Dear Mr. @driftwood : The Position of the internal Microphone seems more backwards than in the GH2. How is the Sound Quality? And do you know about Time Lapse ? Goes the Cam to sleep, if i selected an interval of more than 10 minutes? (So i could let it take Photos the whole Night)

Nick, can you tell us how many levels is possible to set for the mic imput and headphone output? Thanks.

Workflow on first was same as iceskating.

You've probably all seen this (from u43 Rumors site):

http://www.focus-numerique.com/test-1560/compact-panasonic-gh3-bruit-electronique-12.html

For whatever reason, if I ask Google to translate to English, I lose the links to the GH3 Raw files? But, they are there in the original French. I downloaded the (EM-5 and GH3) Raw ISO (1600 and 3200) files. Once you set the color temperatures to be equal, they almost appear identical as far as noise. So, I wonder if the GH3 does have the same Sony sensor?

I'm just happy to see RAW still noise performance in the GH3 that is on par with the EM-5. If future dynamic range tests also show the GH3 stills to be on par with the EM-5 then: I have zero buyers remorse (not that I had any to begin with). The GH3 body was only $300 more than the EM-5. If the GH3 stills performance is on par with EM-5, we all know that the video codecs in the GH3 far outshine the EM-5.

Well done Panasonic! This is just the camera I wanted.

Now, if Vitaly can hack the GH3 and add, oh, maybe 720p @ 120... :-) :-)

PS: I donated to the "Buy a GH3 to hack" thread about a month ago. When does VK get the GH3, and...when will the new thread about "GH3 Hack" begin? :-) :-)

@jjj_ri_usa Image quality looks amazing. Thanks fo posting.

Hi All. I was amazed to find that my GH3 was waiting for me at home after work. I ordered it early on the 1st day of the announcement from Amazon. I have done almost zero with it, but, I will share a link to one Photo. This one photos already tells me that, at least for the Standard Photo setting with 0,0,0,0,0 I will always shoot RAW.

I took one photo of a lamp in my daughter's bedroom. I shot RAW+JPG Best. I then imported the RAW into LR4.3 (RC) using the default settings for the GH3. I did zero processing and exported the RAW as best quality JPG. That is the 1st shot here:

Manual Exposure, ISO 1600, f2.0. Note...this is a STILL not a video.

http://www.smugmug.com/gallery/26804554_xk9F5f#!i=2244743275&k=MX4CkDM

The SmugMug Gallery is Password Protected. that PW is: GH3_Tests

The 2nd shot is the untouched JPG out of the GH3.

The 3rd shot is simply the RAW after applying light NR in LR NR=18 (no other changes).

I actually like the untouched graininess of the RAW file. I hate the ugly JPG SOC. It looks like it has 'chromosomes' embedded in the grains. :-)

Note: if you are unfamiliar with SmugMug, to see the 100% Original size photo (which you really need to do to see the pixel level noise and rather UGLY NR=0 applied to the JPG) you first click on the image. Then, at the top of the pane, click on the "O" for original size. You can easily switch between the 3 photos (even at original size) by using the arrow keys on your keyboard.

I'm one of those guys you video experts are cursing. I want the GH3 to be a much better STILLS camera as well as a phenomenal video capture device. So...of course the first thing I wanted to see was a STILL. I like what I see, (but, I probably won't shoot JPGs once I evaluate them against RAWs).

I've had a GH1 for over 3 years, (with the lpowell 75Mhz Peak Performance Patch) and have loved it, but...I became pretty jealous of the photo quality of the Oly EM-5. My hope is that the GH3 really does have the same Sony sensor, so that the GH3 can measure up to the EM-5 for stills quality?

I never made the jump to the GH2 (saving up my $$$ for the GH3) so, I've also been jealous of all you guys with the Extended Tele Focus, etc etc. I have quite a bit to learn about this camera....but...it sure feels good in my hands.

And...finally, that Sigma 30 mm f1.4 that I found pretty cheap on EBay (after reading lpowells praise of it) actually will auto-focus. Yes...it is REALLY slow, but...until now, it's been manual focus only.

I'll try to update later, but, my daughter has activities Friday and Saturday, and, all I have a good camera for is to capture moments of her life. So...I probably won't have time to do anything like "tests". But...I'll have some boring mundane clips from her events that I'll try to get up to YouTube or SmugMug.

jjj_ri_usa (aka as GH1_NewGuy).

@driftwood,

was the lens at same fl and distance ??. The GH2's frame is much wider and I think the difference is more than expected due to GH2's multi-aspect sensor .. This difference makes difficult the comparison and

a bit unfair for GH3's encoder (less flat area)

a bit unfair for GH2's detail (zoomed out)

@driftwood Wich card did you used for GH3 at 72Mbps?

Guys, the UK weather has been terrible all week and I have to pay the bills too! Hopefully daytime test for DR will be available tomoz or Sat. Ill have some more interior comparisons up tonight.

You must also remember, the GH2 at 72Mbps 720p50 all -Intra is perilously close to failing. Only 45mbps cards and above will get beyond 15 seconds for that picture.

@AKED

+1 That 720p looks great. However, we really want to see what 1080p brings.

@Tron +1

@mpgxvcd, +1

But I would say : On the GH3 it is a very hard transition with what looks like over sharpening.

While Pixel Peeping I tried to see details taking in consideration the difference of sharpening between the 2 photos. my point of view is that gh3 gives more information here in 720p. Be aware : it is 720p guys :-)

I am quite happy for PANA. They did a good job !

Happily ND is here !!!

@driftwood

Look how much more detail there is in the Orange cat's tail. That can't be done simply with sharpening. There is a lot more actual resolution there.

Also look at the transition between the left side of the chicken's neck and the background. On the GH2 it is a very hard transition with what looks like over sharpening. With the GH3 it is a very smooth transition.

I also like the fact that the Monkey is purple in the GH3 image instead of the Gray in the GH2 image. I can only assume that the monkey really is purple.