Good summary! For when you do start doing video, even if you don't plan to distribute 4K:
*Ability to crop and apply software image stabilization in post if shooting 4K
*Improved 1080p output due to higher dynamic range and bit-depth if shot in 4K and downsized. (For instance, there is often a lot of talk about chroma subsampling (simply put, when storing video, you store luma (brightness) and two color difference components - due to the eye being more sensitive to brightness changes, they store more of this information than the color difference information). While the GH4 only stores in 4:2:0 to sdcard (any resolution), if you use the 4K image, once downsized, in practical terms you get 4:4:4. This of course increases quality, but also very specifically helpful for green-screen work.
*1080p can be output to a recorder in 4:2:2 natively without accessory.
*96 fps in 1080p, which means you can shoot high speed at 4x cinema-rate (24fps)
*Much better connection possibilities (actually very impressive, even by pro standards, xlr audio, sdi video, time code sync etc) if you purchase the add-on, which granted will be very expensive.
*several of the items you mentioned for photos are very useful for video as well(reduced rolling shutter, 1/8k shutter, af speed, focus peaking, better high iso performance)
*extremely high bitrates both for 4K and 1080p though comparatively speaking 1080p is better, as it has the same max rate for IPB, and a whopping 200mbit/sec for all intra (which means each frame is fully stored, think jpg, rather than most video that only has keyframes, and the rest of the frames measure difference to previous and future frames).
jloden, you probably know this stuff, but maybe someone else will find it useful
Heh, this GH4 response reminds me an awful lot of when the D800 came out, and things divided into two camps: people utterly excited about the possibilities, and those dismayed by the 'unnecessary' high resolution.
I don't shoot video at the moment, but I am nonetheless more than happy to see the GH4 appear for the following reasons:
* 1/8000 shutter speed
* 1/250s flash x-sync speed
* Reduced rolling shutter effect with the electronic shutter (I use this feature every single week)
* Uses same battery, grip, and other accessories as the GH3 and retains the excellent body design
* AF speed and functionality improvements (e.g. selectable limited focus planes, eye detection)
* 12fps and long-life 200k rated shutter
* Faster processing speed
* Improved sensor & high ISO noise response
* Focus Peaking
* In-camera image processing - not something I'll use a lot but still a potentially useful feature
This isn't revolutionary by any means but it's a solid update to an already excellent camera. The first four items on my list above alone are enough reason for me to upgrade eventually.