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"Quasi-pocketable" step-up from a 550d


edrg1983
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Hey everyone, been trying to reach a verdict for a while now and can't make up my mind. I'm looking to step up from my Canon 550d but wanted something that:

1. Has equal or better IQ for stills

2. Better video performance

3. Can be as close to "pocketable" as possible with a pancake lens

Curious what you would recommend. Only have a decent lens beyond kit and nifty-fifty: a Zuiko 50mm 1.4, but from what I gather there are "dumb" adapters for any brand so whatever the choice I'd be able use it.

 

 Thanks!

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Guest Ebrahim Saadawi

He specifies size.

A5100/6000 are you best bet for a cheap pocketable ILC with good video and stills.

NX500 is the second option but consider the cost of lenses in the equation.

You can sell it all and get a fixed lens LX100 or RX100IV

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A used GH3. I'm sure you can get one for € 500,00 or less.

Video is much, much better than a 550D!

Check out one of my latest shoots with the GH3. I'm still impressed with what it can do and it is already 3 years old technology.

Beautiful footage Stab!!! Thing is, I want something that can be with me at all times (that can be kind of portable with a pancake). Can any of the smaller panasonics match the GH3/GH4?

He specifies size.

A5100/6000 are you best bet for a cheap pocketable ILC with good video and stills.

NX500 is the second option but consider the cost of lenses in the equation.

You can sell it all and get a fixed lens LX100 or RX100IV

Yeah, size is important. I'm leaning towards the A6000 because of the EVF (and very excited to hear about the A6100/7000/whatever they'll call it). Can anyone who owns one comment on it's "pocketablity" with a pancake?

 Thing that makes me less excited about the sony's is the lens family, but no system is perfect so...

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Beautiful footage Stab!!! Thing is, I want something that can be with me at all times (that can be kind of portable with a pancake). Can any of the smaller panasonics match the GH3/GH4?

Yeah, size is important. I'm leaning towards the A6000 because of the EVF (and very excited to hear about the A6100/7000/whatever they'll call it). Can anyone who owns one comment on it's "pocketablity" with a pancake?

 Thing that makes me less excited about the sony's is the lens family, but no system is perfect so...

i had a nex 7 which is a little bigger than the a6000 and i fit it in my jacket pocket with the 20mm f2.8

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GX7. Same or slightly better quality as the GH3, but smaller and better in low light. The only downside is no headphone or mic jack. You can grab it for $300 used if you hawk forums for used copies.

Would the GX7 (or Lx100 for that matter) match (or better) the 550d for image quality in stills? The sensor is obviously smaller, although I think it might actually be better in low light since it's more recent tech (and the 550d is really not very good beyond iso800 imo) but is it similar/better in terms of dynamic range?

(Just checked Dxo Mark and the GX7 scores a little better than the 550d, but I would like some hands-on opinions if possible)

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In my experience, they're close enough as makes no difference. The GX7 has slightly better DR and cleaner shadows, but only has 12-bit RAW files compared to the Canon's 14-bit, which makes the ends of the tonal scale a little more "brittle" when processing. With the quality of Mu4/3 glass, I'd give the GX7 the edge, but at that point you're picking nits. 

In video, on the other hand, the GX7 absolutely stomps the Canon. 

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  • 2 weeks later...

A used GH3. I'm sure you can get one for € 500,00 or less.

Video is much, much better than a 550D!

Check out one of my latest shoots with the GH3. I'm still impressed with what it can do and it is already 3 years old technology.

I'm leaning toward a gx7 (it's going for €640 with the 20mm 1.7 on cameranu), still amazed by your video... can I ask what lenses you used? Any idea if the gx7 footage will hold up as well as this for grading? (Your grade is beautiful btw!) Just saw this video which helps answer my question... http://editcellar.com/video-perspective-panasonic-gx7-vs-gh3/ ,apparently bitrate is quite different, can anyone comment?

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Still not jacket pocketable. 

I'm leaning toward a gx7 (it's going for €640 with the 20mm 1.7 on cameranu), still amazed by your video... can I ask what lenses you used? Any idea if the gx7 footage will hold up as well as this for grading? (Your grade is beautiful btw!) Just saw this video which helps answer my question... http://editcellar.com/video-perspective-panasonic-gx7-vs-gh3/ ,apparently bitrate is quite different, can anyone comment?

Despite the bitrate, the quality in video mode is neck and neck--the GH3's bitrate advantage is offset by the GX7's better sensor. At least in my experience. 

Are you looking for the most compact lenses, or the best? IMO, SLR Magic makes the best Mu43 lenses, but they're manual focus only. If you want AF, it's between the Olympuses and the Panasonic Leicas, depending which look you prefer. 

Here's some food for thought. You needn't take Shane's words as gospel (the Olympuses look great wide open to me, if a bit sterile--more of a corporate/broadcast documentary look), but it's a good place to start finding what look you like.

https://www.hurlbutvisuals.com/blog/2015/01/cinematography-online-micro-four-thirds-lenses/
https://www.hurlbutvisuals.com/blog/2015/02/cinematography-micro-43-lenses/
https://www.hurlbutvisuals.com/blog/2015/04/film-school-online-micro-43-lenses-3/

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Still not jacket pocketable. 

Despite the bitrate, the quality in video mode is neck and neck--the GH3's bitrate advantage is offset by the GX7's better sensor. At least in my experience. 

Are you looking for the most compact lenses, or the best? IMO, SLR Magic makes the best Mu43 lenses, but they're manual focus only. If you want AF, it's between the Olympuses and the Panasonic Leicas, depending which look you prefer. 

Here's some food for thought. You needn't take Shane's words as gospel (the Olympuses look great wide open to me, if a bit sterile--more of a corporate/broadcast documentary look), but it's a good place to start finding what look you like.

https://www.hurlbutvisuals.com/blog/2015/01/cinematography-online-micro-four-thirds-lenses/
https://www.hurlbutvisuals.com/blog/2015/02/cinematography-micro-43-lenses/
https://www.hurlbutvisuals.com/blog/2015/04/film-school-online-micro-43-lenses-3/

thanks Renaissance Man!

 I only need one pancake so I can keep camera with me at all times (the 20mm 1.7 will do perfectly). Will be investing in quality glass afterwards regardless of size, for specific uses (right now I have a Zuiko 50mm 1.4 which I will be adapting).

 I found this good (imo) example of graded gx7 footage https://vimeo.com/100958195 and it's convincing for my needs. thanks for the links to that shootout, going to check that out!

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