The Panasonic G1HD | GH-1 Video Mode : A Real Video Mode
- Thread starter Kholi
- Start date
Kholi works for the resolution, bokeh, controllable DOF, manual settings control, color space, ease of use gods.
SonicStates
Well-known member
Hehehehe...yeah, it's really a Japanese course and camera in 1 for me...yay! wait....bloody Panasonic...oh well been dodging the kanji for long enough I suppose <sigh>
I always figured Kholi was working for higher powers
Tracey Lee
Well-known member
So is there a way to buy this imported yet? Kholi, you have the Japanese version and I think I recall Phil Bloom saying he had an English one from the UK.
None to show. There's plenty of flowers and poodles popping up. I'm waiting until I have something better to show. Won't be a long wait at all, don't worry.
Agreed. And I'll have a Nikon and Contax C/Y Adapter within the next few days. Hoping BEFORE the weekend.
Going to try the Composite Source today. Will report back in a few.
Kholi, please tell us the LCD screen is better for focusing than the crappy thing the HVX gave us
I don't think so. I was fine with the HVX LCD, though. There are a number of ways to focus with this so I don't think it'll be an issue. But mileage may very.
Listen to Jack. LoL.
Kholi,
Get out of bed man!
BTW Your thread has 8,000 views in 12+ hours. Start fliming a bootcamp for it!
I'm up I'm up! Now where's that Car Mount...
My guess is that Kholi had it purchased and then delivered. My 2nd guess is that Phil Bloom got one ala Laforet, where Panasonic gave him one because he's a rockstar.
No Voigtlanders here. I'm Sticking with my Zeiss and Nikons.
Find someone in Japan or UK to send to you and you'll be good.
Peter J. DeCrescenzo
Veteran
Apparently Kholi -- who I thank immensely for investing in and testing a Japanese-language GH1 -- doesn't own a VHS VCR he can plug the GH1's composite video cable into, so he can't test that particular feature. :laugh:
To be fair to Kholi, plugging-in the GH1's special USB-to-RCA composite & stereo audio adapter cable will only tell us what the cam is programmed to do by default at the factory. Beyond that, it's a crap shoot as far as whatever Kholi can discover in his cam's Japanese-only menus.
If we're unbelievably lucky, the GH1 -- like just about every other video-enabled "consumer" device ever manufactured in the last 20 years -- will output live composite video by default.
If it doesn't, and if it isn't easily enabled via the cam's menus, then I vote for the most likely cause to be Panasonic internal politics, with technical realities a more distant second most likely cause.
If the GH1 doesn't output live composite video, that's about all the proof you need that Panasonic knows _exactly_ what this cam is all about and how fundamentally it has/had the potential to shake the prosumer & pro video cam business to its core. If Panasonic hasn't enabled live video out of the GH1, believe me it isn't by accident or an oversight. As Barry said, it is what it is.
Don't get me wrong: If the GH1 can't output live composite video, clever video pros will still find a 1,000 & 1 uses for the cam. Lack of live video is not necessarily a deal killer for many applications, but of course for some it is.
... On the other hand, if the GH1 _can_ output live composite video -- s-o-o-o-o very useful for pros who need external monitoring for framing, focus, blocking, directing, scratch video, jibbing, steadicamming, rigging, etc. etc. etc. -- let alone just for consumers goofing around in their living rooms while watching themselves & their friends live on their TV -- then I will give Panasonic a big "thank you!". And then we can get to work!
- Peter
www.peterdv.com
Last edited:
Peter J. DeCrescenzo
Veteran
Much thanks, Kholi!
If it's not already on your shooting list, may I suggest/request a relatively "simple" clip be at least a few seconds of a sit-down "CBS 60 Minutes"-style interview/portrait? With foreground & background props out-of-focus, nice lighting, etc. ... I know you know the drill. In other words, not like the crap on _my_ website! :shocked:
That & a million other touchingly classic TV/film moments -- and dynamic range tests -- would be fabulous. :happy:
- Peter
www.peterdv.com
SonicStates
Well-known member
X 2 if you don't mind. I'm really amped to see what this thing can do with attention to lighting...4 hours before the sun rises and I clamber out of the door bound for Lumix-ville....I need Kholi footage STAT!!!
DavidNJ
Carbonite Member
I am not so sure that there is a master plan to disable his camera or professional use. Most likely it was sort of as a competitor to Sony and Canon consumer camcorders and entry-level DSLRs. These cameras often have 24p and "cine-look" features.
Panasonic started with a $700 camera with a smaller sensor (4/3rd vs. APS-C common in entry level DSLRs). The video features more than doubled the cost of the camera.
