I thought about adding this to the 'Anyone Using An FZ100 For Weddings' thread, but as that has meandered on for a while and there are a few of us acquiring this camera I thought I would start a fresh thread to compare findings.

After initially being sent the wrong camera from Hong Kong, the FZ1000 arrived this morning at 10am. I have spent the whole day playing around with it and have been delighted so far with what I have found. I am surprised that it is taking me a lot of work to understand all the settings variations that are possible and how to access them all, but I've no doubt that once I have isolated and understand the ones that I will use regularly, I will be able to customise the quick access menu for instant changes.

I'm not impressed with the lack of smoothness of the zoom, but it does become a little slower and smoother in video record mode. Not ideal though if you like using slow zoom. Manual zoom is only really useful for very fast reframing but I will find that very useful.

Contrary to some other findings on YouTube reviews, I found that the manual focus is actually very efficient and that I haven't been experiencing any problems with subtle adjustments. On manual focus, as soon as the lens ring is touched, a zoomed in image appears in the centre of the screen or viewfinder and with peaking turned on it is very simple to get accurate focus smoothly and quickly. It took me a while to realise that there is a small selector to the right of the viewfinder that needs to be set to manual focus, not just the selector on the barrel. Maybe that is where some of the confusion has come from.

I am very impressed with the quality of footage in daylight indoors that I have taken so far, particularly in 17mps 25p. I am surprised at how good it actually looks. At the highest 4k quality it looks amazing and the quality of quick stills that I have taken from 4k is also impressive and very useable. Taking a still from 4k video is as simple as playing it back in camera, pausing the frame you want and just pressing save, that's it!

I've got a long way to go as yet, but will post more findings as I learn more. Next week I have 5 filming jobs in succession, so will have plenty of opportunity to give the camera a good test. It was also great to find that the camera uses the same battery as my two LUMIX FZ200s, so I now have 5 good batteries.

Roger

Awesome Roger!!

I do hope that Chris Hurd will actually create a forum for these cameras as we REALLY need one in the Panasonic section and I have a lot of questions more on the camera than actual weddings that I want to ask but cannot!!

I'm pretty impressed with the image quality so far too .. I have been doing my Realty shoots in 1080 25P in MP4 which has a tad higher bit rate than what you are using and the sharpness alone compared to my Sony's (which cost 4 times the price) is staggering!!

Got to play with the Cine D and Cine V profiles now and decide whether they are more practical to shoot with than just the standard setting I'm currently using

Chris

Hi Chris,

Definitely agree with the need for a new forum for these cameras as I think they could easily be a relatively overlooked little jewel. I will be getting a second one for Claire ready for the next double wedding that we have.

As an aside, I would say that I was very annoyed at my supplier, Expedite Electronics in Hongkong sending the wrong camera but at least the UK customer support were always quick to answer and very helpful and ensured that HK got the replacement out quickly. The second one arrived 5 working days after the wrong one was collected, still only 19 full days from the original order and I was kept informed of the status. I also had nothing extra to pay for the return and the replacement item. The Dutch company that I was going to use, still hasn't received their new stock so I think I made the right choice.

Roger

Hi Roger

I did a few minutes of footage in Cine d and CineV today and to be honest, unless you are going to do a whole lot of grading I found that the Standard setting so far gives me the sharpest image and the nicest colour balance .. To me Cine D just gives you a lower contrast and I found indoors that there was a bit of noise in the shadows too ... Colour saturation drops as well as sharpness so I wasn't impressed too much with that setting ..Cine V has pretty high contrast and you lose all the details in your blacks ..it's supposed to emulate film but again I still found the standard profile was the most pleasant. On all my HMC camcorders I always ended up using the default/standard profile and brides were always happy! Your views would be appreciated on what you find the nicest profile!

Now, the manual also suggests that you can disable the half push shutter and transfer the function to the AE Lock button ...that works very well BUT the moment you are recording it is disabled so if you need to do a quick focus if it's lost you CANNOT ... I have gone back to using the half push shutter to focus as that is active before and during recording which makes a lot of sense! So far on my fixed ceremony camera I'm using the focus lever on APS and then disable the continuous focus in the Creative Video menu ...that lets me lock onto anything and it will stay there. On my handheld I have the same BUT continuous is ON ..the camera auto focuses very fast and doesn't seem to hunt at all ...if you switch from a far to very close object it gets focus pretty fast as does a little blur transition as it gets focus which is actually quite pleasant to the eye it almost looks like the operator has done a professional focus pull ...otherwise for general scenarios the focus is instant !!

