PAL GH2 First Impressions

[Phil Rhodes]

Convert to AVI with ffmpeg; perhaps you could use DirectShowSource to read the MTS directly. Then, an AVIsynth script:

AVISource("your_input_here.avi")
ComplementParity()
SeparateFields()
DeleteFrame(0)
Weave()

This worked on 00080.MTS but not on 00079.MTS; this confirms prior findings.

Compression's a bit manky, isn't it?

 

[tflak]

Wishful thinking, I'm afraid. Ms Crittenden and I have, ahem, discussed Panasonic's decision-making in the past.

Of course, the disconnected thinking inherent in situations like this is in many ways caused by internal divisions in a corporate structure. Canon has always claimed that the 5D lacked useful frame rates simply because the people who built it were stills and not video camera specialists. I think it's a poor excuse, to be honest - how do you even get to be in charge of a development project like the GH2 or 5D without having at least enough general knowledge of your area to understand why certain things are necessary?

My comments were not based upon any type of wish. I was merely responding to what I considered to be a back-handed derogatory comment by you about an employee of a different division than the one responsible for the product being discussed. Your statement implied that she is somehow responsible. Otherwise, why should she be expected to explain how it's a good idea. At the very least you're assuming she thinks this is a good idea. Do you have a basis for that assumption?

Whether or not you've had past discussions with Ms. Crittenden about Panasonic's decision-making is irrelevant to your current implication that whatever explanation she may have would be laughable.

Or maybe I somehow completely misunderstood your meaning:

Oh how I'd love to hear Jan Crittenden's explanation of how this is a good idea, if only for comedy value.

 

[zigizigi]

2 kainekainekaine and other GH2 PAL owners

Can you confirm that 50i mode is limited to 17Mbps? If yes, how bad is it about capturing fast motion? Does the codec break as it was with stock GH1?

 

[GrahamH]

Wait a minute...
so you can´t set shutter at 50, Iso at e.g. 160 and aperture on auto because the picture starts to flicker?

My GH2 hasn't arrived yet but .... I assume you can do exactly that in shutter mode. I suspect there's a small typo in the post you responded to and it should read "so the only auto modes that are any good in 24p mode are shutter and manual"

 

[kainekainekaine]

My GH2 hasn't arrived yet but .... I assume you can do exactly that in shutter mode. I suspect there's a small typo in the post you responded to and it should read "so the only auto modes that are any good in 24p mode are shutter and manual"

This is correct.

 

[FelixGER]

My GH2 hasn't arrived yet but .... I assume you can do exactly that in shutter mode. I suspect there's a small typo in the post you responded to and it should read "so the only auto modes that are any good in 24p mode are shutter and manual"

You mean aperture and manual, don´t you?^^

Let´s hope that auto aperture works because usually on my videocams I use either manual focus or manual aperture depending on the circumstances. No auto aperture would be a killer for me...

EDIT: Ok, now everthing is clear. :beer:
Great!

 

[kainekainekaine]

2 kainekainekaine and other GH2 PAL owners

Can you confirm that 50i mode is limited to 17Mbps? If yes, how bad is it about capturing fast motion? Does the codec break as it was with stock GH1?

Not done too much shooting in this mode but so far it seems quite good.

 

[ragnar]

Triple Kaine, can you tell me if the 14-140mm lens is new and different than the GH1's 14-140mm lens? I was looking to buy an older 14-140mm lens but might not if it is very much different than the one shipping with the new GH2. Also, the 14-140mm is a constant aperture lens, yes?

Thanks for you informative posts.

Ragnar

 

[kainekainekaine]

Triple Kaine, can you tell me if the 14-140mm lens is new and different than the GH1's 14-140mm lens? I was looking to buy an older 14-140mm lens but might not if it is very much different than the one shipping with the new GH2. Also, the 14-140mm is a constant aperture lens, yes?

Thanks for you informative posts.

Ragnar

I dont actually have the 14-140mm any more. Just the 14-42mm. But im pretty sure theres no change and if there is a firmware is probably all that is needed. Constant aperture nope f4-5.6 depending on where you are in the zoom. Its silent though, deisgned for video and is very fast.

quote from slrgrear.com

The 14-140mm isn't a ''constant'' lens, in that as you increase the focal length, both the minimum and maximum aperture sizes increase.

 

[ragnar]

Thank you Trip Kaine for that reply. Enjoy that new GH2. Send us something cool on Vimeo soon : - )

Ragnar

 

[Phil Rhodes]

I have to say that the test clips that have been made available (00079.MTS and 00080.MTS) really do look pretty compressed. Maybe I'm too used to looking at uncompressed film scans, but - euch.

 

[kainekainekaine]

Thank you Trip Kaine for that reply. Enjoy that new GH2. Send us something cool on Vimeo soon : - )

Ragnar

Few more observations from the GH2. Auto gain doesent seem possible in anything other than IA. Autotracking only works in stills but facetracking works in video and works great.