GH4 Sigh. Disappearing screen info is here to stay.

The article, which must have been pulled, stated that according to Panasonic, this was the first time that the professional and the consumer divisions have collaborated on the creation of a product. It also acknowledged that this camera was intentionally directed at videographers. With the GH4, Panasonic is trying to cast as broad a net as possible, and if the price is as projected and the camera performs as expected, it's very likely they'll net a lot of customers from both crowds.
 
Ianscreations said:
For me, it's not simple or acceptable solution to just 'touch' the display to get important info back. About every 30-60 seconds, you have to do this. Which means in addition to hovering over your camera like a hawk you also risk accidentally manipulating your shot almost 50 times in a 30 minute take :

My only point is that yes, I can work with this. I do it all the time with my GH3. But since the next generation failed to correct this universal complaint and also incorporated a semi truck in order to fulfill XLR and full 4K, I will be considering other options that may address these features in more practical ways.
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I agree with the comment on the display info disappearing. Yes, absolutely annoying. It's one of the main reasons I didn't purchase the GH3, and am very sad to hear it's on the GH4.

But your comment about the brick is hard for me to wrap my head around. I mean, this is a still camera with a lot of awesome video features. But still, a DSLR/MILC (Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera, I like that acronym the best) form factor. I for one am just happy they gave us an option to get XLR connections into the camera. I don't know where they would have anywhere to put them on the body if they had wanted to. If I don't want XLRs, don't want RAW 4K, great, I don't need to pay for the extra features! I do want them? I don't think it's a big deal to have this, admittedly fairly unattractive, piece of gear under my camera. I don't think it's going to win the award for ugliest component in my arsenal if I do get it.

The amount of features they added to the GH4 just makes it the best camera for me at this time, and I for one am estatic all around at what they packed into it. I'm also glad that if I decide I want the SDI and XLR connections, I can have them, but maybe I'm just too much of function over form kind of person.
 
TheDingo said:
So you have to touch the OLED display or one of the camera controls to get the info back. Yes it's a pain, but certainly no deal-breaker for me.
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It's more than a pain for documentary/event work, where you need to keep a constant eye on things. But the larger issue is the need to hit the Record button twice to stop the recording, once to get the display back and again to stop recording. In the entire history of video cameras, hitting the record button twice while recording will stop and then restart the recording.

The current setup is just a disaster waiting to happen. It is simply an unacceptable situation for any video camera, whatever the target market.

One push must at all times start or stop the recording. The display must stay on until the user turns it off (or the power runs out). If Panasonic cannot make that happen and improve the display, then they should not improve the display until they can do both.
 
Waving your hand in front of the eye sensor, or holding it there briefly without touching the camera will cause the info display to return, then pressing the record button (or shutter button) once should stop the recording.
 
blazer003 said:
I agree with the comment on the display info disappearing. Yes, absolutely annoying. It's one of the main reasons I didn't purchase the GH3, and am very sad to hear it's on the GH4.

But your comment about the brick is hard for me to wrap my head around. I mean, this is a still camera with a lot of awesome video features. But still, a DSLR/MILC (Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera, I like that acronym the best) form factor. I for one am just happy they gave us an option to get XLR connections into the camera. I don't know where they would have anywhere to put them on the body if they had wanted to. If I don't want XLRs, don't want RAW 4K, great, I don't need to pay for the extra features! I do want them? I don't think it's a big deal to have this, admittedly fairly unattractive, piece of gear under my camera. I don't think it's going to win the award for ugliest component in my arsenal if I do get it.

The amount of features they added to the GH4 just makes it the best camera for me at this time, and I for one am estatic all around at what they packed into it. I'm also glad that if I decide I want the SDI and XLR connections, I can have them, but maybe I'm just too much of function over form kind of person.
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Fair enough. I did get a little carried away with my distaste of that brick. Lol.

That being said, I feel we will see XLR/SDI/4K implementation in a nicer form factor by some competitive brand before the year is out. Maybe not on the GH4, but definitely on another body. And this is all I am getting at: The GH4 is great. But it not an automatic trigger for me because of these two design decisions. Fortunately they are also not deal breakers so I can and probably will eventually have a gh4. How is that for a compromise? Lol.
 
Jim Simon said:
But the larger issue is the need to hit the Record button twice to stop the recording, once to get the display back and again to stop recording.
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Just curious where you saw that pressing the record button while recording will not stop the recording?
 
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Jive said:
Just curious where you saw that pressing the record button while recording will not stop the recording?
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It's what happens on the GH3, so we're assuming it happens on the GH4 as well.

It's a MAJOR pain to not be able to use muscle memory with the buttons on the camera. Depending on the state of the display, one has to press any button either once or twice to get the camera to do something. That truly is unacceptable.
 
Jaime Valles said:
It's what happens on the GH3, so we're assuming it happens on the GH4 as well.

