The Panasonic GH2 is getting a lot of good reviews on dpreview.com and eoshd.com for its video capabilities, especially with the various hacks being developed for it.

However, with only Panasonic and Olympus making Micro 4/3 cameras it remains to be seen if this is a viable format. (And Olympus is in the midst of an accounting scandal)

RalphM

Actually the 4d has some really cool features not found in the Canon or Panasonic cameras. For instance you can work it via Ethernet, watching and adjusting the image on your laptop. It outputs uncompressed video over HDMI. It can render out 1080p video from interval still captures. My favorite feature is that it has several options for pixel spacings on 1080 and 720 p video capture. You can use the full frame, or an APS sized frame in the middle of the sensor or a small one for one pixel area in the center. This allows you to use all sorts of lens options and lets you have several zoom ranges for any given lens. Very cool stuff!

At $6000US (body only), it's probably not going after the same market as the Canon 5DII or the Panny Gh2. I am very sure it's not going after my market ;-0

I've read that the D4 also features a 3.5mm headphone jack for monitoring audio, if that is the case, I will definitely look into it.

But then I don't think it has a swivel LCD?

Rob

I've read that the D4 also features a 3.5mm headphone jack for monitoring audio, if that is the case, I will definitely look into it.

Yes, a nice touch for sure.

But then I don't think it has a swivel LCD?

No, both Nikon and Canon (1DX) have forgone the swivel LCD for now on their high end cameras. A lot of speculation why (most claim it affects weather sealing and/or durability.) Hopefully the 5DIII will have it. I love the articulating LCD on my 60D. Not a pro solution obviously, but it does make shooting for fun much easier than on my 5DII.

No swivel LCD. Yeah, I know, bummer. On the other hand it can be controlled wirelessly by an iPad or iPhone.

For me, I won't be buying one, but it is important to me to know that Nikon is developing video features and a contender. The reason is that I really like my Nikon D5100, but I need a little confidence in the brand as a video machine if I am going to make any kind of investment in lenses. This release is quite awesome in fact, and gives me a lot of confidence in going the Nikon route.

My favorite of the D4 features is the ability to choose different pixel groups on the sensor for HD video shooting. This means that you can shoot full frame for the shallowest depth of field, or 1.5 crop factor if you want to use the cheaper crop factor lenses. This also means you can zoom way in on video without losing detail like you would on a digital zoom.

The lack of articulating screen is kind of a deal-breaker for me though. That and I am quite sure it will be in the $4k+ range.

For serious audio work you are unlikely to use the built-in mic, so an audio out jack seems of little use to me. Was it Laurence that reported on an external box for audio?

On my D5100 I just use a Beachtek.

http://www.beachtek.com/dxaslr.html

On their online store they are $299 refurbished. That's how I got mine:

http://beachtek.com/cgi-bin/online/storepro.php

Talking of the GH2, you should watch Philip Bloom's unscientific shoot-out where, in terms of detail, the GH2 with Driftwood hack pretty much blows away the competition, including much more expensive cameras. It's not so good in low light though, which you can see in part 2.

[url=http://vimeo.com/34279033]

If the 7D's successor doesn't have an articulated screen, I may well get a GH2.

Very nice video on from the D4, allthough I'm a Canon guy :)

Anybody knows how I woul make the effect on the text "why" from 0:46 to 054?

Thanks.

/Ulf

The GH2 does look awesome.