GH4 GH4 2.35:1 lettorboxed frame guides

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RedChalice

Active member
Since there is no option within the GH4 to set frame guides for letterbox, I was wondering if any of you guys are using any workarounds.Hopefully Panasonic can add the guides in a future firmware update (i dont see why not).

In the meantime I was considering printing out a 16x9 chart with the letterbox on it, framing up my camera to the printed picture, and then drawing the guides myself onto an LCD cover.

Any other suggestions?
 
I'm using painters blue tape, and/or gaffer tape right on the touch screen and external monitor. And I leave the "RULE OF THIRDS" grid on, but mentally compensate the locations of the cross points since it doesn't match the 2.40:1 aspect I shoot.
 
RedChalice said:
In the meantime I was considering printing out a 16x9 chart with the letterbox on it, framing up my camera to the printed picture, and then drawing the guides myself onto an LCD cover.
Click to expand...

Typically I'll use EVF/Monitor with guide lines, but on occasion resorted to black camera tape, or plain old Scotch Tape, on the LCD. Benifit of the Scotch Tape is the ability to still see the camera settings.
 
Bern, I considered the scoth tape idea... how's that working for you? Can you remove it, and does the touch screen still work under it? I worry scotch is TOO adhesive and blends into the coating ?
 
I was in a sewing store once and saw these orange strips, basically static kling made of flexible soft plastic. You would put them on the sewing bed a certain distance from the needle to use as a guide. For the old farts like me who were ever around computers when computers used magnetic tape the same kind of tape was used to hold the end of tape in place for storage so that the tape did not accidently fly all over the place when removing the storage ring. I sure there are other uses of this tape as well, but a sewing shops would be good place to start.
 
wwjd said:
Bern, I considered the scoth tape idea... how's that working for you? Can you remove it, and does the touch screen still work under it? I worry scotch is TOO adhesive and blends into the coating ?
Click to expand...
I've used scotch tape without any problems. But I always stick it to my shirt a few times to make it less adhesive before I apply it.
 
I don't have photo shop and would like to mark the LCD screen to get an accurate 2:35:1. What is the best way to get that? I'm looking into a monitor with the guides but would also like to get the LCD right.
 
The Aputure VS-3 - 7-Inch monitor has 2.35:1 frame guides. It also has a built in histogram which is super handy because the one in the camera times out.
 
Thanks wwjd I'll give that a try. I do need a monitor and the one Larry mention would work also. But need something for the LCD
 
This is probably heresy, but I just shoot with my aspect ratio in mind. In post I never use a guide, and play with the crop til I get a random aspect ratio that I like. With the GH4's 4K (I usually shoot in C4K for any narrative stuff) I pan and scan sometimes to keep everything in frame if I didn't nail it, and it gives you extra leeway to play with. About the only time I run into trouble is when I shoot a shot little too tight, so I work harder now to avoid that.
 
RedChalice said:
Since there is no option within the GH4 to set frame guides for letterbox,
Click to expand...

Not entirely true: Custom wrench menu>page 4>guidelines.

In there you can set a custom horizontal and vertical guide. Since it doesn't allow for 2 H lines, you could set the one to either the top or bottom for 2:35 which would of course be half a help, but your eye and brain are pretty good at comparisons, so just having that one could be pretty useful overall.

Or you can set the 1 line to subtract the total crop for 235 on either the top or the bottom. This would get you a clear guide, but with leeway on only one side to make adjustments in post. and assumes you never plan to release in its un-cropped form.
 
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