The Red Scarlet Versus Panasonic GH2
I recently ran across this article on the Video Blog EOSHD that compared the inexpensive Panasonic GH2 against the newly released Red Scarlet. Both shoot still photos, with the Panasonic being known for mainly being a still photo capture device. That said, Panasonic also equipped it with fabulous video capture, and it’s the video imagery that EOSHD was looking at. Comparing the two cameras is almost ridiculous since the GH2 is about $699 for the body. The Red Scarlet is in the range of $15,000 to get enough pieces put together to be able to shoot it properly. The difference in price is substantial yet the difference in video quality is amazingly close for the normal viewer. Read the article to see for yourself and to see some of the samples they’ve included. Panasonic really is producing amazing technology for a rock bottom price.
EOSHD compares video quality between the Panasonic GH2 and the Red Scarlet. Read the article to see the results that will floor you.
Sean AustinOn Feb. 6th, 2012
Considering that the Scarlet footage was downsampled from 4K, I’m not sure that a D4 or EOS cam would be dramatically different? A Ferrari and a Prius are likely to be quite similar experiences if you restrict them to a parking lot. The DSLR shootout that Zacuto performed last year (which included some Arri and RED cams) clearly shows that each system has its place in certain situations and with certain needs being met.
I would hope that no one would read this and think that RED is overpriced, but instead they would hopefully understand that with a few hundred dollars, anyone can create fantastic video.
danieljcoxOn Feb. 8th, 2012
Sean, very good points. However, for most people who want great quality and an amazing price, the GH2 is hard to ignore. Panasonic is doing to RED what RED did to Sony and even themselves. It seems when Nikon released the D90, the first DSLR camera with video, the cat was out of the bag. I honestly believe that Nikon saw what RED was doing with a one chip, 12 megapixel sensor and thought, “hey, why can’t we do that?” And so they did. RED started the revolution of capturing amazing video on a single chip and selling the whole system for less than a quarter of what Sony and Panasonic themselves were selling in their high end, HD Video cameras. I applaud what RED is doing. It’s great for all of us who want better quality at a better price. It certainly got Nikon and Canon to wakeup and smell the coffee. The biggest disappointment is even though Nikon was the first to market, they seem to be falling by the wayside on the video front. I have numerous professional, video production, friends and they are all using Canon when RED isn’t in the budget. I’m hearing mixed reviews of the D4 and D800 though nobody has really had a chance to put them through their paces. I’m hopeful Nikon has another rabbit to pull out of their hat as they did with the D700 and D3S bodies that still rule the dark with their incredible lack of noise capabilities. Time will tell.