GH2 GH2 FlowMotion v2.02 vs GH3 vs GH4?

Nikon's do that, too? I thought it was just Canon lenses.

Nikkor's focus rings rotate the opposite direction of most others. Canon's rotate the same direction as the majority of others, including Cine lenses

Nikkors are the odd duck.
 
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One of the party tricks that I loved with the GH2 was (once hacked), it could shoot at ISO 12,800 in black and white and the footage would be absolutely clean. Perfect if you're shooting a film noir.

SB
 
I have not heard of that before, which hack allows this?

If I remember correctly (I no longer own GH2's) both of the hacks I used (Sanity 5 and Flowmotion 2.02) could do that. I've seen two shorts shot at 10,000 of holiday festivities shot at night that looked quite good. Both were shot on well lit street scenes which shows the best results are gained when you get enough exposure.
 
Black & White - there's another way to do it that can be cleaner but still has the "Film Grain" character that is produced by the high ISO of 12,800.

First make sure you're running a hack at least as good as Flowmotion 2.02 so that macroblocking etc. is greatly reduced.
Then put the GH2 into ETC or Extended Tele-Convert. This is like digital zoom. So obviously any digital zoom makes the noise-"grain" look bigger. That's kind of the same thing you see in the Vimeo B&W video posted above using ISO 12,800. But you don't use super high ISO now, you just use something more typical like 200 or 400 or 800 for an overall tighter exposure.
Lower ISO = sharper and less "high-ISO" artifacts.
Extended-Tele (ETC) = noise that looks like B&W film grain.
Now of course you'll need to use a wider lens because you've just zoomed in.

The ISO 12,800 method is convincing...but I think this other way is just as convincing but looks better.
I will say though that this high ISO method is KILLER for shooting dark environments and it will cut really well with the other method which one would use for daytime or lit shots.


There might have been one more parameter we would adjust to make it look even more authentic...I'll go review and update this post if I find anything.
 
Not sure how much wider I can get without eclipsing the value of the camera with a lens... Already have a speed booster and 15mm Canon FD (converted to EF mount), to get their 7mm in FD is going to cost a small fortune (slight exaggeration). Does Samyang make their 8mm in EF mount? I know they have a 10mm, 12mm, and 14mm. I specify EF because of the speed booster, it's a cheap one, but it works for now.
 
Not sure how much wider I can get without eclipsing the value of the camera with a lens... Already have a speed booster and 15mm Canon FD (converted to EF mount), to get their 7mm in FD is going to cost a small fortune (slight exaggeration). Does Samyang make their 8mm in EF mount? I know they have a 10mm, 12mm, and 14mm. I specify EF because of the speed booster, it's a cheap one, but it works for now.

Tokina 11-16 with speedbooster. You can usually find them for $300-$400 if you keep your eye out.

EDIT: Here's one for $200: http://www.ebay.com/itm/321985051928?rmvSB=true

EDIT EDIT: Watching Andrew Reid's video above again makes me really like the look that's coming out of the GH2. Reminds me of the old Italian neorealism films from post WWII, like 'Rome, Open City'. Love it.

SB
 
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No aperture control on that lens.

It did look good and something I'll have to play with, opens up the available light shooting areas. Think about shooting under full moonlight with reflectors for the shadow fill. Also shooting by real candle light which is often already done. Things to try down the road.
 
I'd say the Speedbooster is a must-have. It's opened up a whole new world of glass on my GH4.

Just justify the expense by telling yourself that it's basically a lens, and it's magic.

SB
 
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