Streamline Your Portable Streaming System, Part 2: Cameras

4K and the Panasonic DMC-GH4

Even if you haven’t had requests for 4K delivery yet, make no mistake: 4K is here to stay. It's a definite step up from HD, and it’s not going to turn out to be mostly hype like 3D. To future-proof yourself, I highly recommend the Panasonic DMC-GH4 (Figure 7, below).

Figure 7. The Panasonic DMC-GH4

The GH4 comes in a DLSR-type configuration, and thus offers only HDMI out. But for streaming applications, you can take the HDMI out and convert that to an SDI signal, or you can take the HDMI straight out and have it patched into your switcher.

I highly recommend buying this camera in conjunction with a YAGH interface (Figure 8, below). That YAGH interface is a docking station that expands the capabilities of the camera. In addition to being able to shoot 4K, the docking station allows you to add professional XLR inputs and SDI output for your streams and also for 4K capture.

Figure 8. Panasonic DMC-GH4 with YAGH interface

The unit does capture 4K within the camera with cards, but also you can send out 4K and interface it with various 4K switchers. This is something worth considering to future proof yourself and your kit. We've done events with the GH4 and our clients thought from the results that we had used much more expensive cameras.

One of the most important factors to consider when you're making your next camera purchase is whether or not the time has come to prepare for 4K.