Zacuto First Look at the Panasonic GH4 - An Even More Awesome Hands-On

Panasonic DMC-GH4 with DMW-YAGH Pro Audio Video Interface Unit - $3298

Who doesn't love Steve and Jens? Another two guys who have contributed a lot to the community (remember the Shootouts?). Well, here's their take on the Panasonic GH4 . This camera looks like it might be the Grail for still/video shooters.

  First Look at the Panasonic Lumix GH4 with Zacuto from Zacuto on Vimeo.

If you haven't pre-ordered this camera yet, you might want to click on these links to get your name on the list at Amazon or Adorama. My guess is that these cameras will be very hard to come by.

Hands On GH4 Review from Chris and Jordan at The Camera Store!

Panasonic DMC-GH4 with DMW-YAGH Pro Audio Video Interface Unit - $3298

I admit it. I really like these guys. I bought my trusty Panasonic GH2 from The Camera Store in Calgary based on a review Chris did on it back in 2010, and I have watched their videos with interest ever since.

Here is their latest review - a fairly comprehensive hands-on with a pre-production GH4 . Watch out for the truest statement ever made in a camera review video on the graphic at 7:20:



If you're in Canada, please pre-order your camera from The Camera Store. They are great folks, their service is top-notch and their videos are a real service to the community.

If you're in the States or elsewhere, please pre-order your GH4 and accessories through these links to Amazon and Adorama - or through the display ads below - it won't cost you anything extra and it will help to keep the blog up and running.

Thank you so much for your support!

McDonalds’ “SuperGood” Ad Campaign Shot with Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera!

In a press release today (see link below), Blackmagic Design announced that the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera had been selected as the POV camera for an upcoming McDonalds ad campaign. During the shoot, the camera was attached to the mouthguard of a motorcycle helmet and recorded first person point of view video in 12-bit RAW, which was later transcoded and graded in DaVinci Resolve 10.

Production Company: Native Sons Films, Woodside, CA for Stern Advertising, LA

Interesting quote from Director and DP Joe Murray of Native Sons Films explains why he didn't use 8 bit cameras or a GoPro:

“I also wanted it to look authentic, as if you are looking through a human eye, not a camera, so the footage had to have a sophisticated, cinematic look. Even though it’s a roving, quick point of view, I didn’t want over sharpened, highly compressed images or barreling distortion with a fish eye look. I wanted a naturalistic wide lens look with correct corners and smooth, high quality images, and I couldn’t have done it with any other tool...” Not bad for a camera that costs less than $1000 !

Full press release with more production photos at soundandpicture.com here.

Panasonic Posts New GH4 1080/96p Slow Motion Video!

EDIT: I'm leaving this post up - although Panasonic seems to have pulled the video. I will re-post if I find a new link. A little frustrating that they would put this out there and then pull it down.

Although we have seen some 1080/96p slow motion from the camera, it is always nice to see more.

Panasonic's real point in posting this video, however, is to showcase the new CineLike flat color profiles and the Master Pedestal feature. With Master Pedestal, shooters will be able to set the "black level" in-camera - either raising the blacks to bring out detail, or "crushing them" to make them blacker. There's a better explanation on page 20 of the HMC150 handbook here.

 Here is what Panasonic says in the "About" section of the video:

"The new Panasonic GH4 is a great tool for Indie Filmmakers.
With its new CineLike D and V features you will be able to record videos with up to 13 stops of Dynamic Range with a cinematic roll off.
It also features the Master Pedestal option, which will lift your shadow areas, giving you an even better Dynamic Range.
That means that you wont have to worry about your Highlights or your Shadows, because the new GH4 will deliver a beautiful, cinematic image.
Use it in 96fps 1080p, to create a wonderful slowmotion, or even in 4k, to deliver a high-end, powerful image!"

Even without 4K, this is going to be a powerful camera for filmmakers.  I've already pre-ordered mine - if this post has helped you to make a buying decision, you can reserve yours by clicking on the display ad below.  It won't cost you anything extra, and it will help to keep blog posts like this coming. Thanks!

One Day Only - Brand New Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera for $895!

Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera marked down $100 to $895 for one day only from Adorama via eBay. 12-bit RAW video from camera that costs less than $900! This is an unbelievable deal.

Limited number available at this price - if you want one, you may want to pull the trigger now.

Panasonic GH4 Pre-Order Link Up at Adorama and Amazon!

Adorama has their Panasonic DMC-GH4 4K camera pre-order link up, as does Amazon.

If you want to get one of the first few cameras when they start shipping, you may want to click on the one of the links above or the display ad below right now and get in line.

Good luck!

Panasonic Announces Pricing and Availability for GH4 and 4K Interface Unit!

Several sources are reporting that Panasonic has announced official pricing and availability for the new DMC-GH4 4K camera and its DMW-YAGH pro audio video interface.

Prices and estimated arrival dates will be:

• Panasonic DMC-GH4 body only - $1699.99 (ETA May 2014)


• Panasonic DMW-YAGH interface unit - $1999.99 (ETA May 2014)


• Panasonic DMC-GH4 body with DMW-YAGH interface unit - $3299.99 (ETA June 2014)

Preorder links are up at some of the smaller retailers (and at Adorama) already.  They are not up at Amazon yet, but should be soon (EDIT: the pre-order link is now up at Amazon ).

It looks like my earlier estimate for the price of the GH4 was about right - but my guess on the price of the YAGH was off by $200 to the high side.

This is very exciting news.  It means that existing micro 4/3 shooters will be able to step up to 8-bit 4K from their existing cameras for less than $1700.  And new micro 4/3 shooters can step up for $1700 plus the price of a lens or adapter.

For indie movie shooters who want to step into the world of 10-bit 4K motion picture production this means that for less than $7000, they can record true cinematic 4096x2160 4K.

That $7000 number is based on $3300 for the GH4 /interface kit, plus either a $2295 for a Convergent Design Odyssey 7Q or a $3495 Aja Ki Pro Quad).

Yes, this setup would be several thousand dollars more than a $2995 Blackmagic Production Camera (and would lack RAW recording capability) - but it would allow indies to start at the lower $1700 entry point (lower than the price of a $1995 Blackmagic Cinema Camera), and would give them an upgrade path to:

• Real 4K recording as opposed to UHD
• The same bit depth and color space as ProRes
• 2 XLR mic inputs on the YAGH (and 2 more with the Ki Pro Quad) with decent sound quality - instead of the Production Camera's 1/4" input jacks and dodgy preamps
• The ability to perform simple camera functions, such as the ability to erase clips in-camera
• A built-in EVF
• A pretty good still camera to boot.

As for Canon and Sony 4K cinema cameras - when it comes to price, they are not even in this conversation.

Welcome to the next phase of the hybrid still/video camera revolution!