GH2 OLD HVX200 User and New GH2

S

SparkyFilms

Member
I've been thinking about getting the new GH2 (if they ever get them in stock) and I was wondering if anyone else out there has the old HVX200 and shot with the two cameras in a job? I've decided if I'm going to go SLR, it has to be with Panasonic, their 24P in my opinion is the best. My reason is to rig my HVX with a Letus, buy lenses, heavier tripod, etc, etc, I'm just putting money into old technology and by getting the GH2, I"m gaining another camera and newer tech.

I've always loved interviews with two cameras, really ups production value, so this is my thoughts. Would love to hear from you pros out there. I know they will not be the same, but will they be so different that I will not even want to use the image of the HVX. I know it's noisy in the blacks in low light, but ole does it rock in good light.

Happy shooting everyone, 2011 looks like it's going to be a good year, things are picking up!
 
Have had the old model HVX for a few years, and recently (this week) bought a GH2. Just started trying to match the two.

If both cameras are zero'd out (both set to 0 contrast, sharp, bright, color, etc), they look distinctly different.

With the stock 14-140 f4-5.8lens, the GH2's low-light performance is only slightly better than the HVX.

I'm going to do some more work on it tonight and hopefully find some settings that make them match as closely as possible... gimme a few minutes...
 
I have both the GH1, GH2, HVX200, and an AF100. I stuck with Panasonic (instead of Canon) for many reasons. I have been shooting a ton with all of these cameras. I find that the Gh1 and Gh2 with the Panasonic Lens are very contrasty so I try to shoot with the saturation and the contrast down a bit. The lenses make a huge difference. So far as long as the footage is exposed properly and you know a little bit about color correction you will have no problem matching them. We use all 4 cameras on every shoot my company does and never have a problem matching. If you had 2 HVX's or 2GH2's and shot side by side you could find that the color won't be exactly the same. Everything should go though a final tweak of color correction. Just learn what to expect from the cameras.
 
Thanks guys, what are you shooting in on the GH1 or 2? I really like the look of 72024p, I just read last night that the G2 only shoots 72060p have you shot with that setting and compared them? I agree with you on other cameras, I've tested several models of Canon and I just don't like the look of it, it's just a preference, not a cut to those shooting with Canon. I did a test last night that I am going to post.
A friend of mine just bought a Canon 60D, she purchased very slow Tamron lenses, (5.6)75-300 mm. I went out last night to shoot the "Super Moon" to see what kind of comparison I could make. Using the hack from someone in this forum my HVX200 at 2fps 24p 350 shutter, out performed the Canon by a landslide! I know this is another topic, but I will post that later, just wanted to say something about it for those interested.
I really want to have another camera in my bag and I'm not one to quickly jump on board until I do good research. For some reason the 720 has a more organic filmic look to me. At every film festival I've shown my films, I've been asked if I shot 35mm film. The 1280 is so clear and detailed, it looks more like video to me. So if anyone is wondering why I want to stay in the "dark ages" of lower res.

Thanks again for taking the time to answer my questions. I look forward to getting more info.
Cheers.
 
Super Moon Test.
As promised my test that I talked about in a previous post. I did not purchase the 60D, I had it for the weekend from a friend that let me borrow it. I've been thinking about purchasing a DSLR and wanted to see what it would look like.

Maybe the 60D is not the camera of choice? I was not very impressed over all. Could it be the Tamron 5.6 lenses? I had everything wide open and it still under performed against the HVX200.

Would love to get the community take on this camera and my test. The image of the 60D is very soft, that is the best focus I could get on it.

I'm considering the GH2, but concerned about not being able to shoot 72024P, I want to be able to shoot a two camera shoot with my HXV200.

Looking forward to a good discussion.

Here is the link to the video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4GwyEUHzgs
 
SparkyFilms said:
Super Moon Test.
As promised my test that I talked about in a previous post. I did not purchase the 60D, I had it for the weekend from a friend that let me borrow it. I've been thinking about purchasing a DSLR and wanted to see what it would look like.

Maybe the 60D is not the camera of choice? I was not very impressed over all. Could it be the Tamron 5.6 lenses? I had everything wide open and it still under performed against the HVX200.




Would love to get the community take on this camera and my test. The image of the 60D is very soft, that is the best focus I could get on it.

