@RatLabProductions

There is definitely a cadence issue with the (some?) GH3. The video pros at the dealer where I got mine tested it and they are as stumped as I am. They gave me a full refund and have sent off a report to Panasonic. I noticed the cadence problem in every recording mode but it was particularly bad in 50mbs at both 24fps and 30fps.

I am beginning to see some examples around the net that seem not to have the problem, which is a very good sign.

Extracted images (no real editing) a documentary during filming (camera GH3).

GH3 25P / 50mbs / 1:50 Standard Profile -1 -1 -1 -1 Voigtlander 25mm Noktor 12mm HF Sanken Sennheiser capsule

Point of view for use documentary GH3 (capture in real time):

• 50 MB is not too bad. Overall the image is correct BUT the camera movements lack fluidity. It poses a lot of problems on some plans. In the end it is not pro at all.

• Intra 72 MB is not ready for professional use. Noise is everywhere. And it is ugly.

• 24 MB AVCHD is basically the same as the GH2. However, preferably the GH2 x1,6 vs GH3 x2.

• Screen GH3 very very bad outside + downright unusable viewfinder for precise focus (inside + outside) = some rushes necessarily go in the trash because of an update or a soft opening diaph impossible to establish accurately exterior condition bright. Ultimately not pro either.

• Sound: Return headset to use the GH3 for a potential TV broadcast provided that it adds a professional microphone.

• Headphone jack behind the screen! The screen can't rotate! This is absolutly so stupid!

• Actually, the GH3 brings nothing more than the GH2.

If I am happy with the purely esthetic images out of the camera, I prefer the overall tone of the GH2 images more beautiful in fact.

@Jim, what codec did you use?

@Jim, Just awesome! No other words than that! Keep em coming!

Great tests, shian. I was honestly surprised at how well the GH3 did considering that you used All-I. I find the 50mbs results to be significantly better.

@shian thanks again for putting all this work into such a nice test.

WOW! I'm surprised a bit at which was the BMC, GH2 and GH3. I liked all 3 for different reasons, but I could easily live with either in the right situation. I really liked the GH3 and I thought it was the BMC! Go figure. Ungraded you could really see just how great the BMC is in terms of DR and detail. The GH2 and GH3 are no slouches in the detail department.

Another shock to me is that I liked the ALL-I 72 which I thought had a very filmic look. Not perfect in every aspect, but I didn't find it to be offensive in any way that would disqualify it for me. In the last test I was struck by how the actresses skin looked when she reached out and her arm was lit by the strong light. The way the GH3 handled that seemed really smooth and pleasing compared to the GH2 IMO. On the GH3 ALL-I 72 her arm and face looked creamy and not with an unnatural greenish tint. In fact I could still see the flush of blood just under the skin and the outlines of veins in her arm. It just looked more convincing to me. I'm an amateur at this so take that with a grain of salt.

From blind test my preference was : 1 cam1, 2 cam4, 3rd cam3. Hmm in order of decreasing price...

I was wrong from choosing the cams...So I give here my personal marks : BMC : 19/20; GH3 : 17/20; GH2 : 16/20 That is for the very first test of the lady face (only for these 3 cams)

All-i at 72mbps isn't going to be brilliant. But when (and if) the quicktime .mov modes can be hacked its natural to expect an improvement...

Interestingly, in the blind "taste" test, I was very biased towards the GH2, with the 5DMII and BMCC both coming in second pretty equal to each other. However, I understand that some settings on the GH3 were messed up, so I'll wait for the next couple tests before forming any strong opinions on that cam. I think this test does go to show just how good the little GH2 is in the right hands. I for one am sticking to my GH2 until I am able to move up to (an as-of-now-non-existant) S35mm RAW mirrorless camera with global shutter.

@shian Does the 5D MKIII really give those vertical streaks at low iso and low light, or was something off in the settings?

@shian Very informative comparison, appreciate your efforts... looking forward to Pt 3. Appears AVCHD is a no-brainer on the GH3, but I imagine the ALL-I codec could become formidable if it were hacked into the 150+ mbps range... I wonder if the intent by Panasonic was to throw hackers a bone and allow tweaking in true ALL-I space.

Sigh