The Panasonic GH4 Camera

I spent a lot of time researching video cameras. I wanted something that had great image quality, was versatile and affordable, and had good third party support for a variety of accessories.

I looked at Sony, Olympus, Canon, Nikon, Blackmagic, Pentax, etc, etc, etc. I looked at everything up to a Canon C100 and decided that the Panasonic GH4 was the best camera for our needs. It's a fantastic little camera with a ton of features at a good price point.

This is part two of a blog series that I'm doing about building a video kit. The next part will cover all the accessories that we are using with the GH4 system we have built.

Notes about this video - I know that a direct comparison of the GH4 to something like the Canon 5D3 isn't an apples to apples discussion. I did give serious consideration to the 5D3 and the 7D as well as the Nikon counterparts. I looked at full frame, APS, and of course, M43's. Features, size, and price were some of my main considerations. At the end of the day the GH4 came out on top.

A note about the Voigtlander lens in this video. I bought a used camera some time ago and that lens came with the camera and I use it from time to time on the GH4. I included it in this video when comparing it to a Canon kit and listed its new price just to be fair on pricing a comparable kit based on what I own. I have no other reason why I have that Voigtlander other than I already owned it.

Another note to make is I have recently added the Panasonic 7-14mm f4 lens to my kit as we have found we need a wider option than the 12-35mm f2.8 from time to time.

Be sure to check out the full blog post accompanying this video for more information, thoughts, and links to other resources. Thanks for checking it out!

Big thanks to the folks at Aperturent for pulling all the Canon gear together for us to shoot the side by side comparisons.

Cheers,
Zack

[BrandonTigrett]

Love the nonconventional way you made this! Not the boring, reading from a paper spec sheet way most of these types of vids are.

[twraia]

Love the unique approach you took with the review. Love the opening scene of the review, and the clips you used to finish the review. Also enjoy the part where you were swapping camera with your son while talking through your decision. One minor thing I have issue with is the jump from the opening scene where you were writing GH4 on your car window to you speaking on the car - I really like the tone you were setting with that opening scene, but I thought the wonderful mood you created did not continue in the car scene. 

[andrew_ep_curtis]

You're back! We have missed you dude! Great video! I am not a footy man, but I am British and i loved seeing you in a top that is EVERYWHERE over here haha. I guess you like it for the music that comes out of Manchester? 

[JoaquinMRosa]

Loved this review guys!! Bravo!!! So not "Reviewyy", personal and valuable hands on GH4 discussion!! Thank you!!

[ZackAriasATL]

Hey yall. I make videos then add them to blog posts that expand on things I say in the video. They go hand in hand so to speak.

Cheers,
Zack

[GatorheadLuis]

Great video. - Loved my old GH3 and I know what you mean when you say you want your Fuji and Panasonic to merge. I felt the same way with x100s/gh3 combo... then the a7s came out and solved that problem for me. - Keep up the great work. 

[AlbertMaruggi]

What the hell zack, only a couple seconds of that night sky scene at 6:45? Whoa it's fantastic, awesome, captivating. Do you remember what you shot that with and settings? that's just beautiful. I'm unboxing my GH4 as I write this, thanks for the video. I echo your sentiments and have been researching this camera purchase for a year. I'm a video shooter completely comfortable with a video camera having shot broadcast news. My go to camera for web output for clients is the Canon xa20, I wanted to have another creative option in the bag and get out of my comfort zone. GH4 was the choice.

[BernardoGarcia]

I'm pretty sure. I want this camera. Thank you Zack.

[nicolass]

Hi there, great video, I wanted to know if you could give out the name of the music pieces @ 4:14 and 6:37 ? Thanks!

[bokeflo]

Nice Zack, I bought a Panasonic GH4 camera and a few Panasonic lenses for the same reasons.

[puupipo]

Zack Arias In case you haven't already noticed, there is a typo in the title of the video. No big deal but I thought I'd mention it, just in case. 

[EnzoMaisanoTELLTHESTORY]

I have two GH4's Zack, and ALL the lenses - 7-14, 12-35, 35-100, 100-300, 17.5  Olympus, 25 1.4 Panasonic Leica, 45 1.8 Oly, Then I have two Voightlanders that go to 0.95 (the 17 and the 25mm) for shallower depth of field. I also have the metabones speed booster for all my Nikon glass. I also have some vintage Olympus OM lenses which are pristine, beautiful to look at and they give a great result.

Having said that...there is a 'look' I can only get out of a full frame camera. So I bought a D750 for those times I need that 'look'. The shallow depth of field that led all of us to use DSLR's to shoot video...in my opinion...is still not there on MFT systems. 

I LOVE what Panasonic has done with the GH4 and cannot wait to see what they will do next. 

Thanks for sharing. 

[theSUBVERSIVE]

I totally understand the wish to merge Fuji and Panasonic in a heck of a hybrid camera and that has been a wish of mine for a while. You talked that being the 5D MKIII but I can't really agree because, not just because of the price, size, lack of 4K, etc. but mainly because of innovation, Fuji has been pushing to innovate and so is Panasonic, while Canon is not really doing that and you put that with Fuji's Kaizen, that makes you more at ease, because you know their commitment towards you and the system - also something that I wouldn't say so about Sony, as they have been shifting their focus and priorities quite a lot and you never know when it's going to be the next shift.

[TravisKelleher]

Zack, this is a great format for a review, I enjoyed watching it.
Will you consider doing another GH4 video focusing on it's photo capabilities? A pepsi shoot out with your pick of full size camera would be cool. Studio session using a strobe or strobes, maybe something showing the 1/8000 shutter? I know the GH4 is not the best for photo, but it would be nice for others to see that it certainly is no slouch either.

Also do you recommend any strobes/triggers for using the super fast shutter on the GH4?

[dbauernf]

Watching this I can't help but wonder how the Sony A7 stuff would compare. I'm not into video at all but was impressed by some crazy-iso A7 footage. Given the money I'd be all over the 5d mkIII still, but A7 mkII is the first non-Canon/Nikon that really has me interested.

[TonyReidsma]

Good video. But I went with a couple a7s bodies. I like GH4's ability to crop and such via 4k but the a7s makes such silky videos and wonderful stills.

[JohnathanAulabaugh]

I bet that is sweet to work with in After Effects. Being able to scale it in tight if the shot should have zoomed in during recording...

[REPst]

Zack, my DREAM is for Panasonic to join the Fuji X sysetm. The. They can enjoy a much better sensor and fuji can get the better video quality their system needs.

My dream must come true!

[ThePhotoShow]

Great video, the camera swap shot is brilliant. The only question I have is 'where on Earth did you get a Manchester United top from?'

[adityasixviandyj]

I same like you Zack... I wish Fujifilm makes video feature on their camera is more controlable and have amazing result. because I have Fujfilm X-A1 and few times I record video and it's look great, but lack of control and moire is sometimes present....

I wish fujifilm address that...