GH2 GH2 for HD video?

Is it sloppy with only the older FD or sloppy with older and the "new" twist to lock FD (FDn) lenses?

Typically the only way to fix it would be to add metal back to the flange tabs, something that isn't really possible.
 
I just bought a couple of Fotodiox for now, one for m645 to m43 and the other EF to m43. I'll consider speed boosters after a little bit, tempted by the Metabones but the price is making me stop and think since it costs more than the camera body. GH4 might be a different story when the 0.64x booster arrives, but doesn't fit the GH2.
 
All mine are the standard old FD with the ring you turn. I don't like the mount, but that's what i ended up getting the most lenses of cheap.
 
I have the Metabones adapter and love the crap out of that thing for my Minolta SR mount collection, but I've heard good things about the Mitakon. Not a bad image at all, but not quite as good as the Metabones, mainly wide open on wide aperture lenses.

If Mitakon made an SR/MD/MC mount to M4/3 speedbooster, I was happy enough with the image quality I've seen from it, I would have gone for that. But as they didn't produce that adapter, I don't regret by Metabones purchase at all.
 
Well, my new to me camera is here. Definitely sat on a shelf for a long time like the seller claimed. Smells like cigarette smoke, the evf has a foggy lens somewhere inside. Operationally, compared to my Fuji, this thing is primitive. Glad it isn't my only camera as I think I would hate shooting stills with it.
 
Been searching and reading and getting confused, can someone confirm that following?

Frames rates stock or hacked are the same as listed here

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panasonic_Lumix_DMC-GH2#Video_recording_formats

With the addition of HBR mode which now adds 1080 30fps in a PsF wrapper??? What I've been reading says that it is 30 (or 29.97) frames split into odd and even fields (segmented frame) but that their is no PsF flag set in the header. So how do I tell an editing application that this PsF?

Why couldn't they have just made the menus to have resolution and frame rate, ditch all this two and three letter garbage???

Anyway, got the Flowmotion 2.02 installed, probably need to buy some new cards to make sure clips will span. Also in manual movie mode I'm not finding a way to make the magnify feature function on one of the buttons (f1). Can't figure how to make custom white balance work either, need to read the manual again and see what I'm missing!
 
Greg_E said:
Smells like cigarette smoke, the evf has a foggy lens somewhere inside.
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I would see if he will take it back. The GH2 had a nice EVF, a bit better than the EVF on the GH3 IMO. See if you can get your money back on that deal. You're better off "whacking" the credit card for a used G6 or a new G7. Foggy EVF...He should have never passed that off on you without warning you about it.

I sold one of my GH3s to a guy who couldn't get used to the EVF in it. Some can use it, some can't. So I offered to take it back and refund and he finally took me up on it. I can use it's EVF ok so I put it back to work.
 
The deal is done, so no going back. One thing that colors my point of view is the viewfinder on my Fuji X-T1, it is without question, the best camera EVF I have ever seen (and even it is not perfect). Compared to the GH2, the GH2 is primitive, even more so than the EVF on my old Fuji X-Pro1. Technology advances and the X-T1 was (or maybe still is) the best EVF on the market. Just wish that camera shot video worth keeping, I wouldn't be going down this path right now.
 
Greg_E said:
The deal is done, so no going back.
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If the seller represented the camera as being "in good working order", or having "no performance issues" or anything like that, you have a valid complaint against him. If you didn't ask these questions then you just "led yourself to the slaughter".

Greg_E said:
One thing that colors my point of view is the viewfinder on my Fuji X-T1, it is without question, the best camera EVF I have ever seen (and even it is not perfect). Compared to the GH2, the GH2 is primitive, even more so than the EVF on my old Fuji X-Pro1. Technology advances and the X-T1 was (or maybe still is) the best EVF on the market.
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All of that doesn't matter. I had three GH2 bodies and every one of them had a good EVF, one I could see clearly through and see focus pretty well. That seller passed off a defect on you when what you need is something you can use without issues.

They made the EVF on the GH3 smaller and in doing so wound up with one that you had to get your eye "right in the groove" or you had problems with seeing focus. Some could adapt, others couldn't. I'm one of the ones who can use it.

The EVF on the GH4 was a SUPER improvement.

