GH2 Getting a GH2 and need some information on rigs, ND, etc.

Loganm187

Loganm187

Well-known member
So I have been shooting with the Af100 for the past 9 months and even though I love the functionality and have been over all pleased with the images (demo reel here https://vimeo.com/34761577 ) there is no "WOW" factor compared to the hacked GH2 and it's just blowing me away. I am selling the af100 before the blackmagic hits and picking up a GH2. The thing is... I HAVE NEVER SHOT ON A DSLR, EVER. I went straight from a DVX to a AF100 so I need some tips on what I should all buy to make the most comfortable transition. First things first I love that I can use all my adapters and lenses from my AF, gonna save me a ton. Here are my questions:

1: I am buying a Zoom H4N to record audio with my Rode NTG3 BUT does the GH2 have any way to record or monitor audio by itself? Could you run an XLR to 1/4 jack into to record audio and monitor?

2:I need a rig with a top handle and a place for the zoom H4n, mic, and external monitor to screw/fit into. I hate this about the form factor and I hope someone has an affordable rig they can suggest where I can easily shoot handheld and have my audio device and monitor if I'm doing a one man crew kinda job.

3: ND FILTERS!!! I have only had experience with built in ND's and I'm a little confused... Do I have to buy different size mm ND's (and what kinds? solid? Variable?) for each one of my lenses? OR can I just buy one ND filter and just get step up or down rings? Having a bunch of ND's would just sound like a mess when shooting.

4: I have two 32 gig class 10 30 mbs sandisk SD cards. Do I need to get a higher class or Mbs to take advantage of the many hacks? How much record time would I have. Is it overkill to shoot over 100mps? How much time would I have on the card when shooting at such large file sizes?

5: HACKS! is there a forum that has a ton of info on all the different kinds of hacks and such you could link me to? I'm in the dark and I keep hearing all these different hack names when I see GH2 videos.

I really appreciate this guys. I feel like a newb all over again. I wish the af100 would have just had a damn hack. This is Ridiculous!
 
1: As far as audio, the GH2 has both an 1/8 inch input jack and a stereo internal mic. Only one can be used at a time. The majority of the major hack setting authors (Driftwood, bkmwcd, LPowell, etc.) already use my Pasadena Pulse Audio settings in their newest setting to help give better metering and level control. If you are using older settings (or ones from some of the other talented authors) you may need to merge my settings, which can be downloaded at http://perlichtman.com/pasdenapulse...settings-file-pasadena-pulse-audio-v2-beta-2/

2: I'm no help here. :)

3: As far as ND filters, you have two primary choices: screw-on filters or ones that go with a matte box or filter holder. If you use the latter options, then you do not need step-up/step-down rings. However, I typically opt for the latter because I use them for both stills and movie work.

When buying filters, larger thread sizes are more expensive than smaller ones (because they use more glass) but most people will tell you to get the largest size you can afford and then use a step-up ring to fit them to your lens. For instance, I have 9 stop (400x) Hoya ND filter that I got in a 77mm size to shoot solar events (like the Venus transit and eclipse). Since no lens I have exceeds a 77mm thread, I can use it on any lens in my collection.

Another benefit of using a step-up ring to use filters much larger than your lens thread size is that you can stack more of them without vignetting. When I am using a 77mm filter on a 77mm thread lens, I often can only fit one (maybe two) of them on before I get vignetting. But when I use those same 77mm filters on a lens with a 52 or 55mm thread via a converter ring, I have been able to stack 3 or 4 of them on without vignetting.

Vari-NDs are easier to quickly modify to your situation, but single filters tend to give better resolution (at least unless you are spending a LOT of money) and they also vignette less frequently. Also, a vari-ND can give unequal results near the edges on ultra-wide angle lenses, while a standard ND will not. I like Hoya for standard ND, while many suggest Heliopan for a vari-ND.

4: The card you want to use to get the most reliable performance on the widest range of GH2 hacks, is the SanDisk 95MB/s 64GB card. No other card (including the other capacities of SanDisk 95MB/s) has come close so far, at least as of a month or two ago. You can get by with lesser cards, but they will limit your choice of hacked settings.


5: There are lots of resources to help get you started both here and at the GH2 Hack forum - which is http://www.personal-view.com/

I suggest that you register at that forum so that you can download the hacks, etc. You can only access the downloads after you register.

