Hows the noise on your GH2

R

rigs

Well-known member
My GH2 seems to have more noise and grain at iso 160 - 800 than my GH13 at iso 100 to 640.
I have done some tests and filmed a bunch of stuff with the 2 cameras since Dec 3 and Im not to impressed with the GH2 noise / grain results. I love the ETC but it even seems to add a bit more noise compared to the standard mode.

I have set the both cameras to fully manual, Film mode Nostalgic contrast -2, sharpness -2, saturation-2, noise red +1. No IR and both running at 24p. All my shots have good lighting and exposure and used several lens options.

So far I'm impressed with the features of the GH2 just not the performance. I have not noticed any banding issues, but I am let down by how much noise the GH2 generates compared to my GH13. So much so that I'm thinking of returning it, and perhaps try another one if I can or wait till another batch in spring 2011.

Straight up how do others feel about the noise and grain levels they see on their GH2
 
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Hunter Richards posted about the NR actually making a noticeable difference on the GH2. Have you tried dialling this up?

Nevermind, I should have read your post properly. I see you're shooting at +1 NR
 
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Have you tried other film modes than Nostalgic? I think on the GH1 the different settings (like NR) worked differently in the different film modes. Maybe it's the same with the GH2. So maybe Nostalgix on the GH2 has more noise than on the GH1, but if you go to other film modes with the same settings dialed in you'll get less noise. Just a thought.
 
I recognized that too in a lot of videos I have seen of the GH2.
Bright parts ar superb even at ISO 1600+
But underexposed parts are VERY noisy, even at ISO 160!

Look at the black areas (Download!)
http://www.vimeo.com/17773432
 
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are you looking in a video or computer monitor ? I downloaded the vimeo video and looks good in a sony trinitron.
 
Its not the monitor. I have seen it on several different ones from computer, consumer to broadcast monitors all at 1080p and the noise is consistantly there. If you crush the blacks you can hide some of it, but thats not the best solution.
 
I'm not saying noise isn't there, but some monitors / adjusts show an unrealistic noise level, far from broadcast standards. Anyway Pana always had more noise than Canon, right ?
 
Mike@AF said:
Have you tried other film modes than Nostalgic? I think on the GH1 the different settings (like NR) worked differently in the different film modes. Maybe it's the same with the GH2. So maybe Nostalgix on the GH2 has more noise than on the GH1, but if you go to other film modes with the same settings dialed in you'll get less noise. Just a thought.
Click to expand...

I tried all the film modes some are better than others, I think they just alter the curves and hide some of the noise with darker contrasts and blacks. I like the settings I use on the GH13 it offers more range for cc in post. I'm just on the fence on the quality of the GH2 compared to it.
 
Have you tried shooting without cine mode? Gamma stretching makes inherent sensor noise more obvious, although it does look kind of cool in one of your clips.
 
rigs said:
I tried all the film modes some are better than others, I think they just alter the curves and hide some of the noise with darker contrasts and blacks. I like the settings I use on the GH13 it offers more range for cc in post. I'm just on the fence on the quality of the GH2 compared to it.
Click to expand...

It's the other way around IMHO. They're not hiding noise my crushing blacks, you're creating noise by stretching things with a flat film mode. Try Standard or Cinema and making your contrast tweaks there.
 
On the samples I've seen from others the noise on the GH-2 looks different from the GH-1. It actually looks more pleasing....if that makes any sense 2 U.
 
I see some noise in the faster shutter speeds but compared to the gh1 banding, the gh2 looks gorgeous. The noise isn't bothersome to my eyes anyway. Plus if you use some noise removal filters it would greatly reduce it.
 
I guess by the responses or lack of, that the noise ratio on the GH2 is aceptable to current owners compared to a GH1.
I just feel with the new sensor and 3rd processor in the 2nd generation camera, things would be better than my GH1, but to me they are not.
 
I did a quick comparison of the GH2 shooting modes. The 1920x1080/60i mode is much noisier in low light and not as visually pleasing compared to its 24p and 1280x720/60p modes - progressive frame shooting is definitely the way to go on this camera (I guess 'cuz 1080i = 540p, not quite HD). In comparison to the GH1 in the same low light and 720p mode, I'd give the GH2 a very slight edge, mostly because of its better performing and useful high ISO's.

Also, I think the higher resolution sensor of the GH2 has noise of a finer grain, which makes it seem noisier (in dark areas) compared to the GH1's duller grain. Even then, my overall subjective opinion is that the GH2 looks better in low light, although by a very small margin.

I used the GH2 with these settings: Standard, -2, -2, -1, -2
 
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