Barry_Green
Moderator
Just pointed the GH2 at the 4K res chart, to test out extended teleconversion mode. Used the 20mm f/1.7 lens, stopped down to about f/4 or so.
It's really pretty good. A good 800 lines, with some aliasing beyond, but it's pretty darn solid with few of the nasties that have been associated with DSLRs before. However, I do see a scenario on some of the diagonals where the purple and green come into play; previously that's been only really on the Canons, not on the Panasonics, so ... we'll have to see how that works out in real-world footage, but it's something to be aware of. You'll see it on the 45-degree diagonals, but only on the 45-degree diagonals. On the Canons it was on the horizontal lines, which is what made it so visible. On the GH2 ETC, it only appears on the exact 45-degree diagonals. maybe that means it won't be much of an issue in real-world, or maybe it will; we'll have to see some user reports to know for sure.
1080/24p ETC mode res chart download: http://www.mediafire.com/?w3plxjg5hxs7201
The 720p, not quite as impressed with, only in that it's way lower resolution (obviously) and the purple/green seems a lot more noticeable because it happens a lot higher up on the chart. But, it is much more telephoto (3.9x zoom instead of 2.6x) so it will have its uses.
720/60p ETC mode res chart download: http://www.mediafire.com/?805349zzb8a74i6
So, ETC mode isn't absolutely perfect, but it looks a whole lot better than typical DSLR video and it has much less skew than normal mode. If you need telephoto or you are having moire issues, the ETC is definitely something to reach for because it may bail you out of both scenarios.
For comparison, here's the full normal-mode (non-ETC) chart in 1080/24p:
http://www.mediafire.com/?db5q0r2f5cotdcc
In this, it looks pretty much exactly like I remember the GH1 looking. Lots of luma aliasing, but zero chroma contamination (no purple/green showing up). You will get hit with moire patterns, but not with the big rainbows that other DSLRs have, so ... it looks just as good as the GH1 did.
In general, I think the ETC mode will show sharper footage, more real detail, and a lot less aliasing. However, the normal mode will have the lush shallow DOF that we've come to know and love, whereas the ETC mode won't. ETC mode will let you use cheap 16mm cine lenses, whereas normal mode doesn't. But ETC mode looks like under certain conditions it could create some purple/green, which the normal mode doesn't do. Pluses and minuses to both modes.
I don't expect a whole lot from these type of cameras, but frankly while there's some purple/green, I'm quite surprised at how good the ETC mode looks. And even then with the purple/green, it only shows up on exactly 45-degree angles so it's probably not going to have much impact on regular footage. I think it's a nice addition to the GH2, it really makes it two cameras in one.
It's really pretty good. A good 800 lines, with some aliasing beyond, but it's pretty darn solid with few of the nasties that have been associated with DSLRs before. However, I do see a scenario on some of the diagonals where the purple and green come into play; previously that's been only really on the Canons, not on the Panasonics, so ... we'll have to see how that works out in real-world footage, but it's something to be aware of. You'll see it on the 45-degree diagonals, but only on the 45-degree diagonals. On the Canons it was on the horizontal lines, which is what made it so visible. On the GH2 ETC, it only appears on the exact 45-degree diagonals. maybe that means it won't be much of an issue in real-world, or maybe it will; we'll have to see some user reports to know for sure.
1080/24p ETC mode res chart download: http://www.mediafire.com/?w3plxjg5hxs7201
The 720p, not quite as impressed with, only in that it's way lower resolution (obviously) and the purple/green seems a lot more noticeable because it happens a lot higher up on the chart. But, it is much more telephoto (3.9x zoom instead of 2.6x) so it will have its uses.
720/60p ETC mode res chart download: http://www.mediafire.com/?805349zzb8a74i6
So, ETC mode isn't absolutely perfect, but it looks a whole lot better than typical DSLR video and it has much less skew than normal mode. If you need telephoto or you are having moire issues, the ETC is definitely something to reach for because it may bail you out of both scenarios.
For comparison, here's the full normal-mode (non-ETC) chart in 1080/24p:
http://www.mediafire.com/?db5q0r2f5cotdcc
In this, it looks pretty much exactly like I remember the GH1 looking. Lots of luma aliasing, but zero chroma contamination (no purple/green showing up). You will get hit with moire patterns, but not with the big rainbows that other DSLRs have, so ... it looks just as good as the GH1 did.
In general, I think the ETC mode will show sharper footage, more real detail, and a lot less aliasing. However, the normal mode will have the lush shallow DOF that we've come to know and love, whereas the ETC mode won't. ETC mode will let you use cheap 16mm cine lenses, whereas normal mode doesn't. But ETC mode looks like under certain conditions it could create some purple/green, which the normal mode doesn't do. Pluses and minuses to both modes.
I don't expect a whole lot from these type of cameras, but frankly while there's some purple/green, I'm quite surprised at how good the ETC mode looks. And even then with the purple/green, it only shows up on exactly 45-degree angles so it's probably not going to have much impact on regular footage. I think it's a nice addition to the GH2, it really makes it two cameras in one.
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