GH1 vs GH2

Jerodequin wrote:

The GH2 definitely gives better image quality, especially at higher ISO settings, the camera itself is a also a little more refined in many areas, with slightly improved controls, faster operation and faster autofocus.

I jumped from my GH1 when the GH2 first became available and have been more than happy with it since.

My experience, GH1 to GH2, as well. Go for the GH2 unless you believe the GH3 is imminent and that you'll like it. If the trend towards touch screen controls continues to the GH3 I'll have to think long and hard about an upgrade: I have no issues with my GH2.
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Phil

isaac_ali wrote:

Skip a generation...upgrading every generation is not worth it, you'll end up penniless.

This is not my experience at all - In M4/3 I've gone from G1> GH1> GH2 and each time have managed to sell the older body for a very good price on ebay, leaving me with not more than £100 to pay for the new camera, hardly leaving me penniless.

I also do this with my mobile phones and other gadgets (I sold my old EPL1 for more than I paid for it, to finance an EPL3!)

The trick is to not be afraid to go to the new generation relatively early - the longer you leave it the more likely you'll end up with a bad price for the old kit.

Do you use auto-bracket much? The new firmware for the GH2 speeds up auto-bracket a lot. It's a much more pleasant experience, and operates closer to other cameras I've used. A minor thing, perhaps, but still something else to throw into the mix.

It's tough to know what to advise without knowing how important a few hundred bucks is to your budget. If it's not a big deal, then you may as well get the GH2 now and get the GH3 when it's fairly new, try out all 3 for a few weeks and keep the one or two that you like best. You'll likely end up down a few hundred bucks in the deal, though, so if that's unwelcome in the budget then yeah, just stick with your GH1 and wait to see what others think of the GH3. Investing in lenses is more important than investing in bodies, usually.

That said, I really like my GH2. I skipped the GH1 based on the reviews, and I am generally in the habit of skipping generations or buying used. I couldn't pass up the GH2, though, and I don't regret it. I doubt I'll get the GH3 new unless it knocks people's socks off.

Sterling
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Lens Grit

SterlingBjorndahl wrote:

It's tough to know what to advise without knowing how important a few hundred bucks is to your budget.

I really like to print, so saving my pesos for the new Canon Pro1 printer, which runs about $1000. Was actually thinking about selling a couple of my m4/3 lenses to pay for it.

Also, if there's a new 5DIII next year, that's going to be high on my priority list.

I doubt I'll get the GH3 new unless it knocks people's socks off.
Sterling

I think (hope) Panny decides that this camera needs to make a splash. Read several statements from Panasonic that 2012 was going to be an important year for them. Also with the new Canon cameras coming out and the NEX7, there's going to be a lot of pressure to keep up their lead in video.

SF Photo Gal aka Queer Chick
Canon 1DsIII & 5DII/Panasonic GH1-GF1-LX3

Birk Binnard wrote:

If you like prints check out a printing service that has LightJet printers. That's the printer all the pros use and the cost for getting prints made is quite low if you send printer-ready files that need no human tweaking. The service I use here in LA is A&I Photo labs http://www.aandi.com/dtp.html
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Birk Binnard
http://www.birkbinnard.com/photography

I'm very familiar with pro oriented printing services but I use a place locally.

But I like to do my own printing and certain projects require privacy

SF Photo Gal aka Queer Chick
Canon 1DsIII & 5DII/Panasonic GH1-GF1-LX3

Birk Binnard wrote:

If you like prints check out a printing service that has LightJet printers. That's the printer all the pros use and the cost for getting prints made is quite low if you send printer-ready files that need no human tweaking. The service I use here in LA is A&I Photo labs http://www.aandi.com/dtp.html
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Birk Binnard
http://www.birkbinnard.com/photography

BTW, did you assume just cuz I'm a girl that I wouldn't know about professional printing services?

SF Photo Gal aka Queer Chick
Canon 1DsIII & 5DII/Panasonic GH1-GF1-LX3

I ran the GH1 for a year or so while my better half ran the G1. Switched to the GH2 when it came out. My better half switched to the G3 recently. Two points for me...

