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Looking for: D40 equivalent that shoots HD motion

BTRY B 529th FA BN

BTRY B 529th FA BN

Lifer
Family is planning on a vacation to Europe, Paris & Italy this fall and I want to sell off my Nikon D40 for an equivalent DSLR that has the capability to shoot HD movies. I do have a Canon HF-S 100 that is made for that type thing but I don't want to carry the bulk of 2 devices. I want something that I can quickly shoot either a great pic or a short vid.

I also have a Panasonic LX5 that needs repair to it's viewing screen. This could potentially server both needs but lacks the zoom which I'd hate to be stuck without. Any suggestions on where to get it fixed, as a potential substitute for the above ?

Thanks 🙂
 
if the LX-5 is in warranty (1 year warranty) send it in to panasonic
http://shop.panasonic.com/shop/model/DMC-LX5K?t=warranty

if you're pretty savvy and careful, you can probably repair the LX5 screen yourself (buying parts on ebay/amazon) otherwise
KEH charges ~$55-130 to repair point and shoots (i'd expect an LCD fix to run closer to $55 + shipping +parts)
http://www.keh.com/repair-center.aspx
edit: nvm the replacement screens are expensive, ~$100 you'd almost be better off getting a new camera

the nikon d3200 or d5100 is probably the closest replacement for the d40 that will do HD video
http://www.amazon.com/Nikon-16-2MP-D...5100+body+only
 
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The D3200 is the second highest resolution camera Nikon has ever made and the highest resolution APS-C (1.5x crop).

It's pretty much the exact modern replacement for the D40 and it does come in red. Win!
 
radhak said:
Adorama will also give you top dollar on the D40 as a trade-in.
JR
Click to expand...

Err, not so much. They offered me $175 for my D60 that was in excellent condition. Just for the hell of it, I put it on Craig's List for $250; it sold in two days, with four buyers interested. I like Adorama, but you have to remember, they're in business to make money, and they do it by buying low and selling high(er).

BTW, had the red D3100 for a couple of weeks, and sent it back for the D5100, which (for me) is a much better camera. I needed mirror lockup (which you get from Live View) and auto bracketing. The D3100 has the former, but not the latter. Video quality on both bodies is quite good.
 
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JohnnyRebel said:
The D3200 is better/newer than the D3100. That being said, the D3100 is a great little camera and can be had in Red for $429.95 Refurbished by Nikon (better than new).
Click to expand...
I've owned both the D3100 and the D3200. The D3100 is great for stills, but the D3200 kicks its ass in HD video. More frame rate options, manual controls, external mic input. The D3200 also has a 921k dot VGA screen, versus the 230k dot screen of the D3100. 24MP is fantastic as well, if you have the optics and technique capable of extracting all that information from the sensor.

Adorama will also give you top dollar on the D40 as a trade-in.
Click to expand...
They will give top-dollar for a merchant, which is significantly less than what you'll get selling it private party.
 
fralexandr said:
if the LX-5 is in warranty (1 year warranty) send it in to panasonic
http://shop.panasonic.com/shop/model/DMC-LX5K?t=warranty

if you're pretty savvy and careful, you can probably repair the LX5 screen yourself (buying parts on ebay/amazon) otherwise
KEH charges ~$55-130 to repair point and shoots (i'd expect an LCD fix to run closer to $55 + shipping +parts)
http://www.keh.com/repair-center.aspx
edit: nvm the replacement screens are expensive, ~$100 you'd almost be better off getting a new camera

the nikon d3200 or d5100 is probably the closest replacement for the d40 that will do HD video
http://www.amazon.com/Nikon-16-2MP-D...5100+body+only
Click to expand...

Actually I just looked. I Forgot. My Panasonic is an LX3. I was surprised when you asked about the warranty, ha 😀 🙂 I emailed keh and asked for an estimate and turn-around time.

Thanks 🙂
 
BTRY B 529th FA BN said:
How far behind is the D 3200 in HD recording vs other cameras in this price range? Or, what is the best HD shooting DSLR in this price range?
Click to expand...

As far as general quality goes Canon is still the king. Thanks to its high bitrate and Picture style support from Technicolor, it will help you pull very high quality images if you need it. But, I guess you won't be doing any professional work meaning the different it makes may not even be noticeable to you.

One more thing I should mention is that all the 1080P DSLR, DSLT, EVIL cameras in the market today actually outputs 720p-like images in terms of detail. The only exception is Panny GH series.

Given your possible usage scenario, I'd recommand GH2 over any cameras because:

1. it's very light
2. it offers true 1080p
3. it doesn't suffer from nasty aliasing/false color/moire problem like all the cameras do (except 5d mk3)
4. it's cheaper than the others
5. it does AF. Though I always advise against using AF shooting video, I guess it could be a huge plus in this case.
6. it can be hacked (super high bitrate!!)
 
