GH2 official discussion thread

RBG said:
So does this mean there is no camcorder-style autofocus for run & gun shooting? I thought this was going to be one of the main selling features that distinguished the GH2 from other video SLRs. (Or are we talking just about face-recognition tracking auto focus?)

RBG
Click to expand...

No the GH2 has a lot of autofocus features.
Normal follow autofocus , face tracking, touch to focus, multiple field focus, 1 field focus and AF-tracking, that also works fine in photo mode.

The only thing is, that they made big announcement, and also confirmed on the Photokina, that the AF-Tracking mode is now is possible in video mode as well.(GH1 had it also but only in photo mode).
And this is now the same with the GH2. AF-Tracking is not available in video mode.
But even the Panasonic Manager was not aware of it, that this mode has been taken out of Firmware 1.0. It worked with FW 0.2

All other autofocus features of the GH2 are working fine and fast .
 
pilpop said:
Hehe, but the gh2 is really awesome, no joke.

And why you don*t make a pal speed-up of 4% to convert from 24p tu 25p? this should be no problem for you i think.
Click to expand...
Thats what I think to, but it is still a bit annoying. They could have taken the time to implement 1080p25 in the PAL-version...
 
grimepoch said:
I believe the SDI model gives you SDI ports on it, which you wont need with the GH2. I *believe* you can have the SDI port added in the future as an upgrade if you wanted.
Click to expand...

Correct on both counts ;-) Upgrade available in the next week or so. Thanks for the mention...

-reed
 
GH2 with 14-42mm IN STOCK at Kenmore Camera, Washington!!

GH2 with 14-42mm IN STOCK at Kenmore Camera, Washington!!

Ordering mine right now!
 
Hmm, subject line dosen't seem to appear here. So, yes, KENMORE CAMERA Washington has the GH2 in stock with 14-42mm lens! Ordering mine now!
 
Hello, just chipping in to post another GH2 video. I got the camera this Monday and any time I've gone for a walk I've taken it out along with my slider to get some shots.

The camera's a joy to use, it's clearly been designed with video as well as stills photography in mind, there are loads of little useful features tucked away in that small body!

Anyway, here's the video:

 
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JamesRitson said:
Hello, just chipping in to post another GH2 video. I got the camera this Monday and any time I've gone for a walk I've taken it out along with my slider to get some shots.

The camera's a joy to use, it's clearly been designed with video as well as stills photography in mind, there are loads of little useful features tucked away in that small body!

Anyway, here's the video:

Click to expand...

Nice shots. What slider is that? I liked that old tower of bricks...cool.
 
JamesRitson said:
Hello, just chipping in to post another GH2 video. I got the camera this Monday and any time I've gone for a walk I've taken it out along with my slider to get some shots.

The camera's a joy to use, it's clearly been designed with video as well as stills photography in mind, there are loads of little useful features tucked away in that small body!


That is really nice James! Amazing the difference carrying a slider along makes.

What tripod, head and slider are you taking with you on walks?

Thanks,

Bill
Click to expand...
 
GH2, 100-300 EX Tele (15660 mm) video

http://www.vimeo.com/17720792

This is a H.264 file file, with no adjustments. I converted the MTS file to Apple ProRes HQ, and exported the H264 from FCP. Media info shows the MTS file bit rate as 21.3 kbps (the max rate shows as 21.7 kbps). I used the 24P(H) setting. I’ve included some video with focus shifting and image wobble to show the issues I encountered at this magnification, despite using a heavy Miller video tripod and Sachtler fluid head. The latter part of the video is at 300 mm, which is the equivalent of a 1560 mm lens on 35 mm.

I tried uploading a 572MB ProRes HQ version, but Vimeo would not convert it.

I was actually filming birds, but I mistakenly thought the 200 and 300 percent were higher fps second settings because I’ve seen the GH2 percentage variations referred to as slow motion. I often use the slow motion setting on the EX1R for birds because it allows a much better view of them. Anyone know if there is a faster (with better IQ) long tele (300 mm or so) for the GH2 that will AF on the camera? Also, have any of you worked out settings (GH2 version of a profile) you like?

I did shoot some stills at the 300 mm setting (600 mm on a 35 mm sensor). I noticed a fair percentage of them were just a tiny touch off, and at 300 percent I could see the smallest bit of movement blur. I’m not sure why. It may be my touch on the shutter release, or possibly it is because I left the image stabilization setting on? It was set to one - I think there are three settings for it. Also, with large Nikon lenses I use a Wimberly II head - which is fantastic - and even at high magnifications (600 f4.0 VR and 1.4x) and fairly slow shutter speeds I do not encounter this issue. Maybe the video fluid head and the fact the GH2 is so light was a factor? If anyone wants to see the stills, I can post links to the jpegs.

