GH4 Please Advise on GH4 Shooting Issues

L

larrys

Well-known member
I have started to do some more testing with my new GH4 and shooting handheld, on a monopod, etc. First of all, I must admit, I do not like any small "micro movement" shakiness in video. I find it so distracting, that I literally cannot watch the video. And, I am not a fan of video (or any filmmaking) that tries to capture the random, shaky hand held look. Some people love it, but it's just not my cup of tea.

As opposed to the GH3, I noticing that shooting at any setting, the GH4 makes any motion more noticeable. As a novice really, can you tell me is this due to the high definition of the video? With the GH3, I was able to get beautiful and stable images on a monopod, but with the GH4, results are not so good.

Of course, on a tripod, the images are quite stunning!

I am beginning to plan more extensive shooting on a project. Can you tell me how you are handling this issue and what kinds of camera support you have found successful in getting very stable images?

Thanks very much, I really appreciate any advice you can offer on your experience in this matter!
 
It seems to me that you've answered your own question - put it on a tripod.

If you don't like the handheld look, then don't shoot handheld. Your audience will thank you.
 
There must be other options as well. Any actual experience in this matter from some pros with good stabilizer ideas that are working for you ? I am going to be doing some documentary style shooting...
 
What lens are you using? One with OIS will fix a lot of small movement like shooting off a monopod. The 12-35 has very nice OIS.
 
What focal lengths do you shoot at most? I will go up to an 85mm on a monopod for short takes. Anything longer goes on a tripod. I also usually handhold anything from 12-35mm range on a shoulder rig.

The rolling shutter on the GH4 is a little worse in 4K mode than 1080 which is why you probably notice wobbles here and there when you didn't on the GH3. Its still massively better RS than A7S or 1DC but worse than 1080.
 
1. Get the 12-35 and the 7-14 and don't use any other lenses handheld.
2. Get a Glidecam or similar steadycam type device.
3. use a tripod.
 
jlpskydive said:
What lens are you using? One with OIS will fix a lot of small movement like shooting off a monopod. The 12-35 has very nice OIS.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the reminder! Yes, I am using the 12-35 lens. I just looked and I see that I had the OIS turned off when I tested yesterday on the monopod. I was shooting on a tripod the day before that and I read that when shooting on a tripod it is best to shut the OIS off. That is correct, yes?
 
RatLabProductions said:
What focal lengths do you shoot at most? I will go up to an 85mm on a monopod for short takes. Anything longer goes on a tripod. I also usually handhold anything from 12-35mm range on a shoulder rig.

The rolling shutter on the GH4 is a little worse in 4K mode than 1080 which is why you probably notice wobbles here and there when you didn't on the GH3. Its still massively better RS than A7S or 1DC but worse than 1080.
Click to expand...

Thanks! This is very helpful. I was hoping we could do some on shoulder shooting for this upcoming project.
 
tacotim said:
1. Get the 12-35 and the 7-14 and don't use any other lenses handheld.
2. Get a Glidecam or similar steadycam type device.
3. use a tripod.
Click to expand...

Thanks, we are looking into a glidecam. Maybe with the 12-35 and the OIS turned on, we can get away with it.
 
This one took me bit to figure out as well. The GH4's 4K UHD is a 2.49x crop factor in spite of the claim by many of 2.3. The G6, GM1, GX7 and GH3 are all 2.08x crop. It makes every lens much more difficult to hold steady. Compare like FOV and the smoothness of the images will be identical.

Cheers,
Pete
 
larrys said:
Thanks for the reminder! Yes, I am using the 12-35 lens. I just looked and I see that I had the OIS turned off when I tested yesterday on the monopod. I was shooting on a tripod the day before that and I read that when shooting on a tripod it is best to shut the OIS off. That is correct, yes?
Click to expand...

Unless you have a crappy tripod head (i.e. one that isn't very smooth), yes, turn OIS off when you're on a tripod. It will try and compensate for smooth tripod moves as it will for hand held. I've noticed, regardless of camera or manufacturer, that when I stop panning with OIS on, the camera image will keep panning, then drift back to where it's supposed to be. It's annoying when shooting live events with speakers that move all over the place.
 
tacotim said:
1. Get the 12-35 and the 7-14 and don't use any other lenses handheld.
Click to expand...

I find the OIS in the 14-140 to be very capable, probably the best I've seen in any lens, including real video cameras.

If only it had a genuine constant 2.8 max aperture.
 
@Mike Harvey, regarding OIS on the GH4, keep in mind there are 2 modes. If you are doing lots of panning hand-held (or on a tripod), there is an OIS mode that only corrects for up/down movement, and doesn't drift when you pan left or right.
 
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