Now you can shoot 30p @ 24mbps. Jeff Harper, that should be good news to you, as I know you were conflicted between 60p and 24p. Should be a happy medium.

http://panasonic.net/avc/lumix/systemcamera/gms/gh2/index.html

25p at 24Mbps for us in PAL-land too!

25p in 50i wrapper... but still better than no 25fps at all.

After updating fw, a footage @ 25p (I am in a PAL land) is brighter than 24p, also exposure meters shows around 3-4 bars more. I kept GH2 settings and light the same, Manual, 1/25sec. 3200 iso, Standard Film Mode all=0, noise is slightly thinner/less visible. Also after pressing record color shifting seems a tad smaller.

Also after pressing record color shifting seems a tad smaller.

That was one of the listed updates. I haven't shot with it since I updated. I had two important shoots on Wednesday, and didn't want to update my firmware on the chance that it ran into problems.

Has not been described by Panasonic, but after fw upgrade, I've discovered that GH2's external mic sensitivity is finally correct and well calibrated. Feeding from H2n headphone/line-out works fine (Audio Level set to 2). No need for sescom cable or any other attenuator! Previously external mic input was to hot, I had serious problems (clipping, distortions) with exactly same settings on GH2 and H2n. Now external mic input is MUCH better than before.

Thanks for the post Patrick. 30p would be great, except now I shoot with a video camera that has no 30p, so footage wouldn't match! Still nice option to have, for sure.

25p in 50i wrapper... but still better than no 25fps at all.

What does that mean for post-production though?

If I am editing genuine 25fps (from a different camera) and wish to drop in GH2 25p in a 50i wrapper to the 25fps timeline will there be a problem?

Is it possible to copy the update file to an SD card in the GH2 instead of a card reader? My reader seems to be on the fritz. Has anyone copied directly to the GH2 and had the update work?

Yes, downloaded to my Mac, transferred the file via the cable to the sd card while in the camera and it all worked. But you do have to prep a bit. Go to: Joint update service for Four Thirds lens and DMC-G1/GH1 camera body step 2 | Digital Camera | Digital AV | Consumer Products | Support | Panasonic Global (http://panasonic.jp/support/global/cs/dsc/download/fts/step_bg.html)
and follow the instructions accordingly. Apparently, you need to format the sd card and have the battery at full levels to get things going. Other than that everything seems pretty straightforward. I'm definately looking forward to both the WB improvements and especially the 30p.

OK, thanks. I found an old laptop in the house that has an SD reader built in so I'll try that just to be safe.
Yeah, I read all the instructions and have a full battery and an empty, newly in-cam formatted card so all I need to do is get the .bin file over to it.

D

Just fired up my new GH2 for the first time....installed the new firmware..and trying to navigate through this manual and menu..........whoa...lot of stuff here.

I cant seem to find the menu area to set frame rate. I see 60i, 24p, but no 30P or 60P. Can someone point me to the menu location please.

In case I find it before you reply...thanks anyway. ha

Jeff

Jeff, 30p should be called High Bit Rate Mode. Scroll down a little bit to see the screen shot: DMC-GH2 | PRODUCTS | LUMIX | Digital Camera | Panasonic Global (http://panasonic.net/avc/lumix/systemcamera/gms/gh2/movie.html#highbit)

To get 60p you need to be shooting in 720p resolution. It's the only frame rate, so it's automatic once you switch to 720p.

Thanks Patrick
I'm getting information overload just trying to read the manual

I think I'll just use my iPhone and forget it
Ha ha

Jeff

Manual is a nightmare, but full of good information, if you can find it. There are SO many variables, and the manual is laid out very oddly, good luck, stick with it, it's worth it.