Greg_E said:
Just wish that camera shot video worth keeping, I wouldn't be going down this path right now.
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I assume you mean your Fuji here.

Look, you need to "look" ahead here. You want a camera that will shoot video worth keeping. The GH2 will do that but you have one that is somewhat "crippled" to use, the ease of seeing through the EVF was one of it's strongpoints with me. You could send it to Panasonic and see what it would cost to have the EVF replaced (it's a sealed unit from what I have read). Or you could use it mainly with the LCD (gonna be a pain outdoors in bright daylight!), but I think you're gonna have to plan for another camera.

In you shoes I would start "saving up" for the Lumix G7, not many used G6's available as folks seem to be hanging on to those.

Just my thoughts.
 
So what about the resolutions and frame rates, did I get it correct? I keep reading things on the personalview site that mentions progressive output in 1080 and others in the same thread about it being PsF.

Screenshot_2015-06-15-20-56-20.jpg

Yes it is mostly sealed, when it bothers me, I'll see about ordering the assembly or pulling out my tools and fixing it. I doubt I'll use it much as I plan to either extend the LCD to mount it where I need it, or use an HDMI monitor. This isn't going to be my stills camera, the X-T1 will remain my stills camera for a while, it does an excellent job with still images. By the time I feel I need to replace the X-T1, I'm sure Fuji will have fixed their video issues and will be 4k too.
 
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I never used anything but 1080p on the GH2, I ran the Sanity 5 firmware "hack" then Flowmotion 2 and was very pleased with what I saw. What the "hackers" did on the GH2 made Panasonic sit up and take notice, so on the GH3 they gave us mostly what we needed so no one has seen any real need to modify the firmware.

The GH4 is even better all the way around. I shoot in 4K, edit on a 4K timeline using Corel's Pinnacle Studio 18.5 running on a PC with 4th generation Core i7 processor. Then with nowhere to go in 4K (I don't have a 4K TV and I haven't seen any 4K players yet) I render it down to 1080p. And that is the "sweetest" looking 1080p I've managed to get.

Panasonic pulled off the lead with the GH3 and GH4, most of the rest are trying to play "catch up" (or not play) so I tend to stay with the leader. I'm not a Panasonic "fanboy" but when the product gets me the results it does...That's why I recommend you look hard at the G7. It will have 4K already, the 1080p is fantastic from pre release sample footage I've seen, and it will have other frame rate options. The price on release is $797 but will come down a little after a while. You'll have time.

But for now there is another option for using your GH2. This LCD viewfinder loupe:

http://www.photographyandcinema.com/collections/qv-1-m/products/qv-1-m-lcd-view-finder

You will want the QV-1 M which fits the m4/3 cameras better. You'll see the QV-1 for $89 but it's for larger cameras. This has a 2.5X eyepiece which will be better for your LCD than 3X I was using with another brand. It folds up to give you access to the touchscreen, the base is Manfrotto 501/701 compatible but you can put another brand quick release on the bottom of the base. Pull straight back and the loupe comes off, goes right back on easily and quickly.

And when you move up to another m4/3 camera (G6, G7, GH4) this can be used on it also.

Be sure to watch the video, it will illustrate answers to some questions. I have one of these.

OK back to
 
Greg, just in case you haven't made a Diopter adjustment for your EVF I thought I'd mention it. I use the evf on my GH2 all the time and hold the Q.Menu button in to get magnification for checking focus.
 
Definitely absolutely do not buy Canon lenses. No point in a EF focal refused either. As you're on a budget get a RJ Lens Turbo for Nikon F Mount.

Greg_E said:
Thanks, I forgot about the mu-43 forums. What I've been seeing on ebay is GH2 is going around $300 to $400 for good condition used, GH3 is going for more like $600 to $700. But I'll take a look. One of our former students was just in my office and we were talking about it, he has another year left at a different school and wants to buy something, was thinking a t5i but I'm not sure it is worth the money as those used prices are getting up there.
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Yeah, be very silly indeed to get a T5i for filmmaking with (but there are lots of silly people it there!).

My view is either go ultra budget with a GH1 (US$150) or get a G6 (but people's preferences are not all the same, I think a G6 is better, but others might prefer GH2/GH3 over G6). Or go big and splurge out with G7/GH4!
 
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