GH4 "Still Like" as a "baked in" default?

M

MichaelA

Well-known member
Hi all...

Not quite sure how to phrase this question. I'm looking for some collective experiences and opinions in using the Panasonic GH4 "Still Like" scene file. Sometimes I have to shoot using everything baked in - no chance to do v-log stuff - and have been messing about with scene files for a while trying to get to a good all purpose default baked in look. Previously, using the default scene files I gravitated to using scene 6 which is called something "cinema like" . It was probably the best of the originally loaded scene files but still not "there". I messed with setting all the while trying to make it better until it all turned to sh1t and decided to just start over. So I downloaded the scene file set from Panasonic that has the GH4 still like file as scene 4. I am assuming the remaining scene files are all as "original". Replaced all 6 just so I can start over fresh with a new baseline. (yeah, I messed up and tweaked a few scene files by accident and decided to reload em all to start over)

It seems like the GH4 "Still Like" is pretty darn good right out of the box! But that could be just because I made such a mess of my settings before that ANYTHING would look better :Drogar-KnockedOut(D so I've lost a bit of objectivity.... Not quite sure I can improve on it by tweaking it around. But before I mess with anything I'm just looking for opinions from those that may have used this scene file more extensively in the field. Does it make a pretty good baked in default or have you arrived at something better?
 
Well, this is pretty much run and gun, generally outdoors perhaps interviewing a subject but then leads to some indoor workshop type shots. All along the lines of narrative instructional type videos or documentary type stuff. Not much chance to set up lights or stage stuff so the conditions could vary a lot. I've had pretty good results with a Canon 70D and 5D3 in manual modes and can pretty much use footage from those straight away. The DVX200 has thrown me a steeper learning curve. Scene file 1 was really crappy, ended up using 6 for a while and it came out pretty good. Thing is I took my old Canon XA30 out as a B camera, and damn if it didn't come out looking better! Now I KNOW the DVX can at least match that if I can get the settings dialed in but frankly I've discovered that I'm not that skilled yet messing with those adjustments without some guidance! So I thought I'd try the GH4 scene file today. Loaded it up and am pretty impressed. Seems like the best "canned" settings so far. I've yet to do a test against the XA30 (now kinda my baseline - but really one heck of a versatile little camera) but with the GH4 scene file I can say "that's more like it!" Just don't know if that's pretty much as good as it can get without resorting to V-log...
 
It’s our “Go-To” setting for everything we do with the DVX200……..The thing that motivated me to buy the DVX200 was the fact that I thought it could be matched to our GH4, for multi cam shoots. We loved the look of the GH4 and decided to gamble on the fact that we could do it.

With that in mind we got together with two of our Panasonic Reps and made some tests, we tried the “Still Like GH4” and also profiles developed by Barry Green the rest is history, the Still Like GH4 matches the look of the GH4 perfectly. The following are notes for those of you that are interested in matching these cameras.

DVX200 Check List For Multi Camera Shoots

Tests made on May 19[SUP]th[/SUP] 2016 proved that both the Panasonic AG-DVX200 and the GH4 cameras could be matched perfectly for multi camera shoots, see the following filmed at Encore Broadcast in Tampa Florida. https://vimeo.com/167443202

DVX200 Settings;

Make sure that you have Firmware Version 1.65 installed in your DVX200 camera and set the Color Palette to NATURAL then install the Panasonic Scene File commonly referred to as “Like GH4” this should be installed so that it replaces Scene File 4 in your DVX200 camera. Then always use Scene File 4 for multi camera shoots that include a GH4. Noted below are the actual settings for the “Like GH4” Scene File.

MASTER DETAIL +10
DETAIL CORING 1
SKIN TONE DTL OFF
V DETAIL LEVEL 0
KNEE APE LEVEL 3
RB GAIN CONTROL SETTING
CROMA LEVEL 0
CROMA PHASE 0
MATRIX NORM2
COLOR CORRECTION SETTING
MASTER PED -3
GAMMA MODE FILMLIKE2
BLACK GAMMA -8
BLACK GAMMA RANGE 3
KNEE MODE MANUAL
KNEE MASTER POINT 80.0
KNEE MASTER SLOPE 10
DRS OFF
DRS EFFECT 1
AUTO IRIS LEVEL ON
AUTO IRIS LEVEL EFFECT +5
V-LOG L MODE OFF

GH4 Settings;

When our tests were conducted the GH4 camera used for the test had Body Firmware Version 2.4 and the Photo Style was NATURAL.
 
