GH2 Jumping in with GH2vk

V

VMT

Well-known member
I have been watching with interest the the DSLR craze for sometime and came close to buying a 7D last year. But the work arounds and limitations of dslr drove me nuts. It just wasn't worth it for me after using a friend's 7D on a shoot.

However the "invisible" form factor, the low light capabilities, and the SDOF, not to mention the very attractive price point for all of this appeal to me. I also have a set of canon fd primes gathering dust just waiting to be used.

So with the impending breakthrough of the GH2vk (I'm "officially" calling it that for the guy who hacked it), I just ordered a GH2. Will I regret it? What are some of the likely improvements to the GH2?

I shot several projects on a Bolex and Arri BL decades ago, will that give me a leg up with DSLR? Are there any good tutorials for DSLR newbies? I mostly do short form docs and corporate on XDCAM. I want to give DSLR a second chance with the GH2. Any pointers from experienced DSLR shooters would be greatly appreciated.
 
Congrats. Not going to regret the GH2 at all. The likely improvements will be in bit rate and the ability to use Pal - Ntsc. Shooting with the Bolex and arri years back will help you to get a grasp on the super narrow DOF that you will sometimes get and certainly the joy of rack-focusing. There's some good pointeres on B and H's website from the DP of the Terminator Salvation. it's focused on the 5D but lots of good stuff there...

As far as my advice...

1. Don't get turned off by the confusing menus and the million and one buttons and ways to do things. Find out what you like, what you want to use, and go with it... It's a very consumer and confusing set-up but over time you'll figure it out.

2. Learn to love the ability to dial in the white balance in Kelvin... super great.

3. use the over-exposure option to know when you've gone nuclear. The cam doesn't like to burn out the highlights..

4. When using non micro 4/3's if you push in the dial then it gives you 1 for 1 pixel magnification before recording...

5. Realize that there is a color shift from when you are in preview and when it goes into recording. The recording is what is true...



A few other things I've done that really help me.

1. I got a wrist strap to go onto the camera instead of the annoying neck strap.

2. Buy a few extra batteries right away... They don't last terribly long.

3. A 32 gig SD card is incredible.

4. An external HDMI monitor is an awesome addition. I really really love my sony 5".

5. To avoid the annoying mini trembles with shooting with a naked cam, might want to get some kind of shoulder rig, etc...


Enjoy and realize this is a serious camera but it looks so cutesy and for the tourists... I think it's a bonus in that!
 
Justyn said:
Congrats. Not going to regret the GH2 at all. The likely improvements will be in bit rate and the ability to use Pal - Ntsc. Shooting with the Bolex and arri years back will help you to get a grasp on the super narrow DOF that you will sometimes get and certainly the joy of rack-focusing. There's some good pointeres on B and H's website from the DP of the Terminator Salvation. it's focused on the 5D but lots of good stuff there...

As far as my advice...

1. Don't get turned off by the confusing menus and the million and one buttons and ways to do things. Find out what you like, what you want to use, and go with it... It's a very consumer and confusing set-up but over time you'll figure it out.

2. Learn to love the ability to dial in the white balance in Kelvin... super great.

3. use the over-exposure option to know when you've gone nuclear. The cam doesn't like to burn out the highlights..

4. When using non micro 4/3's if you push in the dial then it gives you 1 for 1 pixel magnification before recording...

5. Realize that there is a color shift from when you are in preview and when it goes into recording. The recording is what is true...



A few other things I've done that really help me.

1. I got a wrist strap to go onto the camera instead of the annoying neck strap.

2. Buy a few extra batteries right away... They don't last terribly long.

3. A 32 gig SD card is incredible.

4. An external HDMI monitor is an awesome addition. I really really love my sony 5".

5. To avoid the annoying mini trembles with shooting with a naked cam, might want to get some kind of shoulder rig, etc...


Enjoy and realize this is a serious camera but it looks so cutesy and for the tourists... I think it's a bonus in that!
Click to expand...

Thanks for the advice and the great tips, Justyn. I will check out the B and H site.

Does the 1 for 1 magnification work during recording? Which Sony monitor do you have?

Justyn said:
The likely improvements will be in bit rate and the ability to use Pal - Ntsc.
Click to expand...

Two issues about the 7D I didn't want to deal with were the moire and banding. Will the improved bit rate on the GH2vk address thess issues?
 
Yes it does the punch in while recording and also does peaking on read. The Gh2 does not output through 60p 720 though... but maybe with the hack it might. Other than that... great camera and good monitoring and I use the Sony with my 150 when I'm doing a studio style config. I for one am happy to have my 150.. it serves a whole skillset that the Gh2 will not.
 
