GH1 at the carnival - with Canon FDs

[MatzeB]

Second day with the camera. Took some shot's at the Carnival of Cultures in Berlin with the stock lens and Canon FD 28mm f2.0, 50mm f1.4 and 135mm f 2.0
ISO 100 and high shutter - I haven't had enough NDs.
Slightly color corrected.

Very enjoyable camera - especially with manual lenses.
No fo%6ing joysticks. No cellphone tricks
battery holds forever.

Edited in Premiere 4.1 (great update!)

http://vimeo.com/5033677


http://www.dvxuser6.com/uploaded/19323/1244318439.jpg

http://www.dvxuser6.com/uploaded/19323/1244318407.jpg

http://www.dvxuser6.com/uploaded/19323/1244318378.jpg

http://www.dvxuser6.com/uploaded/19323/1244318344.jpg

http://www.dvxuser6.com/uploaded/19323/1244318310.jpg

http://www.dvxuser6.com/uploaded/19323/1244318275.jpg

http://www.dvxuser6.com/uploaded/19323/1244318223.jpg

[paulgandersman]

Beautiful :)

[John Caballero]

Excelent. You forgot to mention the format: 720p or 1080p?

[Final Design Studios]

Fantastic. Great work, that's the kind of test that makes me feel better about my GH1 order.

[John Caballero]

Thats the point. We want to see how good the GH1 is. And looking at pieces like this we can start seeing the positive side. This is only the begining.

[BrianMurphy]

Great stuff! I totally agree with John "This is what we want to see" I am so tired of measurebaters and just want to see footage and hear feedback from shooters.
Matzeb thanks for the effort and the shots! Hope mine arrives before thursday! I leave for two weeks on Friday.

[tackleqb]

WOW that is absolutely amazing footage! please tell me that was 1080 so I dont have to worry about this 'mud' issue anymore. I saw plenty of pans and whips in your footage and it looked beautiful! Great work. This just sealed the deal for me! I was just looking at some HMC150 footage and this video blew all of them out of the water, say what you want about hmc150's higher bitrate but this footage was amazing

[Rakesh Jacob]

Looks f---ing good!!!!
The shots on the juggler are amazing looking. And the 100 iso isn't as bad as some had predicted, unless 320 iso is just that much better :)

Pretty sure that was all 720p AVCHD from the way he was going in and out of slomo, and also from what I've been able to surmise from looking at way too many clips... and measurebating non stop! In this case I actually could go blind :Drogar-SunGlass(DBG

[tackleqb]

hey MatzeB what kind of canon lens did you use? Can you send me a link to the lens you used! I sure want to buy that one! and Nice work again!

[chaos]

hey MatzeB what kind of canon lens did you use? Can you send me a link to the lens you used! I sure want to buy that one! and Nice work again!

hey bro, i was wondering the same thing and just reread his post.

these are the ones he used: Canon FD 28mm f2.0, 50mm f1.4 and 135mm f 2.0.

[Solomon Chase]

Nice shots and color grading.

[Martti Ekstrand]

Simply awesome job Matzeb! Showing both how GH1 is excellent for documentary stuff and how filmic this camera can look - even on high shutter speeds which surprised me. Brilliant music choice btw.

[nathankw]

Lovely work!

Which Canon adaptor have you got?

[MatzeB]

thanks guys :beer:

It's mostly 720/50p AVCHD. About 20% are 1080/25p resized and 2 shots are 720 cropped out of 1080.

Focussing with the Canon was a challenge. I'm glad this camera is not full-frame. A 28mm at 2.8 is shallow enough for my taste. The EVF is very good, but in a run and gun situation color peaking would make it easier.
A lot of shot's are not really spot on. Next time I shoot at f4.

Zebras would be great, but I just used the Histo and it worked well.

Film mode was "smooth" with everything dialed down to -2.

The stock lens is technically propably the better lens. High contrast and sharp.
The Canon FDs have lower contrast. I prefer the organic look of the Canons.
See the back of the head at 00:30 - Canon FD 28mm at f2.0 or 2.8 - don't remember. The stock lens needs some filtering for my taste.