So far so good and I'm happy with what this little gem pushes out !!

Chris

Hi Chris,

Looks like this is a you and me thread at the moment, I am surprised that more people haven't leapt in with this camera at the current price. Perhaps that's the problem, the price is so low that pros dismiss it as another cheap consumer cam.

I have just got back from me and the dog taking the wife for a walk in the park, so took the camera to try out in high contrast and to give the radio mic and talk back a run. I'll have a look at the footage soon and post my thoughts.

Roger

Perhaps that's the problem, the price is so low that pros dismiss it as another cheap consumer cam.

Both you and Chris have very similar budget and approach to Wedding Videography. Hardly surprising you share a similar purchase. I've noted you both have suggested previously that you've dismissed using a dslr like form factor for taking video as its not practical for filming. Some agree and use the c100 or similar religiously for Weddings. Those of us who have embraced the dslr form have preferred switchable lens cameras like the GH4, as the variety of lenses available make it more adaptable to different shooting conditions than a fixed lens.

Frankly what makes the FZ1000 a tough sell to Event Videographers and those specialising in Weddings particularly, is the variable aperture of the zoom. When the RX10 offers fixed 2.8 across an admittedly shorter zoom, in real terms, constant aperture is more valuable than a longer reach beyond 200 that the fz1000 offers over the rx10. To me the fz1000 is a stripped down version of the GH4, which I already own, and although a run n gun camera is called for in my kit, I'd prefer the rx10 mark ii and only settle for the fz1000 if money was a serious issue as to make that extra cost impossible.

One must also consider how such a camera will stand up to long term use and abuse that event filming can subject camera equipment to. It's a low price for a reason not a reward to loyal customers.

Frankly what makes the FZ1000 a tough sell to Event Videographers and those specialising in Weddings particularly, is the variable aperture of the zoom.

Not only that but the fact that the fz1000 lets you control the iris like all dslr's do and exposure changes are not nearly as smooth as you can experience on a rx10 which has a stepless dedicated iris ring on the lens. I"m sure the fz1000 would match my gh3/4 better then my rx10 does but I much prefer my rx10 because it almost operates like a videocamera, it's also my only dslr type of camera that I dare to use in a run and gun situation even if it has a few very frustrating quirks. The fz1000 inherits too many of the dslr type of disadvantages for me to be interested, if you need the long zoomrange, not too bad f2.8-f4 lens (considering what reach it has) and 4K and then look at it's low price, you hardly can call this camera a failure.

I wouldn't agree that I have dismissed DSLR cameras for video filming, and have frequently commented that the larger sensors and manual variations lend themselves well to many situations. What I have always been against, is the use of a DSLR only for wedding video, because of many other factors including focus, depth of field, length of recording time, audio quality, the need for lens changing etc.

The FZ1000 has a limited recording time, and no ability to change lenses that might be more appropriate under some circumstances as you have pointed out, however as I work very rapidly at weddings, I don't want to have to faff about with a lot of the things I just mentioned. DSLRs have become very popular with newer wedding videographers because they have been extremely successful in documentary and small film production because of the very high quality that they can achieve. This quality is very desirable to wedding videographers, but it comes at a convenience premium that is not compatible in many instances with the rapidly changing events at a wedding. For a solo shooter like me, I would miss a lot of shots that I can easily manage with my video cams that are small and light and are frequently on auto focus and exposure. So for me, a bridge camera like the FZ1000 that has reliable autofocus and exposure plus a wide ranging lens, coupled with a decent sized sensor, could be the ideal camera alongside my video cams.

The fact that I can also use it as a stills camera, plus the possibility of lifting stills and cropping from 4k video opens up new areas to experiment with. So far I am pleased with the limited time I have had with it, but I have to see how it will stand up to the rigours and demands of real wedding work. Whether the autofocus and exposure will be as accurate and fast as my existing cameras is impossible to say until I have used it and if not, I will have to consider how and where I use it. I don't see it as a sole wedding camera, but it may well replace one of the video cams for a lot of the shots, particularly at the reception where I will have more time to exploit the potential of the camera. The colour is compatible with my existing Panasonic cameras which is also a great benefit.

I'm also not convinced that the low price makes it inferior, because technology is advancing rapidly, components are constantly getting cheaper and things are changing. The camera is not weather and dust proof and probably more susceptible to hard knocks, but that is no different to my video cams which have given hundreds of hours of totally trouble free service. If you want a camera for high level commercial work in addition to weddings, then go for something more heavy duty with lenses to suit every possible situation. Weddings for me, are a unique environment where fast use and good automatics are essential when you just cannot miss a shot, so cameras like the FZ1000 and probably the RX10 are heading in that direction to work alongside the videographers choice of video or DSLR cameras.

