First Impressions of the GH5

Noa Put · March 25th, 2017, 01:45 PM

Yes, I believe it means no extra crop in 4K

Bryce Comer · March 25th, 2017, 05:41 PM

Yes just the 2x crop when shooting in 4k now. One for you though Ron, is the ability to punch in to 1.4x in 4k. I guess that's where they're taking the 4k image at 1:1 pixels off the sensor. Great for us wildlife guys!! It's the same as the Ex tele on the GH4 shooting 1080, but now on the GH5 shooting in 1080 the crop can be as much as 2.7x & like i mentioned, 1.4x in 4K, meaning the crop factor is 2.8x. It's on page 148 of the GH5 manual.

Steve Burkett · March 25th, 2017, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ronald Jackson

"no crop" ? Surely the standard MFT 2x crop? Maybe no 4K 2.3X crop?

Ron

It is a micro 4/3 sensor in the camera. No crop in this instance means no crop within the sensor as many 4K Cameras impose. Though if one wishes to be pedantic, then technically it is still not true as the 16:9 ratio crops top and bottom. True of all dslr based sensors.

Ronald Jackson · March 26th, 2017, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bryce Comer

Yes just the 2x crop when shooting in 4k now. One for you though Ron, is the ability to punch in to 1.4x in 4k. I guess that's where they're taking the 4k image at 1:1 pixels off the sensor. Great for us wildlife guys!! It's the same as the Ex tele on the GH4 shooting 1080, but now on the GH5 shooting in 1080 the crop can be as much as 2.7x & like i mentioned, 1.4x in 4K, meaning the crop factor is 2.8x. It's on page 148 of the GH5 manual.

Goodoh. My GH5 is ready but a rather expensive couple of months what with a new clutch for my Defender and holiday breaks. Might wait and see what other new owners think. Will download the brochure though.

Ron

Ronald Jackson · March 27th, 2017, 12:11 AM

Friend has just received his two new GH5s. Then finds his Metabones Canon EF to MFT Smart Adapter locks up with a GH5 and a EF mount lens in place.

Needs a Metabones firmware update apparently. Glad I didn't jump in first thing as nearly all my wildlife (birds) stuff is via a Sigma 150-600 and a "Smart Adapter".

Ron

Alan Craven · March 27th, 2017, 07:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bryce Comer

Yes just the 2x crop when shooting in 4k now. One for you though Ron, is the ability to punch in to 1.4x in 4k. I guess that's where they're taking the 4k image at 1:1 pixels off the sensor. Great for us wildlife guys!! It's the same as the Ex tele on the GH4 shooting 1080, but now on the GH5 shooting in 1080 the crop can be as much as 2.7x & like i mentioned, 1.4x in 4K, meaning the crop factor is 2.8x. It's on page 148 of the GH5 manual.

I am still not sure just what the effective magnification will be with this camera, despite studying the manual.

With my present EX3, I use a Nikon 80-200mm zoom. That gives a magnifiacation factor of 5.4x, due to the much smaller sensor than a 35 mm camera. So my "effective" focal length range is 440-1080 mm.

If I use that lens on my MFT Olympus body, it behaves as a 160-400 mm zoom would on a 35 mm camera, i.e. a magnification factor of 2x by virtue of the Sensor being larger than my EX3.

If I buy a GH5 body, and suitable adaptor and shoot in 4K, but process in HD 1080, would the overall magification factor be 2.7x, or is the in camera crop in addition to the 2x manification provided by the smaller sensor?

If it the latter, then fine, I have the same effective focal lengths as I do now. If the total magnification factor is just the camera quoted 2.7x, then disaster, my effective focal lengths are halved!

Could someone please clear this up for me?

Gaetano Capolino · March 27th, 2017, 08:29 AM

Compared to 35mm format (a.k.a. full-frame)

The GH5 in 16:9 mode has 2.18x crop factor in both 1080 and 4K

The GH4 in 16:9 mode has a 2.18x crop factor in 1080 and a 2.4x crop factor in 4K (with a small difference between UHD and Cinema 4K settings, with the latter being slightly less cropped). The reason of the difference lies in the way Panasonic implemented the read-out from the sensor in 4k; the bigger cropping when switched between 1080 and 4k is quite common with other manufacturers too. The Gh5 is one of the few with no added crop in 4k.

The old GH1 and GH2 had the famous multi aspect sensor with a crop factor in 16:9 mode about 1.84x.

In still mode, when 4:3 aspect ratio is selected, the crop factor compared to the 35mm format is about 2x.
The 2.18x cropping in video mode is due to the necessity to derivate a 16:9 aspect ratio from a 4:3 native sensor so the reduced angle of view.

Bryce Comer · March 27th, 2017, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alan Craven

I am still not sure just what the effective magnification will be with this camera, despite studying the manual.

With my present EX3, I use a Nikon 80-200mm zoom. That gives a magnifiacation factor of 5.4x, due to the much smaller sensor than a 35 mm camera. So my "effective" focal length range is 440-1080 mm.

