GH4 Bit rate vs. Compression method

James Carpenter

James Carpenter

Well-known member
I currently own a GH4, and will be travelling to Vietnam soon to visit a friend who just moved out there for two years. We're doing a 10 day road trip through Cát Tiên National Park into Cambodia and I want to make a short doc detailing our trip.

Given that the national park is full of trees and will contain very "busy" shots I concerned about the image quality I'm going to get. I really want to capture beautiful images and not have to worry about artifacts and crappy quality.

Which bit rate / compression method would best suit this in your opinions:

1/. 100Mbps IPB
2/. 200Mbps All-I

Initially I thought 200Mbps would be the obvious choice, but the more I read, the more I'm concerned that 200Mbps is the minimum required for the All-I compression to provide a decent image.

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated!



Alternatively, should I sell my GH4 and get a more capable camera? :)

I've been toying with the idea of buying a used 1DX mk2, but the weight of the damn thing might be too much hindrance on a motorbike road trip.

Thanks all and have a great week!
 
Personally, if you are sticking with the GH4, I would choose 100Mbps IBP. Here is a video I made in Vietnam three years ago using the SLR Magic 10mm, so no stabilization, only what I could achieve in post.

https://vimeo.com/110962913

Weight is very much an issue and the lighter the better. Would a GH5 be out of the question? Just shot a ton of handheld anamorphic footage with one and couldn't be happier.

Enjoy your trip. A fascinating country for sure.
 
Thanks for the info, and nice footage.

Do you have experience with the Panny 12-35 and 12-60 lenses? I'm thinking of buying the 12-60mm to compliment the Canon 100mm macro i already own. I just wish the aperture was fixed.
 
James Carpenter said:
Thanks for the info, and nice footage.

Do you have experience with the Panny 12-35 and 12-60 lenses? I'm thinking of buying the 12-60mm to compliment the Canon 100mm macro i already own. I just wish the aperture was fixed.
Click to expand...

If you are talking about the Leica 12-60, it's a beautiful lens, sort of parfocal in certain circumstances, and personally I don't find the variable aperture an issue. I think it would be an excellent choice.

There are four torture test videos of that lens on my video page if it helps (taken on the GH5). Plus an informal test of the original 12-35 is one of the first videos I posted many years ago, also available (taken on the GH2).
 
stoneinapond said:
Personally, if you are sticking with the GH4, I would choose 100Mbps IBP. Here is a video I made in Vietnam three years ago using the SLR Magic 10mm, so no stabilization, only what I could achieve in post.

https://vimeo.com/110962913

Weight is very much an issue and the lighter the better. Would a GH5 be out of the question? Just shot a ton of handheld anamorphic footage with one and couldn't be happier.

Enjoy your trip. A fascinating country for sure.
Click to expand...

What a perfect depiction of the country and it's people. Simply an outstanding job, music and all.
 
stoneinapond said:
If you are talking about the Leica 12-60, it's a beautiful lens, sort of parfocal in certain circumstances, and personally I don't find the variable aperture an issue. I think it would be an excellent choice.
Click to expand...
I second that, the lens is excellent and an ideal vacation lens.
For the national park I would add a wide angle, sub 10mm lens, and a 200mm+ lens for close ups, for instance the 100-400mm Leica/Panasonic.
 
Cary Knoop said:
Thanks for sharing, but now you gave me a problem, I think I want that hyperprime! :)
Click to expand...

Cary, the 10mm is a perfect fit for the GH4 using 4K. Shot a ton of travel videos with it. On the GH5, it's a bit wider because of the loss of the crop, but using ETC it returns to a perfect FOV. Just seems a bit of a waste of a feature like that. I have to go back to it and see if I can make it work on the GH5. However, the glass is really what makes it shine. The company did a fabulous job on that.
 
Cary Knoop said:
I second that, the lens is excellent and an ideal vacation lens.
For the national park I would add a wide angle, sub 10mm lens, and a 200mm+ lens for close ups, for instance the 100-400mm Leica/Panasonic.
Click to expand...


So I'm thinking of getting the 35-100 to compliment the 12-35.
Any thoughts on the 35-100 for video?
 
James Carpenter said:
Any thoughts on the 35-100 for video?
Click to expand...

I sold off my 35-100mm f/2.8 mk1 lens because I could not get rid of the image jitter when hand holding GH4 shots with this lens. Today a GH5 with IBIS would have fixed this problem.

This summer I bought the 35-100mm f/2.8 mk2 lens which is supposed to not have the jitter problem that the mk1 lens had, but I haven't tried it with my GH4 body to see if this is true for me. ( I shoot everything with the GH5 now )
 
Eugh, well that's too bad, good to know though, thanks!
I'll google it and see if the mk.2 has removed this issue.
 
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TheDingo said:
This summer I bought the 35-100mm f/2.8 mk2 lens which is supposed to not have the jitter problem that the mk1 lens had, but I haven't tried it with my GH4 body to see if this is true for me. ( I shoot everything with the GH5 now )
Click to expand...

If you have a minute, any chance you could test this?
I'll buy you a Timbit
:thumbsup:
 
I bought my 35-100 mk1 just before the mk2 was released and I have not had any jitter issues on the GH4 or 5. It is my go-to lens for sharp images when the extra reach over the 12-35 is needed. I use it for video as well as stills with no issues.
 
Jmcadory said:
I bought my 35-100 mk1 just before the mk2 was released and I have not had any jitter issues on the GH4 or 5. It is my go-to lens for sharp images when the extra reach over the 12-35 is needed. I use it for video as well as stills with no issues.
Click to expand...

So you're saying it's not a inherent issue with the lens?
I am seriously considering buying one used, but am concerned with this gamble i could be taking. I'm not the luckiest guy. :cry:
 
From my understanding the issue was corrected in later production runs of the mk1 and there was a firmware update at some point to address the issue for earlier lens.
 
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