Steve and Noa your opinions and input are very relevant but without actually using the camera, there is no substitute for hands on. But they are speculation that will stimulate response from those of us that have got one, hopefully in the interest of all, so keep the comments and questions coming :-)

Roger

Hi Guys

I think you might be mistaking the enthusiasm of what the camera can achieve at it's price point with actual facts. Staying with Panasonic the GH4 with a 12-35 F2.8 lens is a way, way more superior machine than a FZ1000 ... For starters it costs 4 times the price (Down here that simple combo would be over $4K for me) If there was any chance that a bridge camera could outshoot a pro mirrorless camera then Panasonic simply wouldn't be able to sell any GH4's would they.

All I'm saying is it works so far for me, my capital investment is dramatically lower and to me, anyway, I am getting better IQ than my expensive Sony EA-50's ever gave me ...that's a bonus of course but I really did want to downsize and go lighter as I'm tired of my arms getting sore holding up big cameras .. you young guys can do it easily but remember I hit 69 next month!!

Was I totally against DSLR filming ?? Absolutely yes but in those days it was only Canon and all you got was 12 minutes and auto focus was just not an option .... All that has changed a LOT and the only thing I can truly moan about is the form factor as I DO love shoulder mount cameras ...I currently have a neat twin grip handheld rig but if required there is no reason why I cannot put the camera on a shoulder mount either.

Chris

I'm not calling the FZ1000 a failure nor am I comparing it with a GH4, of which it shares many advantages. I'm simply trying to suggest why it's not as popular amongst event Videographers, especially on this forum. In that I'd say its lack of constant aperture is a deciding factor, ability to handle low light, especially if zoomed in is a concern. Whether such concerns are justified in lacking experience with the camera, I can't say.

The FZ1000 at its current price is a bargain, but if you have the cash, the rx10 mark ii offers a potentially better alternative if you're looking for a fixed lens camera. If my budget was £500-£700, and I didn't own the GH4, then yes the FZ1000 would be high on my list. It's a great camera at a great price.

I have to add that despite concerns here with dslr, I'm managing extremely well with my GH4 in nailing those fast paced shots, otherwise I'd have bought the rx10 and AX100 by now. However I can see how a fixed lens like the fz1000 could be an advantage. If Panasonic did a lens that offered 12-100 at 2.8, I'd probably wouldn't have a need for it, but for that zoom range alone in a single lens, I'm looking at the rx10 mark ii. Plus I hear it can take photos without interrupting the video, which would be very useful at times. Yes it costs more, but if you can afford it, the extra features for me is worth the price.

Hi Steve

I hear you and wedding videographers still like to have the best and most expensive camera they can afford so they can maintain their professional status. It's simply, for me, all about what I need and the FZ seems to suit my needs better than my Sony EA-50's ...I get 4K video, I get 100fps slomo and a sharper image than the Sony ever gave me ...it's purely a personal choice ! From a professional "look" it does fail as does the RX10 too simply because it's too small whereas a big shoulder mount looks more professional. Apart from a better sensor the GH4 doesn't really offer me anything better and here it's 5 times the price based on a body and 12-35 F2.8 lens so do I really want to spend $4500 when I can get what I want for $900 ?? Over the last 15 years I have never had a bride ask me what cameras I use ..all they want is a wedding video so if a camera that's 20% of the price of my previous ones I like the saving on capital expenditure.

Yeah you are probably right and most videographers will still opt for C300 Canons as they still feel that the more money they spend the better their videos will be. Remember too that content is still the most important thing for a bride and miss the bouquet toss with your 3 x C300's and two assistant shooters and you have failed miserably in the brides eyes but catch a really good shot with your little GoPro and you are the best ever!!

