GH3 Thread for Quick GH3 Questions/Responses

I

Ianscreations

Well-known member
I wanted to start this thread because I was looking for a place to get some quick answers to (hopefully) simple questions.
I have two to start. I feel silly for not figuring this out/finding the answer, but I need your help:

1) How do you turn off auto exposure on the GH3? Even in Movie "M" mode, the camera keeps changing the exposure while I move the camera around. This is true whether or not I have either SS or ISO locked. Any ideas?
2) I am using a Tascam digital audio recorder to record backup audio. To match the audio record quality of the GH3, should I select a wave file of 16 bit or 24 bit? I am assuming 24 bit. I can also select a BWF file of 16bit or 24bit which is apparently broadcast quality. I must admit audio is my weak point, so I am not clear on what setting to select. In terms of the sampling quality, should I select 44.1k, 48k, or 96k?

Thanks!

PS
Hopefully this can be a thread to post quick questions/replies related to the GH3.
 
Ianscreations said:
I wanted to start this thread because I was looking for a place to get some quick answers to (hopefully) simple questions.
I have two to start. I feel silly for not figuring this out/finding the answer, but I need your help:

1) How do you turn off auto exposure on the GH3? Even in Movie "M" mode, the camera keeps changing the exposure while I move the camera around. This is true whether or not I have either SS or ISO locked. Any ideas?
2) I am using a Tascam digital audio recorder to record backup audio. To match the audio record quality of the GH3, should I select a wave file of 16 bit or 24 bit? I am assuming 24 bit. I can also select a BWF file of 16bit or 24bit which is apparently broadcast quality. I must admit audio is my weak point, so I am not clear on what setting to select. In terms of the sampling quality, should I select 44.1k, 48k, or 96k?

Thanks!

PS
Hopefully this can be a thread to post quick questions/replies related to the GH3.
Click to expand...

Page 151 of the GH3 manual (Fixing the focus and exposure (AF/AE Lock)) will help with question #1.
 
Ianscreations said:
I wanted to start this thread because I was looking for a place to get some quick answers to (hopefully) simple questions.
I have two to start. I feel silly for not figuring this out/finding the answer, but I need your help:

1) How do you turn off auto exposure on the GH3? Even in Movie "M" mode, the camera keeps changing the exposure while I move the camera around. This is true whether or not I have either SS or ISO locked. Any ideas?
2) I am using a Tascam digital audio recorder to record backup audio. To match the audio record quality of the GH3, should I select a wave file of 16 bit or 24 bit? I am assuming 24 bit. I can also select a BWF file of 16bit or 24bit which is apparently broadcast quality. I must admit audio is my weak point, so I am not clear on what setting to select. In terms of the sampling quality, should I select 44.1k, 48k, or 96k?

Thanks!

PS
Hopefully this can be a thread to post quick questions/replies related to the GH3.
Click to expand...

For 1. Are you sure it's the exposure changing and the not the screen brightness? Make sure the screen brightness is not on auto.
 
24 bit, 48kHz is probably the best choice for sample rate. High audio dynamic range with the 24-bit, and the 48kHz sample rate is what most editing systems consider the default.
 
Another couple questions:
I am recording video under the Movie (M) setting.
1) Both the back and top dials are controlling shutter speed. I would like one of the dials to control aperature. Anyone know why I can't do this?
2) When the camera is set to Auto ISO, I cannot find a display or anyway to actually check to see what the current ISO setting is. It seems the only way to
know the exact ISO is to not have it on the Auto setting. Am I wrong?
3) What is the primary difference between AFF/AFS and AFC???? I am mostly filming wedding video. Ideally, I would like to use an Auto focus setting where I can manually override it if needed. I cant find a
a way to do this.
4) When I have the camera set to Auto Focus, I still have to press the shutter button halfway to get the camera to focus. Anyway how I can just have it constantly autofocus without pushing the shutter halfway?
 
Ianscreations said:
I am recording video under the Movie (M) setting.

1) Both the back and top dials are controlling shutter speed. I would like one of the dials to control aperature. Anyone know why I can't do this?
Click to expand...

Motion Picture Menu : Section 1/5 : Exposure Mode ---> Set this menu item to M

Front dial will now control the aperture of electronic lenses, the back dial will control the shutter speed.

