GH2 GH2 for studio interviews?

G

GavinGear

Active member
Hey all- I'm currently a 7D user, and am hating the fact that I don't have autofocus or AGC disable for audio. I'm going to be shooting some interview shots (think two people seated in chairs talking to each-other, or just me talking to the camera) and I was thinking that using a GH-2 could be a great way to enhance my workflow.

Questions:
1. Would the face detection AF work well for the "seated" shots - good contrast and lighting, not a whole lot of movement
2. Thoughts on using an external mic with the GH2 for these kinds of shots? I would want to use my Zoom H4n with dual mics, and use line out with attenuator cable (drops to mic level) straight into the GH2 - would this yield DVD-quality sound?
3. What AF lens would you use with the GH2 for the shots described here?
4. What ISO can you shoot at with the GH2 before noise becomes a big issue? (For my 7D I stick with ISO 200 or less :) )

Any other considerations that you would have here?

Thanks,
Gavin
 
If it were me, I wouldn't rely on the GH2 for audio recording. Nor would I use autofocus for a sit down interview.
But hey, that's just me.
 
David W. Jones said:
If it were me, I wouldn't rely on the GH2 for audio recording. Nor would I use autofocus for a sit down interview.
But hey, that's just me.
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How about the same question with a high-end DVX camera? (with XLR inputs, autofocus, etc). Most of my sit-down interview work would be for web.
 
GavinGear said:
1. Would the face detection AF work well for the "seated" shots - good contrast and lighting, not a whole lot of movement
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Only with a couple of lenses, the Lumix X and the 14-140. Anything else, no way. And in such a limited-motion situation, is autofocus really necessary? Any "hunting" could ruin the shot, obviously... but if you need autofocus, yes the GH2 could do it, if you were using one of the "HD" focusing lenses.

2. Thoughts on using an external mic with the GH2 for these kinds of shots? I would want to use my Zoom H4n with dual mics, and use line out with attenuator cable (drops to mic level) straight into the GH2 - would this yield DVD-quality sound?
Click to expand...
I wouldn't use the GH2's onboard audio for anything; if you already have a Zoom H4N you can get decent performance out of that, and sync up the tracks in post.

3. What AF lens would you use with the GH2 for the shots described here?
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It would have to be a lens with the "HD" badge on it, for decent autofocus performance. But those lenses aren't very fast (f/4 at the fastest, f/5 more likely) so the shallowness of DOF would suffer. I'd rather go with something like a ZF 35mm at f/2.4 with manual focus, but if you need auto, like I said, it can be done.
4. What ISO can you shoot at with the GH2 before noise becomes a big issue? (For my 7D I stick with ISO 200 or less :) )
Click to expand...
At least 800.
 
GavinGear said:
How about the same question with a high-end DVX camera? (with XLR inputs, autofocus, etc). Most of my sit-down interview work would be for web.
Click to expand...
DVX would do brilliantly at this job, of course, but it's only standard-def and wouldn't be able to give you the shallow-DOF look if that's what you're going for.
 
Thanks everyone. AF would be good for when I'm filming myself, and the audio thing - sounds like that may be a wash since I'm already doing off camera with the 7D on the H4n. I use a focusing panel when I film myself currently, and it works "OK". (panel at same distance as my eyes would be).

I'm tempted to go with a dedicated video camera (such as the Panasonic HMC150) due to the many benefits when you don't need the shallow-DOF (that's why I have the 7D - right?) - but they aren't cheap :)
 
Video won't be the problem, but you'll definitely need something else for sound.

For what it's worth, you can pick up a used HVX or Z1U these days for just about the same price as a fully kitted GH2
 
For web video and there only interviews like you described, I´d like to say that you can easily get away with your in-camera audio setup (audio levels set to 1), but why waste the better quality of the H4N´s recording? I´ve tested that myself: NTG-2 to H4N to GH2 (through sescom cable). Both the H4N´s recording and the GH2´s sound very nice. On the H4N you get a little more clarity in the higher frequencies. But it is very suddle and if you have to you could see it as more of a difference in kind than in quality.

That goes for controlled environment like your studio. I wouldn´t try anything complex where you´d have to deal with background noise and/or filtering or bigger EQ in post.
 
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