Chris

Steve and Noa your opinions and input are very relevant but without actually using the camera, there is no substitute for hands on. But they are speculation that will stimulate response from those of us that have got one, hopefully in the interest of all, so keep the comments and questions coming :-)

Roger

I"m just comparing from specs, that's right but just the fact that you change the exposure just like any other dslr makes it of no use for me to have. I love using my gh3/4 throughout the day for all beauty shots and I hate using them for anything else, the rx10 let's me controll exposure manually, just like a real video camera and I find that a critical feature because I control my exposure 95% of the time manually during a weddingday, good exposure makes all the difference to me and I don't want to rely on the camera to decide that, unless I have no other choice.
Add the build in ND, the fact you can very easily change iso during video while rotating a dial and select auto iso if you really need it, punch in to check focus, have zebra's and peaking, high rez viewfinder, very smooth zoom, good enough stabilisation and autofocus and this camera ticks almost every box for anyone that wants the ease of use of a videocamera yet have a image that resembles a "dslr" look.
But it's not all gold that shines, I hate the screen that doesn't flipout, the focus is fly by wire and not easy to manually set focus with, the zoom is ridiculously slow and my rx10 has issues with slower response ever since I updated to the latest firmware but since I have not seen anyone else complaining about that it's probably just my unit.

The fz1000 is a great camera for it's price no doubt, it is just too limited in operation in a run and gun situation for me.

I hear you and wedding videographers still like to have the best and most expensive camera they can afford so they can maintain their professional status.

You make me sound like a camera snob; truth is I'd buy the FZ1000 if it had a constant aperture zoom, but that and the fact the RX10 has a few extra key features that make it more useful in the field for me, is why I'm prepared to fork out extra cash. Professional status - can a client tell the difference between a FZ1000, RX10 and GH4, hardly. So aside from bragging rights on this forum, 'ha ha as if', owning better gear doesn't really give me extra credo.

Personally I work with what I like and what I can afford. That's the criteria. The FZ1000 is a fine camera, just lacking certain things that make it an essential buy for me. I'm sure I'll be nailing those shots including the bouquet toss, which incidentally I've never failed to capture with my GH4. And thanks to a 0.95 fast lens, I've done this in near total darkness, when I only had short notice and couldn't set up any lights. Fixed lens cameras are a great jack of all trades, but its greatest strength is also its weakness. I'd own the C300 if I could afford it and would no doubt benefit greatly from the quality and build this camera offered.

I've noted you both have suggested previously that you've dismissed using a dslr like form factor for taking video as its not practical for filming.

It all comes down to that, a dslr has many advantages but practicality is not one of them, proof is all the rigs people have to build to make it a bit more video friendly. As soon as a dslr skimps on video functionality it becomes a pain to operate. Camera's like the fz1000 or the rx10 try to bridge that gap between photo and video but for me Panasonic fz1000 should have made that extra step with the fz1000 and add at least a real stepless iris ring and a build in nd filter to make it more useful in the field. I could live with the f2.8 to f4 aperture as that is still a lot better then the stocklens the nex-ea50 had.

Hi Noa

Those are fair enough reasons! There is no iris ring at all, in fact there is no manual exposure either! The Manual Mode still matches shutter and iris or you can use Aperture priority mode to set your iris but then again the shutter will work with it so that's not really any use for manual shooters! As already said ..the way things work suit me perfectly ...On my EA-50 with manual lenses (the stock lens just didn't cut it for weddings) I still used auto exposure which meant if I stopped down the lens the shutter down automatically go down and the ISO would go up..which left me only needing to look after focus. That's the way I work so this camera does what I want and I still have the EV correction when I need it (same as the EA-50) The advantages here for me with the changeover are firstly "push to focus" which the Sony cannot do unless you have e-mount lenses and I didn't have them so I can snap into focus very fast ...the auto focus is also remarkably good for a low priced camera and that helps me with bridal processions. The weight for me is also a huge plus as the EA-50's were killing my back and of course (I have know idea why) but the image quality is way better than my EA-50 with manual lenses (maybe it was me? not getting focus perfectly?) Then the little sweeteners are the 100fps on stedicam for my bridal shoots are way nicer than shooting at 25fps and slowing down in post and of course 4K video if I need it.

It IS a personal choice for me and I didn't "buy one cos Roger and Colin bought one) and I'm pretty darn happy with the results so far and my back is saying thank you too!!

Just in case you forgot I have been a dedicated Panny shooter for 25 years and only went to Sony after the AC-130 cameras came out and I sold both in disgust after 3 months....so going back to Panasonics was a nice move!! I started with a WVP100 with a Saticon tube sensor and went thru all the M and MS series cameras over the years so I must like the brand! (even had a hacked GH1 at one stage)


Chris

I don't think the point here is to suggest that the FZ1000 is the perfect wedding video camera, rather to look at the positives and negatives of what is a low priced but well specified camera that can be used alone or alongside other cameras in a wedding and small event environment.