If I use that lens on my MFT Olympus body, it behaves as a 160-400 mm zoom would on a 35 mm camera, i.e. a magnification factor of 2x by virtue of the Sensor being larger than my EX3.

If I buy a GH5 body, and suitable adaptor and shoot in 4K, but process in HD 1080, would the overall magification factor be 2.7x, or is the in camera crop in addition to the 2x manification provided by the smaller sensor?

If it the latter, then fine, I have the same effective focal lengths as I do now. If the total magnification factor is just the camera quoted 2.7x, then disaster, my effective focal lengths are halved!

Could someone please clear this up for me?

So according to the manual, you can shoot with the standard 2x crop in 4k, or an additional 1.4x in ETC mode. This is cropping in to a 1:1 pixel aspect ratio. If you then use that footage on a 1080 timeline, you can zoom in to 100% effectively giving you a 5.6x crop. You can of course shoot in 1080 & use the ETC mode for the additional 2.7x over the 2x crop of the sensor giving 5.4x crop factor. Either way, yes you can get basically the same angle of view that you get with your EX3. I went from shooting an EX3 to the GH4 & love it!. Looking forward to getting the GH5 though for the 60p & slo-mo.

Alan Craven · March 27th, 2017, 01:36 PM

Thank you Bryce, that is just the confirmation that I needed!

A combination of years and heart trouble is making my beloved EX3 outfit increasingly difficult to handle. A second interest is in still photography of alpine flowers, where I use an Olympus digital PEN with a 60 mm Macro lens. This lens would work with the new GH5, so I could end up with the one body fulfilling all my needs!

Bryce Comer · April 3rd, 2017, 09:01 AM

So what is everyone's impressions of the GH5 who have it? Still waiting to be notified when it is in stock here in Canada. Hoping to get the email soon though.

Ken Ross · April 4th, 2017, 05:59 PM

I'm vary happy with mine. The AF has been the biggest pleasant surprise for me. IQ is excellent, but that's not a surprise.

Simon Denny · April 4th, 2017, 09:49 PM

Still waiting here in Sydney, gota be soon?

Ronald Jackson · April 5th, 2017, 12:19 AM

Couple of things for me with mine which arrived yesterday.

First is that I CAN attach my Sigma 150-600 lens (I do wildlife) via its Metabones EF to MFT Smart Adapter.

As pointed out via YouTube vids, you attach the lens/adapter to the GH5. You hold down the little button on the Adapter while simultaneously switching the camera on. You can then zoom the lens (manually of course) without the GH5 "freezing". Then, to enable you to adjust the lens aperture via the GH5, you hold down the little button again, after which the aperture control unfreezes.
A bit of a nuisance but at least a work round until Metabones issue an appropriate firmware upgrade.

Second, again related to the big Sigma is that via shooting 4K (well UHD) 50p I can up the shutter speed to 1/100th as compared with my GH4s 1/50th at 25p. I can also wind the ISO down to ISO 100 (200 minimum on the GH4). This is sort of equivalent to a two stop ND filter on my Sigma/GH4 combi and because the Sigma does not, unlike its earlier brethren, have an internal 46mm filter slot, you're faced with either the near impossibility of getting a workable 105mm ND filter arrangement or having to stop the lens right down with the risk of diffraction issues when the sun is out bright and strong.

Ron

ps anyone want a GH4, cheapish?

Noa Put · April 5th, 2017, 01:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ken Ross

The AF has been the biggest pleasant surprise for me.

In a positive or negative way? I just saw below video and the AF seems like unusable to me.

Ron Evans · April 5th, 2017, 07:23 AM

Locked on as I understand it is that it stays on the subject that one focuses on when the start button is pressed. Intended to avoid things moving in front of it in this mode and it should not change ie refocus. It stays " locked on " when the camera is moved around so of course it will not refocus as one has told it to stay locked on to the intitial subject.. The shot with the car around 18mins clearly demonstrates this well or even with the reviewer moving the lens in front of his face ? Clearly does not understand locked on purpose. The autofocus is clearly complicated and would need to change based on what is required. Will find out when mine comes around the 14 April.

March 25th, 2017, 01:45 PM	#31
Noa Put Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Belgium Posts: 9,510	Re: First Impressions of the GH5 Yes, I believe it means no extra crop in 4K

March 25th, 2017, 05:41 PM	#32
Bryce Comer Trustee Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Rossland, British Columbia Posts: 1,024	Re: First Impressions of the GH5 Yes just the 2x crop when shooting in 4k now. One for you though Ron, is the ability to punch in to 1.4x in 4k. I guess that's where they're taking the 4k image at 1:1 pixels off the sensor. Great for us wildlife guys!! It's the same as the Ex tele on the GH4 shooting 1080, but now on the GH5 shooting in 1080 the crop can be as much as 2.7x & like i mentioned, 1.4x in 4K, meaning the crop factor is 2.8x. It's on page 148 of the GH5 manual. __________________ There's never enough hours in the day!

