GH1 for seminar coverage - advice please

R

RandyQ

Well-known member
hi folks,
A client has asked me to shoot a whole day seminar, and I'm thinking of using my GH1 to shoot it. Considering that I have a PD170 also, I'm wondering if I'm being a fool by using the Gh1?

What I like about the Gh1 for shooting this is the fact that its tapeless - last seminar coverage I shot, I had problems because of tape issues.

What I DONT like about using the Gh1 is that the PD170 is so much easier to use during coverages. One big factor is that with the PD170, I am sure that the sound will be good - not so sure with the Gh1.

I will definitely record backup audio using my Tascam Dr-2d.

Any advice? Am I a fool to try to shoot it with a GH1?

rgds/ RandyQ
 
I did a focus group thing last fall with a pair of GH1s and they performed very well. That only ran 1:15, not sure I'd want to run a whole day though. You might want to do a dry run and fire it up until you fill up a 32 or 64gb card long before you show up and see how it reacts to that much stress. If it is going to puke, better it pukes at your house than on location.
 
Ben, actually this had crossed my mind - I think I'll do it.

Chip, also a good idea. I will probably simulate the shoot (tests of at least 1 hour in length) just to make sure we can do it.

Normally, I'd do it in tape using my PD170, but I had an absolutely terrible time last year trying to rescue a coverage because the batch of tapes we used was bad.
 
We used 16gb cards and not knowing what to expect, we swapped them out at the 45 minutes point. We very easily could have gotten the entire 1:15 on them, but didn't know that then. :-) When we knocked down the GH1s were warm to the touch. We had the LCD running the entire time which probably contributed to it. After doing that focus group I have no problem thinking I can go out and shoot them for upwards of two hours straight, but that will be attaining a new level for me with them. I think if they can hit 2 straight hours, they probably are capable of going as long as you got power.
 
RandyQ said:
Ben, actually this had crossed my mind - I think I'll do it.

Chip, also a good idea. I will probably simulate the shoot (tests of at least 1 hour in length) just to make sure we can do it.

Normally, I'd do it in tape using my PD170, but I had an absolutely terrible time last year trying to rescue a coverage because the batch of tapes we used was bad.
Click to expand...

First, you might want to use a cleaning tape on the PD170 and test the camera with a new tape. I just got a GH1 with the 14-42mm lens, and since I am inexperienced, I found I had moire issues (shooting at a long distance) and depending on the environment and what people are wearing it might be an issue.

Since you didn't provide details about the seminar, here are a few things to consider.

Is a person watching the video you create going to want to see the speaker 100% of the time or a powerpoint presentation instead? Will there be times where you need a fairly wide shot followed by a quick close up?

Without presentation details, one thought would be to use the PD170 to focus on the presenter and use the GH1 to get fill in shots. I think that would add to the finished video. You also might consider recording the audio to something like a Zoom, Tascam, etc. This could be very useful if you have powerpoint included as you could lay down the audio only track and then add the visual components to the timeline.
 
Was reading the updates and just got a call form Unique. Gene is shipping out my silver bodies, leaving there in the morning. Order date was 1-11-2011.
 
Final update:
I've decided that I'm going to shoot the seminar on my PD170 after all. One thing I didn't factor in is the file sizes i will be dealing with if I shot with a GH1, then transcoded to prores. I've got EIGHT HOURS of footage to transcode, which kinda negates the advantage of shooting tapeless. Also, my final output will be a file that will be shared on the company intranet, so shooting in 720P will be overkill.

I WILL be shooting an ocassional shot with the GH1, just so I have 720P footage to use in an edited compilation the client may require down the road.

I will also be backing up the audio with my Tascam Dr-2d, even if I like the audio I get with the PD170.
 
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