The little workhorse that could-Panasonic GH2

Panasonic Lumix GH2

Over the past 3 years, the trend towards shooting video on DSLR’s has exploded thanks to the Canon 5D Mark II, and the more affordable Canon 7D.   For the first time, people could get that amazing shallow depth of field look that people are used to seeing from expensive cinema/film cameras.   The large sensors and the 24 frames per second frame rate give the video a very film-like quality and the ability to easily change lenses is a huge plus.   The lightweight portability can be great and the ability to covertly shoot video when people or authorities think you are taking photos can also help if you are trying to lay low in public.   The biggest limitation has been lack of XLR audio inputs which requires you to record audio on an external audio recorder like the Zoom H4N or get an audio adapter.

TBJ Productions started using HDSLR cameras heavily in 2010 and 2011.   I have used the Canon 5D and 7D and interestingly the camera that has become a staple for me has been the Panasonic GH2.   This is not your average DSLR.   Thanks to Vitaly Kiselev, a video enthusiast from Russia who found a way to hack the settings on the camera’s firmware, the $900 camera is transformed into the Optimus Prime of HDSLR’s.   An entire network of users and patch testers has sprung up around Vitaly on his website www.personal-view.com, where novices and professionals test new settings and compare notes.   The hack which was originally done on the GH2’s predecessor the GH1 lowers the compression that is being put on the video allowing you to get  much higher quality.   You can also tweak the cameras audio capabilities, time limites, third party battery limitations and much more.    Not only does the camera cost a fifth of what a 5D costs, but side by side footage taken by the hacked GH2 in my opinion can look better than the 5D and even the Red Scarlet.   If you search youtube there are numerous people that have done side by side comparisons.   With the money that you save on the camera body, you can put that money towards lighting, audio, lenses, etc…    I have gotten a lot of mileage out of my GH2 and although I still enjoy using the Canon 5D, I often still shoot with my GH2.

Panasonic, Sony, and Canon are catching on to the trend towards large sensor cameras and have all released video cameras in the past year that offer large sensors but have XLR inputs and changeable lenses.   We hear at TBJ Productions have a Sony RS100 that we enjoy and will be purchasing its blinged out new brother the RS700 in the next couple of months.    Its an exciting time to be a film and video producer and if you haven’t looked into shooting on DSLR cameras, the Panasonic GH2 and its hackability are a great place to start.  But by the time many of  you are reading this, the GH3 will probably be out and hopefully Vitaly and his team will have figured out a way to hack that one as well.

A tricked out GH2