Chris, I am slightly puzzled by your comment about the manual shutter working in conjunction with the aperture. Perhaps I am not seeing something correctly, but when I set to M on the top dial, the thumb wheel enables the selection of aperture or shutter. Setting the exposure for instance to F4 and then shutter at 50, doesn't result in a change of aperture if I then change the shutter to 100, so I am not sure what you mean.

Roger

Hi Roger

My mistake! I was reading the manual rather than working with the camera and became confused on my post between A and M modes ...yes M works as it should although I tend not to use it and the camera seems to do a pretty fair job with exposure and with my Sony's I got into the habit of using EV to juggle my exposure ..that way I let the camera set the exposure and then use the thumb wheel to "fine tune" depending on the scenario so it acts like an iris wheel for me!

Have you used it on any official shoots yet?

Chris

Still experimenting with different modes at the moment. I like the video only mode, where the main shutter button is used for stop start and the ability to adjust aperture and shutter while filming. On normal manual mode though, I really like the fact that I can take stills with the usual shutter button while I am taking video although it is easy to not press the secondary video button properly. The stills are very useable and you haven't got to stop filming plus they are totally silent, so no dirty look from the vicar. Of course if you are shooting in 4k, you can just lift stills afterwards :-)

I will be using the camera in the coming week on several schools shoots, in various lighting conditions, mainly as a backup camera to see what it can do. I will also be using it at the wedding next weekend to take some serious footage, so there should be plenty to report on soon.

Roger

Thanks Roger

Although the manual mode is manual, it's still fairly idiot proof ...If you choose a shutter/aperture combination that is out of range of the sensor it lights up in red so one doesn't need to be a brain surgeon to expose correctly. Also you can "push to auto expose" by assigning the function to the AE button which might be quicker for run 'n gun situations. If I'm going to use Manual I'll have to get out of the habit of using the EV wheel to correct exposure. At weddings where things are happening in an instant I still like a camera where I can grab and shoot ..even if it's not perfect at least I get the shot ... The USA guy that does photography for the big names Joe Buissink has a great saying "P is for Professional amd M is for Master" "The only difference is that the M shooter is still fiddling with settings and the moment is gone already but the P shooter gets the shot"

BTW: If you are thinking of trying 100fps slomo be careful ... there is no autofocus in that mode so if you change position refocus first .. most of my stedicam slomos are in bright light so I have tons of DOF plus my position from the couple even when moving is pretty constant.

Look forward to your comments next week too!!

Chris

Just one more thing I found on the 100fps mode that needs to take care is the fact that exposure is fixed. At weddings I do "roundie rounds" with my stedicam which often creates changing lighting for the image ...I did a dummy one this morning starting with my back to the sun and as I went around in a circle the exposure just blew out totally because I started with the exposure set in the shade and of course the moment I went into the sun lit area everything went crazy! Important then to know if you are doing a slomo stay in one place for each clip and don't move with the camera.

Hi Chris,

Been editing flat out for the last couple of days so not much time to play. At the moment I am waiting for some 62mm filters to arrive, I really want to stick a JV on the lens as there is a lot of lens to scratch.

First new schools job in a theatre tomorrow, so I have no idea what the lighting or positioning will be. Also a chance to see if the radio mic clashes with the theatre ones as they will be using quite a few..

I'l report back after I've had a quick look at the footage.

Roger

It all comes down to that, a dslr has many advantages but practicality is not one of them.


Part of the problem is people trying to film with dslr as if they're large video cameras, rather than adapting their filming to the dslr. I find dslrs quite practical to film with, but then I use a video monopod, which for larger cameras wouldn't be practical, but for cameras like the GH4 is more so. For Wedding work I've tried filming with larger cameras like the AF101a and found it very restrictive, especially in crowded rooms. I do own a shoulder mount for a dslr, came with a follow focus setup, but never used it.


I could live with the f2.8 to f4 aperture as that is still a lot better then the stocklens the nex-ea50 had.

I used the 14-140 lens with the GH2 when I first got it - that had a variable aperture and it was really annoying. If I get a bridge camera, it's primary use would be for moments when I have to switch between the 12-35 and 35-100 2.8 lens. With the 1" sensor I'm losing some low light ability as it is, without sacrificing even more. Shame as the FZ1000 ticks a lot of other boxes really well. Lack of ND is a pain but for me easily worked around, as I already do with the GH4.

