GH3 Requests for firmware upgrades

This from dpreview:

Uematsu spoke about how the market has reacted to the company's products: 'GH3 has been well recieved, especially for motion pictures. As you know we interviewed many people in the industry in Europe and North America, so it would offer what they needed - broadcasters needed bitrates above 50Mbps so we offer 50 and 72Mbps. In Europe they needed 25p, not 50i. And they're using GH3 - it's much smaller and lighter than a professional camcorder and doesn't need several people to operate it.'
However, he says, there is still one feature they're calling for. 'Focus peaking and zebra pattern. More than 90% of the requests we're getting are for these features. We haven't been able to offer it - because of the limits of resources and of the Venus Engine processor. Because it is not included in the Venus Engine, focus peaking is very hard to introduce - anything we added in software would be very different.'

Looks like someone just rained on this parade. :huh:
 
Oh well...
Strange though how Magic Lantern was able to do it on a T2i with it's single processor. Sorry guys, guess we'll have to wait for the GH4 for those features... GH3 is still a great camera anyway.
 
pulpfiction007 said:
Oh well...
Strange though how Magic Lantern was able to do it on a T2i with it's single processor. Sorry guys, guess we'll have to wait for the GH4 for those features... GH3 is still a great camera anyway.
Click to expand...


Well, it doesn't rule out the display issue, which is the hardest to deal with, imo.
 
Alright, that is a good point.
On we go, maybe we can at least get the display fix and let Panasonic view suggestions for future products.
 
pulpfiction007 said:
I was just reading a review of the GH3 and the reviewer was told by a Panasonic rep that Panasonic would consider adding focus peaking and zebras if there was demand for these things. Lets show them there is demand. So add your name and lets get a good count going! Add any other REASONABLE requests (things easily addressed in firmware), such as the info disappearing, etc. When we are done I will send this thread in to Panasonic.

List of features that would be extremely helpful to GH3 users/owners.

1.) Focus Peaking
2.) Zebras
3.) Option to keep on screen info from disappearing
Click to expand...

+1
 
stoneinapond said:
We haven't been able to offer it - because of the limits of resources and of the Venus Engine processor. Because it is not included in the Venus Engine, focus peaking is very hard to introduce - anything we added in software would be very different.'

Looks like someone just rained on this parade. :huh:
Click to expand...

Oh man, I am a bit upset by this statement. ;-(((((
 
I want the ability to switch between PAL and NTSC modes.
But if Peaking and Zebras can be implemented, go for that first :) The OSD issue should be a no-brainer...
 
+1 to the three mentioned by the OP.
One other thing:
I find the eye sensor to be too sensitive even on the "Low" setting. The only other option is to turn the viewfinder off completely.
How about the ability to have both on at all times? I realize it will need more battery power, but I prefer that option rather than dealing with
the sensitivity issues or not having the function at all.
 
Ianscreations said:
+1 to the three mentioned by the OP.
One other thing:
I find the eye sensor to be too sensitive even on the "Low" setting. The only other option is to turn the viewfinder off completely.
How about the ability to have both on at all times? I realize it will need more battery power, but I prefer that option rather than dealing with
the sensitivity issues or not having the function at all.
Click to expand...
Or being able to assign a "EVF on/off" toggle to one of the function buttons.
 
Add my voice to the choir, even if they could fix the disappearing display issue, that would be a fantastic step up.
 
pulpfiction007 said:
I was just reading a review of the GH3 and the reviewer was told by a Panasonic rep that Panasonic would consider adding focus peaking and zebras if there was demand for these things. Lets show them there is demand. So add your name and lets get a good count going! Add any other REASONABLE requests (things easily addressed in firmware), such as the info disappearing, etc. When we are done I will send this thread in to Panasonic.

List of features that would be extremely helpful to GH3 users/owners.

1.) Focus Peaking
2.) Zebras
3.) Option to keep on screen info from disappearing
Click to expand...

+1 on those.
i would also like to have a way to control audio lvl via Fn.buttom+back wheel.
currently one is stuck with a touch screen... :(

Ps. Panasonic now is aware of this thread.
https://twitter.com/panasonicusa/status/301717045152727042
 
I was all set to take the GH3 plunge until the user reports started coming in and it became clear that the camera was rushed a bit (or perhaps intentionally crippled in some ways?). Here's what I'd personally like to see before I make the switch from Canon:


-Peaking and zebras. The camera doesn't have the processing power to do this? I say bullshit! If Canons from 4.5 years ago can run them (via Magic Lantern), as well as Sony's NEX's that cost half as much as the GH3, then I'm sure the new Venus engine (that Panasonic touted as sooo powerful at the GH3's launch) is perfectly capable of it.

-Fix the disappearing-info thing. I mean seriously? Whose decision was that?

-Complete audio control- why bother upgrading to a 3.5mm jack and upping the recording quality if you cripple it with a limiter/AGC? Sure, enable it out of the box for less-savvy users, but let us turn it off if we want.

Those are the essentials. Here's some things I'd like to see done that also seem to be fairly easy to implement:

-Give an option to customize the response of the focus rings on the electronic lenses. Let users make the response linear instead of speed-sensitive, and dial in how sensitive it is. Sure, the lenses still wouldn't have hard stops at the ends of the focus range, but this would still be a big help with focusing.

-Make a "cine" mode with an ultra-high intraframe bitrate (150Mb/s or so). Disable the camera's lens-correction processing if you have to to achieve this; most people using this will be using manual lenses anyways. They'll also have no problem with a disclaimer stating that you must use cards of a certain write speed to use this mode.

-Make a picture-profile editor/creator, like Canon does. It would be nice to see Technicolor officially on board with this, offering their Cinestyle profile for the camera; but really, all that needs to be done is for the door to be opened, and users will take care of the rest by creating their own profiles and sharing them in communities like this.

