bobbydvideo

I know this is mainly a photo forum. I do both video and photography. I am trying to decide which of the following two cameras would be best. The Canon Vixia GF-50 or the Canon GF 60. I now use the Canon Vixia GF-40. Any help appreciated.

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

The GF-60 has a bigger sensor. If it were me, I think I would be trying to get a camera that would shoot 4K at 60fps. Maybe the Canon GX10?

Bobspez Loc: Southern NJ, USA

Depends on what you will shoot. If you shoot wildlife and birds I would pick the smaller sensor GF 50 which has the longer focal length (600mm vs 382mm). But if that's not a consideration I'd pick the GF 60 for the larger sensor and better quality image.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

Of those two, the GF 60 is much better, but for that kind of money, I'd look for a used Micro 4/3 Lumix GH5 and Lumix lenses.

I used to do corporate/industrial training production as part of my overall training and training program development duties. In the late 2000s, I had a still camera (Canon 50D) and a video camcorder (Canon GL2). Frankly, that sucked, because I had to travel with two systems and pay all sorts of excess baggage and shipping fees. I had two learning curves to go through again and again, as actual media production was about a tenth of my role and every time I did it, I had to re-familiarize myself with the video gear. I've owned and used many camcorders since 1983, and never liked the form factors of any of them. I like the SLR form factor, which I have used since 1968.

When I left the corporate world in 2012, I wanted gear I could freelance with. I researched thoroughly, and after waiting in vain for three years for Canon and Nikon to get serious about mirrorless, I bought a Lumix GH4 and three lenses (12-35mm f/2.8, 30mm f/2.8, and 35-100mm f/2.8). It was a scary gamble, but it works really well.

That system has done everything I need for seven years. The Lumix audio is great (I connect two external wireless mics to the GH4, which has quite good preamps). The 4K video is superb. The still photos are more than adequate for documentation, and it is just a joy to use, compared to my old Canon 50D and Canon GL2 setup.

Plus, the whole system with two light panels, body, three lenses, and two wireless mics, Sony pro headphones, plus a flash, batteries, chargers, AND my M1 MacBook Air, fits in a backpack that goes under an airline seat. It is a portable production studio. Just add a tripod, light stands, and borrow a hotel TV for a monitor...

Now I'm about to sell or trade in my GH4 and get a Lumix GH6. It's a $2200 body, but worth every penny of it for those of us already using Lumix lenses. It is Netflix approved, and worthy of budget filmmaking and documentary work, advertising, and more. It will be overkill at this point.