John Caballero
Veteran
Watched it again and it looks even better! Great test. Would you tell us where in the sequence is each format? Thanks for the piece, it starts showing how the camera + talent can work wonders.
Panning 'mud', reasons why and firmware update
- Thread starter commanderspike
- Start date
Watched it again and it looks even better! Great test. Would you tell us where in the sequence is each format? Thanks for the piece, it starts showing how the camera + talent can work wonders.
Yes, the next "part" I put up will be followed by same footage with no CC at all and labelled with whatever I've written down / can remember / or can deduce about how it was shot.
The point of this field test BTW was to take the mud head on rather than run from it. The shoot was kind of halfway between just for fun and lets make a real finished product. In otherwords $10 was spent on it in total for two stunt machetes. If it came out great - cool. If mud killed us then lesson learned.
So far it's somewhere in between. Coming out very good and watchable with a few lessons learned on what not to do for next time. But all with work arounds to shoot anything you want with this camera.
The point of this field test BTW was to take the mud head on rather than run from it. The shoot was kind of halfway between just for fun and lets make a real finished product. In otherwords $10 was spent on it in total for two stunt machetes. If it came out great - cool. If mud killed us then lesson learned.
So far it's somewhere in between. Coming out very good and watchable with a few lessons learned on what not to do for next time. But all with work arounds to shoot anything you want with this camera.
Boz
Well-known member
Great test, Jack! The footage looks really good. So, if I am to understand you correctly, you shot this test using all three formats? Can you go into your workflow a bit? I'm assuming you conformed the whole thing to 24P in the end, but I'd love to know the process of how you got there. Looking forward to part II!
Park Edwards
Veteran
where do you get your sound fx from?
EdMcLeodJones
Member
Very inspiring! Really great to see some action shots. Looking forward to seeing the next part!
Back to the "mud" issue. I've used my GH1 (NTSC model) for more than a week, always in creative movie mode, shot more than 2 hours handheld. I've watched it more than 5 times now, on my big plasma with HDMI direct play back by the camera and also on the computer, "pixel peeping" frames.
I cannot see any evidence of what commanderspike observed initially, leading me to believe he has got a faulty model.
But what is definitely happening is that obviously below a certain contrast level the AVCHD codec dumps details. On higher contrasts, everything is razor sharp, also in the presence of movement. Hence, trees and grass could be a bit problematic.
best regards, Gunther
All in all a remarkable tool, unbelievable what Panasonic put together. Going to sell my XM2 now.
I cannot see any evidence of what commanderspike observed initially, leading me to believe he has got a faulty model.
But what is definitely happening is that obviously below a certain contrast level the AVCHD codec dumps details. On higher contrasts, everything is razor sharp, also in the presence of movement. Hence, trees and grass could be a bit problematic.
best regards, Gunther
All in all a remarkable tool, unbelievable what Panasonic put together. Going to sell my XM2 now.
John Caballero
Veteran
I am glad you are having a positive time with the camera. I don't have one yet but I am curious about any settings that would give more contrast to a low contrast subjects and environment as you capture. Did you post anything on Vimeo yet?
PappasArts
Veteran
Nice clip.. That dude and sure put on the mean bastard look; you wouldn't want running after you!
Is there a Vimeo or a 1080P to download? The problem with these small windowed embedded clips on any test, even a Hi-8 camcorder looks good from the down sample!
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squig
Veteran
lol so that's why you're so grumpy....welcome to my world. I'm still waiting for some decent adapters for the MKII to arrive. :-Cry(DBG):
Don't mistake Grumpy for "Annoyed by [some] MKii owners". They're completely different.
On the contrary, I'm quiet stoked these days.
squig
Veteran
good to hear :beer:
Dear John,
Contrast / sharpness settings of the camera don't affect the "losing detail" issue.
Unfortunately, as said elsewhere in this forum the bitrate is variable, leading to lower bitrates in static shots and higher bitrates on shots with more movement. Hence, the reserves in bitrate in static shots are not used for higher detail in low contrast parts of the image. For me no big issue - the loss of detail still is on par to the detail level of the overall picture of standard DV. Which was great for all of us just a few years ago. We just notice it now because the overall picture quality of the GH1 is so impressive.
I didn't post any GH1 stuff yet on Vimeo because I still struggle with the workflow. I am using PPro CS3 which doesn't support AVCHD, hence I need an intermediate codec which removes pulldown as well. I' ll probably try neoscene next.
best regards, Gunther
Contrast / sharpness settings of the camera don't affect the "losing detail" issue.
Unfortunately, as said elsewhere in this forum the bitrate is variable, leading to lower bitrates in static shots and higher bitrates on shots with more movement. Hence, the reserves in bitrate in static shots are not used for higher detail in low contrast parts of the image. For me no big issue - the loss of detail still is on par to the detail level of the overall picture of standard DV. Which was great for all of us just a few years ago. We just notice it now because the overall picture quality of the GH1 is so impressive.
I didn't post any GH1 stuff yet on Vimeo because I still struggle with the workflow. I am using PPro CS3 which doesn't support AVCHD, hence I need an intermediate codec which removes pulldown as well. I' ll probably try neoscene next.
best regards, Gunther
John Caballero
Veteran
Thanks Gunther. I am so frustrated I don't have one yet. New workflows are so frustrating, I remember my first days with the HVX and P2. Good luck.
Coco Bermudez
Well-known member
I am finally getting to reading the manual...I noticed on page 105 there is a one line sentence that reads:
"When recording fast-moving subjects in the FHD setting, some afterimages or distortion may be particularly noticeable during playback."
Could this be the issue? Maybe it is an issue with only the FHD setting. All my AVCHD shooting has been in this mode...and all the mud had shown while shooting with FHD...I guess I have to test the other AVCHD modes to compare...
"When recording fast-moving subjects in the FHD setting, some afterimages or distortion may be particularly noticeable during playback."
Could this be the issue? Maybe it is an issue with only the FHD setting. All my AVCHD shooting has been in this mode...and all the mud had shown while shooting with FHD...I guess I have to test the other AVCHD modes to compare...
Barry_Green
Moderator
FHD = long-GOP. The MJPG option = intraframe. Mud is only possible in long-GOP. Try out the 720/30p mode and see what you think.
I believe someone else mentioned this is one of the previous 934 posts in this thread. It's clear you just need to be aware of the camera's limitations and compensate for them, whether it's changing the shot or changing the mode of the camera, or even some other solution.
Panasonic released a firmware update today.
http://www.dpreview.com/news/0906/09062201panagh1g1hd14mn140mmupdate.asp
"June 22, 2009: A new firmware is released for Panasonic LUMIX G Micro System cameras and a lens. The firmware Version 1.1 for DMC-GH1 allows faster burst shooting and improves control of shutter speed and stability of AF in movie recording. It also enhances performance and compatibility of the camera in other points."
I guess the "It also enhances performance and compatibility of the camera in other points" part could mean improvements in the codec, but it's hard to tell.
http://www.dpreview.com/news/0906/09062201panagh1g1hd14mn140mmupdate.asp
"June 22, 2009: A new firmware is released for Panasonic LUMIX G Micro System cameras and a lens. The firmware Version 1.1 for DMC-GH1 allows faster burst shooting and improves control of shutter speed and stability of AF in movie recording. It also enhances performance and compatibility of the camera in other points."
I guess the "It also enhances performance and compatibility of the camera in other points" part could mean improvements in the codec, but it's hard to tell.