@brianluce exactly.. when a 800$ (or less) camera performs comprably with 20k "Pro" offerings.. (real 1080p resolution is real 1080p resolution) then we really cannot complain too much about the options..

In a run and gun situation (ie weddings), any camera that helps me recover underexposed faces well gets my vote :) up until now I've used stock 720 50p @17mbts and hate the mush in shadow areas. I hope VK has the new ptool finished before spring here in PAL-land!

@workerb

ditto!!!!

@workerb

Also, Most of us here certainly realized that smaller sensor cameras gather LESS light at the SAME f-stop an FOV. This was a given to know that the GH2 would not beat the large sensor formats in low light.

@workerb Ditto also. I love my GH2 but the hardcore community sucks it bigtime. All it will bring is resentment and total lack of taking them (and the GH2) seriously.

Well, apart from earlier in this thread on occasion, I can't really find too much fanboyism on here.. Obviously there are opinions about how the tests are conducted and the video, but that is completely normal - to be expected. It's not like Bloom attempted for a scientific approach which left out all controversy. On the contrary, the test is done on a whim and comments are made without much thought. Both from Mr Bloom and from people on here..

Big deal. The wise man knows what to take from such information and what to ignore.

Never before in history has there been so little points to get from brand / product loyalty and never before has there been so many options for video shooters.

@brianluce exactly.. I found the low light test the least revealing. The skin tones test was done in a way that I would avoid whilst shooting. However, some aspects of usability really came to the forefront in all the tests and Sony seemed like the big winner there, for the different log options. However, the differences are pretty minute for many of the cameras when it comes to actual real world usage, which proves my point earlier point about brand loyalty and options.

My conclusion of the test are

Best bang for a buck the gh2. Exceptional value, with very high resolution, good dynamic range (better than what you see on the test) and ok/average low light. what would be really the next big thing for the hack gh2 would be a flatter profile or permanent idynamic range. The gh2 has more than the apparent DR with the hack (in the shadows) and those two above could bring some more.

Best middle upgrade is the fs100 with an external recorder like the Ninja. Already very good resolution, seems to have very good dynamic range with the glock picture profile and exceptional low light. I think with a cheap recorder this could be a very good upgrade to the hacked gh2. It is said to have much less rolling shutter than the dslr. It is a hair less resolution, but with better DR and much better low light. In fact apart from built quality I don't find the c300 bringing anything that warrants the 3x price.

The best for me in this test if you have the money, is the sony F3. Very good resolution and exceptional low light and dynamic range. We have been seeing it in the test with its internal codec. But with an $ 1400 Samurai 10 bit slog at 220mbits, it should be even better and I still can't understand the positioning of the C300.

@Vitaliy_Kiselev Although it's taken a little time from day to day, I've looked forward to reading opinions of what people think.

I purchased one of the first 5D Mark II's that came out (about 39 months ago) and sold all my HD Video Camcorders after that for the DOF and low like features. I bought and sold a 60D, 7D, and now use 2 GH2's and the 5D.

I'm so grateful for the work you've done and all the others, esp. on the GOP3 and 1 settings. I'm constantly amazed at the footage on the GH2 and the screen grabs for photo use.

I'm guessing that with the GH2 there will be some small incremental improvements to the hack but another camera will come out utilizing your time for a new project. Until then, my one wish is to work on a flatter & less saturated way of shooting with the GH2 and driftwood's settings. I try to keep up reading your site, but I still don't have a clue if a flatter/less saturated profile is possible. Could you possibly give us a short explanation if this might be possible in the future.

Thanks again for your efforts and I apologize in advance because this is probably not in the right place.

@dannnyel Yeah, I think I agree. I too am a little puzzled with c300 positioning, especially now that the D4 is out. Brian (GH2 megafanboy)

Face it the C300 produces damn nice footage. It's amazing, but it's not worth $20K. No 1080 60P , Only 8 bit 422 out. Internal codec 50Mb/s 422. Why not the 100Mb/s Intra that has been one of the pro forms.

Just another marketing shortcoming to entice you out of more $$ on their next release. The F3 offers 10bit 444.

I think wait and see what the new cameras bring. Right now, I wish there was a camera that was GH2 plus G10 together. Also, low light is not great on these cams, it is just that the GH2 is more-not-so-great. We could of course be disappointed. If Canon makes a camera that is better than 5D mk II, well, that would be presumably be very good in low light. Also I have always like Fuji sensors since say the F31fd. Maybe Fuji will produce the rabbit. Right now my solution is to just keep adding more lighting. The main reason I like the Pro CMOS sensor is the rendering of edges. Just a little bit smoother. But then you miss the GH2 sharpness....so I want it all, please!

It's funny but the 5DmkII was kind of a slip up by Canon. They didn't intend for it to be as good as it was video wise so that it stepped on the toes of the Pro Vid dept. and the GH series IMO also kind of bit the Pro Video Dept. in the butt. It's so good that it blurs the line between it and their big AF100. I wonder if anyone will ever have such a happy mistake like that again?

I doubt that now that these companies are aware of the market that they'll let us get a freebie with a camera that punches above it's weight like that again. Maybe i'm wrong, but I get that sense. Look at the Sony Alpha and NEX series. While the video is pretty good, they made sure not to make it TOO good. IMO the only chance we have is Nikon. They're the only ones with no Pro Video skin in the game. No reason not to put their best video features in their DSLR's, cuz that's all they sell. Curious about the D4 and subsequent Nikon's to come.