Lobalobo
Senior Member
Having just upgraded from a G1 to a G6, I'm set for a while, but I am curious about the announcement of the G7, which includes 4K video. Is there a compelling reason to buy a GH4 as opposed to the G7? Just a thought.
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Panasonic G7 versus GH4
- Thread starter Lobalobo
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brentbrent
Veteran Member
already covered here: http://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/3845919
YEs there is. For those who shoot video and are serious about it, the GH4 is better and will be a lot better with the new FW update.
GH4 is weathersealed, G7 not.
GH4 offer slightly higher burstrate in C-AF.
Batterylife on the GH4 is much better.
But with the G7 on the market and the new FW of the GH4 for video, the cams are now clearly targetting two distinct consumergroups. One group is focussed at specialised videoshooting while liking good still IQ too, the other wants that still IQ for a lower price and still get people great video IQ, but not with nearly as much options.
GH4 is weathersealed, G7 not.
GH4 offer slightly higher burstrate in C-AF.
Batterylife on the GH4 is much better.
But with the G7 on the market and the new FW of the GH4 for video, the cams are now clearly targetting two distinct consumergroups. One group is focussed at specialised videoshooting while liking good still IQ too, the other wants that still IQ for a lower price and still get people great video IQ, but not with nearly as much options.
Lobalobo
Senior Member
Thanks. Sorry I missed the earlier thread. Not a lot of difference, though, it seems, even for a professional. Then again, for a professional, the extra $800 is not a lot to spend on a few features, perhaps weatherproofing alone.
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Summitron
Forum Enthusiast
The three main reasons to choose the G7 over the GH4 are crop factor, IQ and price. Many will find the combination of slightly better IQ and slightly wider FOV of the G7 persuasive, regardless of price.
Not a lot of difference? Well, let's see...
Weather sealing (vs. no weather sealing)
Magnesium body (vs. plastic body)
Unlimited record time (vs. 29:59)
96 fps slow-mo
1080p @ 100 or 200 Mbps (vs 28)
Better external controls (WB, ISO, Exp. Comp buttons right by shutter, more Fn buttons, dedicated drive dial)
V-Log L gamma profile
12 fps AFS / 7 fps AFC (compared to 8 fps AFS / 6 fps AFC)
40 shot buffer vs 13 shot buffer
1/250th flash sync vs 1/160 flash sync
Bulb mode for up to 60 minutes (vs 2 minutes)
Min shutter speed of 1/8000 (vs 1/4000)
Shutter rated for 200,000 cycles (vs. ?)
While the G7 is certainly a good value, claiming that there "isn't a lot of difference, even for a professional" is a farce. There is a large difference between the two, even for a non-professional like myself.
Lobalobo
Senior Member
Farce? You revive a year old thread for an insult? Generally, I try not to feed trolls, but the detail in your response suggests you are serious. Glad you like your camera, but if I wanted to match your tone and be unkind, I'd say that the differences between the cameras are, for the most part, not significant for a pro though might be for an amateur, such as yourself, who seems more interested in seldom-to-never-used features than fundamental quality as in imaging tool; pros know better. So, as I said, weather sealing makes a practical difference to anyone who shoots outdoors, and ergonomics matters too--the rest of your long list of differences strike me as largely irrelevant to most shooters in most situations. If I'm wrong, it won't be the first time, but you haven't persuaded me that I am. Looking forward to hearing from you in another year or so.
Lobalobo
Senior Member
Except there is no difference in crop factor: m4/3 size sensor and same lenses.
Except that there is a difference in 4K mode. There are numerous reports online that the G7 in 4K delivers a wider FoV than the GH4 in 4K mode, using the same lens.
Lobalobo
Senior Member
Got it, thanks. I don't shoot video so this didn't occur to me. Glad to be corrected, though.
Some things that haven't been mentioned so far:
- The GH4 can shoot "cinema 4K" (4096 x 2160) at 24p as well as UHD (3840 x 2160). This may help explain the difference in FOV of the G7's UHD.
- The GH4 is a "world camera", meaning it is switchable between PAL/NTSC/24p. The G7 is limited to either PAL or NTSC.
brianric
Veteran Member
In other words you got a very informative and detailed answer that you didn't like and got your panties in a wad.
Lobalobo
Senior Member
Funny how the more obnoxious the post, the greater the complaint to a response in kind.
Greenbeanz
Forum Enthusiast
ALL the differences listed are very significant for a pro. For video and stills, those differences are very important, and while no camera should stop a pro from getting the job done, that list is brilliant in pointing out the advantages of a GH4. For each thing listed it's quite easy to see how they would provide capabilities that an amateur could cope without, but be exactly what a pro is looking for.
Summitron
Forum Enthusiast
Well, first of all, my G7 has unlimited recording, and secondly, some of the features you list are not particularly important. For example, you will get much better 1080p if you film 4K and downsample in post, so the bitrate in 1080p is not important. And the reason it is not important, is that supposedly the bitrate will give you better IQ and room to push the vid in post--but this is not the best way to accomplish this; downsampling is superior in all respects.
I do think, for example, your point about the flash sync is certainly important for some users. But I would like to mention that I don't think either of these cameras truly excels as a stills camera--they certainly are good, but not great.