It's a MAJOR pain to not be able to use muscle memory with the buttons on the camera. Depending on the state of the display, one has to press any button either once or twice to get the camera to do something. That truly is unacceptable.
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Oh, that's interesting. It doesn't happen on my GH3. One press for record, one press for stop. Easy. I use the shutter button though, don't know if that makes a difference.
 
Stephen Frost said:
Oh, that's interesting. It doesn't happen on my GH3. One press for record, one press for stop. Easy. I use the shutter button though, don't know if that makes a difference.
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Same here, shoot daily on the GH3 and have never had to press the record button twice to stop recording, a single press stops recording as would be expected.

I also just tested this to confirm: Start recording, wait 10 seconds for the OSD to disappear, press record button again. Recording stops. I tested this both with the shutter button and the dedicated video record button and it only required a single press in either case.

If you're required to press the button twice to stop recording, then it may be due to your camera's configuration.
 
Bruce Foreman said:
Waving your hand in front of the eye sensor, or holding it there briefly without touching the camera will cause the info display to return, then pressing the record button (or shutter button) once should stop the recording.
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Confirmed on my GH3.

Stephen Frost said:
Oh, that's interesting. It doesn't happen on my GH3. One press for record, one press for stop. Easy. I use the shutter button though, don't know if that makes a difference.
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Confirmed (shutter button stops recording with one press regardless of state of screen) on my GH3.
Shutter button starts recording with one press regardless of the state of the screen.

On my camera the video button stops recording regardless of the state of the screen as well.
However, the video button does not _start_ recording if the screen is off, it requires a second press.

Since I never use the video button I never noticed this behavior before.

Fran
 
Bruce Foreman said:
Waving your hand in front of the eye sensor, or holding it there briefly without touching the camera will cause the info display to return, then pressing the record button (or shutter button) once should stop the recording.
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My way of choice is to rotate the menu dial one click.
 
Ianscreations said:
My way of choice is to rotate the menu dial one click.
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Should this really be required?

i can confirm that if the info disappears while you are in standby mode, you have to press the video record button TWICE to start recording. If you use the shutter button, only once.

Panasonic, why have a video record button at all if you sometimes need to press it once to start and sometimes twice.

never in the history of video cameras, have you had to press record twice to start recording or used a camera with disappearing info. Wow, two firsts for Panasonic. Well done them!
 
The display doesn't disappear altogether - record red light is there and a timer as it was on the GH3, but should've been upgraded. My beef is the audio disappearing, I don't need the other crap onscreen constantly. As for the two press record - use the shutter - once for off once for on. I don't know why the "intelligentsia" at Panasonic have persisted with that ridiculous button at the back - never use it
 
It's not just the recording, though. On the GH3 ANY button (other than the shutter, apparently) is affected by whether the display info is visible or not. Sometimes I have to press ISO once, sometimes twice. Same goes for WB, etc. If that's the case with the GH4, it really isn't acceptable.
 
I think the bigger question is what length of time will burn it into the screen? I mean, obviously the video feed itself doesn't turn off, so if I record a 1 hr stationary clip and it happens to have high contrast, do I need to worry about my screen? Not that I often do that, but maybe for a time lapse or a long stationary shot at a wedding. I have done that before.

I skipped the GH3 but have already preordered the GH4, so I haven't had any experience with the OLED screen. Has anyone seen burn in in their GH3?
 
blazer003 said:
I think the bigger question is what length of time will burn it into the screen? I mean, obviously the video feed itself doesn't turn off, so if I record a 1 hr stationary clip and it happens to have high contrast, do I need to worry about my screen? Not that I often do that, but maybe for a time lapse or a long stationary shot at a wedding. I have done that before.

I skipped the GH3 but have already preordered the GH4, so I haven't had any experience with the OLED screen. Has anyone seen burn in in their GH3?
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I have already recorded 30-50 weddings on both of my GH3. We are talking about 7+ hours of CONSTANT filiming/standby mode with info present. No burn in issues at all.
 
I honestly think this burn in excuse/rumour that Panasonic have is a load of rubbish. Is the screen technology in the GH3 not used by any other manufacturer?

Sony also has cameras with OLED screens but their info stays on all while recording, as do many other manufacturers.

Panasonic are blatantly lying to its customers. Nothing new there then.
 
Panasonic need to listen to customers and respond to what they want. Otherwise why would you stick with them. Having issues with the GH3 is excusable, but when they re-appear in the next model it makes me wonder if they want to make the most bucks for the smallest effort. No GH4 for me.
 
With the GH3 I'm mostly using an external EVF that constantly displays audio levels so I may be wrong but doesn't hitting the camera's display button also bring back the info!?! Think moving the zoom ring on the Lumix lenses does the same too.

I'm waiting to see what NAB brings before deciding which dedicated motion camera I'll pickup but already placed deposits for two GH4(s). The GH3 has proven a great documentary camera for travel work & I would buy the GH4 if only for Cinelike Gammas.
 
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