GH4 No HDMI output in PAL

J

JeffC

New member
Hi and thanks to anyone who might be able to shed light on this issue.
I just picked up a new GH4, pre-installed with firmware version 2.3. I plug it into my Black Magic Video Assist via HDMI for monitoring and have nothing show up in PAL mode with any setting from AVCHD to MOV, if I change the mode to NTSC or CINEMA (24) then there is no issue and the vision displays perfectly on the monitor, on any setting from AVCHD to MOV in any resolution.

The Video Assist is "smart" and does not require any change in mode setting, so its not necessary to change from PAL to NTSC modes and the monitor works fine for in PAL for SONY a7s and GoPro3.

I have also tried the camera with the FlySight 7" monitor with the same results.
I have also tried the camera with a video downlink with the same results.

I have tried the suggestions you can generally find in forums, like turning the monitor on and off, the camera on and off, plugging the HDMI in last etc, nothing works.

I contacted Panasonic, who don't really seem to be across the issue or understand the problem, they have told me that the camera must be a northern regions camera, however the code on the box suggests that it is Australian PAL and furthermore it was purchased from a Panasonic dealer who assures me it is PAL (aus) stock.
If anyone has any idea on why this may be happening I would be forever grateful to any advice.
Thanks
 
have you tried switching from 50 and 25fps? On an older monitor, it does not accept the 24p mode in 4K, only in 30P.
Another thing I noted using a Black magic product, Intensity pro 4k, it does not accept the 4K mode from GH4, only 1080 via HDMI.
 
Thanks for the reply Ted,
I have tried switching from 50 to 25fps, no difference. The monitor does actually accept 24 Cinema and NTSC 60 and 30 in 4K MOV & MP4 downscaling on Auto.
 
Have you tried downscale to 1080 on HDMI out? Because on my camera to intensity, AUTO setting on HDMI out does not work, only when I "force" the downscale to 1080 will output work.
 
I have tried downscale set to 1080, still only works on NTSC and CINEMA, not PAL. What firmware are you operating on if you don't mind me asking?
 
JeffC said:
I have tried downscale set to 1080, still only works on NTSC and CINEMA, not PAL. What firmware are you operating on if you don't mind me asking?
Click to expand...
Same as yours. Hmm.. so even if you plug it to another monitor. How about your "normal" TV via hdmi?
Mine works on my TV, on NTSC and PAL. It's suppose to.
 
Oh, ok, I thought maybe it was firmware. I haven't tried with the TV, just the monitors. A friend of mine has a GH4 with firmware 2.1, which works fine on the monitors I have in PAL, even if I do a camera reset on my camera and my friends camera to have them start in the same place, only his works and mine does not in PAL, only in NTSC, where as his works in NTSC and PAL. You would probably never need to use PAL, but have you ever tried to connect to a monitor when the system was set to PAL in version 2.3?
Thanks for your help, its really doing my head in!
 
JeffC said:
Oh, ok, I thought maybe it was firmware. I haven't tried with the TV, just the monitors. A friend of mine has a GH4 with firmware 2.1, which works fine on the monitors I have in PAL, even if I do a camera reset on my camera and my friends camera to have them start in the same place, only his works and mine does not in PAL, only in NTSC, where as his works in NTSC and PAL. You would probably never need to use PAL, but have you ever tried to connect to a monitor when the system was set to PAL in version 2.3?
Thanks for your help, its really doing my head in!
Click to expand...

In fact I did, a couple of hours ago while I was replying to you. I connected it to my TV but it was via my intensity pro card. It works ok switching to PAL in camera. Now, I got out my MustHD monitor, and changed between PAL and NTSC, and my Monitor recognized it. I am using Downconvert to 1080P setting in HDMI out.
 
Thanks Ted,
So thanks to you I have some record functions available now. If I change to 1080 downscale and 25p output I can use any of the 25p record qualities in MOV, just none of the 50p and is only working on the Black Magic not the FlySight (which still works in NTSC even if you switch modes to PAL on the monitor). Its still very odd to me that every setting in NTSC works without an issue, 60p or 30p or in Cinema at 24p.
Seems like Ill settle for 25p.
Appreciate your help!
 
Your welcome, Yeah, its quirky as hell, I also can't get my TV to recognize the GH4 AT ALL! Glad you got some recording function to work.
Glad you post your test results as others here could have the same issue, especially that the video assist is beginning to ship.

edit: firmly pushed in HDMI cable to TV and it now works. Albeit, in 1080 downconvert mode.
 
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Ok, false alarm on the TV, had to climb up a table to press the cable firmly into the HDMI jack and it now works in NTSC,PAL,and 24P cinema mode, but in downconvert to 1080 hdmi out mode.
TV is a UHD 4K Samsung.
 
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