It's about 30% stock lens - 70% Canon FD.
The juggler is 720/50p with Canon FDs only.

[MatzeB]

Which Canon adaptor have you got?

Had no time to get one. I kind of ghetto rigged them with a c-mount adapter and some other parts.

[Drcoffee]

Matzeb, footage is probably the best I've seen with gh1, great job!

So did you have any problem with the codec breaking up on pans / high detail etc in 720p?

With the focusing is there an assist with a digital zoom of the centre of the screen with the GH1? Is it a help? And are we only seeing a selection of in focus shots, compared to quite a few out of focus?

In the quicktime from vimeo at about 02:47.20 (and in a few other places) the motion is staggered and seems to be missing frames. Is this just on my download version?

Also once you do the preset white balance, does the camera give you the kelvin number to see?

Kind Regards
Jon

[TrueIndigo]

Very inspiring material, thanks for posting. This was a good advert for the 720p50 format. I'm still wondering what's best for general shooting (1080p25 versus 720p50). MatzeB -- do you prefer to shoot mainly 720? I ordered the GH1 yesterday and hope to do some tests next week if it arrives on time. Be interested to hear about your camera settings if you'd like to share them. Thanks.

[John Caballero]

Thanks for the technical info. Keep shooting. We wanto to see great stuff with this little cam.

[MatzeB]

So did you have any problem with the codec breaking up on pans / high detail etc in 720p?
No. The only thing I could spot is some slight banding in the grey sky. Check the "best dance ever" attempt of the guy in the red shirt.
Btw. that's with the stock lens at 140mm -OIS on.



With the focusing is there an assist with a digital zoom of the centre of the screen with the GH1? Is it a help? And are we only seeing a selection of in focus shots, compared to quite a few out of focus?
The focusing assist is very usefull if you have enough time. It magnifies 10x or so. Not usable for run and gun.
Most shots are in focus, but as I said it's a challenge at f2.0 or 2.8. Definitely needs some practice.



In the quicktime from vimeo at about 02:47.20 (and in a few other places) the motion is staggered and seems to be missing frames. Is this just on my download version?
There's no staggering or missing frames in the footage or in the encoded file. It's probably your player.



Also once you do the preset white balance, does the camera give you the kelvin number to see?
you can adjust the kelvin in 100° steps. If you do a white balance preset I don't think it shows a kelvin number. Not sure on that.

[Drcoffee]

Thanks for the reply MatzeB



There's no staggering or missing frames in the footage or in the encoded file. It's probably your player.


I've looked at that bit on a Mac and PC, and seems to stutter on both. But I'll take your word for it.

[MatzeB]

I'm still wondering what's best for general shooting (1080p25 versus 720p50). MatzeB -- do you prefer to shoot mainly 720? I ordered the GH1 yesterday and hope to do some tests next week if it arrives on time. Be interested to hear about your camera settings if you'd like to share them. Thanks.

For general shooting I recommend 720p. As reported in other threads 1080p can get ugly at high detail scenes or fast movement. For locked down shots 1080 is good. Hope there is a firmware update soon.

Haven't tested camera settings extensively yet.

[MatzeB]

I've looked at that bit on a Mac and PC, and seems to stutter on both. But I'll take your word for it.

I've downloaded the uploaded file from vimeo. Plays fine on my machine. Try Media Player Classic and ffdshow on a PC.

[Drcoffee]

MatzeB. Will do, I'll give them a try. Are you German then? How come your English is so good?

[tackleqb]

For general shooting I recommend 720p. As reported in other threads 1080p can get ugly at high detail scenes or fast movement. For locked down shots 1080 is good. Hope there is a firmware update soon.

Haven't tested camera settings extensively yet.

I'm still going to use 1080 for my moving shots regardless. I'm sure it wont be a huge problem like everyone is making it out to be. Unless of course you are looking very closely.

btw i just can't get over those sunset shots in the video! damn very sexy indeed!

[John Caballero]

I am sure also very deliberate tracking shots and stedicam will be fine in 1080.

