Panasonic Micro 4/3 camera with 1080/24p video- now we're talking

[Noah Kadner]

Panasonic's new Lumix DMC-GH1 does 1080p video in a Micro Four Thirds form factor

http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/03/panasonics-new-lumix-dmc-gh1-does-1080p-video-in-a-micro-four-t/

Not even a year after its Lumix DMC-G1 got all the glory as the first Micro Four Thirds camera on the market, Panasonic is back with a slightly tweaked version in the DMC-GH1. We say slightly tweaked since the exterior is more or less the same, but under the hood the camera has 1080p recording at 24 frames per second, or 720p recording at 60 fps, which the camera stores to AVCHD format. Panasonic has also included continuos auto focus, something lacking from most DSLRs with video capability. Users can set the shutter speed and aperture manually, and record stereo audio -- with an optional external mic if they so choose. The camera shoots 12.1 megapixel stills just like the G1, and now offers iPhoto-style Face Recognition in addition to Face Detection to make sure particular people are well exposed and in focus. No word yet on price or availability.


-Noah

 

[kidrobot]

Sweet! Time for that firmware update now, Canon?

This is just the beginning. Four Thirds has decent sized sensors too.

Um.. what does this mean? -->

*Full-HD (1920 × 1080) movies are output by the image sensor at 24p (NTSC)/25p (PAL), and recorded at 60i (NTSC)/50i (PAL). HD (1280 × 720) video is output and recorded by the image sensor at 60p (NTSC)/50p (PAL).

 

[Taylor Morrison]

Noah,

You got to it just before me... As an early adopter of the sdx-900 (as you were too) I hope that this camera shares in some of that nice feel that the sdx has. I still have clients who prefer the SDX over the HDX or even REDONE. I will keep my eyes out for any clips with this new Panasonic.

Taylor

 

[Jaime Vallés]

So, what does the depth of field look like on a Micro 4/3 sensor? Is it somewhere between a 2/3" sensor and an S35 sensor?

 

[Eki Halkka]

So, what does the depth of field look like on a Micro 4/3 sensor? Is it somewhere between a 2/3" sensor and an S35 sensor?

Yep.

Found this page:

http://www.panasonic.co.uk/html/en_GB/2146697/index.html?trackInfo=true

 

[Sanjin Jukic]

Panasonic's BOMB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Panasonic's BOMB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Panasonic DMC-GH1 G Micro System

MOVIE MODE RECORDING SYSTEM

Motion Image: Motion Jpeg [4:3] QVGA : 320 x 240, 30fps /
VGA : 640 x 480, 30fps /
Motion Jpeg [16:9] WVGA : 848 x 480, 30fps /
Motion Jpeg [HD] 1280 x 720, 30fps /
AVCHD NTSC [Full HD] 1920 x 1080, 60i (sensor output is 24fps)(FHD: 17Mbps) /
AVCHD NTSC [HD] 1280 x 720, 60p (SH: 17Mbps, H: 13Mbps, L: 9Mbps) /
AVCHD PAL [Full HD] 1920 x 1080, 50i (sensor output is 25fps)(FHD: 17Mbps) /
AVCHD PAL [HD] 1280 x 720, 50p (SH: 17Mbps, H: 13Mbps, L: 9Mbps).

- Full-HD movie recording in AVCHD format
- High image quality with 12.1-megapixel Live MOS sensor and Venus Engine HD
- New high-performance kit lens for outstanding HD movies LUMIX G VARIO HD 14-140mm/F4.0-5.8 ASPH./MEGA O.I.S.
- Creative Movie mode to enjoy the freedom of manual settings
- A (Intelligent Auto) Mode with Face Recognition and Contrast AF system
- Four Thirds adaptability – Multiplying photographic possibilities.

Interchangeable Lens-1
Lens Construction 17 elements in 13 groups (4 Aspherical lenses, 2 ED lenses)
Mount Micro Four Thirds mount
Optical Image Stabilizer YES
Focal Length f=14mm to 140mm (35mm camera equivalent 28mm to 280mm)
Aperture Type 7 diaphragm blades / Circular aperture diaphragm
Aperture F4.0(Wide) - F5.8(Tele)
Minimum Aperture F22
Closest Focusing Distance 0.50m / 1.64ft at all focal lengths
Maximum magnification Approx. 0.2x / 0.4x (35mm camera equivalent)
Diagonal Angle of View 75 dig(W)-8.8 dig(T)

PANASONIC KNOW WELL WHAT THEY ARE DOING!!!!!!!!!

"Use any of the interchangeable Four Thirds lenses to capture even more unique expressions."

Now Scarlet is under serious treat just because Panasonic DMC-GH1 G Micro System

can get any of these FourThirds lenses>>>

But I still can not believe it!!!!!!!!!

