GH4 2 questions re clock set & timecode set

[Elmer_Lang]

Hi

1) Every time I turn on my new GH4, I'm asked to set the clock. Any way to set and forget, or at least have it stop asking me to set it?

2) How do I set the timecode so it restarts with each clip?

best,
elmer

 

[Greg_E]

Do you keep a charged battery in the camera when you store it? How long between each time that you use it? You might have a defect with your camera.

 

[Elmer_Lang]

Hi
Thanks for the reply.
No, I don't keep a charged battery in the cam, I thot that was not the right thing to do.
It is sometimes days between use, but will be used more frequently now.
Used yesterday, just turned on now, and no query to set time code. Does it somehow store that info for a while, any idea how long?

Any idea about setting timecode so it restarts with each clip?

Thanks again.

elmer

 

[Greg_E]

With my Fuji cameras there is an internal battery that keeps time, so to keep that battery from running down we keep charged main batteries in them.

Not sure if the Panasonic does the same or if it has a rechargeable in the camera that needs to be recharged from the main battery. I have a gh2 but always keep a main battery in it.

 

[Elmer_Lang]

Thanks again!

I thought it was wrong to leave a battery in a camera. Strange.

 

[estarkey7]

Thanks again!

I thought it was wrong to leave a battery in a camera. Strange.

There are two kinds of timecode in the GH4: One runs with the internal clock and the other runs only during record, picking up where you left off the next time you record. Your probably have the second type enabled.

 

[Bruce Foreman]

Thanks again!

I thought it was wrong to leave a battery in a camera. Strange.

For long term storage it's recommended to remove batteries. I always leave a battery in mine but it's a good idea to check battery level every few weeks. While running the camera it will shut down before the battery discharges past a "safe level" preventing damage from deep discharge. But while the camera is not being used the battery will slowly "drain" and will eventually go past the "safe level" and continue slowly discharging until it hits a point where it attempts to "reverse polarity". The battery may be damaged beyond salvage if this happens.

Just check the batteries periodically.

 

[Elmer_Lang]

Thanks, Bif, good to know!

There are two kinds of timecode in the GH4: One runs with the internal clock and the other runs only during record, picking up where you left off the next time you record. Your probably have the second type enabled.

Hi estarkey7, thanks for your reply!
So when one chooses the option that runs with the internal clock, every new clip begins with timecode of 00:00:00:00? I don't quite understand the logic of that but will check it out.

 

[Greg_E]

You normally have record run and free run. Record run only runs when you are recording so if a clip ends at 01:01:01:20 the next clip you start begins with 01:01:01:21. In free run you would get something similar to time of day when each clip is recorded so you may have a clip that ends at 01:01:01:20 and the next clip starts at 01:11:34:00 because it took 11+ minutes to make a scene change. There are advantages to both, and I'm not really certain what they are so I won't try to explain the advantages, but those advantages all come down to logging and editing workflow.

 

[estarkey7]

Thanks, Bif, good to know!



Hi estarkey7, thanks for your reply!
So when one chooses the option that runs with the internal clock, every new clip begins with timecode of 00:00:00:00? I don't quite understand the logic of that but will check it out.

Selecting Free Run our REC Run won't force a start at zero, but if you constantly reset the timecode value (as opposed to using a manual input or using current time as the default).

I believe your issue is coming from your time being reset due
to removal of the battery for long periods. I would just leave that battery in, as I've had a charged battery in my camera for over a year!

 

[Bruce Foreman]

Elmer,

If you began taking the battery out after each use from the time you got the camera, the internal battery that retains clock settings probably never got much charged up and that likely is behind the constant "set the clock" prompts. Leave a charged battery in for a day or so and that problem should disappear.

I kind of "neglected" my GH4 for 5 or 6 weeks, it had two bars showing when I last powered it up and I checked it today. Same two bar level. Been doing some things with it and now it's down to one bar, I'll put a fresh charged battery in it when I put it away.

 

[aljudy]

I use my camera almost everyday, so I would never imagine taking the battery out. I can understand doing it though since all of us have experienced bad batteries leaking on device connections from long periods of inactivity. In general these Lithium Ion batteries are incredible. I have several power tools in my garage with Lithium Ion batteries that are infrequently used. First, those tools are ready to go whenever I need them; these batteries dis-charge very-very slow. Second, I have had no evidence of any of my Lithium Ion device batteries leaking or damaging equipment. I would think Panasonic would have a caution in their documents about removing the battery under some conditions and I have not read anything like this.