Hi Steve

I have done a fair amount of Real estate shoots with the FZ1000 so far (It's Winter so no weddings until next month) and if I had to film with my Nikons I would agree with Noa. However, with the FZ1000 I have made a simple aluminium tube bracket that goes under the camera and has two foam grip handles either side to hold onto so I don't touch the body at all ...the top of each handle has a cold shoe for mic and light (if needed) and I find it quite comfortable to grab both handles and use the EVF to film with ...Doesn't feel like a DSLR at all and my right finger easily makes it to the shutter button for focus and start stop and also zoom ring too. I can also move it away from my eye and use the LCD and it all feels quite normal ...With my Nikon bodies, I could never film with them holding them conventionally ..it's just feels weird!!

I remember using my GH1 a little while back but I just held the camera like a stills camera and it just didn't work for me!! A simple little rig only adds a tiny bit of extra weight to the camera (with a shotgun mic and battery and camera it's 1400 grams all up) Works pretty well for me as a handheld B-Cam this way!

I know Pete Rush has a fancy shoulder rig for his A7S but at this stage it doesn't seem to be necessary and I could, of course use a monopod too but this seems pretty flexible the way I have it!!

Chris

Part of the problem is people trying to film with dslr as if they're large video cameras, rather than adapting their filming to the dslr. I find dslrs quite practical to film with, but then I use a video monopod, which for larger cameras wouldn't be practical, but for cameras like the GH4 is more so. For Wedding work I've tried filming with larger cameras like the AF101a and found it very restrictive, especially in crowded rooms. I do own a shoulder mount for a dslr, came with a follow focus setup, but never used it.



I used the 14-140 lens with the GH2 when I first got it - that had a variable aperture and it was really annoying. If I get a bridge camera, it's primary use would be for moments when I have to switch between the 12-35 and 35-100 2.8 lens. With the 1" sensor I'm losing some low light ability as it is, without sacrificing even more. Shame as the FZ1000 ticks a lot of other boxes really well. Lack of ND is a pain but for me easily worked around, as I already do with the GH4.

Completely agree that people are trying to use DSLRs as a video camera without realising the downsides that have to be allowed for and understood. I would never use a DSLR or bridge camera only for the work that I do, rather take the best from both alongside my video cameras.

Your comments about the 1" sensor reducing your low light ability is also interesting, because for me it is moving to a larger sensor. I've never really have a problem in the vast majority of lower light scenarios and just use a simple light in stupid lighting situations. I'll be interested to see how the FZ1000 handles lower light, although I seem to be far less concerned about the low light performance than most here, and more interested in what I consider other more important capabilities. If I have low light I'll add more, if I miss a shot because I am faffing about changing something I would consider it unforgivable and my expectation of the FZ1000 is to extend my flexibility in more areas.

Roger

I have been running one of my FZ200s alongside my video cams for quite a while now, and on recent weddings, have taken more footage with the FZ200 than I have with the other cameras during the outside shots. It's not so good in low light, but in every other area it has been very useable. The FZ1000 should extend the possibilities and quality way beyond the smaller camera and I will need little time to get used to it as the basic functions and layout are very similar to the FZ200.

As I have said before, the live filming will be the only way to get a real positive feel for what the camera can do in a variable environment.

Roger

Your comments about the 1" sensor reducing your low light ability is also interesting, because for me it is moving to a larger sensor.

Well my comment was that in using the 1" sensor camera, I'm losing some low light performance from my GH4 and didn't want to lose any more via an f4 aperture at tele end. I suppose its down to what you're use to. Since shooting 4K I find HD very soft, whereas once I found it very clear and detailed coming from SD cameras. Same with low light performance - I've been spoilt by fast primes :) .

Mind you, I may have to put on hold my plans to buy the RX10 Mark II and get a 2nd GH4 instead. My new gimbal has arrived and already I can see the pain in the neck it'll be to remove my primary GH4 from its cage and onto the gimbal, already pre-calibrated for the GH4. I need more money. Still it'll give time for the RX10 to price drop. A Christmas purchase perhaps.

Hi Steve

I know how you feel! I shot some 4K in the garden today and man, that footage is so sharp you feel reluctant to go back to 1080 ...This Panasonic has very sharp footage even in 1080 and I had to re-edit a short stedicam sequence shot on my EA-50 last month for a bride and I was horrified at the IQ!! It's looked like VHS after just coming away from the stunning footage I had been playing with!! It's going to be tough to go back to 1080!!!

My i7 struggles with the 4K files so my excuse for now is "I'll move to 4K once I upgrade my computer"

Chris

My editing system is struggling with 4k although I can make up proxy files if need be, trouble is it takes forever to make up the proxy files. I have to agree though that the HD footage looks very good!

