Real Camera or iPhone for 4K Video?

[@pjchmiel]

That is kind of a tossup, on some shots I definitely prefer the feel of the Panasonic, but on shots with bright areas and dark areas, like at 3:52, the iphone seems to shine with its greater dynamic range (or HDR compensation). I think both are very capable. I use an iphone for filming more often than my Panasonic GH3. Useful comparison, thank you for sharing.

[@waddo]

Yes it's true there are a few shots were the camera had trouble and the phone did not. It may have been pilot error as I was trying to enjoy my day out and not fool around with test shots. But the iPhone (in my experience) sometimes has stabilisation jitters that cannot be fixed by stabilisation in editing. So both phone and camera have their shortcomings. I was hoping the phone would win because it's so portable. Alas, on our summer tour starting in a couple of weeks, I will be fitting the camera bag to the handlebars!

[@awildcyclistappears]

I think the best answer would be - the camera that's most comfortable to use and with image quality you're most likey to be satisfied with. I don't really mind iPhone video as long as I don't know it's an iPhone footage. Would I shoot video with an iPhone myself? Probably not, but I am used to carrying a heavy camera (recently 1.3kg) on my back when cycling. No matter which option you'll pick, I'm pretty sure you'll deliver the same quality as always. Cheers, Tom

[@waddo]

After this test I pondered for a while and decided for bike tours I will continue to use the real camera. The G85 has three buttons so I can control aperture, shutter speed and ISO without taking my eye from the viewfinder. So I would say I am one with the camera! ;) For hiking or day trips though the iPhone is just too convenient to ignore.

[@jimlondon]

For the wide angle shots I think the quality seems on par (at least by the time I’m viewing them on my phone - maybe if I looked on a big screen it would be different). The colours from the camera look better - more natural saturation. Perhaps you could get similar colours from the iPhone by shooting in raw log and spending time in video software. I have an upcoming video project and have been wondering the same myself. I plan to capture my talking shots to my iPhone (stabilisation is better) and scenery shots with my camera. Then a week in an editor 😢

[@britsune]

Overall, the iPhone takes it for me. The greens are better with the G8 albeit with a 'softer' view. Water resolution is far better with the iPhone. You'd need an external mic too with the G8. When travelling and documenting, the phone is far more practical..

[@AshishBorakhadikar1003]

iPhone (mobile phone in general) is handy and ready to shoot at any given time (results are not too bad either), on the other hand DSLR or even point and shoot takes time to set up. DSLR do give real world colors and phones usually go overboard with color saturation.

[@waddo]

Yes, a bit dissappointing for me: now I am stuck taking the real camera + extra lens, mic and battery charger on bike tours. :(

[@AshishBorakhadikar1003]

@@waddo The life of a photographer involves literally carrying heavy weights on our shoulders. A few years ago, I backpacked through Bhutan for 16 days, carrying 2 DSLRs and 4 lenses. I had 1 full frame camera Nikon D3s which weights around 1.2kg without lens and other was crop sensor which I still own. All of this hard work is worth it when it comes to dslr.

[@MagichourManila]

G8 clips have a more lifelike color.

[@waddo]

Yes, that's what I noticed. I just accepted the colours when I edited my real iPhone videos (Amami Oshima and 88 Temples) but looking at them side by side with the real camera it's obvious how over saturated they are.

[@JohnsLife1950]

Nicely done comparison. I use GoPro cameras but when they are past their useful lives (when?) I’ll use an iPhone.

[@davidjohnston1374]

Many good comments here Keith, I think the camera has good real tones where the greens are a bit overdone on the Iphone even though it is Japan we're talking about here with it's regular rainy days, I'm watching this on a laptop with earphones and the iphone whilst more dynamic, tends to have a constant hiss in the sound. Both will do the job i guess. Maybe consider a DJI 360 or something during the transit.

[@paulevans5455]

If you stop using cameras and everyone follows suit , then cameras may disappear. The same way as portable music machines like the iPod Classic. It's the revolving door syndrome , throw something new about and the old disappear along with the skills to use them. Use both.

[@waddo]

Yes it's true and I also think it's inevitable. :(

[@metricstormtrooper]

That phone is far better at being a video camera than it has any right to be. I may lose out on the lenses but it's still excellent, the sound is far and away better than the camera.

[@waddo]

I admit for something that you can put in your pocket and yet still shoot 4k video, it's great. I should have mentioned that sound is not part of the test here! I have a real mic that sits on top of the camera with a wind muff (dead cat) so the sound is actually much better on the camera. The iPhone has good sound but even a slight breeze renders it useless. When you watch my real videos, no matter that camera, never trust the audio you hear is actually real!