Ianscreations said:
4) When I have the camera set to Auto Focus, I still have to press the shutter button halfway to get the camera to focus. Anyway how I can just have it constantly autofocus without pushing the shutter halfway?
Click to expand...

1- Motion Picture Menu : Section 2/5 : Continous AF ---> Set this menu item to ON

2- Set the AF/AE Lock control at the back of the GH3 to the AFC setting.

3- Start recording video and the camera will now continously autofocus as you point the lens at different subjects.

The speed of the AF is dependent on the lens. The newer/faster/more expensive M4/3 lenses are fairly fast, while older M4/3 lenses can be pretty pokey when it comes to AF.
 
TheDingo said:
Front dial will now control the aperture of electronic lenses, the back dial will control the shutter speed.
Click to expand...

Is there any way to reverse that? The aperture will get changed a lot more than the shutter speed when shooting video. I've always hated how the GH2 starts up with the wheel changing shutter. It'd be almost as frustrating if Panny still gives the wrong priority to the new second dial.
 
TheDingo said:
Motion Picture Menu : Section 1/5 : Exposure Mode ---> Set this menu item to M

Front dial will now control the aperture of electronic lenses, the back dial will control the shutter speed.



1- Motion Picture Menu : Section 2/5 : Continous AF ---> Set this menu item to ON

2- Set the AF/AE Lock control at the back of the GH3 to the AFC setting.

3- Start recording video and the camera will now continously autofocus as you point the lens at different subjects.

The speed of the AF is dependent on the lens. The newer/faster/more expensive M4/3 lenses are fairly fast, while older M4/3 lenses can be pretty pokey when it comes to AF.
Click to expand...


Thank you for your help!
can you help with the other questions? (2 and 3).
 
Ianscreations said:
Can you help with the other questions? (2 and 3).
Click to expand...

For question 2, I don't know how to see the ISO that the camera is using in Auto-ISO mode. I am wondering if it matters if you can't directly control the ISO yourself?

With question 3, the main difference between AFS and AFC focusing mode is that AFS ( Auto Focus Single ) mode will focus only ONCE when you press the shutter or start recording video.

With AFC ( Auto Focus Continuous ) mode, the camera will try to continuously keep focus as the subject in the auto focus area keeps moving.

I can't remember what AFF does.

I rarely use auto anything, though I might start to use AFC with the GH3 and the right lens. I've seen some nice demos shot with the Panasonic 35-100mm lens and facial recognition AF turned on.
 
TheDingo said:
For question 2, I don't know how to see the ISO that the camera is using in Auto-ISO mode. I am wondering if it matters if you can't directly control the ISO yourself?

With question 3, the main difference between AFS and AFC focusing mode is that AFS ( Auto Focus Single ) mode will focus only ONCE when you press the shutter or start recording video.

With AFC ( Auto Focus Continuous ) mode, the camera will try to continuously keep focus as the subject in the auto focus area keeps moving.

I can't remember what AFF does.

I rarely use auto anything, though I might start to use AFC with the GH3 and the right lens. I've seen some nice demos shot with the Panasonic 35-100mm lens and facial recognition AF turned on.
Click to expand...



Got it! So I wonder if there is a way to manually override or correct the auto focus?
 
I currently have the camera set to "Movie M" mode. Has anyone else noticed that the ISO does not have an "Auto" selection available under this setting? For Run-N-Gun style shooting, it is nearly impossible to manually handle SS, Aperature, ISO, and Focus. I'm going to need to sacrifice one. I need help setting my camera to what I really need/want. Can someone please help me with the menu setting I need for the following:
1) I would like the ability to have the camera "auto" focus but still have the ability to manually overide. In the AFF/AFS/ACC settings, nothing changes when I turn the focus dial on the lens, even with the shutter pressed halfway.
2) I would like the abilty to manually control SS and Aperature, but have Auto ISO set with a maximum of 6400. I am working with the "Scenery" Picture Mode for Video to reduce noise since I shoot in a lot of low-light conditions.
Thanks!
 
Ianscreations said:
For Run-N-Gun style shooting, it is nearly impossible to manually handle SS, Aperature, ISO, and Focus
Click to expand...