Roger

My i7 struggles with the 4K files so my excuse for now is "I'll move to 4K once I upgrade my computer"

Chris
I edit on an i5 laptop with Vegas 12. On long projects I let it produce proxy files overnight, its not a problem on short projects. Must upgrade the computer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have some frame grabs that I would like you guys to see. For some reason I keep getting the message "upload failed" any ideas what I can do about it ?

I edit on an i5 laptop with Vegas 12. On long projects I let it produce proxy files overnight, its not a problem on short projects. Must upgrade the computer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have some frame grabs that I would like you guys to see. For some reason I keep getting the message "upload failed" any ideas what I can do about it ?

Maybe the frame grabs are too high resolution, I don't know what the upload limits are for the forum, but you could always upload to Flikr or similar if needs be and do a link.

Roger

Thanks Roger. The grabs are well below the files ize limit for upload. Will try a few different resolutions

Hi Colin

I seem to remember that I had an issue with physical dimensions on a forum once so maybe over 3000 pixels is too wide???

While we are talking computers what is the next step in processors ...I have one i5 (much too slow) and then an i7 2600 which is also very jumpy using Vegas 10 ..I don't see i9 processors listed yet???

Last question : I have Win7 Pro and my MP4 and AVCHD 1080 files will play in Media Player with no problem at all but the Slomo MP4 100fps files are not recognised and neither are the 4K ones by media player. It's no massive issue as Sony Vegas recognises and plays both with no issues!!

Chris

Just a heads up Roger

I have read in a few places that if you put a 62mm filter on this lens it does vignette slightly and full wide angle so as I have a couple of 67mm filters already I've ordered a step up ring (62-67) to make sure it doesn't do it (plus I already have 67mm ND's and from a few tests in bright sun the camera seems to benefit from having a ND4 in full sun ... if you have any 62mm filters from the FZ200 (if they are the same) it might be worth checking if the filter does in fact vignette at 25mm??

Chris

I don't see i9 processors listed yet???

Because they don't exist? A i7-4790 is a popular processor now and used in most sold pc's, Dell is currently selling a xps 8700 with such a processor and 24gb of memory, a 2tb harddrive and a GTX 750Ti 2 GB DDR5 card for 1080 euro (there is a 100 euro cashback) with windows 8 delivered to my door which is dirt cheap. I was planning to get it to replace my 4 year old pc but Dell is known for limiting expansion possibilities and locking bios features to prevent people from messing about so that might be a problem if I want to use quicksync in edius.

Chris.
I use a 62mm Fotga fader ND, its always on the camera for exterior shots, no vignette problems

Thanks Colin that's good to know ! I actually have a brand new Hoya ND 4 filter that I bought for my Sony but never used so I figured it would be more practical to get a step up ring for a few bucks and put it to use

Some of my bright sun footage looked a little blown out today (I try NOT to shoot in open sun but brides often do a ceremony here in the sun) I just did a quick test with the ND4 in front of the lens and it makes it a lot better. I can now just use a 62mm then on the second camera!

Chris

I've got a couple of Hoya 62 mm filters coming tomorrow, so I will see how I get on with them.

Roger

I've just gone back to using an ND filter after smashing my Genus ND Fader last year and remembered the one real issue I had with it - forgetting to take it off when going indoors - seriously I could film for 5 minutes before noticing the gain was too high and I'd forgotten to take it off!!! I was using a Hoya ND4 on my A7 on two weddings this weekend and in bright sunlight I could keep the shutter around 100/200 without stopping down too much.

On a positive note you guys should consider the Xume magnetic adapters - big time/frustration savers

Pete

On a positive note you guys should consider the Xume magnetic adapters - big time/frustration savers

Until your filter pops off and hits the ground, happened to me with a expensive filter causing it to crack. The magnetic ring doesn't come off by normal use but I accidentally bumped it while attaching the camera to a belt and next thing I see my filter flying through the air, I"m screwing my filters onto the lens now, much safer.

I looked into the magnetic adapter - but ease of attachment vs stability when I'm on the move and I do move pretty quickly at times. I prefer my £300 investment in variable ND to feel more secure. And to be honest, unless it sticks, I can attach it in under 5 seconds.

