GH2 LCD/EVF Auto Switch broken?

MalfunctioningHuman

MalfunctioningHuman

Active member
I have a practically new GH2 that is doing something strange.

I have LCD/EVF Auto Switch set, and when the camera is turned on it switches as expected. I can do this a few times, but always (after 1 or 2 minutes) it stops switching automatically and I need to then use the button. Turning the camera off and on again makes it work again also.

Any ideas? Thanks.
 
Sounds to me like something it would have to go back to Panasonic for. Did you buy it new and have a warranty for it?

If not I believe as long as the EVF/LCD button works I'd just get used to switching it as I wanted to with that. It's what I have to do with the GX1 and LVF2 combo, there's no auto function on that EVF.
 
Thank you, Bruce. It's been a long time, I hope you are doing great. I see you have been updating your GH arsenal.

I was wondering if there was a time out function that was causing this, but apparently that's not the case.

Yeah, it's out of warranty, but I think it's not going back to Panasonic for this. I'm fine using the button (that's why I hadn't noticed until now). Weird, because the function does work for a while before it stops responding.

Thanks again.
 
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Hi there maran! Good to see you too, man. I've been alright, just dealing with everyday life, which can sometimes be not cool, but I suppose I shouldn't complain. :) How have you been?

Yes, I didn't use that feature, but I was just testing the camera because I was thinking of selling it. Now I think I'll just keep the camera, since it might have lost too much value because of this small fault.

Talk to you later, maran!
 
MalfunctioningHuman said:
Thank you, Bruce. It's been a long time, I hope you are doing great.
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I'm doing pretty good. Had cataract surgery last year with astigmatism correcting lens implants so vision has been much improved and I no longer have to wear eyeglasses except for reading/closeup stuff (like looking at the LCD). That got followed by retina surgery in Jan to remove a diffusing layer over the retina. I can sure see a lot better!

MalfunctioningHuman said:
I see you have been updating your GH arsenal.
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I sold off my GH2 bodies to upgrade some because I didn't feel they would hold the high values some thought they would. Three of them paid for one GH3 and a start towards the second. Now that the GH4 has been announced I've already held onto the GH3s too long to get that much for them (going for $700 - $800 used now) so I'll just keep them and work with 'em. The GX1 was a great "runaround" small camera that got good stills and takes all the m4/3 lenses, but the video was full auto only - looked good but no manual settings.

The GX7, which I just got, is everything the GX1 should've been with built in EVF and video with the functionality of the GH3 for the most part.

MalfunctioningHuman said:
Yeah, it's out of warranty, but I think it's not going back to Panasonic for this. I'm fine using the button (that's why I hadn't noticed until now). Weird, because the function does work for a while before it stops responding.
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As long as that works you're good. If other glitches creep in, though, it may have to go back to Panasonic or be replaced.

Some say the G6 is a fair replacement, kind of like a "stock" GH2 but with some refinements (focus peaking for one).

Good to have you back.
 
Bruce Foreman said:
I'm doing pretty good. Had cataract surgery last year with astigmatism correcting lens implants so vision has been much improved and I no longer have to wear eyeglasses except for reading/closeup stuff (like looking at the LCD). That got followed by retina surgery in Jan to remove a diffusing layer over the retina. I can sure see a lot better!
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I'm glad to hear that, Bruce. Especially for somebody like you for whom visual arts (photography and video) is such a part of his life, I imagine this being a great thing.

It looks like cataracts run at least in part of my family (I hear they are more often seen in people with darker eye colors), and I've heard sunglasses apparently help prevent them. I'm still not at that point where that's a concern just yet, but I've thought frequently about the sunglass thing.

Bruce Foreman said:
I sold off my GH2 bodies to upgrade some because I didn't feel they would hold the high values some thought they would. Three of them paid for one GH3 and a start towards the second. Now that the GH4 has been announced I've already held onto the GH3s too long to get that much for them (going for $700 - $800 used now) so I'll just keep them and work with 'em. The GX1 was a great "runaround" small camera that got good stills and takes all the m4/3 lenses, but the video was full auto only - looked good but no manual settings.

The GX7, which I just got, is everything the GX1 should've been with built in EVF and video with the functionality of the GH3 for the most part.

As long as that works you're good. If other glitches creep in, though, it may have to go back to Panasonic or be replaced.

Some say the G6 is a fair replacement, kind of like a "stock" GH2 but with some refinements (focus peaking for one).
Click to expand...

Thank you for the rundown. Being able to finance the upgrade with your previous units sounds like a very logical thing to do. I have a GH1 and a GH2 myself, and for some reason I couldn't let go of the GH1. I find the GH1 is still an awesome camera, and when exposed correctly, the quality it gives me with the LPowell Blackout 24p hack is very pleasant. I also seem to have a low banding camera, so that helps. The stills kind of disappoint though, but that's OK as I always use my GH2 if I need to take pictures, and I'm more than happy with the quality for my purposes.

When Panasonic tightened yet the crop factor in the GH3 that disappointed me a little (more than anything else because I thought the GH1/2 already had a tight crop factor, and also for interoperability with the older models using the same lenses). But I haven't seen anybody complaining about it, so I suppose it's good. If I decide to replace my GH2 I'll definitely take a look at the G6, thank you for the tip.


