Thoughts On MUD

[teeveeboy]

I've had the GH-1 for several weeks and used it a lot both professionally and personally. I'm a TV news anchor who one-man-bands feature stories weekly, and have used the camera for at least four stories now. I actually use it and a 5D Mk II in tandem and thought you might like my observations.

1. MUD is a problem (already established). But much more so when chasing my kids around than shooting stories. On stories, things are planned and tripods are used and motion is much more deliberate. And you know how fast kids move.

2. Despite that, I love shooting in 1080p24. When it's great, it's great. My stories all air in 1080p, so can't really shoot in 720.

3. I generally shoot in creative motion picture mode with a fixed shutter speed around 50 or 60. However, not so great when chasing kids.

4. So I tried full auto at 1080p - MUD CITY! Obviously the GH-1 loves choosing high shutter speeds and narrow apertures in bright sun.

5. High shutter speeds are the enemy of this camera in 1080p! So... If I want to shoot in auto outside I've attached a .9 ND filter. It obviously forces the aperture open and lowers the shutter speed dramatically. Mud is much less of a problem.

6. This camera can keep up with the 5D, but I feel surpasses it in a number of ways. Most notably, usability. The flip out screen makes shooting b-roll much easier. Being able to use the viewfinder in bright sun is a huge help. Can't do either thing with the 5D. Auto focus is also a big help and being able to hold the auto focus is great too. 5D is better in low light, and being able to throw on a Canon fisheye or wideangle is cool. Adapter for the GH1 for these lenses makes them usable but you lose too much wideness and fishiness to help much.

7. Overall, I love both cams, but the GH1 is more of the complete package. I'm going to post my latest story on Vimeo momentarily so you can see if you can spot the difference between the two cams.

[yabyum]

Have you tried to shoot 720 and upconvert to 1080?

[Ben_B]

Yes, totally. Use ND filters and don't shoot auto.

I personally prefer to shoot 720p anyway.

Agree with you on GH1 vs 5D...Gh1 is definitively the better video camera in terms of usage as a video camera, and as such often comes close or exceeds in image quality.

[teeveeboy]

I haven't tried that... Do you have a suggestion for the best way to do it? I personally like the 24p look for news features, but might give it a try for shooting video of the kids if you can tell me the best way to do it. Compressor?

[Mike@AF]

I've shot 720 and 1080 with no mud. Granted, everything outside of testing the camera has been narrative, but it hasn't been an issue at all for me at all.

You need to make sure your camera movements are smooth and not sudden. Start your pans and tilts gingerly. The faster your camera movements are the more you need to consider 720. Bottom line, don't shoot handheld at all. Nothing you do with your handheld shooting will prevent jello and mud. Shoulder mount it or throw it on some kind of stabilizer.

Know the limitations of the camera you're shooting with and work around those limitation or compensate for them.

[mtan]

I assume you use another device to record audio on or do you use the gh1?

[Ian-T]

Hey teeveeboy thanks for that input. From what I've seen so far from the 24p in this camera I agree when you said "when it's great, it's great." I'm looking forward to seeing your latest story also.

[ustein]

>I personally prefer to shoot 720p anyway.

For me this decision is hard as I can see the higher resolution. Coming from 12/21MP still cameras hard to lose the higher quality. Also 720p shows more moire than 1080p.

But then if I look at 720p it may all I need.

Uwe

[teeveeboy]

I assume you use another device to record audio on or do you use the gh1?

I actually use the GH1. I understand its limitations, but for what I'm doing it's fine. Once the automatic level control kicks in after a few words it's all good. In fact, I only seem to get overmodulation with people who speak very loudly, and that's only at the beginning of a sentence. When I record my voice, I keep that in mind and my voice sounds very good. Truthfully, I think the GH1 seems to handle audio a little better than the 5d does. If I do end up with overmodulation, I've tried some filters in Final Cut that have been effective in virtually eliminating it.

[teeveeboy]

I've shot 720 and 1080 with no mud. Granted, everything outside of testing the camera has been narrative, but it hasn't been an issue at all for me at all.

You need to make sure your camera movements are smooth and not sudden. Start your pans and tilts gingerly. The faster your camera movements are the more you need to consider 720. Bottom line, don't shoot handheld at all. Nothing you do with your handheld shooting will prevent jello and mud. Shoulder mount it or throw it on some kind of stabilizer.

Know the limitations of the camera you're shooting with and work around those limitation or compensate for them.

I stabilize with a shoulder brace, Steadicam Merlin and tripod when shooting for work. Following the kids around, I handhold but keep in mind the camera's limitations. It's taken several weeks, but I'm getting close to figuring out what I can and can't do.

