GH2 Buying GH2 soon, first DSLR, I have a few questions...

MatthewC

MatthewC

Well-known member
So I have a Panasonic HPX170, love it, but it and the Letus Extreme arent always the most handy to carry around. So this is going to be my first DSLR, actually, my first still camera of any kind. I have a couple questions, bear with me.

1. How is color grading in post compared to the 7D/5D?

2. Can I buy adapter rings to mount my Nikon and Canon prime lenses (older styles, manual focus), so I don't have to buy a whole bunch of new lenses to use with the camera?

3. I saw some great footage on Vimeo of a guy in Bangkok walking around handheld with the camera, and the footage is incredibly smooth. Is that only 720p? I heard 1080p still has jello issues.

4. Understandably I will need a rails/Follow focus system for this. Any good decent recommendations that wont kill the bank?

5. How is the stock 14-140mm f/4.0-5.8 lense that comes with it? I know it's not extremely fast, but it seems pretty versatile and will allow me to operate the camera closer to my HPX170, etc. I will have my primes for shallower DOF.

6. How hard is it to intercut with 5D footage? Also, I will be using the 24P (24H) option the most, seems like its the way to go for most filmmakers? Correct me if I'm wrong. Also, what shutter speeds does this give me?

7. The video quality is better than the 7D/5Ds, and the amount of options pertaining to the video user and how easy it is to change exposure seem like this is the beast with the most options and best video. I understand the photographs arent quite as nice, but I'm buying this for video. Am I wrong about this camera?

Thanks! Sorry for all the Qs, but I'm very anxious to put an order out on this! Any tips, hints, etc for getting into the world of DSLR shooting would be appreciated, I know it's a whole new ballgame!
 
1. I like the CC in post better.

2. Yes you can, get Ciecio7's from ebay.

3. Jello all looks the same to me.

4. IndiSystems

5. It's an awesome video lens, I never really use it though.

6. Do the CUs with the 5D and you can't tell the difference. 1/50th shutter since there is no 1/48

7. You can get nice photos out of it, it is really annoying to get a hang of at first but then photos are nice.
 
Thanks for the info, really appreciate the feedback. Anybody else have some comments?

I'm looking for advice and tips on shooting with this, I heard that I should always shoot with my shutter speeds in increments of 60 to maximize the quality I'm getting from the camera? Any things I should know to really boost what I get from this camera? DSLRs are totally new to me and I wish there was a GH2 Book like Barry put out for the DVX/HVX/HPX.
 
1. better
2. yes, dead cheap
4.gini rigs all the way
5. since you have a lovely HPX170, don't bother with this lens.
6. big wides/ brick walls etc are no no on 5d
7. photos are great. you're making the right choice


>increments of 60
wha?
use 180 degree rule. if you're shooting at 24 fps, use 1/50th, at 30fps 1/60, at 60fps 1/120th etc . you will need ND filters to keep the shutter where you want it
few notes on GH2.
use smooth or nostalgic or standard film modes, never cinema or vibrant. ALWAYS leave NR and Sharpening at -2. For most occasions leave saturation at 0 and depending on lens/mood/light/subject adjust contrast. Use the flashy exposure thing and do your best to never overexpose. Don't underexpose either. when using the crop mode, try not to shoot above 800 ISO . As far as ISO, use anything till 400. then use 800/1600/3200. Don't use in betweens and try not to use 3200 if you can
for lenses, start with the 20mm 1.7 and a nikon 50mm 1.8 or sth similar depending on budget etc
 
All your questions have been discussed at length so there's a ton of great information in this forum. Just do a quick search of the issues you are talking about and you'll find a specific thread that discusses each one of your questions!
 
Shooting with your shutterspeed in multiples of 60 will help to eliminate flicker introduced under artificial lighting or when filming TV screens or computer monitors.

Because the Electrical system in the USA operates at 60hz, shooting with a shutter speed of 1/60th (or a multiple of) kind of synchronises the camera to the electrical system and gets rid of flickering lights.
 
deltoidjohn said:
Shooting with your shutterspeed in multiples of 60 will help to eliminate flicker introduced under artificial lighting or when filming TV screens or computer monitors.

Because the Electrical system in the USA operates at 60hz, shooting with a shutter speed of 1/60th (or a multiple of) kind of synchronises the camera to the electrical system and gets rid of flickering lights.
Click to expand...

Actually it's the frame rate that determines flicker not the shutter speed. At 24p and 60i you're fine in the US. It's only 25p and 50i that would cause more than usual amounts of flicker. And same thing in reverse in a PAL/50 cycle country with an NTSC frame rate based camera.

