On the GF1, video recording is restricted to 720p at 30fps. In addition, only Program Movie Mode is available; the GH1's Manual, Shutter, and Aperture Movie Modes cannot be selected. However, the Auto Exposure Lock button does function in the GF1's Program Movie Mode, and videos may also be taken in M, S, A, and P photo modes, just as with the GH1.
I have the Lumix 20mm f1.7 auto-focus lens, as well as Canon FD 50mm f 1.4 and 85mm f1.8 manual-focus lens. I'd like to determine the best camera settings for producing HD video in low-light conditions. Here's what I've come up with so far.
I use the MJPEG codec at 720p and remove the duplicated frames in post to produce 30p video. The scenes I film are typically lit by incandescent or stage lights, and to my eyes, low-light videos look best in the GF1's Nostalgic Film Mode. To minimize underexposed sensor noise, I set Contrast -2, Sharpness -2, Color 0, and Noise Reduction +2.
At 30fps, a shutter speed of 1/30 second gathers the most light without producing stop-motion effects. The GF1's Program movie mode, however, doesn't let you set or even observe the shutter speed while you compose your shot, and the preset AUTO exposure mode doesn't reveal the ISO setting either. Even when you use the AE Lock button, there's no indication of what shutter and ISO settings the camera is using during video recording.
I've found a work-around that I believe allows me to control shutter, aperture, and ISO settings, and I'm wondering if anyone here can confirm that it does in fact work. The trick is to put the camera in Shutter-priority photo mode, where you can manually select both 1/30 shutter speed and your ISO setting as well. In this mode, aperture and focus on the Lumix 20mm lens can be locked down with the AE/AF Lock button, and all settings are displayed on the LCD panel.
When you press the movie button, the camera stays in Shutter-priority mode, but the LCD display switches into AUTO mode. However, it looks to my eyes like the camera actually uses your locked-down shutter, aperture, and ISO settings. I can confirm that the Lumix 20mm lens does not change focus during the video, but the other settings aren't displayed during or after video recording.
This technique does not work in Manual photo mode, because in that mode the AE/AF Lock button won't lock down your exposure settings. In practice, I find it convenient to use the spot meter to auto-set the Lumix 20mm lens aperture in Shutter-priority mode, the half-shutter-press to set focus, and the AE/AF Lock button to lock it all down.
I have the Lumix 20mm f1.7 auto-focus lens, as well as Canon FD 50mm f 1.4 and 85mm f1.8 manual-focus lens. I'd like to determine the best camera settings for producing HD video in low-light conditions. Here's what I've come up with so far.
I use the MJPEG codec at 720p and remove the duplicated frames in post to produce 30p video. The scenes I film are typically lit by incandescent or stage lights, and to my eyes, low-light videos look best in the GF1's Nostalgic Film Mode. To minimize underexposed sensor noise, I set Contrast -2, Sharpness -2, Color 0, and Noise Reduction +2.
At 30fps, a shutter speed of 1/30 second gathers the most light without producing stop-motion effects. The GF1's Program movie mode, however, doesn't let you set or even observe the shutter speed while you compose your shot, and the preset AUTO exposure mode doesn't reveal the ISO setting either. Even when you use the AE Lock button, there's no indication of what shutter and ISO settings the camera is using during video recording.
I've found a work-around that I believe allows me to control shutter, aperture, and ISO settings, and I'm wondering if anyone here can confirm that it does in fact work. The trick is to put the camera in Shutter-priority photo mode, where you can manually select both 1/30 shutter speed and your ISO setting as well. In this mode, aperture and focus on the Lumix 20mm lens can be locked down with the AE/AF Lock button, and all settings are displayed on the LCD panel.
When you press the movie button, the camera stays in Shutter-priority mode, but the LCD display switches into AUTO mode. However, it looks to my eyes like the camera actually uses your locked-down shutter, aperture, and ISO settings. I can confirm that the Lumix 20mm lens does not change focus during the video, but the other settings aren't displayed during or after video recording.
This technique does not work in Manual photo mode, because in that mode the AE/AF Lock button won't lock down your exposure settings. In practice, I find it convenient to use the spot meter to auto-set the Lumix 20mm lens aperture in Shutter-priority mode, the half-shutter-press to set focus, and the AE/AF Lock button to lock it all down.