I'm considering the GH2, but concerned about not being able to shoot 72024P, I want to be able to shoot a two camera shoot with my HXV200.

Looking forward to a good discussion.

Here is the link to the video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4GwyEUHzgs
Click to expand...

what do you meen by 72024P,Here in pal land the options are 720P/50i or 24P i think you get 720P 60i or 24P, you can not shoot 720P AND 24p at the same time ,sorry if i have missunderstood you.
 
I'm in the same boat. I also have an hvx200 and was thinking about getting a gh2 with the kit (14-42mm) lens and trying to match the two. I think that the gh2 would be better than getting a 35mm adapter for the hvx due to the ability (with better lenses) to get better low light footage. Plus it can be better for guerrilla shooting-I think pulling out an hvx with a 35mm adapter, with rails, etc, may draw a lot more attention to the shooter...

Anyways, an af100 would be awesome, but you can't sell the hvx200 for much nowadays so it seems to be better to hang on to it.
 
Dear Flinty, I hope I'm stating this correctly, I'm sure others can comment if I'm not. In the non-PAL version HVX you can shoot 720P (1280 x 720) and having multiple frame rates, 10, 12,18,24,30,32,36,48,60. Then there is the 1080i, which I'm not a fan of, and it also has different frame rates. What I'm reading about the G1 and 2's is that only in the 1080 can you shoot the 24 frames, in the 720, it's limited to 60. That is what I'm trying to research and find out. I've tested many cameras when the first 24P cameras came out and in my opinion, the Panasonic has the most natural looking, cinematic 24 frame look. Will the 720 60 frame look different shooting side by side with the HVX at 24 frames? Does that make sense? Want to see what I'm talking about, this is my first film I shot on the HVX200, 72024P, some slow motion (60 and 48).
http://www.onmylastbreath.com/OMLB_HD_1.html
 
Did some more testing with the Canon and HVX. I wanted to see how the 60p would look in the 24 timeline in FCP. I thought it looked great and once again, I was surprised at how well the HVX held up to the bigger size 60D. IF anyone would like to see that test, let me know and I'll post it, if not. I know myself that I think getting the G2 will work fine. I do have one more thing I do not know how I will compensate for the ISO in the DSLR's vs not having that feature with the HVX. Anyone know what kind of rating the HVX has? Thanks again everyone for the great discussion and response.
 
flinty said:
what do you meen by 72024P,Here in pal land the options are 720P/50i or 24P i think you get 720P 60i or 24P, you can not shoot 720P AND 24p at the same time ,sorry if i have missunderstood you.
Click to expand...


Flinty, I'm pretty sure that's wrong. In PAL you get 720p50 or 1080p25n and in NTSC you get 720p60 or 1080p24n. There is no 720p24 on the GH2, only 60p, which can be used as slow motion, or 24p can be extracted from it with a bit of number crunching.
 
OK, that did actually only take a few minutes, but then I got distracted by shiny things...

Anyway, here's some initial settings (subject to tinkerage) that get the two matched pretty closely-

GH2: contrast -2, sharpness -2; color -1; NR 0

HVX:
Detail lvl: -4
V Detail: -2
Detail Coring: +4
Chroma lvl: 0
Chroma phase: 0
Color temp: 0
Master Ped +5
A Iris lvl: 0
news g: OFF
Gamma: Cine V
Matrix: NORM
STD: OFF

Both pictures look pretty darned blah straight out-of-camera, but grade nicely.

I'm liking the way these two work and play together, I think it makes a nice combo.
 
Did you ever get your test done? I would love to see how that turned out. If you did and are willing to post, can you say what your sequence setting was set at? If I was doing it, I'd use the 720 timeline, vs the 1080. Better to go down than up take the HVX up to the higher res of the G2. By the way, B and H has the G2 available if anyone is wanting to buy, just got the email yesterday.
 
Lucas Adamson said:
Flinty, I'm pretty sure that's wrong. In PAL you get 720p50 or 1080p25n and in NTSC you get 720p60 or 1080p24n. There is no 720p24 on the GH2, only 60p, which can be used as slow motion, or 24p can be extracted from it with a bit of number crunching.
Click to expand...

Well my pal GH2 has 720P/1080i and 24P options
 
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