I think if viewed alone, the GH2 prints would look fine to most people, but when I compared them to a couple of similar images taken with the D3s, the Nikon shots were better. For example at 100 percent I can see the veins in the eye of the D3s squirrel photo. I assume this is because of the lens quality differences, but perhaps the AA filter in the GH2 is also a factor? The camera arrived Friday afternoon, and I took some video clips and stills of a painting with both the hacked GH1 and the GH2, using a Voitgländer 25 mm f0.95 lens and my 14-140 zoom. The GH2 video resolved more than the hacked GH1 video, and the Voitgländer was sharper than the zoom.

Bill
 
billh said:
GH2, 100-300 EX Tele (15660 mm) video

http://www.vimeo.com/17720792

This is a H.264 file file, with no adjustments. I converted the MTS file to Apple ProRes HQ, and exported the H264 from FCP. Media info shows the MTS file bit rate as 21.3 kbps (the max rate shows as 21.7 kbps). I used the 24P(H) setting. I’ve included some video with focus shifting and image wobble to show the issues I encountered at this magnification, despite using a heavy Miller video tripod and Sachtler fluid head. The latter part of the video is at 300 mm, which is the equivalent of a 1560 mm lens on 35 mm.

I tried uploading a 572MB ProRes HQ version, but Vimeo would not convert it.

I was actually filming birds, but I mistakenly thought the 200 and 300 percent were higher fps second settings because I’ve seen the GH2 percentage variations referred to as slow motion. I often use the slow motion setting on the EX1R for birds because it allows a much better view of them. Anyone know if there is a faster (with better IQ) long tele (300 mm or so) for the GH2 that will AF on the camera? Also, have any of you worked out settings (GH2 version of a profile) you like?

I did shoot some stills at the 300 mm setting (600 mm on a 35 mm sensor). I noticed a fair percentage of them were just a tiny touch off, and at 300 percent I could see the smallest bit of movement blur. I’m not sure why. It may be my touch on the shutter release, or possibly it is because I left the image stabilization setting on? It was set to one - I think there are three settings for it. Also, with large Nikon lenses I use a Wimberly II head - which is fantastic - and even at high magnifications (600 f4.0 VR and 1.4x) and fairly slow shutter speeds I do not encounter this issue. Maybe the video fluid head and the fact the GH2 is so light was a factor? If anyone wants to see the stills, I can post links to the jpegs.

I think if viewed alone, the GH2 prints would look fine to most people, but when I compared them to a couple of similar images taken with the D3s, the Nikon shots were better. For example at 100 percent I can see the veins in the eye of the D3s squirrel photo. I assume this is because of the lens quality differences, but perhaps the AA filter in the GH2 is also a factor? The camera arrived Friday afternoon, and I took some video clips and stills of a painting with both the hacked GH1 and the GH2, using a Voitgländer 25 mm f0.95 lens and my 14-140 zoom. The GH2 video resolved more than the hacked GH1 video, and the Voitgländer was sharper than the zoom.

Bill
Click to expand...

Thanks for posting that vid and your comments. I just got my 100-300 and haven't really had a chance to check it out yet so am really interested in your observations. And the EX Tele was a big draw for me when ordering the GH2 (which should be here this week). Seeing I haven't gotten the GH2 yet, haven't had a chance to mess with profiles, but I'll probably initially try the one I normally use on the GH13 - -

Smooth Mode:
Contrast -2
Sharpness 0
Saturation 0
Noise Reduction -2

I don't know if you've ever used a lens with an equal magnification to what the 300mm is with the EX Tele, but if there's any kind of wind at all I'd suggest a weight on the tripod, even with a seemingly solid setup like the Miller and Sachtler you mentioned. After all, that is a HUGE magnification and couple that with the 100-300 being light weight compared to others in that class and a light camera like the GH2, I'd think it might be more susceptible to shakes than a rig with a D3 and a heavy Nikon lens.

Also, it's best to have the OIS turned OFF when on a tripod - at least for video. And there's no way a GH2 will compare favorably with a Nikon D3 for stills, so I hope you're only offering that as a "well, yeah duh" kind of clinical observation. :)

Thought the 1560 squirrel actually looked pretty good, allowing for Vimeo compression.

I have a Tokina 300mm 2.8 that I'm dying to try with the GH2 in EX Tele - it's very sharp and fast, but doesn't have auto focus so wouldn't be so good for birds unless you're shooting a nest, etc.

Hope some of this is helpful. Will post once my GH2 gets here and I have some things to share.
 
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