There are several guides to help you get started on that site, and I also have some info at http://www.pasadenapulse.net. Also check out the one by mpgxsvcd.
 
I am coming from the exact same place as you, as I recently sold my AF100 to gain capital in order to buy a hacked gh2 and a few lenses, and I must say while I miss the af100s durability, having my own lenses (I always rented with the af100) and a smaller form factor are gamechangers for me. As far as rigs go, I'd check out the ReWo or the Trusmt cages for the gh2. I own the ReWo and find it simply incredible. It has plenty of screwholes for articulating arms etc, and has spaces for 15mm rods to be mounted for a follow focus, shoulder mount, etc. While I'm at it, if you need a follow focus, I'll recommend the Trusmt NF1 follow focus - best quality ff for the price (just over $300) out there.

Hope this helps, and good luck with the transition!
 
Loganm187 said:
So I have been shooting with the Af100 for the past 9 months and even though I love the functionality and have been over all pleased with the images (demo reel here https://vimeo.com/34761577 ) there is no "WOW" factor compared to the hacked GH2 and it's just blowing me away. I am selling the af100 before the blackmagic hits and picking up a GH2. The thing is... I HAVE NEVER SHOT ON A DSLR, EVER. I went straight from a DVX to a AF100 so I need some tips on what I should all buy to make the most comfortable transition. First things first I love that I can use all my adapters and lenses from my AF, gonna save me a ton. Here are my questions:

1: I am buying a Zoom H4N to record audio with my Rode NTG3 BUT does the GH2 have any way to record or monitor audio by itself? Could you run an XLR to 1/4 jack into to record audio and monitor?

You can run an impedance matched cable like the $27 Sescom LN2MIC ZMH4-GH1 from the Zoom's headphone/line out to the GH2's mic in. This will give you the option of a backup track that you don't have to sync in post.

2:I need a rig with a top handle and a place for the zoom H4n, mic, and external monitor to screw/fit into. I hate this about the form factor and I hope someone has an affordable rig they can suggest where I can easily shoot handheld and have my audio device and monitor if I'm doing a one man crew kinda job.

I use a $9 Adorama C bracket like this. Some people think it's unwieldy, but it's what I can afford.

3: ND FILTERS!!! I have only had experience with built in ND's and I'm a little confused... Do I have to buy different size mm ND's (and what kinds? solid? Variable?) for each one of my lenses? OR can I just buy one ND filter and just get step up or down rings? Having a bunch of ND's would just sound like a mess when shooting.

Value

4: I have two 32 gig class 10 30 mbs sandisk SD cards. Do I need to get a higher class or Mbs to take advantage of the many hacks? How much record time would I have. Is it overkill to shoot over 100mps? How much time would I have on the card when shooting at such large file sizes?

I shoot stock (unhacked), so I have nothing to add here.

5: HACKS! is there a forum that has a ton of info on all the different kinds of hacks and such you could link me to? I'm in the dark and I keep hearing all these different hack names when I see GH2 videos.

Per has good advice here.

I really appreciate this guys. I feel like a newb all over again. I wish the af100 would have just had a damn hack. This is Ridiculous!
Click to expand...

Loganm - welcome to the revolution!

I hope Panasonic notes that there are folks switching from the AF to the GH in this thread for ergonomics (smaller form factor), cost (less expensive body allows them to buy their own lenses instead of renting), and hackability. I certainly hope that the company doesn't see this as a threat - and instead uses it as an opportunity to add features to the GH3 that will make it an even more compelling choice for this group of shooters (e.g., headphone jack, a more robust body, peaking, gammas). At the same time, any "AF200" should move up to compete with the FS700 on frame rate, should record to standard SSDs, should have better ergonomics than the FS700 (shoulder mount?) and should be proactively hackable. My guess is that Panasonic could charge $1200 (or more) for a GH3 body with the aforementioned features - and perhaps double the price of the AF100 for a shoulder-mounted AF200 with an SSD slot and the slo-mo frame rates of the FS700. "A rising tide lifts all boats".

Bill
 
I couldn't agree more! And thanks for the info guys. Anymore info would very helpful if you guys can think of anything I might need to be aware of. It is indeed a very strange time in the market. Never would anyone think you would be selling a 4 thousand dollar camera to get a 7-800 dollar dslr but the proof is in the pudding and the GH2 kills the AF100 in image quality. So weird.
 
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