I never understood why companys looked themself away from hackers and modders. They are the guys which improve your product for free! Often they build up a huge community with many copycat-followers which buy the same product.
What would be the IPhone without Apps? Or Firefox without they many free scripts?
Panasonic do not pee in the lemonade you are selling!
divide
2 years ago |There is something wrong here.
If the container is 60i, there’s NO WAY it contain 60p, it contain either 60 half-frame per second, either 30 full-frame per second.
steve
2 years ago |Agree. You cannot get 60p from 60i, but you might be able to get 30p.
Th
2 years ago |line doubled 60i?
divide
2 years ago |you do not create resolution by doubling the lines, so you still end up either with 540p60 or 1080p30.
dacloo
2 years ago |You can’t expect Panasonic to go higher than 24Mb/s in their consumer products. I’d be very happy with 24Mb/s as I sold the GH1 before the GH13 hack was out there, just because of the buggy code.
Also, bitrate doesn’t say anything about the codec implementation. I hope for B-frames support, no mud-bugs, etc. 24Mb/S should be just fine.
Let’s hope 60i means the stream, and 24p. I also hope we can switch it to PAL land (50i / 25P).
yosemite
2 years ago |Sorry for the repeat post but somebody here has to know the answer to this question: Does the GH1 allow limitless recording time? Or is it limited to 30 minutes like with the NEX cameras? I really need recording to be only limited by the storage medium size, and if GH1 has that chances are so will GH2. Thanks.
TempTag
2 years ago |GH1 was record time limited in the EU (like the NEX) until the GH13 hack removed this limitation. No word here that I have read if they will do the same with the GH2.
satsuei
2 years ago |The European 30-minute time limit is to avoid being taxed higher as a video recording device. If the GH2 in Europe does not have the time limit, people will have to pay a higher price tag
The GH1 in the US and Japan have no recording time limit. You can record continuously until the memory card is full, but it does split long recordings seamlessly into 4GB files since the FAT32 file system has a 4GB file size limit.
Jerry_R
2 years ago |You waste your energy – discussing 1080p60…
It is already present in Panasonic camcoders since months… So they would just add to GH2 functionality already available in camcoders, like they added AF TRACKING in video – already present in camcoders to G2…
I also wonder – if 1 stop is about JPG only or RAW too… There is no benefit in less noisy & less detailed JPG…
Temptag
2 years ago |Good point. If 60p (or at least 24p without a wrapper) are not on offer than the GH2 would be a step backwards from Panasonic 2010 consumer camcorders and be the same as the GH1. I suspect this rumor is either not correct or Panasonic have not been listening…
zaza22
2 years ago |Well, not too exciting to me since the improvement of frame rate for FullHD and pixel are just the matter of time. I am expecting a global shutter in the future. That’s the only reason I will another m4/3 after my G1.
yosemite
2 years ago |Why do they limit the recording time so that it has to be hacked later? Is this to make “real” camcorders competitive, or is there an actual physical difficulty with overheating storage, etc?
spam
2 years ago |The limit is there to avoid extra tax in EU-countries.
lasadore
2 years ago |who the fck cares… sony nex system is the future.. micro43 is the past
Temptag
2 years ago |Then perhaps you are on the wrong site? None of these products are perfect including the NEX line and it is silly to think there is room for only one future or that 4/3 sensors are a thing of the past simply because they are smaller…
Neville
2 years ago |lol
efix
2 years ago |Seriously, when i read about higher pixel density and alleged “improved high-ISO performance”, I immediately have to think of “enhanced detail smudging to cover increased noise issues.”