Panasonic Gh5 vs. Gh4 for short professional quality videos

Hi Everyone,

I am a Catholic school principal with very limited understanding of the technical aspects of photography. My interest extends more toward figuring out production. A recent example included figuring out how to livestream multiple locations in a Church and rig up sound for weekly masses using only school ipads and inexpensive external mics. Now I’m interested in putting together videos showcasing the school and our students that look professional. I have enough familiarity with editing software and live productions, but doing something like this with iPad cameras would not exactly give a professional feel.

I consulted with a forum member who recommended the GH5 and I am sold on everything but cost as I am a Catholic school principal with less money than a public school principal. I noticed the GH4 was significantly cheaper. When reading comparisons, it seemed like the biggest difference is in the image stabilization but experts like you likely know better.

So my question is, would saving money on the camera by getting the G4 be worth the sacrifices of the missing features of the G5? Unless someone wants to save me the financial worry by donating a used one for a letter to the IRS with our federal tax id as a not for profit haha.

Looking forward to your feedback and appreciate you pitying someone with limited knowledge but an ability to know when I’m out of my depth.

The GH4 is now several years old it will work fine for daily purposes but there will be less support for it simply because it is an obsolete

The difference is not just the stabilisation but much more to it benefits are way too long and technical to bore you

Not able to give a comprehensive answer here, but on the stabilization:

If you film with a tripod only, basically posing people in front of the camera, stabilization doesn't matter. This is absolutely an option.

If you film handheld, particularly walking around, for a "professional" look you basically want to avoid the micro-shaking of hand movements. You can either do that using a gimbal, which costs money, or when editing videos, which takes some editing time and skill.

If you look for used cameras, I've seen some pretty good deals on the GH5. There are a number of people switching over to other camera models right now, so there's occasionally good deals on the GH5.

Andersonm wrote:

Not able to give a comprehensive answer here, but on the stabilization:

If you film with a tripod only, basically posing people in front of the camera, stabilization doesn't matter. This is absolutely an option.

If you film handheld, particularly walking around, for a "professional" look you basically want to avoid the micro-shaking of hand movements. You can either do that using a gimbal, which costs money, or when editing videos, which takes some editing time and skill.

If you look for used cameras, I've seen some pretty good deals on the GH5. There are a number of people switching over to other camera models right now, so there's occasionally good deals on the GH5.

I wonder if [with the current firmware] either a G9 or M1 mark 2 would be a suitable option

if you are just doing livestreaming and using a tripod, you can do that with the gh4,  If you were editing the work, you will get a lot more the a GH5.

Both are pro tools and you can find reviews of these cameras on dpr.

Tim Reidy Productions wrote:

if you are just doing livestreaming and using a tripod, you can do that with the gh4, If you were editing the work, you will get a lot more the a GH5.

Both are pro tools and you can find reviews of these cameras on dpr.

The GH5/G9 can stream with free lumix program without additional hardware

the GH4 will require additional devices

dlevitt wrote:

Andersonm wrote:

Not able to give a comprehensive answer here, but on the stabilization:

If you film with a tripod only, basically posing people in front of the camera, stabilization doesn't matter. This is absolutely an option.

If you film handheld, particularly walking around, for a "professional" look you basically want to avoid the micro-shaking of hand movements. You can either do that using a gimbal, which costs money, or when editing videos, which takes some editing time and skill.

If you look for used cameras, I've seen some pretty good deals on the GH5. There are a number of people switching over to other camera models right now, so there's occasionally good deals on the GH5.

I wonder if [with the current firmware] either a G9 or M1 mark 2 would be a suitable option

I have all 3 cameras GH5, G9, EM1MKII

I use the GH5 for all video work for a number of reasons which includes not just the capabilities of the camera (it has exposure tools and codecs the G9 does not have) but it has a vast array of accessories of all sorts including cages, handles and a vast knowledge base of video professional and consumers. The camera has excellent auto white balance, deep blacks and fine grain that works great for all videos. The autofocus works fine if you want to use it and it has lots of controls to avoid refocusing and to slow down autofocus. Contrary to what people think you don't want the camera to focus on whatever it chooses but to lock on subjects in those occasions you use autofocus.

The G9 is slightly less accurate in auto white balance it needs white balancing on a slate, lacks the exposure tools (unless you buy the V-Log key) it has still nice blacks and fine grain. It is ok for occasional shots but does need an external recorder as it is locked down to 29 minutes recording which is not good for live events or concerts but you can live with it if you plan your shots.

