I have not seen the app. Is there one for Android or just iOS ?. As to autofocus the clips I have seen of testing it show totally unacceptable hunting so not usable to check focus while recording and it does not have continuous autofocus at all. So touch auto focus before recording looks usable but not otherwise. I often adjust focus with the app on my GH5 or GH5S while recording to focus on a particular action. Continuous autofocus is not something I use but when I had the GH5 first I did test and for me it seemed to work as well as my Sony camcorders ( which also like to focus on the background some times !!! )
GH5 Game Over, Panasonic
- Thread starter Jim Simon
- Start date
I have not seen the app. Is there one for Android or just iOS ?. As to autofocus the clips I have seen of testing it show totally unacceptable hunting so not usable to check focus while recording and it does not have continuous autofocus at all. So touch auto focus before recording looks usable but not otherwise. I often adjust focus with the app on my GH5 or GH5S while recording to focus on a particular action. Continuous autofocus is not something I use but when I had the GH5 first I did test and for me it seemed to work as well as my Sony camcorders ( which also like to focus on the background some times !!! )
Ted Ramasola
Veteran
To add regarding auto focus, I tested my lumix 12-35 on the p4k and things to note if your coming from a GH4 or other lumix cameras;
The touch focus works but you can't use it while recording.
Upon hitting the AF button or tapping on screen area to focus, the focus will hunt back and forth for 4 to 5 seconds.
When it finds focus the square on screen will disappear, other than that, there is no confirm beep. I feel they should at least add a confidence symbol or sound when focus is acquired, like in GH cameras the white square turns green when focus is achieved and theres also a beep you can turn on if you want.
Thomas Smet
Veteran
Does it need to be said that a cinema camera really has no place having auto focus?
To me it sounds like auto focus on the p4k is not really auto focus but more of a focus assist tool. To be honest I really don’t need/want a cinema camera to have auto focus. I really consider this a non issue and really wonder why anybody else would buy a cinema camera and then go out and shoot stuff that is ok with auto focus.
To me it sounds like auto focus on the p4k is not really auto focus but more of a focus assist tool. To be honest I really don’t need/want a cinema camera to have auto focus. I really consider this a non issue and really wonder why anybody else would buy a cinema camera and then go out and shoot stuff that is ok with auto focus.
icarusfilm
Veteran
Yes but most of the clips leave it up to your imagination because there is not a comparison. A placebo works best when you already believe it.
I posted this on the Blackmagic forum. It could use some seconding.
I have a FEATURE REQUEST:
Programmable focus points. The camera can lock focus with the touch screen, but it doesn't REMEMBER the distance, and instead hunts around every time to find the focus again. We should be able to lock in a couple of focus-pulling options and have the camera return to that point with the push of a button, or touchscreen option. This is a "CINE" camera right? You don't have your camera hunting around to focus in the cinema. This should be an easy software solution, since the camera can already do the hard lifting. It just needs to REMEMBER the data and recall it at the operator's touch.
I have a FEATURE REQUEST:
Programmable focus points. The camera can lock focus with the touch screen, but it doesn't REMEMBER the distance, and instead hunts around every time to find the focus again. We should be able to lock in a couple of focus-pulling options and have the camera return to that point with the push of a button, or touchscreen option. This is a "CINE" camera right? You don't have your camera hunting around to focus in the cinema. This should be an easy software solution, since the camera can already do the hard lifting. It just needs to REMEMBER the data and recall it at the operator's touch.
icarusfilm
Veteran
I really like the AF on the P4K like the AF on the GH5 its so crappy that it will force you to focus manually. Sony and Canon have really bad AF because it'd deludes you into believing that you can use it and then you look at the footage and every 3rd take is crap.
Sorry can't agree. I camera autofocus that hunts while in record like the BMPCC4K is a disaster. Also the feature request that mail4joeg wants is exactly what the GH5 and GH5S have now for 3 points. Camera can also remember the lens position after it has been switched off and back on again. Also the one touch autofocus on the GH5 and GH5S is fine. The complaint for the GH5 is for continuous autofocus that the BMPCC4K does not have at all and it is actual not bad. Just not good as a vlogging camera to hold on to the persons face while they swing it around !!!
joe12south
Veteran
I thought I would love the "focus points" feature on the GH5, but the number of times I've used it in a real world scenario: 0.