Thanks Jeff...
Yep read through the manual last night...had weird dreams. ha

Yep, one does have to flip back and forth a lot. Found the link to the on line manual..so that will help too. Im mainly interested in the "video" capabilities of the GH2, so will try and tackle that first. I would have thought 60p would be high resolution instead of 720...Im a bit confused now on which shooting mode to chose ...but will iron it all out. I see a lot of threads pro and con..so will try them all. My little Nex 5N shoots 60p at full resolution, yet Ive seen great looking video from the GH2 shot a 720. I deliver on DVD anyway. Ive got a lot of reading/experimenting ahead.

Stick with me folks....ha

the other Jeff

Hi, Jeff (Hinson),

1280x720 is about half the resolution of 1920x1080 which has 50% more pixels both horizontally and vertically. Therefore, you can shoot twice as many frames per second for any given bitrate using 720 rather than 1080. Having the two settings gives you a simple choice:
a) double the resolution at half the frame rate versus
b) double the frame rate at half the resolution.

Interlacing is a compromise between these two options - high resolution and high shooting rate, albeit divided into two half-resolution fields - but interlacing has its issues in the age of flat screens and internet video (fine for DVD and broadcast though).

To shoot 1080p60 (compared to 720p60 or 1080i60) you would need to double the bitrate or else double the data compression (i.e. reducing the picture quality irrespective of resolution or frame rate). However, the GH2's 23.976fps ("24fps"), 25fps, and 29.97fps ("30fps") frame rates are fine for everything except slow motion, 3D and very fast movement (e.g. sports). We've only just got the 1080p25/30 option; 1080p50/60 I can live without.


Best wishes,

Andrew

Other Jeff, I think you're a little confused. 60p is the frame rate. 720p is the resolution. p stands for progressive. The GH2 has a 1080i60i option, too, but generally you want to stick to progressive rather than interlaced (i). The only benefit to using 60p in 720p is if you plan to slow the shots down. Slow-mo works best the more frames that are available. For everything else you'll want to stick to 1080p at 24p or 30p. If you plan to move the camera around a lot (panning/tilting) then 30p is a better option because there will be less blur. The fewer frames in existence the more blur (24p).

Patrick, 720 60p is supported on Bluray, and is why I like it, I've shot about 30 or more weddings with the GH2 using that mode and it is phenomenal, to me. It is arguable as to which mode is best, depending on who you talk to though.

My XA10 shoots 60i or 24p, and I prefer to shoot in matching modes, therefore 30p is of less use to me. Therefore I shoot in 60i or 24p, because all my footage is the same. Don't know what I said before that cause the confusion, but the above should be more clear, thanks for helping.

I should add that 1080 30p would be fantastic, would love to try it, but again, my main camera does not shoot 30p, so I choose a frame rate and resolution that all my cameras have. Since virtually all of my shoots are multicamera, this matching aspect is important.

Patrick, in reference to your comment about 720p being resolution, 720p is shorthand, and is not a complete description in and of itself. 720 refers to to resolution and the letter p refers to progressive frame rate but when used that way it leaves out the critical info of frame rate. Technically one should say 720, or 60p, or combine them for a complete description eg., 720 60p for example. If we say 720p here it is because we all know the GH2 shoots only in 720 60p, and we all know what we are talking about.

For me mixing 720P and 50i in my BLU RAYS shows that 720P cannot match 50i for sharpness /resolution now i have the new HBR i hope this gives me even more sharpness resolution for my BDs,certainly playing the raw files via a card reader into my PS3 shows they play fine with as much resolution as 24P but i have never liked 24P,720P is the FR for slow motion and probobly DVD as it does edit well.

What does that mean for post-production though?
If I am editing genuine 25fps (from a different camera) and wish to drop in GH2 25p in a 50i wrapper to the 25fps timeline will there be a problem?

Most of NLEs will re-render, what takes time and is not necessary at all.

To add to Waldi's comment, Simon, you can mix on the timeline, sure, but what you mix and how it works out will vary on your settings in your editing program, and will vary based on what you are mixing, and to what you are outputting. It can be relatively complicated if you need "best" results (say for a wedding or corporate video) until you figure out what you need to do and how you need to do it.

