I thought at first that you could only shoot video with the red button on back of camera. Just discovered that you can start shooting video with either the red button on the back or with the shutter button on the front/top. What's the purpose for the dedicated button on back?
Silly question but...
- Thread starter larrys
- Start date
iHartVideo
Well-known member
I just bought my GH1 yesterday and have only used the red button.
One thing that bugged the hell out of me on my Nikon D300s was the dedicated film button"WHY change the paradigm and use some weirdly placed button?".
Panasonic really did a good job with this camera.
One thing that bugged the hell out of me on my Nikon D300s was the dedicated film button"WHY change the paradigm and use some weirdly placed button?".
Panasonic really did a good job with this camera.
The purpose of the red button on the back is for when you are in Still mode. In still mode, the shutter button on the top takes a still. Having the red button on the back lets you instantly shoot movies without having to toggle the dial into Movie Mode. This also allows you to shoot movies in whatever "Auto" setting you have on the dial, as opposed to Creative Movie Mode.
IMHO, the red button on the back is there for the same reason there's one on my cheap Panasonic point & shoot camera that also shoots 720p AVCHD: for shooting in full auto. It makes the camera look more familiar to consumers used to using a traditional palmcorder. That's why it's required for when an amateur wants to shoot video in "photo" mode...a pro wouldn't be trying to do that.
I only use the regular shutter button when shooting run-n-gun video....for the same reason I use it for shooting stills. You use the half-press function to take advantage of features like exposure and focus lock before recording. The auto functions are one of the best things about using a digital SLR, when used in conjunction with the digital lenses designed for the camera. The single-point auto-focus is way more accurate than my eyes (it only wanders if you don't know how to use your camera), and the GH1 can meter pretty well...and when it is off...that's what the expsosure compensation wheel is for.
I guess the red button could be used when using manual lenses and in full manual while shooting your next big hit indie film...but that's no reason to put a second button on the back. But if you're a videographer...or just a home video maker...you may find your finger glued to the real shutter button all day.
Good luck!
I only use the regular shutter button when shooting run-n-gun video....for the same reason I use it for shooting stills. You use the half-press function to take advantage of features like exposure and focus lock before recording. The auto functions are one of the best things about using a digital SLR, when used in conjunction with the digital lenses designed for the camera. The single-point auto-focus is way more accurate than my eyes (it only wanders if you don't know how to use your camera), and the GH1 can meter pretty well...and when it is off...that's what the expsosure compensation wheel is for.
I guess the red button could be used when using manual lenses and in full manual while shooting your next big hit indie film...but that's no reason to put a second button on the back. But if you're a videographer...or just a home video maker...you may find your finger glued to the real shutter button all day.
Good luck!
John Caballero
Veteran
Who cares. Just use whichever button you like best. It doesn't matter.
the second button on the back bypasses the avchd codec, and records in uncompressed 1920 x 1080 24p without the need for pulldown removal.
Shhhh. They'll find out about the secret firmware upgrade!!!
That's the deal...the "real" shutter button is entirely different and really helps a videographer fully take advantage of using this "kinda" DSLR.
philiplipetz
Veteran
I use the shutter button to activate auto focus, when I use it, without turnng off filming as would happpens with red button
Hold on there guys......
Are you saying there is a difference between how the GH1 handles the red button vs. the standard shutter button when the mode dial is set to Movie mode? Was Blackout's comment about the red button ignoring the AVCHD codec serious? It's not clear to me that using the red button with the mode dial set to P results in uncompressed AVCHD video. But then I never knew what pulldown was before I got my GH1.
What's the straight scoop here?
Are you saying there is a difference between how the GH1 handles the red button vs. the standard shutter button when the mode dial is set to Movie mode? Was Blackout's comment about the red button ignoring the AVCHD codec serious? It's not clear to me that using the red button with the mode dial set to P results in uncompressed AVCHD video. But then I never knew what pulldown was before I got my GH1.
What's the straight scoop here?
13th Judas
Active member
lier. c'mon, give him the secret code.
No difference in the codec thingy, that was a joke, but a huge difference in how the buttons work. The rear button doesn't have a half-press feature like the shutter button does...that may or may not be a big deal, depending on how you use your camera.
Turn on your camera and try it out yourself.