Re: Panasonic GX80/GX85 Questions/Concerns

E

ectobuilder

Veteran
Re: Panasonic GX80/GX85 Questions/Concerns

I am 90% about to use this camera to film a wedding.

So for those who have experience using this camera I have a few questions for you:
1) How clean is the ISO in 1080p?
2) Are there any overheating issues in 1080p or 4K?
3) Is the viewfinder good enough to use outdoors in daylight?
4) What is the battery life like?
5) Any quirks I should know about?
6) How is the onboard audio (I know there is no mic input)?
 
I love the GX85! It is my favorite Panasonic ever. (Well, I have had the FZ1000, G7, and GH4 in the past year.)

The stabilization is awesome with my Panasonic 12-35 2.8 and 35-100 2.8. Both the 5 axis stabilization and Dual IS.

I have never shot it in 1080. I think the bit rates in 1080 are a lot lower than 4k? At least I remember that from the review at Imaging Resource.

I haven't really tested the higher ISO with the GX85 yet.

My personal preferred ISO limit with the G7 is ISO 1600. My limit with APS-C is 3200, and with fill frame it is 6400.

I am pretty conservative about noise- I come from a studio background, where ISO 400 is "high speed." (I have been shooting a lot of events the past 4 years though .)

I think tomorrow marks 2 weeks that I have had the camera? I have customized a lot of the settings to make it really work for me. Using the custom quick menus, setting up back button autofocus, etc. With back button autofocus on, I set the shutter to actuate with a half press. So it is very fast to start the video (with very quick autofocus just before it starts on the shutter too.) That works a lot like a "Standby" mode , rather than a slower startup when you use a full shutter button press.

It also works quite well for stills that way. Very fast shooting.

The battery life is not as good as my Panasonic G7. I shot my son's graduation on Sunday, about 2 hours. I swapped batteries when one was low. I also swapped on the G7 (shooting 2 cameras side-by-side), but that didn't need it really. I have 3 batteries for each- the OEM, plus 2 Wasabi.

It has never overheated on me. No problem at all!

The audio from one event on the GX85 was a little muted compared to my G7. It was fine from the graduation. I used a Rode VideoMicro on the G7, no mic on the GX85, both seemed fine. But I have been looking at a small recorder to use for dual system sound on the GX85. I have a Marantz PDP661 which is pretty big, along with a Tascam DR40, but that is also a bit big. Someone mentioned the Sony micro recorder in another thread, the one on the AS7II microphone. I think it is a 3.5 mm only, so smaller and would work with a smaller Rode or similar. I also have a device similar to the XLR to iPhone device that is linked in that thread , a $39 adapter with phantom power, etc. I haven't tried it with the GX85 yet. I just pulled it out after seeing the thread. You could try something like that to an iPhone or Android if you don't want to buy a small recorder?

I recorded a Memorial Day event with speeches and similar, plus a music group, just as a test with the GX85. It sounded pretty decent with the internal mic from 20-40 feet. Y shot with it on a Zacuto Target Shooter with the EVF in bright sunlight with no problem. The EVF is a little small, but the refresh rate is pretty good.

I have gone back and forth between use autofocus and manual focus. The GX85 is much, much better at autofocus in video mode than my G7. The face recognition doesn't work as well as I had hoped though - the faces have to be a certain size to get a "box." I have used video autofocus in the 49 point or whatever the full screen mode is. I can't remember what I used on the GX85 at the graduation. I know that I switched the G7 to manual, that AF is so frustrating!

I like the auto ISO. I set my maximum ISO at 6400 I think? Then shoot in Shutter Priority mode at 1/50 or 1/60. Although I shot in full manual on Saturday in stable light.

I think I am using the "Neutral" profile with contrast and sharpening way down, and saturation down 1 or 2 notches? No Cine-D like the G7. Panasonic is frustrating with little software crippling like that, no mic jack, and similar. Damn it. :(

Okay, that is a quick steam of consciousness. It is 4:30 am, I am up with insomnia. I'd better get to sleep!

I'll try to loop back tomorrow. You will definitely need some time with the GX85 to get it set up, and to learn all other menu functions. I really do love it, it is a great, small, casual video camera that is easy to handhold a with the stabilization. Although you will still want to do final stabilization in post, so the 4k is handy.
 
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unadog said:
I like the auto ISO. I set my maximum ISO at 6400 I think? Then shoot in Shutter Priority mode at 1/50 or 1/60. Although I shot in full manual on Saturday in stable light.
Click to expand...

These options on the GX85 available while in Creative Movie Mode now? on the GH4 you could only use the ISO limit on Photos?
 
ectobuilder said:
I am 90% about to use this camera to film a wedding.

