Anyone using the FZ1000 for weddings?

J.T. Price · November 20th, 2015, 04:00 PM

Had fantastic luck filming leopards by spotlight with the FZ1000 while the 70D could not register a good image. It does have very nice low light, much better than my Canon XA20.

Robert Benda · November 20th, 2015, 04:17 PM

Thank you, guys.

Looks like you made my decision easy. I'll be picking up a pair of these in the coming months. Possibly 3.

/for now, that means I'll shoot the ceremony with two FZ1000s, a 70D, a 5d Mark ii, and a GoPro Hero4 Black. Oy, that is going to be a nightmare to match up.

Chris Harding · November 20th, 2015, 11:03 PM

Hi Jack

Just got back from a destination wedding down South and the venue had a lighting controller that had "low" function1" and "function2" .. it was set at "low" so I asked the co-ordinator if I could lift it to function1 for the speeches. Before they started I checked with the A-Cam and decided it was enough light and shot the entire reception with the lighting on "low" ..No on camera light needed the whole evening with the FZ's and images look really good! I post some grabs when I recover from the long drive in 35 degree heat but they certainly looked really good in camera!! It was rather nice not having to setup any lighting!!

These little cameras do an outstanding job for me!!

Steve Burkett · November 21st, 2015, 12:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robert Benda

Thank you, guys.

Looks like you made my decision easy. I'll be picking up a pair of these in the coming months. Possibly 3.

/for now, that means I'll shoot the ceremony with two FZ1000s, a 70D, a 5d Mark ii, and a GoPro Hero4 Black. Oy, that is going to be a nightmare to match up.

I must admit. Rather you than me. Aside from 4 time limit cameras, the sharp fz1000s will show up how soft the Canons are, especially the 5d. A few years back when I got my GH3, I found the 60d impossible to match to it and my GH2. So I sold it and bought a 2nd hand GH2. Saved me loads of time in post production.

Jack Walsh · November 21st, 2015, 01:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robert Benda

Thank you, guys.

Looks like you made my decision easy. I'll be picking up a pair of these in the coming months. Possibly 3.

/for now, that means I'll shoot the ceremony with two FZ1000s, a 70D, a 5d Mark ii, and a GoPro Hero4 Black. Oy, that is going to be a nightmare to match up.

Grabbing another one next week, myself. Then will need a matching "no time limit" camera to set in Aisle.
Still have the 70D in hand for shallow DOF stuff.

Jack Walsh · November 21st, 2015, 02:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Harding

Hi Jack

Just got back from a destination wedding down South and the venue had a lighting controller that had "low" function1" and "function2" .. it was set at "low" so I asked the co-ordinator if I could lift it to function1 for the speeches. Before they started I checked with the A-Cam and decided it was enough light and shot the entire reception with the lighting on "low" ..No on camera light needed the whole evening with the FZ's and images look really good! I post some grabs when I recover from the long drive in 35 degree heat but they certainly looked really good in camera!! It was rather nice not having to setup any lighting!!

These little cameras do an outstanding job for me!!

Sounds encouraging, Chris. The more time I spend with mine the more I like it.
The damn thing is coming between me and my Canons!!!!! Definitely getting another one at least....

Chris Harding · November 21st, 2015, 02:16 AM

Sharpness can be a problem as these cameras are so sharp even in 1080. I used to shoot with the two Sony EA-50's and an SJ4000 action cam but seldom used the SJ footage because it always looked sharper than the Sonys. Now I have the same problem BUT in reverse ..Due to the super sharp image of the FZ1000 the action cam now looks soft!! I think that you will have a problem with the Canons so if you continue with them you might just have to modify the profile you are using and turn the sharpness slider right down near negative otherwise the Canon could quite easily look very soft.

Dunno if it's the processing or the Leica optics that does it but footage on the FZ really sparkles !!

Robert Benda · November 22nd, 2015, 07:37 PM

No way to adjust the in-camera settings to reduce sharpness?

Oh, I do have one question: How to focus while shooting video? Will I be doing it manually all the time? Or is there a convenient way to stay focused.

For instance, on the 70D, I have a touchscreen and it will do a passable job tracking faces. It makes moments like shooting approaching bride in the aisle pretty easy.

Chris Harding · November 22nd, 2015, 09:32 PM

Hi Rob

Each profile is fully adjustable on the camera including sharpness. You just go into the menu select your profile (I just use standard) and do a right arrow press and it takes you to the adjustments. On another part of the menu you can also either preselect contrast curves or even design your own so you can crush blacks, lift drop highlights and much more! There is a myriad of menu options that most never even see. The PDF manual is worth a download and a good read!!