[MatzeB]

How come your English is so good? First time I hear that. Actually my English is rather poor. I try to hide that :grin:

[hunter richards]

Im guessing this happens every afternoon? People drinking beer and dancing on the streets, beautiful women dancing on top of cars... guys with sleeveless shirts letting their man boobs flap in the wind... This should be a travel Ad for Berlin. Nice work by the way!

[Ian-T]

Um ...speaking of man boobs flapping in the wind..........was that a ....mullet hairdo???

Nice Video man.

[EWS]

Wow...great stuff! Both clips are great. I really love the carnival footage and especially the shot at 1:37. Awesome natural light. You really captured the feel of being there.
Can't wait to see what you post next.... Keep up the great work!
I still have a DVX 100B and still love it, but man I can't wait to get my Nikkors on this thing....
It is just torture having to wait...

[Isaac_Brody]

Beautiful shots.

[Justyn]

I was wondering about the mullet too... Germans do have some strange tastes for sure.


Absolutely fabulous footage. I think a lot of people have been waiting for this very thing. Someone to just go out and shoot something in a cinematic way and not just shots of their cat or something.


At 1500 bucks, is there anything better... shoot, I hope so cause we all win in the end... but I doubt it and it looks badass to me. This will be the greatest little covert camera..


Also, how are the stills? I think most people on here will be looking at the video side of things, but the stills would be nice too.

[Peter J. DeCrescenzo]

... Also, how are the stills? I think most people on here will be looking at the video side of things, but the stills would be nice too.

http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/panasonic/dmc_gh1-review/gallery

http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=gh1&ct=0&mt=photos&adv=1 (http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=gh1)

etc. ...

[Abstract Photog]

nice piece man.
footage looks great with the FDs...cant wait to start shootin with mine

[editman]

Great piece of showcase for the GH1. The slomos look really smooth.

[Justyn]

Thanks Peter... the stills look pretty nice.

[Huy Vu]

Did you have to modify the Canon FD lenses for iris control?

[AdrianF]

Really liked the backlit stuff, great shots.


I was wondering about the mullet too... Germans do have some strange tastes for sure.
There is a very high percentage of mullets in my area. I was thinking of starting an agency, you never know, they could get a lot of work?

[shaun1970]

Thanks for the reply MatzeB



I've looked at that bit on a Mac and PC, and seems to stutter on both. But I'll take your word for it.
I see the same thing, look like tiny jump cuts and missing frames. I've sen this in all of the GH1 footage though.

[Al MacLeod]

watched on hp 2.4 quad...no glitches at all.

[Jackson Miller]

Did you have to modify the Canon FD lenses for iris control?

I hope not. Is this necessary? They have iris rings no? But I wasn't aware of a way to electronically control it from the camera.

[ryansheffer]

FDs have iris control. No modification needed, just an adapter.

[Blue_Food]

My (Novoflex) FD to M-4/3 adapter arrived yesterday. In order for the ring to have any effect, I’ve had to jam the aperture lever into place on my lenses. Otherwise, they will remain constantly wide open, regardless of the ring’s position.

I’m curious, however, as to whether anyone around here has ever attempted THIS (http://www.frozenphoenixproductions.com/misc/slrlensmod_aperture.mov) type of modification, for non-incremental aperture adjustment on these lenses?

DP

Edited to add: Great job, by the way, MatzeB – this is definitely the most beautiful/inspiring footage I’ve seen posted!

[MattC8]

MatzeB,

Your video is terrific. Best thing shot with the GH1 by far. Are you experiencing the compression artifacts that others are reporting? Do you think footage shot on the GH1 could be projected on a large screen, or could it only be shown in web form or on a 50" HDTV.

[davidpula]

Absolut wunderbar!
Ist das alles in 50p verfilmt und im editing zu 25p comformed?

[J Davis]

Beaautiful ! !

I especially enjoyed the subtle edit at 1:03 where you switch to overcrank.

[bewillia]

great looking footage. magic hour, no? this camera is something else.

[Huy Vu]

I hope not. Is this necessary? They have iris rings no? But I wasn't aware of a way to electronically control it from the camera.

