Help me build GH2 interview kit

S

Saddler

Well-known member
I've been planning on using an AF100 as my A Cam and GH2s as my B, C, and maybe D Cams. But now I'm considering starting with just a GH2 for a first possible project at the end of the month -- some interviews at a game developers conference. I'm building things up from scratch, with the exception of a wireless omni Sennheiser mic which I already have. What all do I need to know about shooting with the GH2 (I've mostly focused on the AF100, so I don't know much about the GH2 yet).

1. Can someone give me a quick refresher on what's available for audio input and what quality to expect, or recommend external audio recorders. Is there a solution for monitoring?

2. I know the LCD isn't nearly as sharp as the AF100's, and it doesn't have the same focus tools built in, so do I need an external monitor to ensure focus is good if shooting an interview setting with either a 17-170 or a Voigtlander 25mm 0.95?

3. What strength of neutral density filters should I get to allow maximum flexibility?

4. Any other advice?

Thanks
 
That's what I've done. Just shooting with GH2 for now and maybe 100 sooner or later. Its been a solid performer so far. As for your questions.

This is what I'm planning on picking up for audio for the Gh2 and just in general. It's got a mod by these guys and supposed to be great for field recording. 4 inputs also offers a lot more flexibility.

http://www.oade.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=OBA&Category_Code=EDIR44-Super


As far as an external LCD there's lots of good inexpensive options on the market now so you are in luck. I tend to prefer to use the EVF on the GH2 as the LCD is indeed not that great.


For NDs.. I really like the Faders. Might be a trade off but it's flexible and somewhat cheaper than a full set of NDs....


I'd also think that you might want to get a DSLR rig for handheld and then maybe a follow focus for more precise stuff.. I really like the follow focus option even for run and gun.. Just much smoother and easier to get to hold than the lens and all that.
 
Saddler said:
1. Can someone give me a quick refresher on what's available for audio input and what quality to expect, or recommend external audio recorders. Is there a solution for monitoring?
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In-camera audio is pretty clean on the camera (coudn't find the specs anywhere, but Sony Vegas says it's 48khz AC3 Dolby). But even with an external mic and the audio gain set to "low", there is still a slight, but detectable 'noise floor'. I recommend external audio. Hard to beat the price/performance ratio of the 24-bit/96kHz $99 Zoom H1. I use the H1 headphone out with a Sescom cable to get two tracks (one in-camera, and one on the recorder) for flexibility in post. There is no in-camera audio monitoring, so I split the headphone audio coming out of the Zoom so I can at least monitor what's going in to the camera.

As you probably already know, the GH2's audio input jack is a tiny 2.5mm sub-mini, so if you do decide to go straight into the camera from your mic, you'll need a 3.5mm to 2.5mm adapter to get into the GH2. I recommend a 90 degree adapter to reduce the risk of snapping it off. If your Sennheiser has an XLR connector, you will wish you had the AF100.


2. I know the LCD isn't nearly as sharp as the AF100's, and it doesn't have the same focus tools built in, so do I need an external monitor to ensure focus is good if shooting an interview setting with either a 17-170 or a Voigtlander 25mm 0.95?
Click to expand...

With Manual Focus assist, the image expands 5 to 10 times to make focusing easier. You should be OK for a static interview.

3. What strength of neutral density filters should I get to allow maximum flexibility?
Click to expand...

I agree with Justyn.

4. Any other advice?
Click to expand...

If you haven't bought the camera already, rent it for the job. Give yourself a day or two before the shoot for practice. If you can deal with the audio jack, the small-ish LCD and the lack of built-in ND filter in a pro setting, buy the GH2 as your A cam. If not, the AF100 might be the better solution.
 
For audio, I'd suggest a lav either through a wireless or just straight into a recorder. Short of a properly handled boom mic, this will give you the best quality, certainly better than an on camera mic. On camera mic is still okay if you're right up in your interviewee's face, but using a lav allows you to move the camera back which usually makes people more comfortable. Problem is monitoring. A wireless system is expensive and if you run the lav straight into an external recorder you can't monitor it unless you're sitting on the interviewee's lap.

For focus, I agree you'd be fine relying on the focus magnification assuming your subject will be stationary. The focus magnification will not work while the camera is recording, however.

NDs: The Fader's are convenient but they do degrade quality especially at telephoto length. For an interview where you're not going to have to contend with changes in light, I'd probably opt for standard NDs.
 
If you are doing stationary sit down interviews I would suggest a WIRED mic. I can't tell you how many times I've edited stuff acquired from other shooters where all they used was a wireless & then there are interference hits. If the person isn't moving I don't see why the need to be wireless. Also - I would suggest in addition to the wired lav, a decent shotgun too, that way if they get all busy with their hands & hit the lav you have a backup sound source.
 
Wireless fine but sometime you gets interefence. You get better audio and safety with wired. Can buy small mic stand for cheap money! Its awessome!
 
I plan to do serious interviews (aka paid) and will use a mixer to ride gain, feeding the GH2 and Zoom recorder, monitoring off the mixer, with the Zoom in manual gain, since the GH2 has AGC (limits dynamic range). I'll lav and boom one interviewee or lav two interviewees. I won't do more than two interviewees if I'm shooting video and audio. I'd use a wireless lav, with backup wired lav available. With this system, I need setup time. It's not run-n-gun.

For run-n-gun or just kickin' around town, I prefer a solid hypercardioid shotgun mic on the hotshoe, plugged directly into the GH2, and watch the meters. With a Cool-lux bracket, can also mount a Litepanels Micro. It's unfortunate not being able to monitor sound, but trust your mic and techniques and it's fine. I've had lot of experience shooting without headphones, especially almost every camcorder I've had the headphone jack broke.
 
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I did a little test yesterday recording into my m-audio microtrack II and then taking the output from that into the GH2. The audio quality recorded to the gh2 was absolutely fine but there was a bit more noise in the form of top end hiss that could be partly dealt using a noise reduction plugin and some eq. The audio recorded to the m-audio was cleaner. This is to be expected to be honest.

One thing worth considering is the use of a laptop USB interface for static indoor interviews. I use a small Alesis 2 channel USB interface into my macbook which has much better preamps and convertors than the budget portable recorders. Obviously not idea for outdoor and impossible for run and gun!
 
brunerww said:
I use the H1 headphone out with a Sescom cable to get two tracks (one in-camera, and one on the recorder) for flexibility in post. There is no in-camera audio monitoring, so I split the headphone audio coming out of the Zoom so I can at least monitor what's going in to the camera.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the mention of the Sescom cable!! It's interesting to see that they don't use a 90 degree 2.5mm plug. I just bought a 90 degree adapter to go from 3.5mm to 2.5mm because of my concern about breaking something due to a plug sticking out.

I checked out the Sescom site and they have 6 different cables to choose from depending on what recorder you have.
 
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