The guys from Sideways Productions just posted the first episode of camera clash. It’s pretty interesting to see how the $3500 Panasonic AF100 stacks up against the Canon 60d. One thing to think about if you’re in the market for either one of these cameras is the standard features that come with a proper video camera like the Af100. DSLR’s do a great job, but it’s always very nice to have proper XLR inputs and twist lock HD-SDI outputs. On the other hand the 4/3rds sensor on the Af100 means you’ll have a tough time finding extremely wide lenses and wont have the same low light performance. Of course there is also the price tag.
Every time I get to use a real video camera it makes me long for the Canon C300. I’d be able to use all of my stills lenses on a camera that gives me all of the standard video features. But I don’t think I’ll be able to find $16,000 in my budget anytime soon. The $3500 price tag of the Canon 5d mark III is about the top end for me. If I want to use the C300 I’ll just have to budget the rental costs into the job.
Right now a 4k workflow is a mess. Massive file sizes, generating proxy files is a pain, and of course when you’re done the final product is 2k or less. There aren’t even any affordable methods for playing back 4k files yet. The 3 red projects I’ve seen didn’t even take advantage of 4k because they spent all there money on camera rentals and couldn’t afford the equipment needed to edit the project.
Even if Canon releases an affordable 4k Camera (sub $5,000), I don’t think it’ll take over the DSLR market until working with 4k footage is as easy as dropping it into a timeline and editing. But with the price of the C300 starting at $16,000 I don’t think Canon will be releasing a 4k Camera at a lower price point. But I could be wrong.
Hey Ben, Andy here (the guy who bought the Nokton). Deejay’s right, that is a price I quoted in NZ dollars. It’s about $1,200 here for one, including sales tax. All the prices in the video are NZ dollars.
March 25th, 2012 at 3:51 pm
Are you interested in the possible Canon 4k camera that might come later this year?
March 25th, 2012 at 6:17 pm
Right now a 4k workflow is a mess. Massive file sizes, generating proxy files is a pain, and of course when you’re done the final product is 2k or less. There aren’t even any affordable methods for playing back 4k files yet. The 3 red projects I’ve seen didn’t even take advantage of 4k because they spent all there money on camera rentals and couldn’t afford the equipment needed to edit the project.
Even if Canon releases an affordable 4k Camera (sub $5,000), I don’t think it’ll take over the DSLR market until working with 4k footage is as easy as dropping it into a timeline and editing. But with the price of the C300 starting at $16,000 I don’t think Canon will be releasing a 4k Camera at a lower price point. But I could be wrong.
March 26th, 2012 at 2:36 pm
I watched the test until i saw the price of the nokton where I cried foul they are 2/3rds of the price portrayed!
Oh and as far as the 5D mark III I think this might intrest you.
http://www.eoshd.com/content/7631/panasonic-gh2-vs-5d-mark-iii
March 26th, 2012 at 3:23 pm
I think it’s because they’re from New Zealand and prices are higher there. Thanks for the link I’ll take a look once I get some free time.
March 27th, 2012 at 9:07 pm
Hey Ben, Andy here (the guy who bought the Nokton). Deejay’s right, that is a price I quoted in NZ dollars. It’s about $1,200 here for one, including sales tax. All the prices in the video are NZ dollars.