GH2 Finally!, the GH2 became the ultrasuperlowbudget filmaking tool

xenogears

Well-known member
I´m GH1 fanboy (sorta), my time to upgrade to the GH2 has been very slow(not even own one), not for the GH2 itself, but for what recording with a DSLR involve, no audio monitoring, AGC, no so good codecs, and so on, but really need HDMI live monitoring, better lowlight capability, and the GH13 has none of this.

But now i found all this conjugate at the same time:
- GH2 (900$)
- New Firmware hack, thanks to Vitaliy´s hack (50$ please donate)
- Sound Devices PIX 220 Video Recorder ($1600)
- Adapter for any nikon/CanonFd/Sony ($50)

Personally i think the Sound Devices Pix220 became the tool that fulfill the gap of the DSLR recording. HDMI ProRes or Avid DNxHD recording, 3:2 Pull Down Removal, 5" LCD Monitor, XLR audio inputs, no more audio sync on post with dual recorders.

All this together at $2600, the Sony VG10 cost almost $2000; of course you must add, lens, hard drive, ND Filter, but really... What´s interesting times we live.
 
Can someone explain the advantages of using something like the Sound Devices PIX 220 Video Recorder in combination with the GH2 as opposed to, say, recording to SD cards on the GH2 (vid) and Zoom H4n (sound)?
 
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In theory, if the signal from the HDMI is clean, you're avoiding the compression from the GH2's codec. The unhacked GH2's signal involves a lot of effort to get it looking good - ad it's a matter of choice if it's worth the effort.

It's still unconfirmed what the GH2 hack will 'unleash' - but, if it can send out a clean 4:2:2 signal, that would set the cat amongst the pigeons! In terms of audio, I presume to use something like the PIX, audio 'could be' via HDMI... so AGC will need to be disabled too. Or, you could record sound via your sound guy, and send wirelessly (or wired into the unit's XLR's) pretty much as you'd use a zoom/etc... advantage would be keeping audio & high-bit rate video recording on the same unit (and file - so no more post sync)... it depends on your workflow.

Watching Vitaly's hack with interest to see exactly what the GH2 can be pushed into doing :thumbsup:
 
I would hold off on the SoundDevices recorder for now, at least until we know that the hack can deliver clean 24p out the HDMI port (right now it doesn't.) Instead, spend the money on a bunch of cheap FD lenses (which look gorgeous on the GH2) and ND filters & other accessories.
 
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