Justyn said:
Congrats. Not going to regret the GH2 at all. The likely improvements will be in bit rate and the ability to use Pal - Ntsc. Shooting with the Bolex and arri years back will help you to get a grasp on the super narrow DOF that you will sometimes get and certainly the joy of rack-focusing. There's some good pointeres on B and H's website from the DP of the Terminator Salvation. it's focused on the 5D but lots of good stuff there...

As far as my advice...

1. Don't get turned off by the confusing menus and the million and one buttons and ways to do things. Find out what you like, what you want to use, and go with it... It's a very consumer and confusing set-up but over time you'll figure it out.

2. Learn to love the ability to dial in the white balance in Kelvin... super great.

3. use the over-exposure option to know when you've gone nuclear. The cam doesn't like to burn out the highlights..
Click to expand...


bro, could you elaborate on point 3...? hahaha..
 
VMT, I too come from an Arri background (16ST, BL) and, like you, decades ago, too. In recent years, I've used my trusty Sony VX1000 as an early adopter, and a JVC GY DV-500. And now I'm in the process of kitting out a GH2. I've used it on a number of test shoots, and my first serious interview. The camera has performed flawlessly, but also shown me its shortcomings, all of which can be overcome with manual lenses, rigs, and accessories. For example, I had an external battery built that works all day. One thing I find amusing is the return to double system sound. I use a Zoom H4N, which is much less cumbersome than the Nagra 4.2 which accompanied me into the field. As for syncing the rushes, Plural Eyes.

FWIW, I settled on the GH2 because of the picture quality. But also because these are early days in this HDSLR new, new world. It got to a point where trying to figure out what was the best camera, lens, rig, etc. became insanely confusing. The fact is all of them can be made to work. And the fact is, too, that it's likely Canon and Panasonic will be introducing new and better cameras in the months or years to come so upgrading is inevitable. Better, I reasoned, to jump in with what will likely work well and learn this new approach to film making. So far it's working well. I have on order a Proaim rig, which while not the best, so I'm told, will be more than good enough to learn with and allow me to develop my own shooting style with this technology all the while making f******g good movies. Nobody ever won an Oscar or an Emmy because of their choice in tripod or shoulder mounts. After all, "It's the story, stupid."

At any rate, what a joy to have everything I need to shoot and edit HD image and sound for less than what I spent on an Arri 16st, O'connor 50 tripod, and a Nagra 4.2 in 1972. And what a joy to be able to shoot on stamp sized SD cards rather than cartons of 7252 and 7247.

These are good times, indeed.
 
Stephen Best said:
VMT, I too come from an Arri background (16ST, BL) and, like you, decades ago, too. In recent years, I've used my trusty Sony VX1000 as an early adopter, and a JVC GY DV-500. And now I'm in the process of kitting out a GH2. I've used it on a number of test shoots, and my first serious interview. The camera has performed flawlessly, but also shown me its shortcomings, all of which can be overcome with manual lenses, rigs, and accessories. For example, I had an external battery built that works all day. One thing I find amusing is the return to double system sound. I use a Zoom H4N, which is much less cumbersome than the Nagra 4.2 which accompanied me into the field. As for syncing the rushes, Plural Eyes.

FWIW, I settled on the GH2 because of the picture quality. But also because these are early days in this HDSLR new, new world. It got to a point where trying to figure out what was the best camera, lens, rig, etc. became insanely confusing. The fact is all of them can be made to work. And the fact is, too, that it's likely Canon and Panasonic will be introducing new and better cameras in the months or years to come so upgrading is inevitable. Better, I reasoned, to jump in with what will likely work well and learn this new approach to film making. So far it's working well. I have on order a Proaim rig, which while not the best, so I'm told, will be more than good enough to learn with and allow me to develop my own shooting style with this technology all the while making f******g good movies. Nobody ever won an Oscar or an Emmy because of their choice in tripod or shoulder mounts. After all, "It's the story, stupid."

At any rate, what a joy to have everything I need to shoot and edit HD image and sound for less than what I spent on an Arri 16st, O'connor 50 tripod, and a Nagra 4.2 in 1972. And what a joy to be able to shoot on stamp sized SD cards rather than cartons of 7252 and 7247.

These are good times, indeed.
Click to expand...

Thanks for sharing. Good to hear you are pleased with the GH2. I did a stint as AC and loved working with the Arri 16SR. Hopefully I will feel the same about the GH2 (and maybe later the AF100 or FS100). Yeah, it's probably going to be a lot of déjà vu moments transitioning to the GH2 and larger sensor video cams.
 
Point 3 is for the blown out highlight option. Blown out highlights above 100 IRE will blink and have a zebra look. It can be beneficial.
 
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