PAL or NTSC GH2 for HDMI recording?
- Thread starter shooter_
- Start date
Peter J. DeCrescenzo
Veteran
Hi. Your question is a FAQ.
Q: Is it practical to use the GH2's live HMDI video output for recording to an external device?
A: No, not really. The GH2's live HDMI video output appears to include a seriously non-standard pulldown pattern, which currently makes the GH2 impractical for use as a source for an external recording device. The GH2's live HMDi output is fantastic for monitoring, but is non-functional in GH2 ETC mode, and currently is not suitable for external recording.
See:
http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthrea...-PRO-mini...&p=2200789&viewfull=1#post2200789
Q: Is it practical to use the GH2's live HMDI video output for recording to an external device?
A: No, not really. The GH2's live HDMI video output appears to include a seriously non-standard pulldown pattern, which currently makes the GH2 impractical for use as a source for an external recording device. The GH2's live HMDi output is fantastic for monitoring, but is non-functional in GH2 ETC mode, and currently is not suitable for external recording.
See:
http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthrea...-PRO-mini...&p=2200789&viewfull=1#post2200789
Barry_Green
Moderator
Well, to be fair, that answer is making a big assumption -- it's assuming that you're only using 24p. I'm sure that for the non-pulldown modes (720/60p and 1080/60i) it works just fine.
Peter J. DeCrescenzo
Veteran
Hi Barry: Thanks for that clarification. Yes, sorry: I assumed 1080p24. My bad.
And now, in honor of my 1K post ...
And now, in honor of my 1K post ...
Barry_Green
Moderator
I'll find out here in a minute; I'll do some Nano recordings off the GH2 in various modes. I just got my mini->mini HDMI cables so I can finally do that...
Barry_Green
Moderator
You don't. If you want progressive, use 1080/24p or 720/60p.
Barry_Green
Moderator
*** EPIC FAIL ***
Guys, I hate to be the downer, but ... yeah, forget it. Use the HDMI for what it's made for (monitoring) -- it's not for recording.
No progressive at all, because when you plug in the HDMI cord, 720p becomes disabled! You can't use SH mode, and you can't use MJPG mode, it forces you into either 24H or FSH (depending on whether you're shooting 24p or 60i). Which means your recorder is always recording 1080/60i. So no, no progressive at all.
Secondly, in 24p mode, it's got the funky pulldown. I didn't play too much with this, but based on the other massive thread, yeah, recording 24p is a fail.
So that leaves 60i. Can you record 60i? Yes. But a) why would you, and b) you'd better have a monitor attached, because otherwise you may very well end up recording menus and the focus box and all sorts of stuff like that. You need a monitor attached to know whether you're recording what you think you are. And even then, you end up with no audio, and no way to sync to audio. You can't use PluralEyes because there's no scratch track on the HDMI to sync to. So now you'd better bring a film-style clapper slate to do all your audio sync'ing in post.
The chroma does look a little better in 60i mode. But that's about the only thing.
Are you really going to spend a thousand bucks, just to jump through these hoops? I know I'm not. The AF100 is a dream with an external recorder, the GH2 is not useful at all with an external recorder. And I can't see why someone would spend $1,000 to $3,000 for an external recorder for the GH2, considering all the compromises involved.
For the cost, inconvenience, and loss of features, yeah, forget it. Drop back 10 and punt. The HDMI port is there for monitoring, and that's all it does; recording is not a practical option with the GH2.
Guys, I hate to be the downer, but ... yeah, forget it. Use the HDMI for what it's made for (monitoring) -- it's not for recording.
No progressive at all, because when you plug in the HDMI cord, 720p becomes disabled! You can't use SH mode, and you can't use MJPG mode, it forces you into either 24H or FSH (depending on whether you're shooting 24p or 60i). Which means your recorder is always recording 1080/60i. So no, no progressive at all.
Secondly, in 24p mode, it's got the funky pulldown. I didn't play too much with this, but based on the other massive thread, yeah, recording 24p is a fail.
So that leaves 60i. Can you record 60i? Yes. But a) why would you, and b) you'd better have a monitor attached, because otherwise you may very well end up recording menus and the focus box and all sorts of stuff like that. You need a monitor attached to know whether you're recording what you think you are. And even then, you end up with no audio, and no way to sync to audio. You can't use PluralEyes because there's no scratch track on the HDMI to sync to. So now you'd better bring a film-style clapper slate to do all your audio sync'ing in post.
The chroma does look a little better in 60i mode. But that's about the only thing.
Are you really going to spend a thousand bucks, just to jump through these hoops? I know I'm not. The AF100 is a dream with an external recorder, the GH2 is not useful at all with an external recorder. And I can't see why someone would spend $1,000 to $3,000 for an external recorder for the GH2, considering all the compromises involved.
For the cost, inconvenience, and loss of features, yeah, forget it. Drop back 10 and punt. The HDMI port is there for monitoring, and that's all it does; recording is not a practical option with the GH2.
Skeptikal
Active member
IF it had 25p (no "funky pulldown") do you think decent HDMI recording would have been viable? Is this really why 25p wasn't provided?