Panasonic GH2 vs Canon 5D Mark 2 - Skin Tones.mov

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH-2 vs. Canon 5D Mark 2. Quick skin tones compared in high contrast dynamic range situation featuring off-color backlight. The scene is window-lit with custom white balances set on each camera off the neutral gray floor. Canon45mm TS-E and 90mm TS-E lenses used at f2.8. Due to the GH2's 2x crop factor, the Canon 45mm TS-E lens was used which matches perspective of the 90mm TS-E lens on the 5D. A simple Micro43 adapter was used to mount the canon lens on the GH2. All lenses set to f2.8.

All footage is copyright Matthew Thomas.

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• Canon
• gh2
• 5d
• mark2
• lumix
• micro43
• m43
• dynamic
• range
• skin
• test
• comparison
• compare
• side-by-side
• cameras
• CanonEF
• 45mm
• 90mm
• EF
• TS-E

[alwaysanotheridea]

aleriga1981cr, not a bogus test. I didn't resize it. The difference you see is in the lenses since the shots are offset by having the cameras on the same tripod. I still maintain that the Cinema Mode resolves better highlight edging than Smooth, but both are useful at different times.

Note that this is one of the oldest GH2 tests, and was done at a time when the various hacks did not exist. I'm just now experimenting with the hacks and am very impressed with the improved quality they offer.

[alwaysanotheridea]

The GH2 requires a lens that is 1/2 the focal length, and 2 stops faster than that used on the 5D to get the same look. I could have achieved the same look by stopping down the 5D to f5.6. If I were to use an f1.4 lens on the GH2, it would have looked like the f2.8 did on the 5D.

As a colorist, I don't have a problem with the "video" look of the GH2. That is easily fixed with a good luma curve in Apple Color.

[4002inch]

@alwaysanotheridea are you sure the image are not inverted? Cause I found the Gh2 images better... incredible.

[alwaysanotheridea]

@4002inch They are not inverted. It would be impossible to invert them since they look so different. The GH2 has less apparent depth of field due to the 2x smaller sensor and 2x shorter lens. I've just recently tried the GH2 hack 100mbps version and it is incredible.  I strongly recommend the GH2 with this hack over all other cameras sub $5000. I still use the FS100 and prefer it for certain things, but the GH2 plus hack is superior in nearly every way to the 7D except EF lens functionality.

[myosat]

I find the GH2 a lil bit more sharper, overall they both look great.

[perothing]

nice comparison. to me the 5d looks more cinematographic.

[captainjman1976]

I need to do some side by side comparisons myself - people commenting about skin tones - that is the least important since editing in post solves all of that - I'm interested in other measurements. How is the bokeh, depth of field, lens choices, etc. it also begs the question about "hacks". Why do hacks exist- don't the mfg's want the best performance? In any case, if you apply hacks to 5d2 what becomes possible?

[ScaryHands]

5D crashes GH2!

[JillAnderson]

GH2 wins for skin tones - try the new Quantum v9 patch. Also because the GH2 won't have issues with aliasing or moire it is far better suited for videos of people - ie hair and clothing.

They only saving grace for the Canon is low light - load the new magic lantern patch and you can get a slight boost in bit rate for the 5d- still way less detail vs the GH2 but it does help.

[MacroTigerGrr]

hmm from this youtube footage i'd give MarkV the better color...I've been told it does better color than the gh2.

[CocktaiLMolotovX]

My god... I found the gh2 image so good than I think the gh2 and the 5 mark2 was inverted :o