Panasonic GH4 vs Samsung NX1

[joema2]

The Voigtlander acts like a 50mm 1.9 would work on a FF body and a 50mm 1.8 is only $100.

A 50mm f/1.9 is two stops slower than f/0.95, hence the illuminance at the focal plane is 1/4th as much. That was the OP's *only* point -- how to optimize low light performance on his GH4, not DOF or any other compositional issue.

The OP is getting a GH4. It's not about FF vs m4/3, he's asking how to optimize the GH4. We are trying to give him useful advice along those lines.

The Voigtlander was just mentioned as one possible example of how someone who owns a GH4 and other m4/3 lenses could use a specialty lens in low light conditions.

The cost of a single lens must be evaluated against the overall cost of the camera and collection of lenses in that system. E.g, my Canon 50mm f/1.4 is pretty cheap but my 70-200 f/2.8 IS II is very expensive. On a GH4 the Voigtlander 25mm f/0.9 and Lumix 35-100 f/2.8 are actually less expensive overall and deliver similar light gathering ability (which was the OP's only stated point) at similar effective focal lengths.

My documentary film group uses several D810s, 5D3 and GH4, so I am very familiar with those. I edit hundreds of hours of material from those cameras. No camera or lens is perfect but the GH4 is pretty good especially for documentary video. Given the right lenses it does OK in lower light conditions. Of course my 5D3 is better but we rarely shoot in near darkness, and the OP already mentioned that wasn't a priority for him, he was just a little concerned. As a new GH4 owner hopefully we have cleared that up for him.

 

[4God]

I started out with a couple of T2i's when they first came out. Thought they were okay at the time, shot a 26 episode season of a children's TV show with them. Then upgraded to the 6D, really good in low light and nice clean video (minus the occasional aliasing and moire). Recently purchased the GH4 with the Metabones Speedbooster...and oh my goodness...it might not be perfect (but what camera is), but it's incredible in 4K with fast Canon glass. Makes it very hard to look at my Canon DSLR footage.

 

[juanm]

I started out with a couple of T2i's when they first came out. Thought they were okay at the time, shot a 26 episode season of a children's TV show with them. Then upgraded to the 6D, really good in low light and nice clean video (minus the occasional aliasing and moire). Recently purchased the GH4 with the Metabones Speedbooster...and oh my goodness...it might not be perfect (but what camera is), but it's incredible in 4K with fast Canon glass. Makes it very hard to look at my Canon DSLR footage.

My GH4 is mostly for personal use, when I work it's with rental cameras I will never be able to afford, but the GH4, once you get used to its quirks (confusing menus and too many combinations of frame rates, image sizes, bitrates, codecs and containers*) makes it very hard to use a Nikon or a Canon DSLR camera again (for video). It's really amazing, and I find that the 100Mbps 4K encoding is very efficient. I use both a speedbooster and a regular metabolise adapter. Usually I leave my 18-35 on it, with the non-speedbooster.
*One thing I always forget, for instance, is which modes allow for high frame rates. I'd much prefer being able to make a few presets and add them as shortcuts. For instance, I only use UHD 30fps 100Mbps, Full HD 200mbps and the variable frame rate mode, a quick button to jump between them would be great.

 

[Tobamory]

To cut to the chase I think your decision for
The GH4 is a good one, there are only two cameras current I'd like one is a GH4 and the other is the Sony A7ii, I do lust after the Samsung but I've worked with Samsung on projects for mobility TVs etc, and although they look nice and have some ground breaking tech, they don't get my vote like the mainstream vendors do...just a tad flimsy anyway....

I own the Fz1000 for the sole reason at this point in time where about to get the GH5 and LX200 announcements so I'm making do, but to be honest for what I'm doing the FZ is one of the best cams I've used. My dad owns the A7 II and Nikon 800e and both massively expensive, qulity wise I can keep up with him LOL

And I also have 4k...

I feel Sony will drop 4k soon into the lower end of there range soon, and not just have it on the high end Sony.

So GH4 all the way from me great camera easy,menus just works...

 

[diamond3]

*One thing I always forget, for instance, is which modes allow for high frame rates. I'd much prefer being able to make a few presets and add them as shortcuts. For instance, I only use UHD 30fps 100Mbps, Full HD 200mbps and the variable frame rate mode, a quick button to jump between them would be great.

That's what the C1, C2, & C3 are for. I currently have c1 as 4k 30fps, c2 as my 1080 60fps and c3 as the 1080 96fps vfr. What's nice is it remembers all of your settings when you set the shortcut. Your shutter speed, iso, color profile. I guess I'm not sure what you're expecting. You should check it out. It's really convenient. I typically will re-save the presets at each location with the correct iso/iris/shutter speed that way i can quickly switch between them when filming and i know they are properly exposed.

 

[musique]

Hard decision

OP: FWIW, you're not the only one dealing with this difficult decision. I have a five-year-old HD Panasonic prosumer videocamera and have been in the market for a replacement/upgrade.

I too have been looking at the Panasonic GH4 and the Samsung NX1. It's a difficult choice.

Hoping the perfect camera will present itself to me, I continue to delay the decision and find myself considering other (mostly more expensive) options: the Sony A7S or the current Blackmagic Design cameras or the soon-to-be released URSA models.

 

[coldsweat]

By the way, I don't like to brag, but just this weekend I was shooting with an Alexa and Master Primes, it's my job, and I kind of know what I'm talking about.

Your medal's in the post!


But you are correct that 2.8 is 2.8 no matter the sensor size (DOF will be different though if the FOV's the same!)

 

[hionhifi]

For another point of view, I've owned both the GH4 w/Speed Booster/Sigma 18-35mm Combo and currently own the Samsung NX1. The GH4/SB/Sigma combo was totally magical to use. It had great controls, touchscreen, shallow depth of field, great bokeh, sharp lens from wide open and the lens was beautifully built.

I eventually sold the GH4/SB/Sigma to seek a better low light camera; the Sony A7s, which I sold for lack of lens. After going through a few other cameras I finally ended up with the NX1.

With a few reservations, I'm liking the NX1. It does 4k, touchscreen, 28MP Stills, Great High ISO Performance, 15fps, blah, blah, I'm sure you've heard it all.

With the 30mm F2.0 lens, the auto focus needs improvement for sure. It isn't up to the speed of the mirrorless Sony's, Panasonic's, Olymous's and Canikon's.

So far the NX1 does an adequate job but I'm hopeful a firmware update will improve the autofocus.

I've done a few doc style commercials for a church, but mostly shot photographs.