-In the same vein, open up the wifi interface/app. If the camera is really not powerful enough to run peaking, zebras, a waveform, etc- then one of these newer high-end tablets or ultrabooks almost certainly would. If allowed to, your customers themselves will make your product better for no cost to you!
 
aldolega said:
I was all set to take the GH3 plunge until the user reports started coming in and it became clear that the camera was rushed a bit (or perhaps intentionally crippled in some ways?). Here's what I'd personally like to see before I make the switch from Canon:


-Peaking and zebras. The camera doesn't have the processing power to do this? I say bulls*%t! If Canons from 4.5 years ago can run them (via Magic Lantern), as well as Sony's NEX's that cost half as much as the GH3, then I'm sure the new Venus engine (that Panasonic touted as sooo powerful at the GH3's launch) is perfectly capable of it.

-Fix the disappearing-info thing. I mean seriously? Whose decision was that?

-Complete audio control- why bother upgrading to a 3.5mm jack and upping the recording quality if you cripple it with a limiter/AGC? Sure, enable it out of the box for less-savvy users, but let us turn it off if we want.

Those are the essentials. Here's some things I'd like to see done that also seem to be fairly easy to implement:

-Give an option to customize the response of the focus rings on the electronic lenses. Let users make the response linear instead of speed-sensitive, and dial in how sensitive it is. Sure, the lenses still wouldn't have hard stops at the ends of the focus range, but this would still be a big help with focusing.

-Make a "cine" mode with an ultra-high intraframe bitrate (150Mb/s or so). Disable the camera's lens-correction processing if you have to to achieve this; most people using this will be using manual lenses anyways. They'll also have no problem with a disclaimer stating that you must use cards of a certain write speed to use this mode.

-Make a picture-profile editor/creator, like Canon does. It would be nice to see Technicolor officially on board with this, offering their Cinestyle profile for the camera; but really, all that needs to be done is for the door to be opened, and users will take care of the rest by creating their own profiles and sharing them in communities like this.

-In the same vein, open up the wifi interface/app. If the camera is really not powerful enough to run peaking, zebras, a waveform, etc- then one of these newer high-end tablets or ultrabooks almost certainly would. If allowed to, your customers themselves will make your product better for no cost to you!
Click to expand...

I say "IF" you need all those things, you should buy a Sony F3 and attach an external recorder.

The Gh2 has none of that out of the box. People seem to like the Gh2 A LOT. So just all of a sudden, a manufacturer is supposed to just throw all this in? Why not just ask for RAW out of it too? Hmmm, or maybe Panasonic needs to ask RED if the Gh3 can have RAW?? If it's so easy to just throw in the items then why does the AVCHD shooting Canon 100 not have a high bit rate, like the 5dMk3? Sure, processors and what not.

I can understand the peaking and disappearing LCD info. And I'm pretty positive about thinking that will be addressed before too long. But for the other stuff, that's why there are hacks. Hack, as in illegal. It's proven that these devices can do what you're asking for. So why leave them out? Well, i'm sure you've read the Sony/RED thingy going on. Maybe the RED/ARRI thing rings a bell. Or the litepanels thingy?

You do realize the Gh3 is still manufactured and marketed to those who have ZERO idea nor care about 150 Mb/s, much less know what it means or does. It's a prosumer camera that has a video function. You know, that old couple getting off the ferry and the husband has a little Dslr with a kit lens dangling around his neck? I see them everywhere. Rebels T2i, little sony's, Nikon D5000, 4000, 3000, whatever.

Everytime a camera comes out it's not long before it the "It needs this or doesn't have that". I've been buying digital cameras of all sorts as most people here have. I remember using the Kodak DSC-100 for the first time. That was in 1991. I remember the Nikon Coolpix 5000. My first purchase of a digital "SLR" was the Nikon D100. Then from there I've gone on to buy every Canon full frame Dslr but the 1Ds mark III. And here is what I've come to Jesus with. Every camera that followed it's predecessor was just about 2x better. The 5D Mark II was twice better than the 5D. And the 5Dmk3 is twice the camera the 5DMk2 is. Might be the image, might be the build, the AF system, and sometimes the price. In other words, improvement.

To me, the Gh3 is twice the camera the Gh2 is. Alright, maybe 2/5th the camera (more than a third). The build alone is an upgrade. But what "if" the Gh3 had it all? Everything we want here discussed in this thread was included? How in the world would they build a Gh5 and be profitable (4 unlucky number to the japanese)? Panasonic wants to sell you the Gh3, the Gh5, Gh6, Gh7.... Year after year. Who here has bought every Lumix GH? I've bought 2 Gh2's and now the Gh3 and thinking of another Gh3. And I still have all three Canon 5D's. If what we got was this ultimate GH wish list camera out of the box? Even then we still wouldn't be happy. It would be things like, "I want the camera to float and suspend itself for steady cam work". Panasonic would lose lot's of revenue on that product line if they gave us all of it. Panasonic is already working on the Gh5 anyway. They might even have drawings of the Gh6.

Request for firmware upgrade? ANYTHING! So that a Russian dude can exploit it and Panasonic doesn't get sued by RED or somebody. Any firmware. Make it a firmware update where the digital bubble level can be displayed in pink for all I care. Just as long as that firmware package is handed off to the KGB and delivered to a remote cabin where it can be dissected. "Whoops, did I accidentally deliver that firmware to you"? Then Pansonic see's their camera going head to head with RED, F65, Alexa, and C300 in a little web series by people that make little expensive clamps that hold rods together. Only to have lot's of people pick it's image! Was it camera B? I forget...

I haven't ran into a camera that doesn't have a quirk or two. It's part of why I've owned far too many cameras.
 
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