GH2 GH2 aurora borealis MPEG time lapse hack - settings?

K

kanintesova

Member
Doing a documentary. I will bring the GH2 as a B-cam. If we are lucky we will get to see northern lights. What is your stance on setting up the GH2 with the MPEG-2fps-hack? Settings? Ideas, suggestions? Shutter speed?

I have the stock 14-42mm, canon FD 28mm, 2.8, 50mm 1.4 and a Panagor 35mm 2.0.

Thanks!

/Emil
 
I would just shoot 1080p @ 30 FPS video. You can always speed it up in post processing. If you are still on version 1.0 then use 1080p @ 24 FPS or one of the speed up modes. I would use the 50mm F1.4 for the lens. Keep the ISO low and the shutter speed fast.
 
Thanks for the reply. Hmm, I will use the 1.0 with the hack. But the master is going to be 25fps, since we are in Europe. Using the HMC150 as the first cam. But I will speed up/conform the GH2 24p to 25 in post (use 5DtoRGB or cinema tools), as it is just B-cam footage. No one will notice ;)...

Fast shutter? Really? Why is this? ;) Isn't it supposed to be the other way around? Hmm, I'm not sure. But yeah, definitely fast lens even though it is like 80 mill, since the skies are far far away anyway. If I am going to speed it up in post, then maybe SLOWER shutter speed? Or is it going to be too smeary?

Thanks.

:)

P.S. REALLY looking forward for the new PTOOL next week (possibly) with 25p :) I recognize you from this forum but you are also very frequent over at personal-view... :)

Also I wonder if HMC150 and GH2 cut well together. We will find out. It's just experimental and not crucial to the documentary anyhow. :)
 
Last edited:
Yep, but I don't have the time or money for it right off the bat. :) This documentary is going to take us to uncharted territory. It wasn't really planned from the beginning and I just boarded this ship. Going to be a nice journey ha ha. :)

What I mean is, I just boarded this ship. Producer had some kind of idea but the subject is fleeting. Ha ha. :)

Got to love the South American mentality. Manana! Ha ha, we are not used to it in this stiff wheater and cold. We like to plan in advance. You never know. But this is going to be the core of the documentary... :) Hope we will make it home with fingers and toes intact. :)

Something I already noticed: The HMC150 focus ring is REALLY stiff in the cold. Also was my kit lens with the GH2. And this was only -10 degrees celcius - now it's going to be like - 30 to 40... Atleast I got some nice clothes!!!! :)

The train ride is going to be like 18 hrs... ;) Going to buy Internet connection atleast. :)
 
Last edited:
2fps will give you slower shutter and therefore more light. I think you're probably going to have to go with the 14-42 @ 14 f/3.5 and maybe the 50 f/1.4 if a certain part of the sky is lighting up.

Even then, I don't know how visible those lights in the sky are. It seems I've only ever seen long exposure timelapse. 2fps still might not cut it?
 
Just get an intervalometer. They're like $30-40, tops. Super useful not only for time lapse but also for long-exposure photography w/ a remote shutter.
 
I am planning on going up to Alaska in March to photograph the Northern Lights for the first time. In researching the Internet, this was a very helpful article.

http://www.alaskaphotographyblog.com/how-to-photograph-the-northern-lights-with-a-digital-camera/

Unless you use a very high ISO, you won't be able to use 2 f/s. Typical exposure with ISO 400 and f2.0 is 15 sec. Unless you want to experiment with the hacked high ISO, you will need an intervalometer. I plan on trying the ISO 12,400. By my calculation exposure will be 1/2 second and allow me to use 2 f/s.

Other valuable tips:

Don't use any filters or you will get Newton's Rings.
When you take your camera indoors after the camera gets cold, first put it in a sealed plastic bag and wait for an hour for it to come to room temperature. Otherwise, you will get water condensation in your camera.
Bring lots of batteries and keep them warm in your pockets. Low temperature will greatly reduce your battery life.
 
I didn't realize that the Northern Lights were so dim. I have never seen them so I thought that they were easily visible with the naked eye. How fast do they change? I can never tell if the videos of them are sped up or not.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top