The approach I take to mixed footage, most of the time, is to convert mismatched footage prior to editing. I really like having matching footage on the timeline, I am fanatical about that, but other people mix footage on the timeline all the time. I just don't.

Most of NLEs will re-render, what takes time and is not necessary at all.It does depend on the NLE but if it doesn't correctly handle 25p within the 50i wrapper then the latest version of ClipWrap will fix that for you & takes only moments to re-wrap the .MTS file to a .MOV within a QuickTime wrapper divergent media, inc. - newest posts (http://www.divergentmedia.com/blog)

Don't know what I said before that cause the confusion, but the above should be more clear, thanks for helping.

I was talking to the other Jeff. That's why I referred to him as "other Jeff" lol.

So now that I have the 1.1. update installed, if I select HBR movie mode...Im recording at 30p 1080 correct??

This "other Jeff" is always confused.........but Im hanging in there. LOL

the other jeff

Wait, I thought I was the other Jeff! I feel cheated and confused. My head is hurting. I need a nap. When you guys make it to my age, you'll understand.

@ the first Jeff

hahaha.....glad to see you up and alert. Age does slow us down a bit though.

BTW: So now that I have the 1.1. update installed, if I select HBR movie mode...Im recording at 30p 1080 correct

the other Jeff :?)

Jeff, sorry, I haven't done the update, don't have a clue. I'm anxious to do it, but I'm too bogged down with editing. The update sounds awesome, especially the audio improvement, that's what appeals to me as much as anything.

Jeff, sorry, I haven't done the update, don't have a clue. I'm anxious to do it, but I'm too bogged down with editing. The update sounds awesome, especially the audio improvement, that's what appeals to me as much as anything.

I "should" be editing too, backlogged right now. But have to try out my new toy GH2...a real novice shooting with a camera. No photography background, so a lot to learn in the GH2 for me.

Have a good day,
the other Jeff

The camera is a joy, but you really do end up learning more than you ever wanted to know about the principles of photography. The disadvantages of the camera are few, but bothersome. I strongly dislike it's size, and that's my single biggest issue, about which nothing can be done, of course. On the job, the camera looks foolishly small, very amateurish. I focus on the job at hand, and try to appear as if I know what I'm doing, and that is more important than having a huge rig, but still, I wish it were larger.

The size is as much of an advantage as a disadvantage. People are much more relaxed in front of the GH2, and actually will run up to it, rather than run from it, which is at first really cool, but this also becomes rather annoying at times. People will also think your taking photos, when you're handheld, so they will pose for a still photo, and that is really weird. So you have to interact and work with them. I'll speak up and say "hey it's video, wave for the camera!", or something like that, because if you tell them the wrong way they'll feel dumb and embarrassed, so you have to learn how to deal with that scenario.

If you're a wedding shooter you will find the camera changes the way you interact with your subjects, and that is a really great thing, and worth it's weight in gold. I use a "Y" extension, and mount both a shotgun and LED on the camera, and it can really shoot some great video. With the audio improvement, it will be even better.

The hardest thing at the beginning, is what you're going through right now, learning how to set the camera up for video, there are a few choices.

For a beginner, if you haven't already been told, put the dial on the movie icon. Choose your record mode in the menu. Choose Manual Movie mode unless you want 24p.

To get shooting immediately, you can use the Q menu button to navigate sideways to the S -P-M-A modes, and choose program mode, (I'm not referring to the dial on top of the camera) it will allow you to set white balance, but will do the rest for you, shutter speed, aperture, etc. You can record a wedding or anything in P mode, and you'll be fine. It's not ideal to shoot in P mode, but pretty darn close, and is a good way to start out. Some people recommend starting out in M mode, or S mode, etc, but I don't agree, because you also have to learn how to handle focusing the camera on your subject, and that in itself is a whole other thing.