The EM1MKII is a nice camera for wildlife photography but is not good for professional video, the white balance and the blacks are all over the place and the picture profiles for video are inadequate with colors and hues all off any scale It has only 8 bits codec and the HDMI port is also limited to 8 bits even if you use an external recorder. The IBIS and autofocus are nice but they give their own issues for example face recognition is way to active and with a fast lens the focus jumps for one person to another or to whatever the camera likes very fast. It is not a professional nor semi professional grade camera and does not have as many accessories as almost nobody uses it for semipro video or events.

Whilst you can make do with the G9 and a Ninja V a GH5 with just basic camera, tripod and fast SD cards is a better starter kit for unlimited recording even just using the LCD and no additional device investment. Obviously I would recommend getting a smallrig cage or similar with handles this will allow for reasonable stable handheld shots without a gimbal if you have an idea how to move. A tripod with a fluid head is also not particularly expensive and can be found second hand.

I use the GH5 for underwater video since few years few example videos

https://youtu.be/C1OOLkA60no

Recently during lockdown I started shooting more on land but that is general for friends and private use I did put something on youtube to have an idea of what you can do

https://youtu.be/Egj7RKcjIbU

My daughter also wanted to start her youtube channel thankfully she calmed down recently so giving it a break now

https://youtu.be/5w_M4IetO58

All of those with exception of underwater video are shot with a tripod and a fluid head and an external microphone

As Covid-19 is continuing and my diving trips are stopped am now working on land wildlife project that hopefully will come to life in few months

There is a very active facebook group on GH5 and GH5s with all sorts of people posting from music videos to feature minifilms to wedding and events one can get a good idea of what can or not be done by a user base that only shoots video

Both GH5 and GH4 are mostly overkills for what you need, unless you have very skilled videographers/photographers working with you.

The problem with cheaper Panasonic models is that you need external hardware to stream the video. Still, something like G7 (on a tripod) or G80 (handheld) is perfectly fine for streaming, you just need a capture card. The price of USB capture cards start from around $10€ and go up to $150€ and maybe even higher. Even the cheap one will do the job, because I don't think you will be streaming 1080p (FullHD) and definitely not 4k. You also need a suitable HDMI cable or a normal HDMI cable and an adapter. If you go with cheap capture card and an adapter, buy several at once. During the last 9 months, one cheap capture card developed an issue with the USB-cable, and at least one micro-HDMI to HDMI adapter broke, even though I have built a support system for them. You also need a computer, and you can use the free OBS software for streaming.

What I think will be more important in your case is the audio. You don't necessarily need expensive mics, as long as they are close to the subject. Wireless microphone systems used to be expensive, but I recently bought a relatively cheap Saramonic Blink500 system with two transmitters, and the system works like a charm. If there are hundreds of people at the location, wireless systems may be problematic, though.

If streaming is not the main priority, just go for a cheaper model and rather invest on audio recording, lighting, lenses, tripods etc.

I will have to test whether I can stream out on one of my cameras with no hardware,  I will find out

KMF8617 wrote:

Factored in the opinions, and found the Gh5 new on Ebay for $1,139 and splurged on it. On advice for a basic lens to do what I want, I am now hunting for an inexpensive Panasonic Lumix G Vario 12-60mm f/3.5-5.6 lens.

Can anyone with a gh5 recommend a cage/rig and sd memory card that would both be economical but do the job? I actually have a few decent lapel mics. Not out of this world but certainly usable and cost around $50 each new.

I don't have a GH5, but when it comes to inexpensive solutions, are there really others than Smallrig?

Considering SD cards, you don't need to buy the most expensive ones, but it's useful to have 2 cards instead of one. But check the specifications (UHS etc., not only MB/s.). Also an additional (emergency) battery is something to consider about.

KMF8617 wrote:

Factored in the opinions, and found the Gh5 new on Ebay for $1,139 and splurged on it. On advice for a basic lens to do what I want, I am now hunting for an inexpensive Panasonic Lumix G Vario 12-60mm f/3.5-5.6 lens.

Can anyone with a gh5 recommend a cage/rig and sd memory card that would both be economical but do the job? I actually have a few decent lapel mics. Not out of this world but certainly usable and cost around $50 each new.

If you shoot indoor and have plenty of lights that will work otherwise it may be dark.

Cage wise smallrig is what you need it has already a cold shoe recommended to get also the top handle as minimum

I enclosed a picture of the basic set up the handle is 1984 (adjustable) cage is the 2049 now there is a nee version I think

there is also a lcd shade for outdoors

SD card maximum quality good value transcend v90