Different end users will have different priorities. You may, for example, value a magnesium body over image quality, or, similarly, have a need for weather sealing (such as it is.....). Which one dissipates heat better? Well, the G7 runs super cool. Which one tolerates a wide variety of SD cards? There's lots of things to consider. One ofthe great things about an online forum is that different users can post their experiences, and different readers can sift through these things and see what's important to them
However, if you are an end user who is interested in image quality, then the G7 will give you better image quality (slightly), and a better crop factor (slightly), at a lower price (fairly big difference). These are the things that are important to me. I also think the G7 is a solid cam with tons of dials and buttons and so on. Almost steampunk.
I do think, for example, your point about the flash sync is certainly important for some users. But I would like to mention that I don't think either of these cameras truly excels as a stills camera--they certainly are good, but not great.
Different end users will have different priorities. You may, for example, value a magnesium body over image quality, or, similarly, have a need for weather sealing (such as it is.....). Which one dissipates heat better? Well, the G7 runs super cool. Which one tolerates a wide variety of SD cards? There's lots of things to consider. One ofthe great things about an online forum is that different users can post their experiences, and different readers can sift through these things and see what's important to them
However, if you are an end user who is interested in image quality, then the G7 will give you better image quality (slightly), and a better crop factor (slightly), at a lower price (fairly big difference). These are the things that are important to me. I also think the G7 is a solid cam with tons of dials and buttons and so on. Almost steampunk.
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Summitron
Forum Enthusiast
Snip
ALL the differences listed are very significant for a pro. For video and stills, those differences are very important, and while no camera should stop a pro from getting the job done, that list is brilliant in pointing out the advantages of a GH4. For each thing listed it's quite easy to see how they would provide capabilities that an amateur could cope without, but be exactly what a pro is looking for.
Snip
Well, what I would say, is that different pros have different priorities. So, for example, a professional photographer would really be better off with a better stills camera. So we can remove all of the photo related items from the list as far as the "pro" goes. Next, some pros are absolutely going to want that extra tiny bit of IQ and FOV, and for this reason they will go for the G7 over the GH4. For some pros, sharpness is real important, for some others, it's the grain, for others, the color, and there are a myriad combinations. Some ppl will want to film in the dark, and they should go out and get a Sony (maybe we should all have a Sony in our kits). Some will want raw, and so on.
The whole "pro" idea is a straw man (or straw person) argument. As such, I would respectfully suggest that it is completely invalid. People should buy the cam they want.
And the point as been made, and not without reason, that the "world" pro would want the world cam, the GH4. But, actually, I just shoot 30p or 24p when I'm traveling the world, and the computer doesn't care. But some ppl, for sure, would want the PAL feature. Some ppl might want to meet up with a team and be on the same framerate. Of course, you can always shoot 30p in these situations. I can, for example, use my modded Samsung phone as a B cam at 30p (and, yes, it takes perfectly good video). Some ppl still make DVDs. There's a wide variety out there.
I just don't think these are "pro" features; they are just features. Others may differ.
ALL the differences listed are very significant for a pro. For video and stills, those differences are very important, and while no camera should stop a pro from getting the job done, that list is brilliant in pointing out the advantages of a GH4. For each thing listed it's quite easy to see how they would provide capabilities that an amateur could cope without, but be exactly what a pro is looking for.
Snip
Well, what I would say, is that different pros have different priorities. So, for example, a professional photographer would really be better off with a better stills camera. So we can remove all of the photo related items from the list as far as the "pro" goes. Next, some pros are absolutely going to want that extra tiny bit of IQ and FOV, and for this reason they will go for the G7 over the GH4. For some pros, sharpness is real important, for some others, it's the grain, for others, the color, and there are a myriad combinations. Some ppl will want to film in the dark, and they should go out and get a Sony (maybe we should all have a Sony in our kits). Some will want raw, and so on.
The whole "pro" idea is a straw man (or straw person) argument. As such, I would respectfully suggest that it is completely invalid. People should buy the cam they want.
And the point as been made, and not without reason, that the "world" pro would want the world cam, the GH4. But, actually, I just shoot 30p or 24p when I'm traveling the world, and the computer doesn't care. But some ppl, for sure, would want the PAL feature. Some ppl might want to meet up with a team and be on the same framerate. Of course, you can always shoot 30p in these situations. I can, for example, use my modded Samsung phone as a B cam at 30p (and, yes, it takes perfectly good video). Some ppl still make DVDs. There's a wide variety out there.
I just don't think these are "pro" features; they are just features. Others may differ.
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Here is a rolling shutter test video comparing the G7 vs the GH4 It might help someone deside between the two. I did not know rolling shutter was that bad on these for video.
Thanks. i have been searching GH4 vs G7 rolling shutter comparisons. Looks like the GH4 has still better 4k video in good light than G7.
One thing that I did not see anyone mentioning in this thread is that G7 has one significant advantage over GH4 - superior low light and high-ISO performance in video.
Also ergonomically G7 feels significantly better in my hands and I prefer its wheels placement. YMMV.
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Summitron
Forum Enthusiast
Also more detail, less noise, better crop ratio, etc.
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