GH2 official discussion thread

I don't know whether it would work that way without the lens communications. But it doesn't matter, does it? It holds focus perfectly on the AF100, so whether it does it through minute focus adjustments or not, it still works. :thumbsup:

Fujinon and/or Canon use that idea to remove breathing out of some of their ENG lenses, they tie the zoom motor to the focus ring so that as you adjust focus, it automatically zooms in or out to counteract breathing, which is pretty cool.

I don't know how the 14-140 does it, I just know it does it.
 
stonebat said:
Let's not underestimate the kit lens. It has stepless aperture and the fastest autofocus in m43. I'm not surprised that AF100 can do that.
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Stepless aperture? Not in my experience, it seems pretty steppy. Maybe that was just that the camera wasn't finished so they hadn't optimized that?
 
Barry_Green said:
I don't know how it works on the GH1/GH2, but I can tell you that on the AF100, the 14-140 keeps its focus distance throughout the zoom range. It's really impressive. I'll sell off my GH1 soon, but I'm keeping this lens.
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If that is true then they should be touting that feature on the 14-140mm. Not that you should zoom while filming. However, you don't have the option to do it with the other zoom lenses.
 
Barry_Green said:
Stepless aperture? Not in my experience, it seems pretty steppy. Maybe that was just that the camera wasn't finished so they hadn't optimized that?
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As you change the zoom, did you see any sudden "stepping" jump in exposure level? If it was rather smooth transition, that's the proof of its built-in stepless aperture. Also it eliminates the noise from changing aperture. That's why the kit zoom is video optimized lens. I think it has always been stepless aperture for the lens. But the kit zoom is sharp in good lighting... and that's just fine with me. When I get it, I will have a diffusion filter on it, set all -2 settings on a film mode and A+3 on saturation. Plus color grading. It will look nice.
 
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stonebat said:
As you change the zoom, did you see any sudden "stepping" jump in exposure level? If it was rather smooth transition, that's the proof of its built-in stepless aperture. Also it eliminates the noise from changing aperture. That's why the kit zoom is video optimized lens. I think it has always been stepless aperture for the lens.
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Actually I always thought the best way to tell if the aperture was stepless was to put a bright light behind you, point the camera at the bright light, look into the lens, and then watch the aperture open up as you rotate the camera away from the light. If the aperture moves with discrete steps then it is not stepless.

If you simply just zoom while filming it may not be adjusting the aperture at all. Unless you are filming something very bright in auto aperture mode the 14-140mm will always be wide open. If the camera adjusts ISO in 1/3 stops then the exposure adjustment would appear to be stepless even when the aperture stays constant.
 
Set it at aperture priority mode. Start with 14mm at f4. As you zoom in, aperture will change. BTW I don't have the lens... I'm thinking to get GH2 kit. You seem having high hope in using the kit zoom on GH2 for indoor video. I think... that's just wishful thinking.
 
Only if Panny hasn't made a change in ISO adjustments.GF1 's 800 could be GH2's 1600. If that's the case, the gain in ISO could be only one half or two third. If Panny is playing high MP game, why can't they play high ISO game? Let's wait and see. I just want to use my 1.4 primes at ISO 800/1600 without ugly banding.
 
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New vid samples - hardly inspiring

New vid samples - hardly inspiring

Foun this couple of new clips'

I'm peturbed by the chroma noise n the 'Squirrel' clip - and the less said about the 'Lake', the better :undecided

Perhaps it just me - but I was hoping for better than this. I know it's easy to blame on-line compression, etc - but......

I also note the OP's plea not to judge the camera by the installed f/w - and, to a dgree, that's valid. But it's impossible not to have an opinion on them (otherwise, why even bother posting them?) and it seems that people are required to take a leap of faith, and believe that everything will be all right on the night. Trouble is, launch date is coming up fast - how much time have they gor to improve the f/w and get the cameras onto store shelves?

Perhaps selling my GH13 wasn't such a good idead after all!



http://vimeo.com/15948068

http://vimeo.com/15949494
 
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Framerate said:
Foun this couple of new clips'

I'm peturbed by the chroma noise n the 'Squirrel' clip - and the less said about the 'Lake', the better :undecided

Perhaps it just me - but I was hoping for better than this. I know it's easy to blame on-line compression, etc - but......

I also note the OP's plea not to judge the camera by the installed f/w - and, to a dgree, that's valid. But it's impossible not to have an opinion on them (otherwise, why even bother posting them?) and it seems that people are required to take a leap of faith, and believe that everything will be all right on the night. Trouble is, launch date is coming up fast - how much time have they gor to improve the f/w and get the cameras onto store shelves?

Perhaps selling my GH13 wasn't such a good idead after all!
Click to expand...

yea... they really don't have much time
 
stonebat said:
Set it at aperture priority mode. Start with 14mm at f4. As you zoom in, aperture will change. BTW I don't have the lens... I'm thinking to get GH2 kit. You seem having high hope in using the kit zoom on GH2 for indoor video. I think... that's just wishful thinking.
Click to expand...
stonebat said:
As you change the zoom, did you see any sudden "stepping" jump in exposure level? If it was rather smooth transition, that's the proof of its built-in stepless aperture. Also it eliminates the noise from changing aperture. That's why the kit zoom is video optimized lens. I think it has always been stepless aperture for the lens. But the kit zoom is sharp in good lighting... and that's just fine with me. When I get it, I will have a diffusion filter on it, set all -2 settings on a film mode and A+3 on saturation. Plus color grading. It will look nice.
Click to expand...
If I understand correctly, what's usually referred to by video-style "stepless" aperture is lens's ability to change aperture in very small increments. To test it, you would need to be in one of the modes where camera is free to change aperture, like shutter priority mode. Point the camera at a darker part of the scene, set aperture parameters, then slowly point it at a light source. If lens is "non-stepless", there will be noticeable jumps (steps) in brightness levels as the camera adjusts aperture in 1 EV or 1/2 EV increments (however lens is designed). A stepless lens will adjust aperture (iris) smoothly.
 
svecher said:
My evil twin says the more half-baked GH2's firmware is at release time the better (the higher the chance of update appearing sooner than later).
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Wot I want to know is!.......why is it that the world & his wife seem to have 'evaluation' GH2'S!