My problem is, at a wedding i can go from sunny outdoors to dark interiors a dozen times in 5 minutes if there's a lot going on - also the lens hood on my main lens (zeiss 24-70) will not allow my fingers to get in there to screw a filter in without getting fingermarks all over it but i can just get my tips.in to pop off the xume

Finally got to use the FZ1000 at a school production of Joseph. It was in a local theatre/venue with lights that were a lot better than the usual school efforts, but with no white fed in at all. The production was on a large stage about 5ft high, with a full youth orchestra and a youth and adult choir. All of the seating was in sliding out. tiered format, so very theatre like with the orchestra on the floor at the front. We were able to remove about 5 seats about 3 rows back for the best filming position, and set up two follow cameras and two full stage, with the FZ1000 doubling up the full stage video cam as I wasn't totally sure how it would behave. I also had a long chat with the sound engineer and took a feed from his desk to a Zoom H1, but more about that on the radio mic thread. I also had of the two cameras with their own mics, one higher sensitivity directional mic into another camera and another sound recorder with a feed from one on the Boya radio mics on the front edge of the stage.

I use a video mixer for the output from each camera, so that Claire and I can see all four cameras on one screen while filming, but unfortunately we couldn't get a line out from the LUMIX to the mixer, but wasn't a problem.

The colours on the FZ1000 were very crisp and bright, and I left it on auto to see how it managed. I have to say that I was mightily impressed with it's speed at adjusting effectively to various changes of colour and light levels. The lighting extremes on stage were quite marked at times, so the camera did very well at striking a good average level. At times there was pronounced Zebra striping as highlights were starting to blow, but at the same time other parts of the pic were extremely dark, but that does tend to be the nature of theatre productions with no proper balance of white light for video. I took some shots of the orchestra in very faint light infront of the stage and the camera handled it much better than I expected from some of the comments and reviews that I have seen. Certainly very useable and I will attempt to show some of it once we have finished all the filming this week.

First impressions are very positive and confirms to me that the decision I made to buy the camera is one I am definitely not going to regret. I did only film in 25p tonight and the 29.59sec recording time fitted just into the two halves of the show. As I am going down to DVD the results will be excellent and will allow for a certain amount of cropping.

Roger

Hi Roger

Thanks for the feedback! Was all that done at the Standard setting or did you use the Cinelike settings?
I'm sticking for now with Standard (they can also be tweaked anyway) Regarding Dynamic range issues you seemed to have, you know there is an iDynamic setting in the menu?

Looking forward to comments once you have finished your run of productions


Chris

Hi Chris,

I was just using the standard setting which seems to give good results and colour. The dynamic range was not really an issue with the camera, but more down to massive variations in the light levels from time to time. There are often lighting hotspots in these type of productions and I could underexpose to bring the highs down, but feel it would lose some of the impact of the shots.

I'm not convinced that iDynamic would have added anything in this instance and a lot of the footage was superb for the majority of the time. I get used to being frustrated with theatre lighting when now allowance is made or understood for video.

Still lots more experimenting to do and another production this evening.

Roger

I think too much is sometimes expected from dynamic range. TV shows and movies benefit from dedicated lighting for each shot. For live filming, its often a case of setting exposure to what's important in the shot and overlook either some burnouts or crushed shadows.

Hi Steve

Absolutely!! I sometime get brides here who want to have the ceremony inside a dark gazebo but still expect the cityscape background to look as it does to the human eye ..just doesn't work that way!!

Thanks for the info as well Roger .. I trust at this stage you are reasonably happy too?

Chris

Very happy at the moment Chris and getting ready for tonight's show. I do need to find a digital to analogue lead to convert the FZ1000 output to analogue for my live mixer input. screen.

Roger

What's the bokeh like on this fz1000 Roger? Is there any or is it a flat video look? Do.You think it's better than rx10? Steve

There is reasonable bokeh on the camera particularly if you are using moderate zoom but I have never used the RX10 so really don't know how it compares. Bokeh is not something that I am a great devotee of and Chris can probably give you a better idea than me, but although useable, it wont't be comparable with a full frame DSLR if Bokeh is your thing.

Roger

Hi Steve

You cannot expect the same sort of effect as a full frame DSLR and a 50mm F1.8 lens of course but as Roger says it's just right for me. On my EA-50 I used to struggle with the APSC sensor and F1.8 at receptions ..this has a smaller chip than the GH4 so you do get a nice DOF when wide but the zoom does close the aperture to F4 once you get up to the bigger ranges and it is there so it can be used effectively for portrait shots ..it even has a "blur background" option on the control wheel. I'm just glad I will have enough DOF so people on the other side of the table are not out of focus ..shallow DOF can be overdone !!

Yeah Roger we don't have a video out on this camera so you will have to go HDMI to a D/A convertor to get a mixer signal I think!!

Chris