Cheap Used Body for Video

Paulmorgan wrote:

aliasfox wrote:

I attended a wedding this past weekend, and the happy couple asked one friend and one family member to do the candid shooting for the event. As the friend-with-cameras, I was happy to oblige.

The day before the wedding, I get an email from the bride-to-be stating that for some reason or another, the guy that she had tasked with taking the video of the event fell through, and if I could cover. I happened to pack my tripod, so I said sure, knowing that while the PM2 doesn't do a great job, a tripod mounted camera would probably do a better job than an iPhone.

Anyway, the results are usable, and the audio is surprisingly clear for on-body microphones set up outdoors (at least it wasn't windy).

So now here's my question:

What's the cheapest way for me to have a 'video' oriented body to work with in case this happens again? I happen to have at least 4 weddings to attend in the next 9 months, one of which is already hinting to me that they're low on budget and time.

I know that Oly won't be the way to go with video, but I've never looked at Panasonics from a video perspective. My girlfriend (who will be attending all of these weddings with me, no pressure there...) runs with a GF3, but given the age of that body I doubt it would do any better than my E-PM2s, right?

I'm hoping for a viewfinder, 1080p recording for cropping/scaling to 720p in post, and preferably the option to hook up an external microphone.

Would a GH2 cut it? GX7 prices are also falling through the floor - would they work? The GX7 is fairly modern so would work as a stills body, too. I'd prefer not to spring for a GH3, as those are still pretty pricey (both new and used).

Thanks!

Cheapest, probably a second hand GF2 with the hack.

http://www.eoshd.com/2012/02/hacked-gf2-the-300-digital-cinema-camera/

I`ve seen these going for as little as 50 or 60 quid.

But no way to add a viewfinder to a GF2, right? Only the GF1. The viewfinder was useful when I was doing panning shots in the afternoon sun, while the other body was on the tripod pointed at the altar.

Also, just thought of this - peaking would be a plus, as I was doing manual focus pulls, but I feel like that would definitely be asking a lot.