So by starting in the P mode, you can shoot as if you're using a video camera, and then you only have to concentrate on focusing, which is another lesson for another day.

Thanks so much for your advice
I read your earlier post on using the Pmode so I'm practicing with that now

Excellent, Jeff. I am not a skilled shooter, and when got my first GH2s I jumped into doing weddings with them almost immediately, and it was not fun, by any stretch of the imagination.

If I had know about P mode, my first few weddings would have gone SO much better, and would have turned out nicer. Once I started using it, I was able to focus on the lenses and other things. Even in P mode you will still be forced to use features of the camera to overcome backlighting, etc. You can use the dial on the front right hand side of the camera to brighten up the image, or reduce exposure. You watch the graph at the bottom of the screen, push/depress the dial in front, and then rotate it to change exposure compensation, and then you can deal with pretty much anything. If you can master that dial, which is pretty simple, you can shoot anything without a need to leave P mode.

Of course, any experienced photographer will tell us that we need to learn the basics of adjusting shutter speed and exposure for conditions to achieve best results, and they are absolutely correct, but for the beginning I think P mode is fine.

Ideally, I like to shoot manually or in S mode, and set my shutter speed where I want it, but for run and gun work it's not often practical for me to do so, and I often end up in P mode, as I am usually tending to four cameras at once. For receptions I run in S mode a lot and set them all to a good shutter speed, but honestly, I often can't tell the difference from shooting in P mode. Outdoors I really l like manual for artistic stuff.

Yes Jeff we are on the same page
The only business that pays anything for me right now are
weddings.
I need to get that going first and the P mode seems like the solution

Music videos my first love will have to wait until I master the manual mode.
Please keep me informed on your wedding set ups

Sure thing. If you need suggestions let me know. I moved away from using 4 GH cameras, to three and one video camera, but will be adding another XA10 or something for spring.

Last wedding I attached a GH2 with the 20mm F/1.7 to a magic arm type device, attached it to the side of a pew in the rear, and got pretty cool shot of the processional, and did something similar from the front of the church at the same time using the 12mm F/2.0. I got some stunning shots.

The 12mm F/2.0 is priceless for the processional, and can be used in so many ways. When used in the rear as a static cam pointed at the door, it's fantastic, but it also captures a mean image from the front, so it's always tough to choose where I'm going to use that lens. Attached to the side of a pew down front, you get a nice shot of the entire "stage" and a guaranteed great shot for the duration of the ceremony. Because of the deeper depth of field with that lens, focus is very good on most players, and is an invaluable shot for me.

Jeff
You have a lot of guts or you're really crazy
My kind of guy. Ha

Thanks for the input

Well Jeff, anyone that will shoot 30+ weddings or more in a season using 4 cameras by him/herself can only be insane. If you aren't crazy to begin with, you will be crazy when the editing starts.

Wow Jeff....
That's great. Id like to have that much business. Encouraging to say the least.
Well, Id better get busy and learn how to use my equipment..
Stay tuned...for question.

For a beginner, if you haven't already been told, put the dial on the movie icon. Choose your record mode in the menu. Choose Manual Movie mode unless you want 24p.With the new V1.1 firmware if you choose High Bit Rate (HBR) in Creative Movie Mode you will be using 30p(NTSC) or 25p(PAL).

Nigel,
thanks for confirming the HBR is 30P

Jeff

Jeff, just so you know, I've been doing wedding stuff since the 80s, so having 30 weddings during the summer/fall is not impressive to me, but I understand if your relatively new it can sound like a lot. I have friends that shoot eight weddings in a weekend, and they do a couple hundred a year, so I'm really small fish. I also have acquaintances that charge $5k or more for weddings, and they book more than I do. The one guy is considered among the best U.S. depending on who you ask. He's won a lot of awards at WEVA, so against this backdrop I look somewhat insignificant from where I sit.