[Ozpeter]

Once the automatic level control kicks in after a few words it's all good. In fact, I only seem to get overmodulation with people who speak very loudly, and that's only at the beginning of a sentence. When I record my voice, I keep that in mind and my voice sounds very good. Truthfully, I think the GH1 seems to handle audio a little better than the 5d does. If I do end up with overmodulation, I've tried some filters in Final Cut that have been effective in virtually eliminating it.Here the loudest regular sound is our two dogs' barking, and the auto level control catches that pretty quick. As ALC systems go, I'd rate the GH1 as pretty good - I had a look at a typical file in an audio editor the other day and was impressed by the dynamic range which wasn't drastically squashed. Not ideal but not a disaster - but an external mic eg Rode SVM does improve the audio quality.

[yabyum]

I haven't tried that... Do you have a suggestion for the best way to do it? I personally like the 24p look for news features, but might give it a try for shooting video of the kids if you can tell me the best way to do it. Compressor?

I have no experience doing it but I have heard it brings good results. So anyone who knows more feel free to chime in here, that is re: 720p -> 1080p upconverting.

The way I would do it is to just render out my project file in Vegas to 1080p size. In my workflow this is easy to do at the meGui/avisynth step where I can resize. I'll try it now actually...

[mtan]

I actually use the GH1. I understand its limitations, but for what I'm doing it's fine. Once the automatic level control kicks in after a few words it's all good. In fact, I only seem to get overmodulation with people who speak very loudly, and that's only at the beginning of a sentence. When I record my voice, I keep that in mind and my voice sounds very good. Truthfully, I think the GH1 seems to handle audio a little better than the 5d does. If I do end up with overmodulation, I've tried some filters in Final Cut that have been effective in virtually eliminating it.

well that sells me on it then, if it is good enough for news it's good enough for my purposes. I will use an external mic and maybe they will even update the firmware for the auto gain issue.

[chrismagicc]

I am not in the mood to find this certain thread, but i heard from other members that the stock lens brings out more Mud, and using, other lenses is much less of a problem. Is this because of the image stabilization/AF function on the stock lens? can someone elaborate?

[John Caballero]

If the 1080p workflow is working fine there is no reason to use anything else.

[teeveeboy]

Ok, here's the link to my latest story shot with the GH1 and a little 5D Mark II:

http://vimeo.com/6257412

[teeveeboy]

I assume you use another device to record audio on or do you use the gh1?

I use an Azden dual channel wireless mic for audio, but it's plugged directly into the GH1.

[teeveeboy]

I am not in the mood to find this certain thread, but i heard from other members that the stock lens brings out more Mud, and using, other lenses is much less of a problem. Is this because of the image stabilization/AF function on the stock lens? can someone elaborate?

I have started to try my Canon 50mm with the adapter I just received. Early results are positive, but can't comment on the mud issue.

[Car3o]

I have no experience doing it but I have heard it brings good results. So anyone who knows more feel free to chime in here, that is re: 720p -> 1080p upconverting.

The way I would do it is to just render out my project file in Vegas to 1080p size. In my workflow this is easy to do at the meGui/avisynth step where I can resize. I'll try it now actually...

http://www.redgiantsoftware.com/products/all/magic-bullet-instant-hd/

[yabyum]

Ok, here's the link to my latest story shot with the GH1 and a little 5D Mark II:

http://vimeo.com/6257412

thanks for sharing. that was a nice piece about some really really caring people. wow! those in-studio shots with the gh1 look spectacular. i gotta use 1080p sometime.

i tried to upconvert and it looked just alright... it lost a good amount of sharpness/clarity to the image in 1080p... so i don't think how i did it, just a straight resize, is the right way to go. maybe that magic bullet stuff works well, hopefully someone who has used it will chime in

[John Caballero]

Forget about using 720p and resizing. Why? Teeveeboy, your piece looks excellent. Even the 1080p slow motion. It crearly shows that if you are a pro "mud" will be a non-issue. If the camera is handled properly 1080p will give you great results. If you are going to chase your children, pets or girlfriend around that may be another story. But if you shoot the way is supposed to be it will look better than fine. Great piece all around.

[dmoreno]

I use an Azden dual channel wireless mic for audio, but it's plugged directly into the GH1.

I guess you need an adapter to connect the wireless to the 2.5 mm mic in of the GH1. What are you using?

Thanks

[teeveeboy]

I guess you need an adapter to connect the wireless to the 2.5 mm mic in of the GH1. What are you using?

Thanks

Got the adapter at Radio Shack... It's a basic 3.5 to 2.5mm - should be able to find it on their website.

[teeveeboy]

Forget about using 720p and resizing. Why? Teeveeboy, your piece looks excellent. Even the 1080p slow motion. It crearly shows that if you are a pro "mud" will be a non-issue. If the camera is handled properly 1080p will give you great results. If you are going to chase your children, pets or girlfriend around that may be another story. But if you shoot the way is supposed to be it will look better than fine. Great piece all around.

Thanks for the compliments... I've found if you keep that shutter speed in the 50-60 range mud is also reduced greatly. It's funny how disciplined I am as a professional, but when I start shooting home videos, it's like I don't know what I'm doing. I'm going to make a concerted effort to change that!