So for those who have experience using this camera I have a few questions for you:
1) How clean is the ISO in 1080p?
2) Are there any overheating issues in 1080p or 4K?
3) Is the viewfinder good enough to use outdoors in daylight?
4) What is the battery life like?
5) Any quirks I should know about?
6) How is the onboard audio (I know there is no mic input)?
Click to expand...

Is this a paid or non-paid wedding? It sounds like you do not even have the camera yet. If you do have the camera you could (should) find out the answers by some of your own testing.
 
Unless you're standing on stage 18" from the bride and groom, DON'T use the internal mic's audio in your final product. The rule of thumb with mic placement is to get the mics as close to the subject as possible. Mic either the officiant or groom with a wireless mic and capture the sound with a quality audio recorder and then sync it in post to the GX85's audio using either the audio waveform or something like Pluraleyes.

Do you own a GX85, or were you just thinking about renting one for the wedding gig? If you're renting and only need 1080P, that expands your camera options immensely. I don't have a GX85, so I can't speak to the specifics of your questions.
 
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I have my eye on this camera but I am waiting until September to see if an LX200 appears. And if a GH5 shows up. If the GH5 is killer then the GX85 or LX200 would be a great B camera with a m4/3rds one-two punch.
 
unadog said:
I love the GX85! It is my favorite Panasonic ever. (Well, I have had the FZ1000, G7, and GH4 in the past year.)

The stabilization is awesome with my Panasonic 12-35 2.8 and 35-100 2.8. Both the 5 axis stabilization and Dual IS.

I have never shot it in 1080. I think the bit rates in 1080 are a lot lower than 4k? At least I remember that from the review at Imaging Resource.

I haven't really tested the higher ISO with the GX85 yet.

My personal preferred ISO limit with the G7 is ISO 1600. My limit with APS-C is 3200, and with fill frame it is 6400.

I am pretty conservative about noise- I come from a studio background, where ISO 400 is "high speed." (I have been shooting a lot of events the past 4 years though .)

I think tomorrow marks 2 weeks that I have had the camera? I have customized a lot of the settings to make it really work for me. Using the custom quick menus, setting up back button autofocus, etc. With back button autofocus on, I set the shutter to actuate with a half press. So it is very fast to start the video (with very quick autofocus just before it starts on the shutter too.) That works a lot like a "Standby" mode , rather than a slower startup when you use a full shutter button press.

It also works quite well for stills that way. Very fast shooting.

The battery life is not as good as my Panasonic G7. I shot my son's graduation on Sunday, about 2 hours. I swapped batteries when one was low. I also swapped on the G7 (shooting 2 cameras side-by-side), but that didn't need it really. I have 3 batteries for each- the OEM, plus 2 Wasabi.

It has never overheated on me. No problem at all!

The audio from one event on the GX85 was a little muted compared to my G7. It was fine from the graduation. I used a Rode VideoMicro on the G7, no mic on the GX85, both seemed fine. But I have been looking at a small recorder to use for dual system sound on the GX85. I have a Marantz PDP661 which is pretty big, along with a Tascam DR40, but that is also a bit big. Someone mentioned the Sony micro recorder in another thread, the one on the AS7II microphone. I think it is a 3.5 mm only, so smaller and would work with a smaller Rode or similar. I also have a device similar to the XLR to iPhone device that is linked in that thread , a $39 adapter with phantom power, etc. I haven't tried it with the GX85 yet. I just pulled it out after seeing the thread. You could try something like that to an iPhone or Android if you don't want to buy a small recorder?

I recorded a Memorial Day event with speeches and similar, plus a music group, just as a test with the GX85. It sounded pretty decent with the internal mic from 20-40 feet. Y shot with it on a Zacuto Target Shooter with the EVF in bright sunlight with no problem. The EVF is a little small, but the refresh rate is pretty good.

I have gone back and forth between use autofocus and manual focus. The GX85 is much, much better at autofocus in video mode than my G7. The face recognition doesn't work as well as I had hoped though - the faces have to be a certain size to get a "box." I have used video autofocus in the 49 point or whatever the full screen mode is. I can't remember what I used on the GX85 at the graduation. I know that I switched the G7 to manual, that AF is so frustrating!

I like the auto ISO. I set my maximum ISO at 6400 I think? Then shoot in Shutter Priority mode at 1/50 or 1/60. Although I shot in full manual on Saturday in stable light.

I think I am using the "Neutral" profile with contrast and sharpening way down, and saturation down 1 or 2 notches? No Cine-D like the G7. Panasonic is frustrating with little software crippling like that, no mic jack, and similar. Damn it. :(

Okay, that is a quick steam of consciousness. It is 4:30 am, I am up with insomnia. I'd better get to sleep!