I wouldn't complain if the P4K gained that feature - it's nice to have theoretically - but cine lenses with a follow-focus are less fiddly.
joe12south
Veteran
When I have the P4K in hand I'll post some actual controlled tests between it and the GH5. If I'm feeling particularly froggy, I might even rent a GH5S. If I can't get more usable DR out of the P4K's RAW files, I'll buy you a beer.
cyclone
Well-known member
I am not questioning this statement...but I am about to question this statement...not to be rude, but out of my own ignorance. Is this true? Do others agree? I do not own a GH5 (film background, but sold my Arriflex). If this is correct, I agree with Ron Evans and Thomas Smet above. Once primary focus is established (which is what I use auto focus for), I'm not a fan of Continuous Autofocus...I would rather control that with a manual focus pull to make it appropriate for the scene (I promise I won't use the word "organic"). I was ignoring the GH5 thinking that its primary auto focus was questionable. If that is not the case, I'm on board. The Continuous part is not a concern for me and I think that I have misunderstood for years now, yes? Thank you.
I rarely have difficulty getting accurate single AF as long the lighting is decent and using native MFT lenses. With a speed booster the accuracy is still pretty good depending on what lens is being used. I use focus transition from time to time and it works not only with native lenses but also with AF lenses with speed booster.
icarusfilm
Veteran
When I shoot I need to pull focus to wherever I want whenever I want at the moment I want regardless if there is a face visible, backlit or front lit, framing cannot be dependent on my ability to focus and it has to be instant at any moment- otherwise I cannot do what I do.
Spartacus
Veteran
You could also argue why someone needs to call the P4K a "cinema camera" because arguably there won't be many movies being shot on the P4K that'll end up in the cinema
The reality is the P4K is for those who "shoot stuff that is ok with auto focus."
And why bother at all? AF is just a tool like waveform, peaking or false color. You don't like it, turn it off.
But the P4K's target audience would surely put AF to use IF it hadn't been so poorly implemented...
Thomas Smet
Veteran
You could also argue why someone needs to call the P4K a "cinema camera" because arguably there won't be many movies being shot on the P4K that'll end up in the cinema
The reality is the P4K is for those who "shoot stuff that is ok with auto focus."
And why bother at all? AF is just a tool like waveform, peaking or false color. You don't like it, turn it off.
But the P4K's target audience would surely put AF to use IF it hadn't been so poorly implemented...
You could say the same thing about the URSA as well and a lot of the productions being shot on RED. Is Jessica Jones not shot on a cinematic camera just because it streams on Netflix?
Well if you ask the Arri fans they would in fact tell you those shows aren’t cinematic since they weren’t shot on the Alexa but that’s another issue.
icarusfilm
Veteran
Not really, a "Cinema" camera is a camera which puts the full control of the image into your hands- the focus is one of the controls. I really don't want a dime spent on any unnecessary features on a camera like that. There are enough camcorders, action cams and camera phones out there if you need these things then its not for you. You don't buy a race car and complain its a rough ride and has no automatic and you can't drive your kids to soccer practice.
You could also argue why someone needs to call the P4K a "cinema camera" because arguably there won't be many movies being shot on the P4K that'll end up in the cinema
The reality is the P4K is for those who "shoot stuff that is ok with auto focus."
And why bother at all? AF is just a tool like waveform, peaking or false color. You don't like it, turn it off.
But the P4K's target audience would surely put AF to use IF it hadn't been so poorly implemented...
I shoot in manual focus all the time but always set focus with touch focus on tablet using the Panasonic app so do not need to touch the camera. It is possible to control just about everything with the app even a power zoom lens ( I have an Olympus 12-50 that works well ). You can set the focus any time by touching the point on the tablet screen and focus is fast and accurate in this mode with confirmation. I do not use the focus presets as it is not that useful for what I shoot. I often confirm focus too while recording and unlike the BMPCC4K there is no hunting.
That would be very awesome!
Especially if you have an AC putting down marks and reasonably tame actors.
You could also argue why someone needs to call the P4K a "cinema camera" because arguably there won't be many movies being shot on the P4K that'll end up in the cinema
The reality is the P4K is for those who "shoot stuff that is ok with auto focus."
And why bother at all? AF is just a tool like waveform, peaking or false color. You don't like it, turn it off.
But the P4K's target audience would surely put AF to use IF it hadn't been so poorly implemented...
100% certain shots from the BMPCC4K will show up in cinemas
Bassman2003
Veteran
I have to agree with Spartacus. As a person who shoots all kinds of stuff, I see the term "cinema camera" kind of like "film look". We all know what it means or what it stands for but it is getting used a lot. For the p4k the term means less usability features compared to a full fledged camera to get the price down. It is an awesome tool and image but lets not kid ourselves. A $1,300 camera is going to be used far more often by "normal" users making everything than only at the center of a production film crew - just because it is labelled a cinema camera. Not saying anything bad here. I love the image and the approach. Happy it is in the marketplace.
If the GH6 has RAW video would it then be called a cinema camera?
If the GH6 has RAW video would it then be called a cinema camera?