GH2 Not happy with Gh2 Battery Life......

J

J.F.R.

Carbonite Member
Coming from Canon Dslr I can honestly say a fully charged LP-E6 battery lasted several hours. Within this same time frame I went through two GH2 batteries like nothing. Is this normal, standard?

I truly hated the moire on Canon Dslrs, but I can honestly say I miss it's form factor and battery life. Hopefully the new GH3 will improve on this as I truly like the image quality out of this camera, just not this frustration that is very very serious for me.
 
I guess a lot comes down to how you use the camera. I'm a narrative filmmaker and power down between setups and shots, so the camera is never powered for more than maybe 15 minutes at a time, and I run fully manual, which must save on battery life as well. I also use the viewfinder when I'm shooting on my shoulder rig and rarely use the back LCD. I can get through a whole day of shooting on a battery and a half.
 
Yeah my batteries last like two hours, and I have four. They were cheap enough to just grab a fistful.

GH3 will take all new batteries though, so maybe you'll get what you're asking for.
 
Kholi said:
Yeah my batteries last like two hours, and I have four. They were cheap enough to just grab a fistful.

GH3 will take all new batteries though, so maybe you'll get what you're asking for.
Click to expand...


If anyone has used Canon Lp-E6 batteries I can honestly say they last twice as much. Also I might be looking into purchasing that Ownuser Battery grip. I love the IQ from this camera, but imo I feel Canon does certain things better and apologize to anyone if I'm making it seem as this is a Canon vs Panasonic when it is not. Overall though I still feel the Gh2 is a better camera, hd hdmi out, electronic evf and awesome quality with hack is why I made the jump, just wished the camera was bigger, easier to hand hold and better battery life. It looks like we will get this with the GH3 and I can;t wait.


Also here's some extra info... After me working with Red Epic Raw files and Canon dslr files I am starting to think that I rather just get the look in camera and slightly tweak when coloring. After editing a recent music video where I shot flat settings one day and the next day I shot vibrant settings I came to realize that look I wanted was vibrant and it was almost impossible to achieve that look in my NLE system with dslr footage. So imo is DSLR footage should not be shot with the flat settings and should try to achieve the look you want in camera/on set.

Raw for video is great, but I'm starting to think it's sometimes a waste of time and if you know for a fact the colors you want you should try to get those in camera while shooting.
 
FOund this for you: http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/panasonic/dmc_gh2-review

battery table's below.

[TABLE="class: bodytxtsmall-black, width: 100%"]
[TR="bgcolor: #e08709"]
[TD="align: center"]Camera
[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]Battery life w/live view
(CIPA standard) [/TD]
[TD="align: center"]Battery used[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="bgcolor: #EFEFEF"]Canon EOS-60D *[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #FFFFFF, align: center"]320 shots[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #FFFFFF, align: center"]LP-E6[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="bgcolor: #EFEFEF"]Nikon D7000[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #FFFFFF, align: center"]N/A[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #FFFFFF, align: center"]EN-EL15[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="bgcolor: #EFEFEF"]Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2 *[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #FFFFFF, align: center"]320 shots **[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #FFFFFF, align: center"]DMW-BLC12[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="bgcolor: #EFEFEF"]Pentax K-5[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #FFFFFF, align: center"]N/A[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #FFFFFF, align: center"]D-LI90[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="bgcolor: #EFEFEF"]Sony Alpha SLT-A55 *[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #FFFFFF, align: center"]380 shots[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #FFFFFF, align: center"]NP-FW50[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="bgcolor: #FFFFFF, colspan: 3"] * Rotating LCD
** With the 14 - 140 mm kit lens
Battery life numbers are provided by the manufacturer[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
Click to expand...
I had the same experience reflected in this graph, my 5D batteries honestly felt like they lasted less time than my Panasonic batteries, but I think that's because I have sleep mode activated with my GH2, and it doesn't stay on constantly. I also don't use electronic glass.

As far as RAW goes: I work with it ritually, some people can handle it and some people can't. But as far as DSLr's and flat settings, I agree. I don't see the point in trying to get a Flat setting out of 4:2:0. If we were talking LOG 12-bit 4:2:2 220Mbit, different story. I like to shoot as close to the look as possible and it works out for everyone in the end as far as DSlrs are concerned.
 
Kholi said:
GH3 will take all new batteries though, so maybe you'll get what you're asking for.
Click to expand...

...From the M4/3 Rumors site, the GH3 is supposed to have a much beefier body, which might mean better battery life. Panasonic are also making an optional battery grip, and remote control software for iPhones/iPads. Can't wait for Photokina to start on the 18th.
 
There isn't a rumor that has been released that is not true... I'll tell ya that. =]
 
You can already count me in for an upgrade. It'll replace my GH2 as the 1080/60 sidekick to me Magic Cam.
 
If it can do 75Mbit All-I recording, has 1080/60p and clean HDMI out at 24p... I'll be first in line. At this point, I've decided to stick with the GH2 (or GH3) instead of the Blackmagic, mostly because of the lenses I have.

And back on topic... I also hate the battery life when shooting video. But for still photography using only the viewfinder I have no complaints.
 
I have a 7D, T3i and GH2, and yes the LP-E6 is twice the size of the DMW-BLC12 and lasts quite a bit longer.

When shooting video tho, the 7D can only do 15min clips and my GH2 can shoot for well over an hour, so I never shoot them the same way.

For those looking at the CIPA ratings, keep in mind they require 1/2 the shots to be done with flash.
 
I don't shoot any clips longer than 10 mins, so that is not a deciding factor at all. I usually frame a shot I want and shoot it. Unless I'm recording someones Musical performance rarely if ever do I shoot anything above 5-6 mins
 
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