March 27th, 2017, 12:11 AM	#35
Ronald Jackson Major Player Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Southport, United Kingdom Posts: 723	Re: First Impressions of the GH5 Friend has just received his two new GH5s. Then finds his Metabones Canon EF to MFT Smart Adapter locks up with a GH5 and a EF mount lens in place. Needs a Metabones firmware update apparently. Glad I didn't jump in first thing as nearly all my wildlife (birds) stuff is via a Sigma 150-600 and a "Smart Adapter". Ron

March 27th, 2017, 08:29 AM	#37
Gaetano Capolino New Boot Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Marsala, Italy Posts: 9	Re: First Impressions of the GH5 Compared to 35mm format (a.k.a. full-frame) The GH5 in 16:9 mode has 2.18x crop factor in both 1080 and 4K The GH4 in 16:9 mode has a 2.18x crop factor in 1080 and a 2.4x crop factor in 4K (with a small difference between UHD and Cinema 4K settings, with the latter being slightly less cropped). The reason of the difference lies in the way Panasonic implemented the read-out from the sensor in 4k; the bigger cropping when switched between 1080 and 4k is quite common with other manufacturers too. The Gh5 is one of the few with no added crop in 4k. The old GH1 and GH2 had the famous multi aspect sensor with a crop factor in 16:9 mode about 1.84x. In still mode, when 4:3 aspect ratio is selected, the crop factor compared to the 35mm format is about 2x. The 2.18x cropping in video mode is due to the necessity to derivate a 16:9 aspect ratio from a 4:3 native sensor so the reduced angle of view.

March 27th, 2017, 01:36 PM	#39
Alan Craven Major Player Join Date: May 2003 Location: York, England Posts: 518	Re: First Impressions of the GH5 Thank you Bryce, that is just the confirmation that I needed! A combination of years and heart trouble is making my beloved EX3 outfit increasingly difficult to handle. A second interest is in still photography of alpine flowers, where I use an Olympus digital PEN with a 60 mm Macro lens. This lens would work with the new GH5, so I could end up with the one body fulfilling all my needs!

April 3rd, 2017, 09:01 AM	#40
Bryce Comer Trustee Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Rossland, British Columbia Posts: 1,024	Re: First Impressions of the GH5 So what is everyone's impressions of the GH5 who have it? Still waiting to be notified when it is in stock here in Canada. Hoping to get the email soon though. __________________ There's never enough hours in the day!

April 4th, 2017, 05:59 PM	#41
Ken Ross Trustee Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: New York Posts: 1,945	Re: First Impressions of the GH5 I'm vary happy with mine. The AF has been the biggest pleasant surprise for me. IQ is excellent, but that's not a surprise.

April 4th, 2017, 09:49 PM	#42
Simon Denny Trustee Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Australia Posts: 1,409	Re: First Impressions of the GH5 Still waiting here in Sydney, gota be soon?

April 5th, 2017, 12:19 AM	#43
Ronald Jackson Major Player Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Southport, United Kingdom Posts: 723	Re: First Impressions of the GH5 Couple of things for me with mine which arrived yesterday. First is that I CAN attach my Sigma 150-600 lens (I do wildlife) via its Metabones EF to MFT Smart Adapter. As pointed out via YouTube vids, you attach the lens/adapter to the GH5. You hold down the little button on the Adapter while simultaneously switching the camera on. You can then zoom the lens (manually of course) without the GH5 "freezing". Then, to enable you to adjust the lens aperture via the GH5, you hold down the little button again, after which the aperture control unfreezes. A bit of a nuisance but at least a work round until Metabones issue an appropriate firmware upgrade. Second, again related to the big Sigma is that via shooting 4K (well UHD) 50p I can up the shutter speed to 1/100th as compared with my GH4s 1/50th at 25p. I can also wind the ISO down to ISO 100 (200 minimum on the GH4). This is sort of equivalent to a two stop ND filter on my Sigma/GH4 combi and because the Sigma does not, unlike its earlier brethren, have an internal 46mm filter slot, you're faced with either the near impossibility of getting a workable 105mm ND filter arrangement or having to stop the lens right down with the risk of diffraction issues when the sun is out bright and strong. Ron ps anyone want a GH4, cheapish?

April 5th, 2017, 07:23 AM	#45
Ron Evans Inner Circle Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Posts: 4,222	Re: First Impressions of the GH5 Locked on as I understand it is that it stays on the subject that one focuses on when the start button is pressed. Intended to avoid things moving in front of it in this mode and it should not change ie refocus. It stays " locked on " when the camera is moved around so of course it will not refocus as one has told it to stay locked on to the intitial subject.. The shot with the car around 18mins clearly demonstrates this well or even with the reviewer moving the lens in front of his face ? Clearly does not understand locked on purpose. The autofocus is clearly complicated and would need to change based on what is required. Will find out when mine comes around the 14 April.