Everybody says the camera doesn't matter, but cameras change the way we work, how the subject reacts, how you view what you can do.
I have RED's, Canon 1dx's, Nikon Full Frame, Phase/Contax(2 and a Leica M8) and this week just bought my first real 4/3's system the gh3, the two 2.8 zooms, the 25mm Summilux and the 100 to 300.
With all the equipment I own, I've said I won't buy anything unless it let's me do something I couldn't do before.
I bought the gh3 mostly for video, not really as a B camera, but as a faster more fluid camera. The stills are just a bonus.
In a brief two days, what I've learned is the GH3 size is perfect because it's not too tiny, not too big, one shoulder bag will hold everything and honestly the video tracking focusing is bloody amazing, almost in any light, the still focusing very, very good.
Size matters, because we travel the world working and anything to lower weight, saves us thousands. Our recent European shoot, with (for us) limited equipment, saw us move 2,900 lbs of equipment.
The baggage overage charges would have bought 2 4/3's systems.
Last night at 3am I went outside in almost darkness and did some tests where I shot at 2.8 at 1/8th of a second. I thought they'd be blurred and awful and their tack sharp. That's amazing.
You know it wasn't many years ago the I used the Canon 1ds that was 11 megapixels, a top iso of 600 and I still have 4'x6' prints hanging on the walls of our studios from those cameras and nobody looks at them and goes ugh.
This was shot with a 1ds, 11 megapixels, available light and I can promise you I could easily have shot it with the Panasonic, actually a lot easier.
Personally I've never been as excited by a camera system as I have with the 4/3 in years.
The creative possibilities of this camera are beyond what I expected. Focus is very good, options are huge, the lens line of 4/3's is off the scale and the ability to add my Leica lens's is a huge bonus.
I bought the gh3 to do this style of video and stills, but I think It will go a lot further.
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I also love the 4:3 format for stills, especially vertical and for multi media projects we shoot, where stills are inserted to video, the ability to change format to 16x9 for both.
Wi-fi to an I pad is a bonus, the ability to carry small car mounts, work remotely, opens up a do almost anything thought process.
I tested the gh3 vs. the Olympus omd three times, because I just love the look of the OMD and the OMD stills are better, all around, but the focus on the OMD is more challenged and the video is well . . . 1/4 the quality of the gh3.
The thing is the OMD is beautiful, just fractionally too small. I might buy an OMD for stills since it takes up no space, but am very interested in seeing what the next OMD will be like. I'm hoping for a slightly larger form factor and the rumored L1 is pretty cool.
I really hope Olympus' next model has sound in and out, and a higher bit rate video as 17 mps is way too small and artifacts.
Though the Olympus has amazing image stabilization. I mean really amazing, and close to that floating steadicam look.
I am stoked about this format and I see more possibilities for it, not less. In fact I know the Canon Nikon world isn't going to adopt it which i think is even better, not worse.
I've done very little with 4/3's this with the Pana GF1 which is 1/2 the camera of the gh3. I just can't wait.
IMO
BC
. I am definitely looking forward to the Speed Booster for m43 as well.