What I meant is that Canon FD lenses are also stuck wide open unless you modify a latch on the back of the lens. Not a big deal but it is a pain when the latch comes undone on set. All current 35mm adapter mounts except for the Letus require this modification, I'm just wasn't sure about the GH1.

[PhilD]

What I meant is that Canon FD lenses are also stuck wide open unless you modify a latch on the back of the lens. Not a big deal but it is a pain when the latch comes undone on set. All current 35mm adapter mounts except for the Letus require this modification, I'm just wasn't sure about the GH1.

Do you know how to modify the latch? I ordered the Canon FD adapter from ciecio7 on eBay but do you think I should get Nikon lenses if I want to control the aperture?

[J Davis]

Do you know how to modify the latch? I ordered the Canon FD adapter from ciecio7 on eBay but do you think I should get Nikon lenses if I want to control the aperture?

I ordered and received a ciecio7 adapter. Using it with a bunch of FD's no problem with aperture ring.

I also tested the placement of this mount. I did this by taking a pic using the kit zoomed to 50mm then mounting ciecio7+Canon FD f1.4 50mm and took same pic. Framing was identical which means the ciecio7 mount is positioning the FD lens at the correct distance from the sensor. ciecio7 is all metal too. Works well.

[PhilD]

Ciecio7. Looks like a good brand. At least he's not from Hong Kong...

I also bought the 1.4 50mm

[J Davis]

I also bought the 1.4 50mm


From ciecio7 ? Or somewhere else?
How much was it if you don't mind me asking?

[Huy Vu]

I ordered and received a ciecio7 adapter. Using it with a bunch of FD's no problem with aperture ring.



So the aperture blade will actually closes and opens once the lens is engaged? This is good new!

PhilD, if it doesn't work you need to find the latch behind the lens, push it back all the way and slip a toothpick or something in the space so that the latch doesn't move back.

[PhilD]

From ciecio7 ? Or somewhere else?
How much was it if you don't mind me asking?

No not from him. Bought it for around 70$. (adapter 90$)

[J Davis]

No not from him. Bought it for around 70$. (adapter 90$)


Just checking to see that I didn't get ripped too badly. My 50, f1.4 was $79 :)

[Spartacus]

Awesome footage!
If there only would be some 5D footage from the same moment to compare hehehe
Seriously, as Matze said, focusing probably just becomes a PITA with fullframe in a similar situation, or you need a least the viewfinder magnifier from Zacuto and this all adds up in price too...

[Kidestro]

Just checking to see that I didn't get ripped too badly. My 50, f1.4 was $79 :)

Hi, I'm a new GH1 owner and stumbled onto this thread after seeing MatzeB's work on vimeo. The results of the GH1 with FD primes are very impressive and I'm considering buying this setup.

Could you tell me where you guys bought your lenses from?

ciecio7 appears to be a good source for adapters. Thanks!

[Rolly]

Hi, I'm a new GH1 owner and stumbled onto this thread after seeing MatzeB's work on vimeo. The results of the GH1 with FD primes are very impressive and I'm considering buying this setup.

Could you tell me where you guys bought your lenses from?

ciecio7 appears to be a good source for adapters. Thanks!


I bought mine on Ebay, You sometimes can find these for really cheap.

[MatzeB]

I've bought all my lenses on ebay. But prices have risen since the GH1 is out.
The ciecio7 FD adapter is good. clever design.

[dvx_2010]

Hi MatzeB,

Was shopping around for a good video DSLR and saw your work on Vidmeo, awesome work!

I really like the shot at 01:50.

What lens did you use for that particular shot?
Would really love to know (which FD lense??)

Cheers!

:)

[MatzeB]

Hi MatzeB,

Was shopping around for a good video DSLR and saw your work on Vidmeo, awesome work!

I really like the shot at 01:50.

What lens did you use for that particular shot?
Would really love to know (which FD lense??)

Cheers!

:)

I don't remember exactly. It's not the stock lens. I think it's the 28mm ( Canon FD f2.0 S.S.C. )

[dvx_2010]

I see, thanks!

Love to see more of your new videos!

:-)

[Lucas Adamson]

Lovely work. Excellent choice of FDs you have there - the fast expensive ones, hehe!