I'll try to loop back tomorrow. You will definitely need some time with the GX85 to get it set up, and to learn all other menu functions. I really do love it, it is a great, small, casual video camera that is easy to handhold a with the stabilization. Although you will still want to do final stabilization in post, so the 4k is handy.
Click to expand...

Awesome really appreciate your detailed feedback!
 
Bassman2003 said:
I have my eye on this camera but I am waiting until September to see if an LX200 appears. And if a GH5 shows up. If the GH5 is killer then the GX85 or LX200 would be a great B camera with a m4/3rds one-two punch.
Click to expand...

お客さま各位
4月14日以降に発生した熊本地震により被災された皆様に、心よりお見舞い申し上げます。
熊本地震の影響により、デジタルカメラ・デジタルビデオカメラの一部商品におきまして、部品調達に影響が出ており商品の生産・販売に影響が出ることが避けられない状況です。
お客様をはじめ、お取引先様におかれましては多大なるご迷惑をおかけすることを、深くお詫び申し上げます。
今後の見通しにつきましては、詳細が確認でき次第、改めてお知らせいたします。 ご理解を賜りますようよろしくお願い申し上げます。
 
DLD said:
お客さま各位
4月14日以降に発生した熊本地震により被災された皆様に、心よりお見舞い申し上げます。
熊本地震の影響により、デジタルカメラ・デジタルビデオカメラの一部商品におきまして、部品調達に影響が出ており商品の生産・販売に影響が出ることが避けられない状況です。
お客様をはじめ、お取引先様におかれましては多大なるご迷惑をおかけすることを、深くお詫び申し上げます。
今後の見通しにつきましては、詳細が確認でき次第、改めてお知らせいたします。 ご理解を賜りますようよろしくお願い申し上げます。
Click to expand...

Yeah, that affected not only Panny , but other makers as well.
Over at 4/3 rumors, there's an FT5(85-99% chance it's true) post that gh5 will have the sensor of the GX85/80.
http://www.43rumors.com/ft5-panasonic-gh5-will-have-same-gx80-sensor-but-better-performance/
 
Just finished filming a wedding and in the process of cutting the footage.

All I have to say is WOW. Game changer. For run n' gun style, this thing CAN replace a monopod, tripod and certain shots via steadicam and crane/dolly. Absolutely amazing.

It has its quirks and wish-list fixes, but if Panasonic can nail it with the GH5 then this will be THE camera to get for documentary shoot and go styles.

I am amazed at the "L1" setting for the Monitor Brightness. It must be equivalent to 800 NITS (900 maybe even)? Much easier to see in direct sunlight. The only quirk with this feature is that it dims after 30 seconds, even while recording so it looks as if your exposure went down 2-stops. And you have to press a button (I usually half press the shutter button while in manual focus to get the screen to brighten up again).

I do also wish the rear LCD were larger and higher res. I could pull focus on 80% of my shots, but certain distances and contrasts are hard to gauge by eye. Even with focus peaking engaged.

Another quirk is having the hdmi out coming from the handgrip side of the camera. If it were on the other side (like on every other camera) then I could use my preferred SmallHD 702.

And of course mic-input! I really missed having a directional mic mounted and fed into the camera to properly capture dialogue.

I wish the Electronic Stabilization option were included in the short-cut assignable "Stabilizer" function. To engage the Electronic Stabilization, you always need to go into the menu to do it. Luckily it isn't buried deep in the menu options.

Could really use a bit more dynamic range, I was finding myself adjusting exposure way more often than say the A7S. Doing so really slows things down on a run n' gun production.

The write-speed to the SD Card seems slower than what I am used to on the A7S. When you hit record and stop recording, it takes a bit longer to get it started or get it stopped.

Not sure if this is doable, but on the GH5 they should have a sensor slightly larger than Micro 4/3 because when you engage the super excellent 5-axis stabilization + electronic stabilization, the image crops in quite a bit. A 17.5mm goes to ~20mm (to my eye) so that the resultant FOV is ~40mm instead of 35mm.

One feature looking back I wish I tried was the AF-S mode. This essentially is Push Auto Focus (focuses one time as you press the shutter button). This would have helped me to focus when peaking couldn't have helped me or if I needed to achieve initial focus in an instant.
 
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The Camera Store has a new review. It's mostly about the stills but there's also a video portion toward the end.
 
Thanks for sharing your experiences. This looks like a nice camera but I do not know if the rumor of the GX85 sensor being used in the GH5 is a good thing or not. I guess processing can do wonders but it does seem to have its DR limitations. In this era of resolution, great color and DR are so much more important going forward. I do think the color looks good on this camera (especially the stills).
 
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