Comparing SLR's

Phobia

Member
TL:DR - I know how to use cameras, $1000~ budget for body. Looking for lowlight, high fps (while still retaining image quality) and possibly 4k. Looking at the GH4, NX1 or one of the a7 lineup. Each has their downsides IMO. What could you recommend to fit my needs?

This past summer I've been operating a film production business, and although I'm back in school now I'm still producing videos and would like to push the quality with the purchase of a new SLR.

I currently shoot with a Nikon d3100 (old and bad, I know) but I've had a buttload of experience with other cameras including full frames like the d800. I've been able to pull some pretty decent looking footage from the d3100, which I am honestly content with... but here's where it's lacking. These are the things I'm looking for in my new camera.

Low light capabilities - anything above 1600 iso is insanely grainy and artifacty on my current camera, and most of my work is run-and-gun style shooting so lighting is unavailable. The ability to capture usable image in lower light is a big factor for me.

Full HD @ High frame rates - My camera is limited to 24fps @1080p, which is fine for interviews and most situations, but I'd like to get into more action sports, where 60fps of greater is necessary IMO. I find higher fps also allows more flexibility in editing even if it is not an action subject. I understand that as you go up in fps the data for each frame of a video will deteriorate, and I would still need crispy 1080p even at those higher rates.

4k (Maybe) - 4k would be nice but not necessary at the moment.

From my research I've come to find the Panasonic GH4, Samsung NX1, or one of the Sony a7 lineup to be suitable. I know the a7 is the best at low light, and I think the NX1 has the best image quality, while having 120fps. The downside of the NX1 is the h.265 codec. I edit in FCPX which doesn't have native support, and the conversion is just an extra step the GH4 or a7 doesn't require.

Thanks, hopefully I'll be able to drop some better vids after i pick up my new camera.
 
Just saw you post this so figured I would give you my 2 cents.

I have a GH4 and absolutely love it. Awesome camera for the money and I have no complaints about it. I am shooting with all Rokinon Cine glass and its very sharp. So many things it can do just like any camera but I was in the same boat as you and went from Canon over to the GH4. It will take a little to get used to but thats a given usually when shooting on a new camera. I would go with the GH4 for you, think you would really like it!
 
13518792:SkiLefley said:
Just saw you post this so figured I would give you my 2 cents.

I have a GH4 and absolutely love it. Awesome camera for the money and I have no complaints about it. I am shooting with all Rokinon Cine glass and its very sharp. So many things it can do just like any camera but I was in the same boat as you and went from Canon over to the GH4. It will take a little to get used to but thats a given usually when shooting on a new camera. I would go with the GH4 for you, think you would really like it!

Thanks for the input man! +k
 
13518792:SkiLefley said:
Just saw you post this so figured I would give you my 2 cents.

I have a GH4 and absolutely love it. Awesome camera for the money and I have no complaints about it. I am shooting with all Rokinon Cine glass and its very sharp. So many things it can do just like any camera but I was in the same boat as you and went from Canon over to the GH4. It will take a little to get used to but thats a given usually when shooting on a new camera. I would go with the GH4 for you, think you would really like it!

dunno how long you've been using yours but I will say it gets sketchy over iso 1600, you can probably push it to 6400 and denoise and it'd look okay, but it definitely isn't a low light champ.

you can get new gh4's for around 1,000 on ebay right now which is a huge steal for what you're getting and the v logs neat if you do heavy grading (I still like the supertone settings in portrait mode though)
 
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