Vardalos;

Thanks so much for posting all that up! For me, it's great to know that other more experienced shooters are finding the GH4 scene file useable. It helps to validate my own perceptions of it and can use it with a bit more confidence. The settings table is also invaluable for reference.

Thanks again!
 
Vardalos said:
It’s our “Go-To” setting for everything we do with the DVX200……..The thing that motivated me to buy the DVX200 was the fact that I thought it could be matched to our GH4, for multi cam shoots. We loved the look of the GH4 and decided to gamble on the fact that we could do it.

With that in mind we got together with two of our Panasonic Reps and made some tests, we tried the “Still Like GH4” and also profiles developed by Barry Green the rest is history, the Still Like GH4 matches the look of the GH4 perfectly. The following are notes for those of you that are interested in matching these cameras.

DVX200 Check List For Multi Camera Shoots

Tests made on May 19[SUP]th[/SUP] 2016 proved that both the Panasonic AG-DVX200 and the GH4 cameras could be matched perfectly for multi camera shoots, see the following filmed at Encore Broadcast in Tampa Florida. https://vimeo.com/167443202

DVX200 Settings;

Make sure that you have Firmware Version 1.65 installed in your DVX200 camera and set the Color Palette to NATURAL then install the Panasonic Scene File commonly referred to as “Like GH4” this should be installed so that it replaces Scene File 4 in your DVX200 camera. Then always use Scene File 4 for multi camera shoots that include a GH4. Noted below are the actual settings for the “Like GH4” Scene File.

MASTER DETAIL +10
DETAIL CORING 1
SKIN TONE DTL OFF
V DETAIL LEVEL 0
KNEE APE LEVEL 3
RB GAIN CONTROL SETTING
CROMA LEVEL 0
CROMA PHASE 0
MATRIX NORM2
COLOR CORRECTION SETTING
MASTER PED -3
GAMMA MODE FILMLIKE2
BLACK GAMMA -8
BLACK GAMMA RANGE 3
KNEE MODE MANUAL
KNEE MASTER POINT 80.0
KNEE MASTER SLOPE 10
DRS OFF
DRS EFFECT 1
AUTO IRIS LEVEL ON
AUTO IRIS LEVEL EFFECT +5
V-LOG L MODE OFF

GH4 Settings;

When our tests were conducted the GH4 camera used for the test had Body Firmware Version 2.4 and the Photo Style was NATURAL.
Click to expand...

So to keep it simple for me, I have been using Scene file 6, pretty satified, But I'm going to get a GH4, so If I don't use scene file #4 can I just go into editing it and make the above scene file changes, which will in effect make it the GH4 Still like file?
 
Easier to just blow in a new set of scene files. Can be downloaded off Panny's site. 1-3 and 5-6 are the same, only 4 changes to the GH4 "still like". OR you COULD replicate the settings above, but that's how I blew up a couple of my scene files when I got lost in all the settings..... real easy to get lost and not know it until footage turns to poo. Been there... :Drogar-BlackEye(DBG
 
MichaelA said:
Easier to just blow in a new set of scene files. Can be downloaded off Panny's site. 1-3 and 5-6 are the same, only 4 changes to the GH4 "still like". OR you COULD replicate the settings above, but that's how I blew up a couple of my scene files when I got lost in all the settings..... real easy to get lost and not know it until footage turns to poo. Been there... :Drogar-BlackEye(DBG
Click to expand...

Some good commonsense advice from West Texas.
 
I think the "Still Like" scene file is the best all-around scene but could possibly use some tweaking. I took a shot at it recently and failed in my first attempt. Like MichaelA, most of what I do is run-and-gun, how-to type videos that are mostly shot outdoors in varying lighting conditions. The problems I see with the "Still Like" scene file are crushed blacks and possibly over-saturation. I'd like to hear thoughts from other users on this scene file as well as if anyone has made adjustments to it to make it better.
 
Exactly my impression, too. I dialled black gamma to 0 to avoid crushed blacks and desaturated it a bit. Otherwise my favourite scene file
 
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