Panasonic GH4 Vs ARRI Alexa Vs Blackmagic 4K

Panasonic GH4 96fps vs Alexa 96fps 24p

Alexa : Log-C ProRes422 HQ 1920×1080 at 96fps

Lens : UltraPrime 24 mm

ISO : 200ASA

Shutter : 11.25 degree

T-Stop : 2.8

Panasonic GH4 : h.264 100mbps 1920×1080 96fps

Profile : Natural Contrast -5, Saturation -5, Manual Gamma control : hight light -5

Lens : UltraPrime 16 mm

ISO : 200ASA

Shutter : 11 degree

T-Stop : 2.8

I had put the Alexa footage to DaVinci Resolve Lite for just only applying Rec709 and then render it out to ProRes4444.

For GH4 I also brought the footage into DaVinci Resolve Lite only to bring high light down and then render it out to ProRes4444.

After that, I brought these ProRes4444 files into Premiere Pro CC for rendering out for web.

Panasonic GH4 4096×2160 vs Alexa 2048×1152 24P

Alexa : Log-C ProRes4444 2048×1152 24P

Lens : UltraPrime 24 mm

ISO : 200ASA

Shutter : 11.25 degree

T-Stop : 5.6

Panasonic GH4 : h.264 100mbps 4096×2160 24P

Profile : Natural Contrast -5, Saturation -5, Manual Gamma control : hight light -5

Lens : UltraPrime 16 mm

ISO : 200ASA

Shutter : 11 degree

T-Stop : 5.6

I brought these original clips in to Premiere Pro CC that had set to 2048×1152 24P and then down size GH4 from 4096×2160 to fit 2048×1152 timeline. I did not want to make any correction here.

What I had found was very interesting. The GH4 could do it’s best in it’s class. The Alexa is still the king in term of dynamic range, but the small GH4 is not far away from the top.

Panasonic GH4 4K 4096×2160 24p, night in available light

Camera setting : 4K 4096×2160 24p 100mbps

ISO : 800ASA

Shutter : 172.8 degree

Lens : Samyang 16mm F2.0

Camera Profile : Natural, Contrast -5

Camera Gamma : Normal

White balance : 4000k

I edited these original footage in Adobe Premiere Pro CC. I had adjusted very little, only bringing down some high light and lifting up some shadow area. No any colour being changed.

Then I exported from Premiere timeline at original size, 4096×2160 24p for web.

Panasonic GH4 vs Blackmagic 4K 3840×2160 24p

I just had a very quick comparing test between Blackmagic 4K and a demo firmware model of Panasonic GH4.

Blackmagic had recored in ProRes422HQ more than 700mbps, while the GH4 only 100mbps in h.264.

How could it look like?

After a quick shoot we brought the clips into DaVinci Resole Lite to see details.

What we have found was unbelievable. The GH4 could hold more detail in both high light and shadow over the Blackmagic.

One problem about the Blackmagic is the red dot when shoot against the very bright object such as the sun, as seen on the helmet high light of the last clip.

I do it because I have to choose which cameras that I will buy and also want to know the limitation of both cameras.

Most of all, I am the user. I have a choice.

Now I am clear.

Blackmagic 4K : ProRes 422HQ Film 3840×2160 24p

Lens : Canon 50mm F1.2L

Panasonic GH4 : h.264 100mbps 3840×2160 24p

Lens : Contact Carl Zeiss 35mm F1.4

Both :

ASA 200, Shutter 45degree

F-Stop : F8 and last shot 5.6

White Balance : 5000k

Panasonic GH4 Vs ARRI Alexa Vs Blackmagic 4K