Best small camera for 1080/60p - Panasonic GX7 and A6000 review

[Andrew Reid]

NB: Sample videos will come next week

If you want a nice 1080p camera that is packed with features and doesn't cost very much then there's now two really nice options available from Sony and Panasonic.

The A6000 is certainly Sony's best performing mirrorless camera yet for video with an APS-C sized sensor vs the Micro Four Thirds sensor in the GX7.

I've been shooting with both to decide which one to keep.

Read the full article here

[WDHX]

Many thanks for this , I think many were waiting for this comparison . How is the gx7 compared to the gh4 in low light ? And will the bmcc speed booster work/fit also on the gh7 , including the image stabilization and aperture control ?

[Nikkor]

No word on the autofocus which is supposed to work great on the A6000?

[sanveer]

From Andrew's write up on the gGX7 vs A6000:

 

 

" ,,, Handling

The A600 has a number of problems here. Whenever you insert a card used in another camera, a computer says “NO†and begins building a database whilst your crew sits around tapping their fingers impatiently or a shot sales off into the distance."

 

 

 

Someone's Obviously been watching a lot of "Little Britain"   ;)  :P

[Andrew Reid]

Many thanks for this , I think many were waiting for this comparison . How is the gx7 compared to the gh4 in low light ? And will the bmcc speed booster work/fit also on the gh7 , including the image stabilization and aperture control ?

 

The GX7 is the same as the GH4 in low light when it comes to in-camera 1080p. The GH4 pulls ahead when set to 4K and downsampled to 1080p in post though.

 

Araucaria... Real filmmakers don't use auto-focus ;)

 

Yes AF is fast for stills on both cameras... VERY fast... Not in video mode. It is lame.

[Don Kotlos]

Andrew how does the quality compare to the EM1? 

 

It's a pity that they didn't enable the sensor stabilization in the GX7. 

[Nikkor]

 

Araucaria... Real filmmakers don't use auto-focus ;)

 

But people doing documentaries like it :P

 

Oh I forgot, wedding photographers probably love it, you know, these guys that have to make money with their pictures.

[Inazuma]

Nice review. I think the cameras can serve two different types of people. If you have canon glass with IS and can afford the metabones, the a6k could work very well for you.

Andrew do you have any recommended settings forthe gx7? I have been shooting natural with high I dynamic and -2 highlights, +3 shadows. It seems to work for me but sometimes, especially when shooting people, it feels too flat.

[Kevin Carroll]

I've kept with my g6 as it does pretty much everything the gx7 does for video but with with an added mic input jack. If there's a gx8 at some stage and it comes with a mic and headphone jack I'd be in heaven as I've always craved that from factor for photography over the dslr shape of my previous gh1,2 and g6 cameras. But for the time being I'm more than happy with my g6 :-) The gh3 and 4 are still beyond my reach as I try build up my other equipment (lenses, lights, stabilisers, car, publicity etc) and the g6 is just brilliant for the money. I got two new bodies for €400 each new around christmas (probably less now). What's not to love :-)

[JBraddock]

Thank you for the review Andrew. Just curious, do you happen to test Panasonic 14-50mm F2.8-3.5 OIS on GX7? Any comment on how it performs?

[Andrew Reid]

Thank you for the review Andrew. Just curious, do you happen to test Panasonic 14-50mm F2.8-3.5 OIS on GX7? Any comment on how it performs?

 

Yes tested it. Nice lens on both GX7 and GH4. A worthy alternative to 12-35mm if you can find it cheaper (it usually is... by half!)

 

It is sharp and the OIS really works well for video... I use the Panasonic Four Thirds adapter.

 

The 14-50mm comes in two flavours... there's the Leica version which came with the Digilux and the Panasonic-Leica version which came with the L1. Just cosmetic differences I think but not tested the Leica version yet.

 

However consider the Speed Booster and an APS-C F2.8 zoom if you want a shallower DOF. The Tamron 17-50mm F2.8 for example is even cheaper.

[JBraddock]

Yes tested it. Nice lens on both GX7 and GH4. A worthy alternative to 12-35mm if you can find it cheaper (it usually is... by half!)