In creative video mode you can use half shutter press to grab focus or you can even assign a function button to do the job ... The normal operation is a half shutter press to grab focus (49 point) but you can use it anytime as well during filming to correct focus if subjects move ..once you have got focus you can also leave continuous focus running if you are using the camera handheld ..I have it off for the tripod mounted camera though and just correct manually. A word of warning, the lens barrel focus ring is crappy so I just use the push to grab focus and it nails it every time!! I use continuous focus for bridal entry and it's really good even on long aisles!!

November 20th, 2015, 04:00 PM	#196
J.T. Price Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Saxlingham Nethergate UK Posts: 37	Re: Anyone using the FZ1000 for weddings? Had fantastic luck filming leopards by spotlight with the FZ1000 while the 70D could not register a good image. It does have very nice low light, much better than my Canon XA20.

November 20th, 2015, 04:17 PM	#197
Robert Benda Trustee Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Crookston, MN Posts: 1,353	Re: Anyone using the FZ1000 for weddings? Thank you, guys. Looks like you made my decision easy. I'll be picking up a pair of these in the coming months. Possibly 3. /for now, that means I'll shoot the ceremony with two FZ1000s, a 70D, a 5d Mark ii, and a GoPro Hero4 Black. Oy, that is going to be a nightmare to match up.

November 20th, 2015, 11:03 PM	#198
Chris Harding Inner Circle Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Perth, Western Australia Posts: 8,441	Re: Anyone using the FZ1000 for weddings? Hi Jack Just got back from a destination wedding down South and the venue had a lighting controller that had "low" function1" and "function2" .. it was set at "low" so I asked the co-ordinator if I could lift it to function1 for the speeches. Before they started I checked with the A-Cam and decided it was enough light and shot the entire reception with the lighting on "low" ..No on camera light needed the whole evening with the FZ's and images look really good! I post some grabs when I recover from the long drive in 35 degree heat but they certainly looked really good in camera!! It was rather nice not having to setup any lighting!! These little cameras do an outstanding job for me!!

November 21st, 2015, 02:16 AM	#202
Chris Harding Inner Circle Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Perth, Western Australia Posts: 8,441	Re: Anyone using the FZ1000 for weddings? Sharpness can be a problem as these cameras are so sharp even in 1080. I used to shoot with the two Sony EA-50's and an SJ4000 action cam but seldom used the SJ footage because it always looked sharper than the Sonys. Now I have the same problem BUT in reverse ..Due to the super sharp image of the FZ1000 the action cam now looks soft!! I think that you will have a problem with the Canons so if you continue with them you might just have to modify the profile you are using and turn the sharpness slider right down near negative otherwise the Canon could quite easily look very soft. Dunno if it's the processing or the Leica optics that does it but footage on the FZ really sparkles !!

November 22nd, 2015, 07:37 PM	#203
Robert Benda Trustee Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Crookston, MN Posts: 1,353	Re: Anyone using the FZ1000 for weddings? No way to adjust the in-camera settings to reduce sharpness? Oh, I do have one question: How to focus while shooting video? Will I be doing it manually all the time? Or is there a convenient way to stay focused. For instance, on the 70D, I have a touchscreen and it will do a passable job tracking faces. It makes moments like shooting approaching bride in the aisle pretty easy.

November 22nd, 2015, 09:32 PM	#204
Chris Harding Inner Circle Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Perth, Western Australia Posts: 8,441	Re: Anyone using the FZ1000 for weddings? Hi Rob Each profile is fully adjustable on the camera including sharpness. You just go into the menu select your profile (I just use standard) and do a right arrow press and it takes you to the adjustments. On another part of the menu you can also either preselect contrast curves or even design your own so you can crush blacks, lift drop highlights and much more! There is a myriad of menu options that most never even see. The PDF manual is worth a download and a good read!! In creative video mode you can use half shutter press to grab focus or you can even assign a function button to do the job ... The normal operation is a half shutter press to grab focus (49 point) but you can use it anytime as well during filming to correct focus if subjects move ..once you have got focus you can also leave continuous focus running if you are using the camera handheld ..I have it off for the tripod mounted camera though and just correct manually. A word of warning, the lens barrel focus ring is crappy so I just use the push to grab focus and it nails it every time!! I use continuous focus for bridal entry and it's really good even on long aisles!!