Bruce Foreman said:
Good to have you back.
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Thank you, sir. :)
 
MalfunctioningHuman said:
It looks like cataracts run at least in part of my family (I hear they are more often seen in people with darker eye colors), and I've heard sunglasses apparently help prevent them. I'm still not at that point where that's a concern just yet, but I've thought frequently about the sunglass thing.
Click to expand...

The surgery was a lot easier on me than I imagined. The eyeball was "numbed up" with drops to the point there was very little sensation. The IV "relaxer" they give was so effective that although I could feel "tugging and pulling" I flat did not care. A month of eye drops while the eye healed was easy for me to put up with.

MalfunctioningHuman said:
When Panasonic tightened yet the crop factor in the GH3 that disappointed me a little (more than anything else because I thought the GH1/2 already had a tight crop factor, and also for interoperability with the older models using the same lenses). But I haven't seen anybody complaining about it, so I suppose it's good.
Click to expand...

Whatever they did with the GH3 crop factor is insignificant to me. Lenses behave essentially the same as with the GH2 (I notice no difference). But what they did do was to make the EVF smaller and for some folks it is harder to use. I do OK especially after the eye surgeries as I no longer have to contend with astigmatism and eyeglass lens correction. But I've seen comments to the effect the G6 EVF is better than the GH3 which is why I suggested looking into that.

The EVF on the GX7 is noticeably better than that on the GH3. If you look at B&H's listing on the GX7 you'll see it's a different form factor, very similar to some of the compact co-incident rangefinder 35mm film cameras like the Leica line. Without the SLR/DSLR "look" it has more "stealth" character. I got mine in silver and most people pay me no attention as long as I don't hang a "big" lens on it. No mic input does mean I have to use an external audio recorder to get decent audio when using it for video but it does do video with GH3 quality.
 
Bruce Foreman said:
The surgery was a lot easier on me than I imagined. The eyeball was "numbed up" with drops to the point there was very little sensation. The IV "relaxer" they give was so effective that although I could feel "tugging and pulling" I flat did not care. A month of eye drops while the eye healed was easy for me to put up with.
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I'm very glad to hear that, Bruce. It does sound like a somewhat unnerving experience (at least it would be for me, but then again I remember that infamous Luis Bunuel scene). ;)



Bruce Foreman said:
Whatever they did with the GH3 crop factor is insignificant to me. Lenses behave essentially the same as with the GH2 (I notice no difference). But what they did do was to make the EVF smaller and for some folks it is harder to use. I do OK especially after the eye surgeries as I no longer have to contend with astigmatism and eyeglass lens correction. But I've seen comments to the effect the G6 EVF is better than the GH3 which is why I suggested looking into that.

The EVF on the GX7 is noticeably better than that on the GH3. If you look at B&H's listing on the GX7 you'll see it's a different form factor, very similar to some of the compact co-incident rangefinder 35mm film cameras like the Leica line. Without the SLR/DSLR "look" it has more "stealth" character. I got mine in silver and most people pay me no attention as long as I don't hang a "big" lens on it. No mic input does mean I have to use an external audio recorder to get decent audio when using it for video but it does do video with GH3 quality.
Click to expand...
The one thing I would change about the m4/3 format is the crop factor, but then again it has some other associated advantages like the ability to use the small format lenses like many of the C-Mount ones, etc.

So maybe I was just fretting over nothing, as I guess like you say the change wasn't too dramatic (just in the wrong direction).

If I decide to upgrade I'll remember your suggestions, thank you. I just looked at the GX7, and you are right, I can imagine that being very inconspicuous, even if you stack on it one of the smaller zoom lenses like the 14/42.

I can imagine all those folks that are into the aerial video thing with hexacopters and stuff like that being excited about the trend towards even smaller and lighter cameras.
 
maranfilms said:
Glad to hear things are good, I picked up a G6, which is incredible, I like it over the gh2 and the gh3. here's a vid I shot in a few hrs over two days with the Samyang 16mm on the g6. The g6 is going to be c cam, have a couple gh4's on order, finally feel it's the last cam I need to buy for a while.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRiKjjZ3yGk
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Hey Shane,

I downloaded your video in 720p and it's amazing. Awesome stuff, really inspiring. Bruce wasn't kidding when he said the G6 is a fair successor to the GH2. Is the DR better than the GH2? It looks better to me, but then again you shot most of your video during the Golden Hour, so that helps.

I'm happy to see things are going good, man. Check your PM.
 
Wow thanks brother, the kinds words made my day! Got your PM, loved the White castle comment, lmao Although here on Cape Cod Substitute white castle with any fried clam shack, lol
Will be sending pm your way soon.Trying to figure out why my keyboard is acting weird on this site, cursor is jumping all over. hmmm only on this site though, taken me like five min just to type this message.
 
Thanks Bruce, I honestly feel like it could be the same evf, has the same weird issue when not looking straight in, when looking straight in, its sharp. I had the gh3 for a short time, I didn't like the image as much as I do with the g6. G6 seems to fit my taste better, only wish it were more robust, but it's not bad, I just like a weather seal and metal frame. I did another quick test with the Samyang 35mm, F1.4, I will post it up later today if I get a chance. Glad to see everything was a success with your eye surgery. It's gotta feel great not wearing glass anymore.
 
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