It seems that more people have them, than not! - I wouldn't be at all surprised if my milkman suddenly produced a GH2 and announced that he was 'testing it' for Panasonic!

Note To Panasonic - I can make *far* worse videos than any so far released! - I deserve an evaluation GH2! ;)
 
Framerate said:
Wot I want to know is!.......why is it that the world & his wife seem to have 'evaluation' GH2'S!

It seems that more people have them, than not! - I wouldn't be at all surprised if my milkman suddenly produced a GH2 and announced that he was 'testing it' for Panasonic!

Note To Panasonic - I can make *far* worse videos than any so far released! - I deserve an evaluation GH2! ;)
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Hahaha. Great post! I'll be surprised if there's anyone left who needs to buy one.
 
Framerate said:
Foun this couple of new clips'

I'm peturbed by the chroma noise n the 'Squirrel' clip - and the less said about the 'Lake', the better :undecided

Perhaps it just me - but I was hoping for better than this. I know it's easy to blame on-line compression, etc - but......

I also note the OP's plea not to judge the camera by the installed f/w - and, to a dgree, that's valid. But it's impossible not to have an opinion on them (otherwise, why even bother posting them?) and it seems that people are required to take a leap of faith, and believe that everything will be all right on the night. Trouble is, launch date is coming up fast - how much time have they gor to improve the f/w and get the cameras onto store shelves?

Perhaps selling my GH13 wasn't such a good idead after all!



http://vimeo.com/15948068

http://vimeo.com/15949494
Click to expand...

Yeah, there is some fancy pants noise going on in the darker areas of that squirrel shot! I wonder if the GH1 had the same problem, but they 'fixed' it by aggressive noise reduction in the shadows? That could explain the muddy look of the shadowed areas with the GH13, even in mjpeg mode. No doubt panny are working on it though. I suppose these cameras might have been made quite a while ago, so they might have already fixed it in the firmware.

As for the water shot... it looks alright, but not great. Just 'alright'.
 
svecher said:
If I understand correctly, what's usually referred to by video-style "stepless" aperture is lens's ability to change aperture in very small increments. To test it, you would need to be in one of the modes where camera is free to change aperture, like shutter priority mode. Point the camera at a darker part of the scene, set aperture parameters, then slowly point it at a light source. If lens is "non-stepless", there will be noticeable jumps (steps) in brightness levels as the camera adjusts aperture in 1 EV or 1/2 EV increments (however lens is designed). A stepless lens will adjust aperture (iris) smoothly.
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that might work.

i would set it at creative mode and 14mm f4. with fixed shutter speed and iso, the aperture value changes as zoom in and out. 140mm at f5.8 and 14mm at f4. if its stepless aperture, EV should change gradually on the lcd.
 
So ... did B&H have a pre-order for a while on the GH2 and then switch back to their present "notify when available"? Or did the various websites that said they had pre-ordering 'mis-speak'?

Interestingly, the AF-100 can be pre-ordered at B&H ... with an availability of '4-6 weeks'.
 
stonebat said:
i would set it at creative mode and 14mm f4. with fixed shutter speed and iso, the aperture value changes as zoom in and out. 140mm at f5.8 and 14mm at f4. if its stepless aperture, EV should change gradually on the lcd.
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What I meant to say is that effect you describe, with aperture value changing from F/4 to F5.8 throughout zoom range, is not usually referred to as "stepless aperture". I'm not sure what the proper term for it is. I just know some people prefer to avoid it by purchasing zoom lenses with constant aperture. :) m43photo blog has a post with a little graph that shows widest aperture value at a given focal length.

lumix+14-140+nikon+18-200+comparison.png



It is also mentioned that aperture change is 1/6 EV, so yes, the lens is not stepless. Just the steps are smaller than on common photo lenses.
 
Looked at 1:1 mode footage.
Pretty good. Definitely usable for any task.
So, start looking for fast and sharp lenses :-)

P.S. Guys, remember to donate to get GH2 body for our hack project. Only less than $200 left.
Btw thanks to all who donated already!
 
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svecher;2134195} It is also mentioned that aperture change is 1/6 EV said:
less[/B]. Just the steps are smaller than on common photo lenses.
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Yes, I think that nails it. I was looking at some test shots taken when I got my GH1 & 14-140mm - taken on a bright sunny day in the garden, then moving into the garage, and then back into the garden (gripping stuff:cheesy:)

There are defnitely small, but noticeable, incremental steps as the iris responds. I'm not sure what Panasonic mean by 'stepless' - but's it's definitely not an infinitely variable smooth continuous adjustment, not on my copy at least.

Sounds a bit ike marketing-speak to me - a bit like their claim for the GH2, "World's fastest light speed AF' - what, exactly, *is* 'light speed AF'?

I think they get a bit carried away, somethimes :cheesy:
 
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