I couldn't really tell the difference between the GH1 shots and the GH2 shots in good light, but when I had to push the ISO, the GH1 topped out at 800, while the GH2 would go to 3200 for similar results. Big plus.

And if you do any tripod or macro work, the touch screen is the other deal-maker, allowing focus point selection that is terrific.
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Lester

GH3 is not coming next week. Just new kit lenses for the GH2. Rep is confused by the EOL skus for the existing GH2 kits.

Francis Carver wrote:

marike6 wrote:

For video, the GH2 resolved many of the aliasing issues the the GH1 had, and right now is probably THE very best HDSLR available. I also have a 5D Mk II, and it's great for shallow DOF work in video shooting, but the GH2 video image is sharper, it uses the superior AVCHD codec, and it doesn't have the moire, aliasing issues of the Canons.

Waiting for a GH3 is not a bad plan, however it might be a long wait. Nobody knows for sure.

My Panasonic regional sales rep told me yesterday that the press announcement on the Lumix GH3 is coming out in 2-weeks (in Las Vegas), and the camera will be shipping by mid-April 2012. If you call Panasonic's Customer Service (in the USA), they will tell you the same (as of yesterday 30 DEC 2011).

Re. the GH2's video capabilities, it is especially stunning when you use on of Nick Driftwood's Intraframe GOP patch codecs ("hack") running at 154Mb/sec or 176Mb/sec.

For lenses, I would probably prefer the 3rd party M4/3 glass, like Voigtlanger and Noktor/SLR Magic. De-clicked, no-nonsense 100% full manual lenses. But the upcoming 12-50mm internal zoom 3-speed servo zoom from Oly looks promising.

http://www.olympusamerica.com/cpg_section/product.asp?product=1582

SF Photo Gal wrote:

And be nice. Some of you guys can be real d*ckheads with your comments to the uniformed.

Calling us that right out of the gate is hardly the way to win friendly responses from people but I'll bite anyway.

As a former GH1 owner and now GH2 owner, I believe that the GH2 is a must upgrade for anyone who liked what the GH1 provided in both stills and video and wants improvements across the board in image processing, sensor, features, and speed.

Will any of these improvements make a person a better photographer? No. But they will provide you with more reliable results and more options to take pictures.

The touch screen can be quite useful, the camera focuses even faster, and lower light photography is better than the GH1.

If you feared taking JPGs with the GH1, the GH2 has taken many steps in the right direction.

If most of your pictures are of good light and you process RAW only, the GH2 might not be worth getting yet, depending on your budget and priorities. Perhaps one of the newer primes might be a better purchase or one of the upcoming fast zooms.

What lighting and focal length conditions do you find yourself taking pictures the most? Do you post process much or only when the in camera processing fails to deliver?

The GH2 is certainly not hard to get. It was for a while, but supplies are very plentiful now.

I think the biggest advantages of the GH2 for most users is the significantly faster AF and noticeably better EVF. For shooting moving subjects, the upgrade is probably worth it. For landscapes and static interiors, probably not. I believe the EVF on the GH1 is the same as on the G2, which I have. For shooting in dim light, the EVF on the GH2 is much better.

With the price drop on the GH2 I would definitely choose to buy a GH2 rather than a used GH1. I'm not sure I'd upgrade if I already had a GH1, though, unless I found the AF and EVF a problem for the kinds of things I photographed.

Button Pusher wrote:

SF Photo Gal wrote:

And be nice. Some of you guys can be real d*ckheads with your comments to the uniformed.

Calling us that right out of the gate is hardly the way to win friendly responses from people but I'll bite anyway.

I like her refreshing candor, though don't think she's "uniformed" or even particularly uninformed

The GH2 is a major improvement from the GH1, IMO -- and I liked my GH1 in its day.

If the GH3 is what I hope it to be, I'll be an early adopter: At my age, I don't wait to upgrade I do fear the trend toward touch-screen control will continue. On the GH2 you can do everything with the screen not active for control. I hope the GH3 continues in the same vein vs. removing switches and buttons now on the GH2.

Today the GH2 is the best camera I've owned, and that includes the EOS 7D, Sony SLT-A55, Oly E-PL3 and earlier models. I hope the GH3 outshines the GH2; if not I'll be happy to continue using my GH2 for several more years.