Ian,

I think you've been a little too brainwashed on the "auto" everything controls. I strongly recommend that you first try and learn to shoot properly with everything set to manual. It will take some practice, but you can shoot in almost any environment if you know how to properly set your camera manually. Once you've got this down, then try experimenting with single auto controls. ( i.e. just set ONE thing to auto, and keep everything else manual )

SS : shutter-speed should be locked to one setting, if you are shooting 24p this should be 1/40 or 1/50 second, if you're shooting at 30p then use 1/60 second, at 60p you're locked to 1/125 second.

Aperture : Manually change your aperture, though you will want to be subtle about it, otherwise your DOF will be all over the place.

ISO : You will want to keep to a limited range of ISO settings, so that your shots resemble each other. Something shot at 200 ISO will likely be a bad match for something shot at 3200 ISO.

Focus : This has always been manual for most large-sensor shooting, though I am willing to try the AFC setting on the GH3 with certain lenses that can keep up with the subject movement.

Variable ND filters : This allows you to keep the same aperture but handle large changes in brightness. The new Genus Eclipse ND filter looks like a good buy.
 
TheDingo said:
Ian,

I think you've been a little too brainwashed on the "auto" everything controls. I strongly recommend that you first try and learn to shoot properly with everything set to manual. It will take some practice, but you can shoot in almost any environment if you know how to properly set your camera manually. Once you've got this down, then try experimenting with single auto controls. ( i.e. just set ONE thing to auto, and keep everything else manual )

Very good advise there
Click to expand...
 
i am trying to capture sound in movie mode, and i cant change the audio levels.
I can adjust levels via menu or touch screen but i cant hear any change in the output video (in playback).
Does anyone tried to adjust the sound levels with succes ?
 
i just realized that there is a limiter… so i cant overload the mic.
even if i raise the input level enough , limiter is on the way!!!
 
toxotis70 said:
i am trying to capture sound in movie mode, and i cant change the audio levels
Click to expand...

The level adjustment for GH3 audio will adjust the amount of automatic gain is applied to the signal. At level 1 the auto-gain is 3 dB, at level 19 the auto-gain is about 20 dB. To avoid noise, you want as little auto-gain as possible, which means always trying to set your camera to level 1.

To record good audio set your GH3 audio level to 1 and feed your camera a strong -15 dB audio signal, which will mean using a mic pre-amp or something like the Rode Video Mic Pro with it's +20 dB gain circuit switched ON.
 
TheDingo said:
Ian,

I think you've been a little too brainwashed on the "auto" everything controls. I strongly recommend that you first try and learn to shoot properly with everything set to manual. It will take some practice, but you can shoot in almost any environment if you know how to properly set your camera manually. Once you've got this down, then try experimenting with single auto controls. ( i.e. just set ONE thing to auto, and keep everything else manual )

SS : shutter-speed should be locked to one setting, if you are shooting 24p this should be 1/40 or 1/50 second, if you're shooting at 30p then use 1/60 second, at 60p you're locked to 1/125 second.

Aperture : Manually change your aperture, though you will want to be subtle about it, otherwise your DOF will be all over the place.

ISO : You will want to keep to a limited range of ISO settings, so that your shots resemble each other. Something shot at 200 ISO will likely be a bad match for something shot at 3200 ISO.

Focus : This has always been manual for most large-sensor shooting, though I am willing to try the AFC setting on the GH3 with certain lenses that can keep up with the subject movement.

Variable ND filters : This allows you to keep the same aperture but handle large changes in brightness. The new Genus Eclipse ND filter looks like a good buy.
Click to expand...

Well, here's my problem (and keep in mind I'm shooting mostly in low-light conditions and coming from a background of using a traditional HD Camcorder):
I have no problem locking SS or focusing. The problem starts when I change my shot and a subtle change in light can really throw off the exposure. If I am trying to maintain a consistent Aperature, then I really only have ISO to play with. There is no a 'quick' way to change ISO (you have to hit the button and cycle through). This is why I would like the camera to automatically change ISO without me having to fumble around during an important shot. I can worry about focus this way. Thoughts?
 
I find a variable ND with one of those cheap rubber 3 in 1 hoots is invaluable during run & gun shooting. I can change the exposure on the fly by just turning the hoot with my finger.
 
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