So I'm not only small, but I'm definitely in the low-end of the market. It's easy to get the business, the hard part is handling it. Since spring I probably shot maybe 35, but I truthfully have no firm idea, I haven't counted it up, plus corporate stuff, and it's a lot to handle. In other words, be careful what you wish for!

For a beginner, if you haven't already been told, put the dial on the movie icon. Choose your record mode in the menu. Choose Manual Movie mode unless you want 24p.

To get shooting immediately, you can use the Q menu button to navigate sideways to the S -P-M-A modes, and choose program mode, (I'm not referring to the dial on top of the camera) it will allow you to set white balance, but will do the rest for you, shutter speed, aperture, etc. You can record a wedding or anything in P mode, and you'll be fine. It's not ideal to shoot in P mode, but pretty darn close, and is a good way to start out. Some people recommend starting out in M mode, or S mode, etc, but I don't agree, because you also have to learn how to handle focusing the camera on your subject, and that in itself is a whole other thing.

So by starting in the P mode, you can shoot as if you're using a video camera, and then you only have to concentrate on focusing, which is another lesson for another day.
Thanks. This is really great stuff. Far easier to grasp than the &$*@# manual.

For many years I shot full manual 35 mm stills. Then I had a few pocket, fully auto cams. Eventually I went to a tape-based DV cam. I've forgotten a lot of my old photo techniques so having this kind of hint for us GH2 newbies is really great. Next time I go out to shoot, I'll try the P mode and see how it goes.

Feel free to throw out any more tips for us newbies.

D

Actually the new Firmware is not 30p or 25p but is wrapped in a interlaced package

Roy.............oh no.

Just when I think Im beginning to get a handle on things...here you come along. haha

I shoot an Canon XHA1 at 30 p....so I guess the closest to the Canons 30P is the G2 HBR...right?
Im trying to get as close as possible to editing both cams in CS5

I think Im gonna start a NEWBIE thread...Ive got a zillion questions and dont want to bore the pros.

Look for me......I need all the help I can get. The manual leaves me frustrated...who wrote that thing. Ha

Jeff Hinson

I think the XHA1 only does "30F" not 30p. Canon's "30F" is none other than... 30p in a 60i wrapper, so it is hopefully identical to the GH2's HBR mode, and the two should work perfectly together on the same timeline [different codecs allowing]. In theory.

Am I right in thinking that the GH2's NTSC HBR mode is actually 29.97fps as the 60i wrapper suggests? I know the 24p mode is 23.98fps even on the PAL models - a consideration if intercutting with true 24p cameras. Why can't Panasonic call a spade a spade?

@ Andrew...

Yes...mixed footage from both GH2 and XHA1 today on the same timeline. Works perfectly.
Im glad the firmware update gave me 30P HD...easy to work with and video looks great.

Thanks for the comment Andrew...

Jeff H.

The High bit rate is 30p or 25p wrapped in an interlaced form so that people can plug the camera directly into their panasonic TV (they do sell those) and play it.It is indeed 30p/25p but has interlaced flags attached. I am using 5dtoRGB (a free program) to conform it to a true progressive 4.2.2. file,(prores or dnxhd) works very quickly on a computer with a decent video card.Why 30p not 24p? If I end up making a DVD I think the transformation is easier getting to 60i without inserting a 3-2 pulldown.

Yes Jeff we are on the same page
The only business that pays anything for me right now are
weddings.
I need to get that going first and the P mode seems like the solution

Music videos my first love will have to wait until I master the manual mode.
Please keep me informed on your wedding set ups

Jeff, I saw you say you have an XHA1. That and the GH2 are my cameras, as well. I get a fair amount of corporate work using my XHA1. A lot of corporate shoots require tape based cameras, where they hand you the tapes before the shoot, and you hand them back at the end. A lot of shoots are done in SD, as well, which a GH2 won't do. I'm trying to steer my business into weddings, too, but as of now I make more money doing corporate and other shoots. I'm a lifelong multi-instrumentalist musician, actor, and stand-up comedian, so I have a lot of contacts in those industries which gives me a lot of work creating performance videos and demo reels. I use my XHA1 as a wide cam and the GH2 for closeups, interviews, B-roll. The footage matches up nicely with the help of color correction.

