Panasonic Announces Price for the 4K GH4, & It's Lower than You Might Think (Kind Of)

Last month, Panasonic gave us the news that we had all been hoping for, a 4K successor to the widely loved GH3, a brand new camera that is appropriately named the GH4, as well as a nifty interface unit that provides many of the features that serious filmmakers need. At the time, we knew the basic specs of the camera and that the body would come in at less than $2,000. However, the final retail price of both the camera and the interface were still largely unknown. Until now, that is. So, without any further ado, I am pleased to announce that a brand new GH4 body will cost you --

-- $1700. Plus it's now available for pre-order at B&H. That's the good news. The bad news, on the other hand, is that the interface unit (a must-have accessory for professional filmmakers) will set you back another $2000. The interface is also available for pre-order. However, if you decide to bundle both the GH4 body and the interface together, Panasonic knocks a few hundred off the total price, so you can snag the bundle for $3300.

Just in case anyone has missed out on the specs of this camera, or on the first footage that we've seen, I'll throw it all right down below.

First, here are the specs for the GH4:

• 16.05 MP Digital Live MOS Sensor
• DCI 4K 4096x2160 at 24p
• UHD 4K 3840x2160 at 30p/24p
• Full HD up to 60p
• 3.0" 1,036k-Dot OLED Monitor
• 2,359K-Dot OLED Live View Finder
• Support for 59.94p, 23.98p, 50p, & 24p
• 4:2:2 8-Bit or 10-Bit HDMI Output
• High-Speed 49-Point Autofocus
• Magnesium Alloy, Weather-Sealed Body

And here are the additional features that you can pull out of the camera with the interface unit:

• 2x Monaural XLR Inputs
• Line/Mic Level Switch & Phantom Power
• Audio Level Display Monitor
• 2x 3G-SDI Capable BNC Connectors
• 2x HD-SDI Capable BNC Connectors
• Quad-Link SDI Output for 4:2:2/10-Bit 4K
• HDMI Output
• Timecode In
• 12VDC 4-Pin XLR Power Input

Here are some of the first videos that we've come across:

Honestly, this is right about where most of us were expecting the camera body to be priced, although it's safe to say that Panasonic could have priced the GH4 body right at $2000, and most of us would have still been pretty damn impressed with those features at that price point.

The real kicker is that interface unit is slightly more expensive than the camera itself. Personally, I was really hoping that unit would come in at less than $1000 (which still seems reasonable in my convoluted mind), but it's likely an expensive accessory to manufacture. Despite the high price of the interface unit, however, I have little doubt that it will still make its way into the hands of quite a few filmmakers, because the features that it adds to the GH4 are completely unmatched in this price range (maybe with the exception of the Digital Bolex).

Overall, the GH4 is one hell of a bargain at $1700, and it will no doubt become a favorite of low-budget filmmakers looking to shoot high-resolution images. The interface unit is less of a bargain, but it provides features that put the GH4 into another class entirely. With the bundle coming in at $3,300, the camera is right in the price range of the Blackmagic Production Camera 4K, but by all accounts, Panasonic seems to have a leg up in terms of features (unless you're looking for ProRes or RAW).

If you'd like to read more about the camera and see more footage, check out Joe's original post about the GH4. And if you're already convinced and ready to place your pre-order, head on over to B&H and git 'er done.

What do you guys think about the pricing of the GH4 and the interface unit? Let's hear your thoughts down in the comments!

Links:

• Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH4 Mirrorless Micro Four Thirds Digital Camera (Body Only) -- B&H
• Panasonic Lumix DMW-YAGH Interface Unit for GH4 -- B&H
• Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH4 Mirrorless Micro Four Thirds Digital Camera with Interface Unit -- B&H