Cattykit said:
As far as general quality goes Canon is still the king. Thanks to its high bitrate and Picture style support from Technicolor, it will help you pull very high quality images if you need it. But, I guess you won't be doing any professional work meaning the different it makes may not even be noticeable to you.

One more thing I should mention is that all the 1080P DSLR, DSLT, EVIL cameras in the market today actually outputs 720p-like images in terms of detail. The only exception is Panny GH series.

Given your possible usage scenario, I'd recommand GH2 over any cameras because:

1. it's very light
2. it offers true 1080p
3. it doesn't suffer from nasty aliasing/false color/moire problem like all the cameras do (except 5d mk3)
4. it's cheaper than the others
5. it does AF. Though I always advise against using AF shooting video, I guess it could be a huge plus in this case.
6. it can be hacked (super high bitrate!!)
Click to expand...

In regards to the GH2, will I be able to seamlessly edit files from it and my Canon HF S 100 ? I think they both do 1080 60i
 
How is the GH2 vs the D 3200 for both image and video? What problems to either of them have?

I thinking alot on the GH2 because it could double as a partner to my Canon HF S 100 that'll do 1080 @ 60i but I don't want to get into it if there are major problems like a sensor overheating after long vid shots ...
 
did everyone give up on helping me? :'(

Gh2 vs D 3200 ?

Video?

Image?


I'd like for which ever I choose to shoot compatible video files with my Canon HF S100 but I'm not seeing the detailed specs I'm looking for. My cam does 60i, pf30, pf24 @ 1920x1080 MPEG AVC/H.264 For the vacation I just want to bring along one 'Compact' camera that'll shoot great pics, while being able to shoot compatible video with the Canon for 3rd angle usage for short films.



Thanks for you're time
 
gh2 summary
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/PanasonicDMCGH2/21

d3200 summary
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/nikon-d3200/21

you can read through the rest of the review if you want more detail

on the bottom of either page there is an interactive chart, you can add other cameras by clicking
1) compare to = on
2) include all categories
3) selecting the camera you wish to compare from the drop down list

i'm not quite sure how to determine if video files will be compatible with the hf s100 though, as that will be dependent on many factors.
if they aren't compatible, you should ultimately be able to move everything to desktop and convert them to the same file type before editing them together
 
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BTRY B 529th FA BN said:
How is the GH2 vs the D 3200 for both image and video? What problems to either of them have?

I thinking alot on the GH2 because it could double as a partner to my Canon HF S 100 that'll do 1080 @ 60i but I don't want to get into it if there are major problems like a sensor overheating after long vid shots ...
Click to expand...

I have extensive experience with Nikon DSLRs (D90, D5100) and Micro Four Thirds cameras (to many to count) and they have come a long way.

Video: The GH2 is very, very good for video even out of the box, and can be hacked for even more performance if you need it. Some professional-grade work has been shot on GH2s. Google for stuff like "GH2 video" or look for GH2 videos on Vimeo.

The GH2 also takes good photos at a modern 16MP. It's about a stop behind the best-of-the-best Nikon DX sensor (D7000) in low light but isn't far behind the best Canon Rebels. And of course the GH2 is a step up from your D40's sensor in many ways.
The GH2 doesn't have sensor overheating issues. The only issue I can think of with Micro Four Thirds systems are lenses: the revision 1 Oly 14-42mm lenses that come with E-PL1s and the earlier revision of the Panasonic 14-42mm "X" edition both have issues with blurred photographs at about 1/100 second speeds. Also, if you use Panasonic you should stick with Panasonic lenses if you need optical image stabilization, but if you don't need it (e.g., you plan to use it in good light or with flash or on a tripod), then you can also use Olympus MFT lenses.

To give you an idea of just how far along MFT has come, I am going to be selling my Nikon D5100 and about $2000 worth of lenses soon in order to fully convert to MFT. The portability advantage over every other system is too much; even NEX can't keep up if you carry more than one lens at a time due to the laws of physics: if you want APS-C sized sensors, you have to carry APS-C sized lenses. No thanks. Semiconductors have evolved to the point where the best MFT sensor (on the Olympus E-M5 and soon to be on other cameras) is more than good enough for most users' purposes. The Panasonic GH2 sensor is also very good and is superior to your old D40's sensor by a mile.
 
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fralexandr said:
gh2 summary
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/PanasonicDMCGH2/21

d3200 summary
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/nikon-d3200/21

you can read through the rest of the review if you want more detail

on the bottom of either page there is an interactive chart, you can add other cameras by clicking
1) compare to = on
2) include all categories
3) selecting the camera you wish to compare from the drop down list

i'm not quite sure how to determine if video files will be compatible with the hf s100 though, as that will be dependent on many factors.
if they aren't compatible, you should ultimately be able to move everything to desktop and convert them to the same file type before editing them together
Click to expand...

I read through the conclusions for both and I came across something I found that has helped. The GH2 HD video format can do AVCHD which I think is the same as .MTS files which my Canon cam outputs. I don't totally understand too much with video but I think this would make the field a little more easier to work in if I have devices that have matching output files.