There are a lot of good companies that hire freelancers. Last night I did my second job for Become a GeoBeats Filmmaker! (http://production.geobeats.com/filmmakers/register). They're good people, you should look into them.

As far as P mode, I don't care for it. I only shoot M, and I would highly suggest you learn it and shoot with it instead.

Hi Patrick, re: manaul mode, if you go back to Jeff H's original predicament, he had a new camera, and had no clue how to start. P mode is typically recommended for anyone new to DSLRs. Eventually we all learn how to set exposure and shutter speed, but we must remember this is a process, not an event. Learning something as complex as photographic principles such as shutter speed and exposure is much more pleasurable when taken in stages than being force fed advanced techniques.

If Jeff takes the time to visit a photography forum and ask for advice on how to begin, he'll read that the majority of veterans encourage newbies to use P mode to start out, and then encourage them to venture into other modes after they have become proficient focusing. You then typically try Aperture priority, or S mode, and as you learn the relationship between exposure and shutter speed you can branch out and do more. In the meantime, you are able to capture images from the beginning. That's what I found when I got my first DSLR several years ago.

Learning the relationship between shutter speed and exposure can take a fair amount of time, and to become proficient in manual mode under the pressure of a paid gig can take months. For shooting video you need a continuously usable image, particularly when shooting doc style. When all else fails, P mode can be used to get you though rapidly changing lighting conditions or other run and gun situations.

Stories of DSLR shooters missing shots because they were fiddling with their exposure and shutter speed are plentiful. When you are shooting a wedding it is much more important to get the shot than to be concerned with the ideal shutter speed. During a ceremony, and for static cameras during the reception there are plenty of opportunities for using manual settings, but even then you must be careful.

Jeff H wants to shoot weddings. Say he has his two GH2s and his XH-A1 and he's running his GH2s in manual mode as static cameras, and he's set up a the reception for the first dance. He's 50 feet from his GH2s and then suddenly the house lights are brought down without warning, and the couple begins their first dance. What does he do? No choice; he must abandon his main camera and go adjust his two GH2s, separately, all the while his main camera is unattended.

If he had been in P mode, he would be golden with no worries. Shutter priority is technically better, but the in camera adjustments in S mode are abrupt when the lighting changes, and it looks terrible as the exposure abruptly changes, which happens constantly as people move in and out of the frame making S mode is useless. Aperture priority is better, I suppose, but why bother? P mode solves most exposure problems, as much as can be solved on an unmanned camera.

Manual settings, as well as a camera's automated settings, all have their place.

[quote=

There are a lot of good companies that hire freelancers. Last night I did my second job for Become a GeoBeats Filmmaker! (http://production.geobeats.com/filmmakers/register). They're good people, you should look into them.
.[/quote]

Thanks Patrick for the tip. I "will" check into it.

Like you, my passion is Music/entertainment videos, but they don't pay the bills....at least right now.
Weddings videos in this part of the country (Rural IN) are an afterthought to most new couples. They don't mind spending a fortune on photographs, but shrug, when you quote them the video.............go figure. Guess it's up to me to change that attitude. ha.

PM me, I'd like to know what a typical assignment with GeoBeats is, and the rate they pay.

Jeff Hinson

Hello,

I have tried several times to access Panasonic's webiste to download the new GH-2 firmware update. However, it keeps telling me that the page does not exist.

Here's the page I'm accessing and the link I'm TRYING to access:

Joint update service for Four Thirds body and lenses | Download | Digital Camera | Digital AV | Consumer Products | Support | Panasonic Global (http://panasonic.jp/support/global/cs/dsc/download/fts/index2.html)

Can someone provide me with the correct link to download the new firmware? I greatly appreciate your help!