 

It is sharp and the OIS really works well for video... I use the Panasonic Four Thirds adapter.

 

The 14-50mm comes in two flavours... there's the Leica version which came with the Digilux and the Panasonic-Leica version which came with the L1. Just cosmetic differences I think but not tested the Leica version yet.

 

However consider the Speed Booster and an APS-C F2.8 zoom if you want a shallower DOF. The Tamron 17-50mm F2.8 for example is even cheaper.

Thank you for this. I am actually looking for an alternative to 12-35. The image stabilisation is the key here otherwise what you've said about SB and a zoom lens combo makes sense.

[Andrew Reid]

Of course there's the Sigma 18-35mm F1.8 if you don't mind the shorter range! It ends up like a 12-25mm F1.2 in Micro Four Thirds terms.

[jase]

Andrew, how does the GM1 hold up to the GX7 despite not having 1080p/60?

And I would second the question regarding your findings in terms of profiles ;)

[wobba]

It would be great if you could include some actual footage in your review so we can all see first hand how these two cameras compare.

[zoip2]

Andrew many thanks for this article, it was a comparison I have wondering about.

 

For a while now I have been organising a studio space, lights etc to shoot instructional videos for youtube and other similar outputs, the camera is the final item I need to sort.

 

I was considering the A6000 but wondered about the compression tradeoffs etc, I have an NEX 5n and though I can get good results out of it, I just find the digital look and artefacts too jarring for my sensitive eyes, I was hoping the A6000 would do the trick as I have a lot of NEX bits and peices.

 

Anyhow no worries in buying something else, I have a lot of FF glass and adapters are cheap enough, but this post now brings about a second question.  If I am planning to mainly shoot in a studio, with controlled lighting, sound recorders etc would the Panasonic GM1 or the GX7 provide better footage to work with.

 

Many of the samples I have seen with the GM1 look truly impressive and even the kit lens seems to by pretty sharp.  Note I realise it has no EVF and is small and so forth but I no troubles with all that, no different really to the NEX 5n... all that really matters is, which will provide the best quality capture to work from.

 

Yeah, I know get a GH4, but I kind of want to keep a lid on the expense and I have plenty of exy gear for stills etc.....maybe one day!  I can certainly see an advantage in having several video cams but for now I just want one simple solution that can give great results without too much hassle.

 

I would appreciate any comments others may have to offer, so thanks in advance.

[Marco]

Hi Andrew,

is the HDMI out of the A6000 422 or 420? 10bit or 8bit? would it be great with a Ninja Blade, in your opinion?
A6000 + speedbooster + Ninja Blade would cost approximately like the GH4 and less than a 5dMarkIII.

I hope the rolling shutter is not really annoying.

[Pascal Garnier]

Thanks for the review.
However, you didn't mention that the A6000 is currently 1/3rd cheaper than the GX7.
A GX7 body only will set you back as much as an A6000 + a Speedbooster clone + 2 to 3 Canon FD lenses.

[dstilio]

I agree that GX7 may be better only for video (and the menus of course), but the fact that a6000 is cheaper, and is greater for stills, made me go for Sony.

 

The majority of the amateurs looking at the hybrid, do continue to care about the raw stills. There, the sensor size gives advantage to the a6000. Personally I am 40-60 between video and stills. So, for me the a6000 with its AF is a winner.

 

And although you may find it unacceptable, I also use AF for video with great results. no focus hunting! (unless you half-press the shutter button). It's great for documentary/run&shoot purposes!

 

I just hope that Sony will support us enough with firmware updates to not let this camera devaluate fast.

[Carlo]

Of course there's the Sigma 18-35mm F1.8 if you don't mind the shorter range! It ends up like a 12-25mm F1.2 in Micro Four Thirds terms.

 

Wouldn't that be a 25.2 - 49.7mm F1.2 lens?

 

You are not multiplying the original focal length by the crop factor before multiplying by 0.71

 

18mm x 2 (crop factor) x 0.71 = 25.2mm