Looking for a smaller travel video replacement for GH4

Hi there,

I like to make family travel videos, and occasionally shoot some pictures. I have a GH4 with a 12-35, 45-200, 20 and a 45 lens. In recent years, I found myself reaching way more for my gopro and phone to make my videos than the camera, mostly because its heavy and a bit cumbersome to travel with.

I'd really like to use my camera more, but I don't want to reinvest in lenses.  Is there a more recent, smaller camera that I can trade my GH4 for that still does great video and pictures? I'd like the option to do timelapses, weatherproofing is a plus since I travel and hike, I think a flash would be nice to have.

Do I need to stick to Panasonic because of the lenses, or can I look at Olympus too?  I'm such a noob.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.   Thanks!

insidiousraven wrote:

Hi there,

I like to make family travel videos, and occasionally shoot some pictures. I have a GH4 with a 12-35, 45-200, 20 and a 45 lens. In recent years, I found myself reaching way more for my gopro and phone to make my videos than the camera, mostly because its heavy and a bit cumbersome to travel with.

I'd really like to use my camera more, but I don't want to reinvest in lenses. Is there a more recent, smaller camera that I can trade my GH4 for that still does great video and pictures? I'd like the option to do timelapses, weatherproofing is a plus since I travel and hike, I think a flash would be nice to have.

Do I need to stick to Panasonic because of the lenses, or can I look at Olympus too? I'm such a noob.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

On the Olympus side, the EM5 mk 3 is weather sealed and does 4k video. Likely with the OIS Panasonic lenses your choice of either in body or lens stabilization. The M1 and M1X bodies are larger, comparable in size to the GH series body.

You likely will have more choices with Panasonic bodies - look for a recent release with weather sealing- start with a look at the G80/G85 body [why does Panasonic use two different names?]

insidiousraven wrote:

Hi there,

I like to make family travel videos, and occasionally shoot some pictures. I have a GH4 with a 12-35, 45-200, 20 and a 45 lens. In recent years, I found myself reaching way more for my gopro and phone to make my videos than the camera, mostly because its heavy and a bit cumbersome to travel with.

I'd really like to use my camera more, but I don't want to reinvest in lenses. Is there a more recent, smaller camera that I can trade my GH4 for that still does great video and pictures? I'd like the option to do timelapses, weatherproofing is a plus since I travel and hike, I think a flash would be nice to have.

Do I need to stick to Panasonic because of the lenses, or can I look at Olympus too? I'm such a noob.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

If you are happy with the video from GoPro ~smartphone, I suppose the professional video features of GH4 might overkill your purpose.

Hence I shall look for cameras having more simple video option but smaller than the GH4 (before G9 and Olympus EM1X, GH was used to be the largest size M43 camera).

Personally I can't live with the complex Menu system of Olympus. I would rather stick to the Panny for a 0 learning curve. YMMV.

G85 (also G95, but not much smaller than GH4, is being one of the current 20Mp model) are the economy line of GH. 4K supported, but better than GH4, is IBIS and DUAL IS-2 compatible models (most latest Panasonic zoom lenses are DUAL IS or DUAL IS-2 compatible) and DFD supported.

IBIS or DUAL IS (IBIS is used) are essential feature which can improve the stability of gun and running handheld video shooting a lot.

Your 12-35 (mk-I?) and 45 (the PL 45 f/2.8?) is DUAL IS compatible. 20 can use the IBIS of Panny bodies. 45-200 (mk-I?) is OIS only.

As per a review, the video AF of G85 indeed is more responsive than that of GH4 whereas comparable IQ.

While the G are said to be better for video (has a mic in port for external mic) vs GX and GF, indeed the GX (GX85 on 16Mp sensor and GX9 on 20Mp sensor) are also quite capable on causal video shooting. Their Rangefinder form factor bodies are smaller than the Gs. If you don't have high requirement on audio (internal mic only), GXs are actually cheaper and smaller option.

Then, finally the smallest G100. It is actually a redesigned product upon the entry class GF9/10, but specifically customized for vlogging purpose. It is smallest (having an evf) among Panny line up. The major benefit of G100 is its extraordinary large evf (in its class, similar to that of the flagship G9), 3 built in mic and an advance audio recording system from Nokia. Draw back: no IBIS )pure lens OIS reliance).

I recently got the G85 so starting to learn more from the forum myself.

Upgraded from Lumix G2, I think G85 is the perfect camera for me. None of my lens with G2 were stabilized (Oly 14-150, 45, Panasonic 20, plus OM lens). When they were with G2 (no IBIS), hand-held videos are not quite usable (too much jitter to my eyes) as soon as I started to zoom. Now with the G85, they are really usable.

I know G85 is a 3-year old model, but it is priced really great nowadays, and still an acceptable size/weight for me (I prefer small size/light weight for easy use) while having the IBIS and weather seals for travel. The G9/95, not only much more expensive, but the substantial increase in size and weight is deal-breaker to me.

I have also looked into the new G100, everything is perfect except for the lack of IBIS. Again, with my lens collection, I don't think a video from that will be much more useful than before. I have seen many reviews on youtube made by the G100, the handheld videos are just as I feared, shaky and not great, even the ones where the so-called electronic stabilization is enabled (it crops the video angle big time, too).

Nothing Olympus offers right now comes close to the balance of features, size, weight, price of the current G85.

I also HAVE to have a flip-out screen, which then ruled out a few of the Panasonics' smaller model

For you, since you have the 20mm, 45mm, and want to travel with it and shoot video, I would stay away from models that do not offer IBIS.

In the Panasonic lineup, the G85 seems to be the only one as it is weather sealed, has pop-up flash, and slightly lighter at 505g with battery and card vs 560g for the GH4. It adds stabilization and less crop in 4K (approx 1.1x horizontal). The G95 adds a newer 20MP sensor and more video features to the G85 (like V-log which G85 doesn't have), but the 4K crop is a step back (1.25x) plus the weight at 536g and slightly larger size gets it closer to your GH4.

In the Olympus lineup the ones that fits your needs might be the E-M5 III as it is further lighter at 414 grams and even smaller, while still being weather sealed.

To get smaller as others mentioned you would have to forgo the weather sealing. You can consider adding a GX85 (many time available in a two lens kit deal for $500) or G100. Note GX85 has less 4K crop (similar to G85 at 1.1x) due to the 16MP sensor, while the G100 has more 4K crop at 1.25x, although the G100 has more video features. The G100 is descended from the GF (GX850) lineup so has a less capable shutter mechanism (and no IBIS).