GH1 Banding from Flash

C

ctb1010

Well-known member
Hello all,

I've just started using my GH1 as a B cam to my HMC150 for details shots during weddings. I love the look of the video, and sometimes have trouble putting the GH1 down and picking the HMC150 back up!

One question, when editing the footage, I notice that if the photographer is in the room snapping away while I'm shooting video that there is some pretty nasty banding and artifacting that occurs. It's like the photographer's flash just totally overpowers the GH1.

Is there any way to avoid this?
 
The banding is due to the rolling shutter. Personally, it doesn't bother me that much...it is a wedding after all...it looks natural enough when I watch the video on my TV.

The artifacting is due to the codec being busted up by the flash. Hacking the camera would probably help, but then I wouldn't trust it at a wedding...not to mention your recording time would be lowered. Hopefully the GH2 will have a codec less vulnerable to camera photographers at weddings! The way these photographers are snapping THOUSANDS of pictures at weddings, the GH1's codec never gets a break!! Do we really need 348 photos of the B&G cutting the cake??? :D
 
Yes, that flash banding happens on every rolling-shutter CMOS camera out there, including the Red One. There are cameras that can attempt to compensate in-camera (such as the HPX370) but most of them will be affected.

The bigger problem with the GH1 and flashes is that the GH1's codec is so weak, the flash totally overwhelms it. If you upgrade your GH1 with the PTool hack, you'll find that the resulting video is much more resilient and the flashes won't destroy the footage. You'll still get the half-frame flash, but it won't destroy the codec anymore.
 
This is a frame AFTER a flash. Shot from a tripod with the 20mm f1.7...no movement.



Like Barry and I mentioned above, it's the darned codec that exaggerates the rolling shutter in the GH1...which otherwise is not a big deal in PROFESSIONAL cameras. We just have to keep in mind this is a $650 consumer cam...amazing for all those $0 budget film students out there, but you won't be filming Star Wars Episode 8 with it. For weddings or your next big Vimeo cinematic release,"my cat plays in an empty Budweiser box"...that $650 can buy you a lot of happy with the right lenses. :D

But I hear ya, CTB, it's hard to back to a 1/3" camcorder once you've started shooting with the GH1 at weddings. I absolutely sucks for ceremony use unless you're shooting Sunny outdoor weddings with 50 guests with the kit lens, but for most of the receptions, the 20mm f1.7 rocks. I haven't been able to bring myself to spend the $$$ to buy another 1/3" prosumer camcorder for ceremony use yet...it all pays the same regardless...and the small GH1 kit has spoiled me!
 
Thanks for the responses! I've been using the GH1 as a B-cam for outdoor ceremonies, I've started using the 20mm panny pancake lense and its worked great! I am nervous for my first ceremony at an indoor church, hopefully it holds up well!
 
Welcome to the world of rolling shutters!

If you dry-land guys think you have it bad from photo flashes...underwater it's a total nightmare...Two high power strobes for each diver/stills photographer.

Messes up even the best Red One material, let alone the humble GH1.
 
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