The live HDMI was probably an early chip or board level decision, just as the manual and semi-automatic controls probably were for Canon. It could have been a later decision if testing showed problems that couldn't be resolved. Panasonic product managers would probably have loved to have shipped the camera for last year's holiday season or this year to catch the spring blooms, school graduations, and June weddings (consumer reasons to buy a new camera).
Other than a non-existent RED Scarlet, it is quite possible that this camera has the best video image coming off the sensor of any camera within 10-20xs its price. Nearly all our non-laudatory conversation has focused on getting that image off the camera adn to a lesser extent control functions. The control functions have only been introduced as people actually have cameras.
A note I have observed in video/still cameras departments. This camera will probably be with still cameras just as the current hybrid DSLRs are from Canon and Nikon. In that deparment, the GH1 will be more expensive than a D90 or 50D. Much more expensive than a T1i or D5000. Those larger cameras will feel more substantial in buyer's hands. Buyers in that department aren't looking for video features even if they are shown them. In the video department, the camera isn't there and few other than the customers for prosumer cameras go to those departments expecting to pay over $1000 or so. How many shops selling prosumer video cameras have the current D90 or 5DM2? Different distribution channels, lower price points, and smaller margins make them less attractive to vendors. In the end, this camera could walk on water and still be a hard sell in the mass market.
All this to say Panasonic had a lot of issues to meet the needs of their target audience. An alternative to a HMC150 with 35mm adapter probably never entered the conversation.
Panasonic started with a $700 camera with a smaller sensor (4/3rd vs. APS-C common in entry level DSLRs). The video features more than doubled the cost of the camera.
The live HDMI was probably an early chip or board level decision, just as the manual and semi-automatic controls probably were for Canon. It could have been a later decision if testing showed problems that couldn't be resolved. Panasonic product managers would probably have loved to have shipped the camera for last year's holiday season or this year to catch the spring blooms, school graduations, and June weddings (consumer reasons to buy a new camera).
Other than a non-existent RED Scarlet, it is quite possible that this camera has the best video image coming off the sensor of any camera within 10-20xs its price. Nearly all our non-laudatory conversation has focused on getting that image off the camera adn to a lesser extent control functions. The control functions have only been introduced as people actually have cameras.
A note I have observed in video/still cameras departments. This camera will probably be with still cameras just as the current hybrid DSLRs are from Canon and Nikon. In that deparment, the GH1 will be more expensive than a D90 or 50D. Much more expensive than a T1i or D5000. Those larger cameras will feel more substantial in buyer's hands. Buyers in that department aren't looking for video features even if they are shown them. In the video department, the camera isn't there and few other than the customers for prosumer cameras go to those departments expecting to pay over $1000 or so. How many shops selling prosumer video cameras have the current D90 or 5DM2? Different distribution channels, lower price points, and smaller margins make them less attractive to vendors. In the end, this camera could walk on water and still be a hard sell in the mass market.
All this to say Panasonic had a lot of issues to meet the needs of their target audience. An alternative to a HMC150 with 35mm adapter probably never entered the conversation.
Last edited:
Solomon Chase
Well-known member
Kholi,
I've got a buddy traveling in the UK right now who could buy one for me. I thought it was only released in Japan?
Steve Castle
Well-known member
For future reference, to purchase from Japanese stores when outside of Japan, there are service like this:
http://japanesetradition.net/shipping/service.html
That will purchase products from Japan for you and send it to you. They will charge you 7-14% of the purchase price if its between $1,000-$2,000.
Best place to check prices is Kakaku:
http://kakaku.com/item/K0000027526/
For the GH-1 the price currently ranges from around $1,300-$1,500.
Amazon.jp you can order in English:
http://www.amazon.co.jp/Panasonic-デ...2?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1240936108&sr=8-2
It cheaper online, but stores like Bic/Yodobashi give you a point system that is around 1point=1yen. For the GH-1 they will give 10% point of the purchase price, which is like ~$150.
For the GH-1 however, since it should be released in May-June there is little incentive to buy from Japan. Especially being that the menus are all in Japanese.
Peter J. DeCrescenzo
Veteran
I believe Panasonic Europe announced the GH1 will be available in Europe in "June".
UK:
http://www.panasonic.co.uk/html/en_...ro+System/DMC-GH1/Overview/2146692/index.html
Germany:
http://translate.google.com/transla...od=N&upper=&prop=&sl=de&tl=en&history_state0=
I believe Phil Bloom said he's getting a GH1 with English menus through a special arrangement with Panasonic, but I could be mistaken.
- Peter
www.peterdv.com
