Is Shutter-priority best video mode for GH1?

[londonis]

no. when you're in shutter priority, the camera's auto function is regulating the aperture. iso mode is set separately, either manual selection, auto, or intelligent auto. so if you lock the exposure, you are locking the aperture. it is no longer trying to maintain anything, in the sense that it continues to make adjustments.

Thanks for the clarification. So, it would seem to make little difference whether one shoots in Manual Mode or Shutter Priority Mode (with AE Lock set) - would that be correct?
Also, would you suggest shooting in Manual Focus mode (perhaps ajusting from time to time?) or in AF mode?

Thanks again for your input.

 

[averan]

i think you're right. personally, i only shoot video in the video manual mode as i noticed the camera doing some weird exposure adjustments while in the regular (M) manual mode (don't remember if i used AE lock or not). the one difference though, is that in full manual, you must make the adjustments, while in S, the camera can do it for you. depends on your needs and preference/style of shooting. i like using the camera's auto functions sometimes for quick work, as long as i can lock those settings when i want.

when i shoot video, i pretty much always want the aperture as open as possible for shallow dof and i want the shutter to stay locked at 1/30 (when shooting 30p), so i only shoot in full manual video mode. i adjust my 'exposure' by either boosting ISO (if underexposed) or using a FaderND (if overexposed).

in general, i'll use AF to set the focus (except when using manual lenses of course). on controlled shoots, i'll then lock the focus by switching it to MF. on run-n-gun shoots, i like using the face-tracking AFC with the Lumix kit lens. if i know that the distance between me and my subject won't change during the take, i'll make sure to lock focus to avoid the AF hunting from time to time.

it can really vary depending on the lens. best advice is to try for yourself and find what works best for each situation and your style of shooting.

 

[dustinash]

Go into the MOTION PICTURE MENU and make sure your EXPOSURE MODE is set to (M) manual (in addition to CMM)

are you sure your not changing the focal length on a zoom lens? Even in manual mode that will obviously change f values.

 

[ZeusFaber]

when i shoot video, i pretty much always want the aperture as open as possible for shallow dof and i want the shutter to stay locked at 1/30 (when shooting 30p), so i only shoot in full manual video mode. i adjust my 'exposure' by either boosting ISO (if underexposed) or using a FaderND (if overexposed).

Why don't changing directly the exposure F2.0 F2.5 F5.6? I'm assuming you change it before the shot because whatever method will be visibible while shooting

 

[averan]

changing the F-stop/aperture affects your depth of field. i like the shallowest dof possible, so i set my aperture/f-stop as low as possible. and since i'm shooting video and not stills, i need my shutter to stay put which means i have to use an ND filter to bring exposure down, or add light or boost ISO to bring exposure up. and yes, this is all done before the shot.