What concerns me on the same token is the age of the GH2. Are there any newer models that do all this and more? i'm not affraid to push close to 1k if I have to. I'm not a professional but I hate being stuck without features that should be expected.
 
blastingcap said:
I have extensive experience with Nikon DSLRs (D90, D5100) and Micro Four Thirds cameras (to many to count) and they have come a long way.

Video: The GH2 is very, very good for video even out of the box, and can be hacked for even more performance if you need it.
Click to expand...

What can be done and what is obtained?


blastingcap said:
The GH2 also takes good photos at a modern 16MP. It's about a stop behind the best-of-the-best Nikon DX sensor (D7000) in low light but isn't far behind the best Canon Rebels. And of course the GH2 is a step up from your D40's sensor in many ways.
Click to expand...

Will the photos and the options be better than what I have on the D40 ?


blastingcap said:
The GH2 doesn't have sensor overheating issues. The only issue I can think of with Micro Four Thirds systems are lenses: the revision 1 Oly 14-42mm lenses that come with E-PL1s and the earlier revision of the Panasonic 14-42mm "X" edition both have issues with blurred photographs at about 1/100 second speeds. Also, if you use Panasonic you should stick with Panasonic lenses if you need optical image stabilization, but if you don't need it (e.g., you plan to use it in good light or with flash or on a tripod), then you can also use Olympus MFT lenses.
Click to expand...

How can I avoid this? Are the new revisions out? If I buy a GH2 from B&H will I end up with an older revision?



blastingcap said:
To give you an idea of just how far along MFT has come, I am going to be selling my Nikon D5100 and about $2000 worth of lenses soon in order to fully convert to MFT. The portability advantage over every other system is too much; even NEX can't keep up if you carry more than one lens at a time due to the laws of physics: if you want APS-C sized sensors, you have to carry APS-C sized lenses. No thanks. Semiconductors have evolved to the point where the best MFT sensor (on the Olympus E-M5 and soon to be on other cameras) is more than good enough for most users' purposes. The Panasonic GH2 sensor is also very good and is superior to your old D40's sensor by a mile.
Click to expand...

MFT = Mirrorless ?, ?

So even though this GH2 is a 2010 model it will be better for my needs than a newer D 3200 ?


Thanks
 
the GH2 isn't really that old yet

http://www.dpreview.com/previews/panasonic-lumix-dmc-g5
the G5 is coming out soon, but it's in a lower tier than the GH2, so I can't be sure if it turns out better quality videos/images yet.

the G5 is the successor to the G3. As per dpreview, the G3 has less features, and poorer video than the GH2. As the G5 is newer, i'd expect the video quality to have improved significantly though.
 
You can google for "GH2 hack" if you want. I am not going to explain it here as it would take too long.

The GH2 will do at least as well as your D40, if not better, at stills. The D40 can do some funky high-speed flash sync and such but otherwise it's behind the times. In most ways, the GH2 sensor is roughly equal to the D90's sensor if you downscale it to 12MP to match the D90. The D90's RAWs would still have better dynamic range and color but by a pretty small amount.

If you're so worried about the Panasonic 14-42mm X problems then just don't buy them at all. As for Oly, buy the 14-42mm II lenses. You want a "II" which stands for revision 2.

MFT Micro Four Thirds sensor. A little smaller than the APS-C/DX sized sensors on Canon/Nikon crop-bod DSLRs. Technology has advanced to the point where the newest MFT sensors (which are all 16MP unlike the older 12MP sensors) are pretty competitive with crop-body DSLRs. Even the older 12MP sensors are competitive with, say, your old D40. The main claim to fame that MFT has is size/weight reduction. The main drawback is you lose depth of field due to the cropping; just like how full frame sensors can have paper-thin DoF but APS-C/DX has thicker, MFT is even thicker. f/2 on a MFT body is like f/4 on a full-frame body when it comes to depth of field. But it's not that big of a drawback unless you can't live w/o paper-thin DoF.

Who cares about age? For stills/video the d3200 is good (great stills, good video). The GH2 is about to be replaced by the GH3 which is presumably even better, but no official word yet. Still, you can get a GH2 for cheap because it's almost end-of-line and it is a better balance of stills/video (including an articulating LCD), even if the d3200 would win on stills.

There is no "better" camera b/w the two. It depends on what you need them for. If you have a strong need for video or portability, the GH2 may be more interesting to you. If you want image quality at higher weight and lesser video, the d3200 may be a better bet.



BTRY B 529th FA BN said:
What can be done and what is obtained?




Will the photos and the options be better than what I have on the D40 ?




How can I avoid this? Are the new revisions out? If I buy a GH2 from B&H will I end up with an older revision?





MFT = Mirrorless ?, ?

So even though this GH2 is a 2010 model it will be better for my needs than a newer D 3200 ?


Thanks
Click to expand...
 
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