GH2 Using the composite out during recording

[dishan]

So, does the GH2 really NOT output video over the included composite cables unless you are playing back content??
I don't understand this feature, after all the hoopla around clean HDMI out, why can't it do standard def out to an older TV?

I have a little standard def 7" screen I used to use as an external monitor for framing shots on my Canon DSLR, and have also used a remote system that uses the jack to wireless broadcast the feed to a remote screen. This feature has also come in handy with a digital projector during live events (I was asked to get a close up of a stage demonstration and output to a projector screen for the audience to see). All requiring use of the composite jack, as none of these devices supported HDMI connections (older hardware I suppose).

There will be times I'll want to use the composite jack for a job, so I guess I can't give up my Canon entirely yet. Unless this can be enabled via some sort of hack or something? Why no SD out?

 

[Peter J. DeCrescenzo]

So, does the GH2 really NOT output video over the included composite cables unless you are playing back content?? ... Unless this can be enabled via some sort of hack or something? Why no SD out?

The GH1 & GH2 do not output composite video when the camera is in video record mode. Period. For better or worse, that's how the feature "works".

There's no hack to enable live monitoring of the cam's composite output while the cam is in video record mode. I suspect if it were possible, Vitaliy would have done it by now.

There exist HDMI-to-composite converters (external devices), but they of course are not free.

As to "why" Panasonic would design highly-capable HD video recording devices such as the GH1 & GH2 without live composite video outputs during recording ... sigh ... only Panasonic can answer that. Probably for the same stupid reason the cams don't feature live _audio_ monitoring while recording!

For Panasonic to enable both these capabilities in the cameras' design would be about as close to no-cost as is possible in the wild & wonderful world of mass-market consumer/prosumer electronics design & manufacturing.

So, you're not the only one would like these no-cost features in the GH1 & GH2. But these features currently don't exist. As for the "GH3", or whatever Panasonic will call it, for my part I say a little prayer -- that Panasonic will include these features in the next cam -- every night before bed ...

Cheers.