Noah
 
i have to tell ya, as a fellow happy 170 owner. i had a GH2 for a month or two. and overall, i just didnt see a lot of benefit in the whole DSLR "thing". so i sold mine.

for me, there were two reasons to use a DSLR over the 170+adapter rig:

smaller footprint
better low light performance

once you rig up a DSLR with rails and follow focus, audio, mattebox, etc. its not much smaller or really any more convenient than the 170+adapter
low light was a definite plus. but i found the 14-140 way too slow and didnt care for the look of it or the 20mm pancake. to REALLY see the low-light advantage, you will need an m4/3 adapter and get some good and fairly pricey fast and more aesthetically pleasing glass.

so for me, and my uses. the advantages of the DSLR washed out pretty quickly. and the drawbacks (non-standard audio workflow, (c)mos sensor vs ccd, less efficient codec, memory card unreliability, etc...) were just more than i cared to deal with... add to that the single control wheel for shutterspeed and aperture - that blows monkey balls!

this is however just my experience. there are people here who will argue the other side. it will come down to your shooting style and overall expectations...
 
Stefanos said:
1. better
2. yes, dead cheap
4.gini rigs all the way
5. since you have a lovely HPX170, don't bother with this lens.
6. big wides/ brick walls etc are no no on 5d
7. photos are great. you're making the right choice


>increments of 60
wha?
use 180 degree rule. if you're shooting at 24 fps, use 1/50th, at 30fps 1/60, at 60fps 1/120th etc . you will need ND filters to keep the shutter where you want it
few notes on GH2.
use smooth or nostalgic or standard film modes, never cinema or vibrant. ALWAYS leave NR and Sharpening at -2. For most occasions leave saturation at 0 and depending on lens/mood/light/subject adjust contrast. Use the flashy exposure thing and do your best to never overexpose. Don't underexpose either. when using the crop mode, try not to shoot above 800 ISO . As far as ISO, use anything till 400. then use 800/1600/3200. Don't use in betweens and try not to use 3200 if you can
for lenses, start with the 20mm 1.7 and a nikon 50mm 1.8 or sth similar depending on budget etc
Click to expand...
What's wrong with the vibrant/cinema modes? Do I lose the latitude to adjust as much in post? I mean I will probably leave my contrast/saturation at 0 most of the time, so I can adjust it a bit more in post. Copy, I will stay above 800 when using the crop mode, and I will keep it at 800/1600/3200 once I'm above 400. Thanks for the tips and advice, cant wait to get this thing on Monday.


wgzn said:
i have to tell ya, as a fellow happy 170 owner. i had a GH2 for a month or two. and overall, i just didnt see a lot of benefit in the whole DSLR "thing". so i sold mine.

for me, there were two reasons to use a DSLR over the 170+adapter rig:

smaller footprint
better low light performance

once you rig up a DSLR with rails and follow focus, audio, mattebox, etc. its not much smaller or really any more convenient than the 170+adapter
low light was a definite plus. but i found the 14-140 way too slow and didnt care for the look of it or the 20mm pancake. to REALLY see the low-light advantage, you will need an m4/3 adapter and get some good and fairly pricey fast and more aesthetically pleasing glass.

so for me, and my uses. the advantages of the DSLR washed out pretty quickly. and the drawbacks (non-standard audio workflow, (c)mos sensor vs ccd, less efficient codec, memory card unreliability, etc...) were just more than i cared to deal with... add to that the single control wheel for shutterspeed and aperture - that blows monkey balls!

this is however just my experience. there are people here who will argue the other side. it will come down to your shooting style and overall expectations...
Click to expand...
Yeah, there's definitely going to be some technical hurdles I will have to get used to, new work flow, etc. I just ordered a Nikon FD adapter and a Canon Ai adapter so I can use my older manual primes on this baby. Will have to look into getting a Voigtlander 25mm F.95 at some point.

I understand that the HPX170 has its major advantages over this, but it's not exactly easy to take an HPX170 out into the forest and set it up with lenses, rails, tripod, and a couple backpacks, just for some fun shots to practice my "eye". I look forward to taking some still photos with this on the fly and just working on framing, etc. Also, a lot of clients want a 7D/5D, this is the up and comer for DSLR video and it will definitely help get some more work as well. I appreciate your thoughts, thanks!
 
What's wrong with the cinema and vibrant is that they're messed up looks. vibrant , the name says it all. just don't use it. Cinema is a more unexpected suspect. It deals with highlights and highlight roll-off in the worst way with over saturated gradation and as if that wasn't enough it crushes your shadows the most
 
I see that I can buy SD/SDHC/SDXC for memory cards. The SDCX ones Im looking at seem like they max out at 22MBPS, and that's direct from Panasonic. Is there no memory card available that gives me maximum data transfer at 24P, going 24MBPS?
 
MatthewC said:
How long is this? My dad also Is getting a GH2 with me and is a total DSLR/video newb. Could I share this with him as well?
Click to expand...

It's 45 minutes plus about an 11-minute bonus video included. If you by share with your dad you mean watch together that would be great. If you internet file share- I hope you won't. :) PM me and I can arrange a special 2 for 1.5 price for ya though. :)

Noah
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top