MIRRORLESS: Lumix GH6: what is base ISO?

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FoxAdriano

Well-known member
Hello,
Can anyone tell me what the base ISO is in the GH6?
Then I'd like to ask another question:
In Africa where there is a lot of light, in general which ISO would be best to choose when shooting outdoors?
I inform you that I shoot in 4k and V-Log.
Thank you
 
The Panasonic GH6 features dual native ISO settings that vary based on whether Dynamic Range Boost is enabled, with base ISOs of 100 (standard) or 250 (V-Log) when disabled. When Dynamic Range Boost is enabled, the base ISO shifts to 800 (standard) or 2000 (V-Log) for maximum dynamic range. [Quoted from Google]

That said, I nearly always shoot with my GH6 at ISO 800, never lower. I sometimes go higher if there is low light. I control exposure manually by adjusting the aperture and shutter speed.
 
Thanks for your precious info.
Maybe do you raise the ISO to have less contrast? But maybe it decreases the dynamic bandwidth, am I wrong?
I'm going to India where there is a lot of light and sun. I will shoot in 4K and V-Log in outdoor.
How many ISOs would you choose?
Thanks again.
 
I would turn on Dynamic Range Boost and set the ISO to 800. If you find that the light is low indoors, then set the ISO to 2000. That is one of the base ISOs for Dynamic Range Boost when using V-Log.

I never shoot in V-Log, however. I always use either "Natural" or REC709. Therefore, I shoot at ISO 800 99.9 percent of the time.
 
Sorry, I don't understand well. Are you suggesting to try ISO 800 with Dynamic Range Boost and V-Log or in normal profiles?
Can I ask why do you not use V-Log? Maybe only for a time problem?
 
I recommend that you turn on Dynamic Range Boost and set the ISO to 800. If you find that the light is low indoors, then set the ISO to 2000.

"Why do you not use V-Log?" I like the look of clean video. Plus, I don't want to be forced to adjust every clip to some standard or LUT... I'd rather have it look like clean video from the start.
 
PERFECT: now you clarified my ideas.
Thank you.
Anyway in past time I did a not instrumental test with V-Log and Dynamic Range Boost enabled and 2000 ISO, but I don't get better results than with Dynamic Range Boost disabled and 250 ISO.
Thanks again.
 
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I think the DR you gain is fairly small in comparison to the range on a bright sunny day. If you're not filming a movie it's reasonable to skip the Vlog. It's a subjective whether it's worth it. Below base iso generally reduces DR of the highlights.
 
So I understand that Dynamic Range Boost enabled is more useful in the evening or at night or in closed environments with little light.
Is that so?
Anyway I prefer to use V-Log for greater softness of the video image which returns a wider gradation of colors. But above all I use V-Log because I often make mistakes during the shooting phase (overexposure or underexposure) and with V-Log it is easier to correct the clip due to its wider dynamic range. At least I believe this.

EDIT:
I would like to ask a question to those who are using Dynamic Range Boost enabled, as I am inexperienced.
Today I left the house to do some shooting with my GH6 set in V-Log, with Dynamic Range Boost enabled, 2000 ISO and 50p.
It was a winter day but full of sunshine. In most of the shots I had to turn the VND to maximum and choose the aperture at 20f or 22f.
My question is:
how is it possible to obtain better or equal results to shots taken with 250 ISO???
Maybe I'm doing something wrong? But I don't see the possibility of decreasing the density of the VND filter or decreasing the aperture.
Thanks for clarifying.
 
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Like I said generally the down side of using lower iso below base iso results in less dynamic range in the highlights. Since recovering highlights is more useful shooting outside that’s why Bob is recommended 800 iso with variable ND to lower the exposure instead of lowering the iso.

It is my opinion for doc work I can’t be bothered to do any of this to get a relatively small advantage in DR.
 
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Yes, I fully understand what you are telling me. You explained well and I thank you.
But the point of my post is: if you close an aperture to f22 instead of f5.6, I believe that the quality of the video image decreases compared to f5.6 or f8.
My doubt is: it seems incredible to me that better results can be obtained with Dynamic Range Boost enabled if I have to close the aperture to f22?
 
Closing the lens down all the way (or that much) will produce lens diffraction, which will destroy the video quality and neither camera setting will help you then.
 
With DR set in Vlog then the ISO is fixed at 2000. Set your F stop for the depth of field you want,F4, F5.6 or F8, then use the VND filter to set exposure with your meter. If you use the highlight setting in the GH6 it will set by highlights in the image. Or use the spot metering for things that are specific. Just to explain, your frame rate fixes shutter speed, ISO is fixed with VLog and DR, aperture is selected for depth of field so the exposure is actually set using VND filter on the lens by reading the meter on your camera. You can experiment with over or under exposure to get what you want and then use that approach for future shoots. You have almost 2 stops of control with Vlog in post if you get it a little off when you shoot. Just don't over expose the clip as that cannot be recovered. Watch your zebras to indicate places in the frame that the meter may not look at depending on what metering selection you have chosen.
 
NorBro said:
Closing the lens down all the way (or that much) will produce lens diffraction, which will destroy the video quality and neither camera setting will help you then.
Click to expand...
Precisely!! So I understand that the use of Dynamic Range Boost is limited.
 
FoxAdriano said:
Yes, I fully understand what you are telling me. You explained well and I thank you.
But the point of my post is: if you close an aperture to f22 instead of f5.6, I believe that the quality of the video image decreases compared to f5.6 or f8.
My doubt is: it seems incredible to me that better results can be obtained with Dynamic Range Boost enabled if I have to close the aperture to f22?
Click to expand...
No I wouldn’t recommend closing the aperture past f/8. I would increase the shutter speed until I got the correct exposure. Because don’t find motion blur to be critical but again this is subjective.

Each approach has its own tradeoffs including variable NDs. In my experience doc work isn’t about achieving image perfection .
 
Ron Evans said:
With DR set in Vlog then the ISO is fixed at 2000. Set your F stop for the depth of field you want,F4, F5.6 or F8, then use the VND filter to set exposure with your meter.
Click to expand...
Unfortunately I have NiSi ND-Vario True Color 1-5 Stop, it is not sufficient to open the camera aperture more.
But beyond this, I have always known that using a filter at maximum power (very dense) deteriorates the quality of the video image.
Isn't that how it is? So sometimes I wonder if it makes sense to use Dynamic Range Boost.
 
FoxAdriano said:
So instead of using 1/100, to obtain the 180° rule I could use 1/200.
Click to expand...
Yes. If you’re filming a feature movie and have an entire team you have the luxury of being picky and wanting to abide by the 180 rule for consistency and the best look. But for solo doc work I think it’s more important to put your energy into what you’re filming not your camera settings.

Variable ND can causes x pattern full strength and also introduce color shifts. Like I said pick your poison everyone has different preferences.
 
A question comes to me spontaneously: since I only shoot in 4K , V-Log and 1/100 and in cases with a lot of light 1/200, does it make sense to use a VND?
Maybe adjusting the aperture instead of spinning a double pane like a VND can get better results.
What do you think?
 
The nomenclature of the settings is irrelevant; it's just about the process you're engaging.

Whether it improves IQ or doesn't is up to you to decide, but shooting with a higher ISO is not a drawback simply because you're fighting against more light, you just have to use ND filtration like 100% of professionals.

Little shutter tweaks are absolutely fine, but you need filters for the main control.
 
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