Anyone using the GH1 for HD Docs/News?

xocomil said:
Many thanks Jay. Sounds like you and I are doing similar sorts of work.

A few further questions:

How does the GH1 footage compare with the HVX?

Do you use the 20mm Lumix pancake? If so does the in-camera mic pick up the noise from the auto focus? How about an external mounted on top of the camera (do you use the Zoom)?

Why do you use the GH1 for Broll only? Why not the interviews too?

Do you use a stabilizer?

Good to hear the AF works well in a pinch. You've certainly tweaked my interest!

Thanks!
Dave
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Dave,
Footage between the 2 cams can be more or less matched with some tweaking(for my purposes exact matching is not crucial), either in cam or post. I do mine in cam and it works fine. The HVX is on "cinematic b" from Barry's HVX book and the GH1 is on "smooth" with a boost in saturation and contrast.

Pancake focus is silent. Yes I use it, but honestly I use the kit and my Nikkor primes much more (28mm 2.8, 49mm 1.4) FYI I very much dislike the servo focus of the Panasonic lenses. If the auto focus didn't work so well I wouldn't use them as much.

I will probably buy an external mic eventually. I've heard good things about the Sennheiser. I probably wont ever use it for my main sound because I bought the camera for a super quick, low profile, small, high quality, alternative to the HVX. Something I can whip out and run down the road with or hike 5 miles with. I dont want to mess with external sound recording. Especially having to sync clips. Sometimes I may have 200 or more clips in one news segment's raw footage. I wouldn't want to F' with that and my editor would not be happy about it either.

I use a stabilizer that I bought from a guy in Hollyweird years ago built for the DVX. Its a simple counterbalanced shoulder rig that pretty much mimics the weight distribution of a full size broadcast cam. I modified it for the HVX then further modified it for the GH1. With quick releases I can swap both cams on and off between the tripod and stabilizer.

I bought the GH1 confident that I will trade the HVX for the AF100 eventually. I got a great deal on the GH1 and will be able to use all the GH1 M4/3 glass on the AF . I'm sure I will keep the GH1 (if it is still alive and kicking) for the same reason I use it now. High quality video in a totally undercover mini pkg.

Remember...invest in glass not camera bodies! This is the where the revolution begins. Before you could not really apply this concept to video cameras. The GH1 body is a no brainer it is so cheap!

Cheers and good luck!
 
The Panasonic 20mm f1.7 lens auto focus is not silent and the internal mic of the GH1 will definitely pick up the focus noise.

Randy
 
Cavemandude said:
The Panasonic 20mm f1.7 lens auto focus is not silent and the internal mic of the GH1 will definitely pick up the focus noise.

Randy
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I can confirm this.... I thought it wouldn't be a problem after shelling out 300 quid... but there you go. :(

Bloody annoying AF as well... keeps kicking in when you don't want it to in my experience. I have had to set it to manual.... which makes me wonder why i didn't just get a cheaper fast lens and adaptor from another company.
 
Well, the noise is only a problem when using the internal mic for you final audio which many people don't use so that's why it's still such a popular lens choice for the GH1.

Randy
 
I have been using mine for a year as a "B" Camera alongside my HMC150 on a project in Barbados. I am finished shooting that project, have applied the current "hack" and now am doing tests with it while I wait with everyone else for the AF100 to come to market.
The lumix is a great camera for some things, I wouldn't use it for news other than b roll.
 
Okay. Looks like the jury is still out on the GH1 as a main cam for news/doc work.

In any case, I bit the bullet and bought the GH1 with kit lens for $950 from Amazon yesterday. Figure at that price I can't lose.

So onto lenses. You all seem to be saying the 20mm pancake isn't worth the dough. AF is noisy (picked up by internal mic - what about a hotshoe mounted Zoom??) and unreliable. I presume the AF on the pancake will hunt in lowlight as well??

So I'll need something that can be used in low-light - both indoors and out (which means 1.8??). I'm not starting with any glass other than the kit lens so am wide open for suggestions.

That said, it would be great if I only had to buy one adaptor ... and great if I'll have the possibility of using with AF100 down the line (if it turns out to be all that).

Many thanks!
 
xocomil said:
Okay. Looks like the jury is still out on the GH1 as a main cam for news/doc work.

In any case, I bit the bullet and bought the GH1 with kit lens for $950 from Amazon yesterday. Figure at that price I can't lose.

So onto lenses. You all seem to be saying the 20mm pancake isn't worth the dough. AF is noisy (picked up by internal mic - what about a hotshoe mounted Zoom??) and unreliable. I presume the AF on the pancake will hunt in lowlight as well??

So I'll need something that can be used in low-light - both indoors and out (which means 1.8??). I'm not starting with any glass other than the kit lens so am wide open for suggestions.

That said, it would be great if I only had to buy one adaptor ... and great if I'll have the possibility of using with AF100 down the line (if it turns out to be all that).

Many thanks!
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Well - it is still a good lens... i mean the quality of image is superb. I was just a bit disappointed with the AF implementation. If I am in low light / close to the subject I can use manual or AF lock.

I haven't got a fast pancake lens from another manufacturer to compare it too - so am still not sure if it was a good buy or not.
 
THanks all. Upon reading lots of posts and viewing videos I think I'll go for the Panny 20mm pancake plus a nikkor ais 50mm f1.8 (sounds like it is sharper than f1.4). So $400 for panny, $100 nikkor and a nikon adaptor. If I like the nikkors I can always pick up a 28mm 2.8 (as recommended by Jay Canode).

Someone on another site recommended the sigma 24mm (or 30mm) but as its wider (and AF won't work ... and no guarantees it will with AF100) I don't think I'll go there.

Any last words of advice before I bite the bullet?

Also, are people using Zoom H4N to record sound directly or connecting a shotgun-style mic (I have sennheiser me64)? What about connecting lapel mics (wired or wireless)?

Thanks all!
 
The Pancake 20mm is not at all optimised for video. It sounds very loud. But I can still use it in manual mode, get focus with afs then flick to manual and do the manual focus check.

People tend to forget though that this is actually quite a great little stills camera and the 20mm is really sharp and gorgeous. I like it in low light for stills. I am still glad I got it as it is a pretty useful addition especially shooting indoors.
 
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