CLICK here to read more about Panasonic DMC-GH1 G Micro System movies>>>

Great!!!

 

[kidrobot]

Four Thirds and Micro Four Thirds use the same sensor size. MicroFT only brings the optics closer to the sensor by removing the mirror.

 

[Josh Negrin]

I'd still take the 5d mark II over this, look at the video bitrate. The mark II is something like 34mbps and this one is 17? Even some of the worst blu-rays have a higher bitrate than 17mbps

 

[Sanjin Jukic]

I'd still take the 5d mark II over this, look at the video bitrate. The mark II is something like 34mbps and this one is 17? Even some of the worst blu-rays have a higher bitrate than 17mbps

AVCHD System
Stream type MPEG-2 Transport stream
System data rate
up to 24 Mbit/s (AVCHD conforming to H264 High-Profile, Level 4.1)
up to 17 Mbit/s (AVCHD conforming to H264 Main-Profile, Level 4.0)
up to 18 Mbit/s for DVD media

 

[Chris Pickle]

okay, what am I missing? How is this not an amazing camera? What's the weak link?

Bit rate?
Compression?
Codec?

At 17Mbps for a smaller image size.. how does that compare to Red's bit rate for a larger image size.

This seems pretty amazing to me?

Chris

 

[kidrobot]

So, what does the depth of field look like on a Micro 4/3 sensor? Is it somewhere between a 2/3" sensor and an S35 sensor?

Four Thirds crop factor is 2, so it's a half frame system, compared to 35mm (not S35).

 

[Sanjin Jukic]

So, what does the depth of field look like on a Micro 4/3 sensor? Is it somewhere between a 2/3" sensor and an S35 sensor?

Read more at FourThirds Story>>>>

 

[Josh Negrin]

AVCHD System
Stream type MPEG-2 Transport stream
System data rate
up to 24 Mbit/s (AVCHD conforming to H264 High-Profile, Level 4.1)
up to 17 Mbit/s (AVCHD conforming to H264 Main-Profile, Level 4.0)
up to 18 Mbit/s for DVD media

AVCHD is right on par with HDV, so if you were happy with the compression scheme of HDV than you'll be really happy with this camera. IMHO, 24mbps is not enough bitrate for 1080p.

For comparison sake the R3D compression, I believe, is 28 MB/sec. Notice the capital M and the capital B. Multiply this times 8 (for mbps) and you get 224mbps. Obviously the compression from the RED kills anything else because it's in a class of it's own, but still the 5D Mark II 34mbps is the one to beat in the "slr with video" class.

 

[Yannick Hagman]

Actually they did very very well.

Okay Canon and Nikon, now you MUST take action. No tricks anymore.

 

[Karl Gustav H.]

This is quite interesting.

No note that while the sensor is 24p, it records interlaced.

The other thing is that the lack of an (affordable) fast lens like the Canon 50mm in a micro4/3 mount.

 

[Noah Kadner]

AVCHD is a generation newer/better than HDV- much more efficient and clean. And Panasonic does AVCHD best. We shoot AVCHD on HMC150 cameras and when the lighting is good it's hard to tell the difference between it and DVCPROHD. I'll wait to reserve judgment until I get a camera but this sounds more interesting to me than the 5d's compression. Especially if they give us some manual controls.

Also I would think it actually shoots 24p. Panasonic was the first to deliver 24p in standard DV and the first to bring affordable HD 24p out. Not too mention most of their point and shoot digital still cameras have a 24p movie mode. I would be surprised if they went the 30p or 60i route exclusively with this camera.

Noah

 

[Graeme Nattress]

Compression is not about bit rate - it's about how well it's done. That applies to all cameras. Bit rate is meaningless. How the image is made effects how the image can be compressed. Detail is hard to compress. Noise is very hard to compress. Aliases confuse motion estimated codecs, and appear as detail and hence are tricky indeed to compress, and they waste bits that could be going to detail.

Graeme

 

[Chris Pickle]

Compression is not about bit rate - it's about how well it's done. That applies to all cameras. Bit rate is meaningless. How the image is made effects how the image can be compressed. Detail is hard to compress. Noise is very hard to compress. Aliases confuse motion estimated codecs, and appear as detail and hence are tricky indeed to compress, and they waste bits that could be going to detail.

Graeme

Your answer is a bit cryptic. So how do you feel about this new camera? And its potential?

Chris

 

[Graeme Nattress]

Potential is one thing, but the devil is in the details.

Graeme

 

[Finner]

Potential is one thing, but the devil is in the details.

Graeme

Panasonic the Devil? I'll give you sony but panasonic is not that bad.