Panasonic GH4K

[RyanKhoo]

hey it's a very useful book! I keep a copy of the GH3 one in my phone and iPad. you never know when you might need to refer to it.

You are certainly correct. It is a nice book to have ! Thanks for the link ...

On a separate thing, anyone knows of a video guide for GH4 that is better/cheaper than this:

http://www.canontrainingvideo.com/in...products_id=74

Thanks

 

[RyanKhoo]

Anyone can recommend what is a good video light to attach to the GH4 ?

Thanks

 

[Bamboopictures]

Bi-color ring light for a shadowless look
http://small-order.hktdc.com/small-...or-LED-Camera-Ring-Light/en/1X07NEN7/2268080/

 

[RyanKhoo]

Bi-color ring light for a shadowless look
http://small-order.hktdc.com/small-...or-LED-Camera-Ring-Light/en/1X07NEN7/2268080/

Thanks Bamboo,

What is the hole is smaller that the circumference of the lens ? Then we cannot use the light together with the lens .... ?

Cheers

 

[Bamboopictures]

The max filter size provided is 77mm. You can step-down but can't step up obviously.

 

[kandinsky]

Thanks Bamboo,

What is the hole is smaller that the circumference of the lens ? Then we cannot use the light together with the lens .... ?

Cheers

If you think you want a ring light, there's also the F&V R300, diameter of the hole is 95mm. It's bulkier and more expensive, but almost 3 times brighter than the LED-R232B. Can check out the classic F&V HDV-Z96 too.

There's YongNuo YN160 as well..

 

[Bamboopictures]

F&VR300 looks good!

 

[RyanKhoo]

If you think you want a ring light, there's also the F&V R300, diameter of the hole is 95mm. It's bulkier and more expensive, but almost 3 times brighter than the LED-R232B. Can check out the classic F&V HDV-Z96 too.

There's YongNuo YN160 as well..

Thanks kandinsky.

So, all this ring lights are better than those conventional "vertical" ones that mounts on the horse shoe ?

Thanks

 

[Bamboopictures]

Most onboard video lights have a small surface, making them pretty harsh head-on. A ring light typically has a larger surface area and shadows are tucked behind the subject. The ring also produces an interesting circular eye-light in close-ups.
Here's an example:
[video=youtube;Mf4U8ti8mX0]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mf4U8ti8mX0[/video]
It's a special application light so I wouldn't recommend carrying it around all day. What scenarios would you use an onboard light?

 

[kandinsky]

So, all this ring lights are better than those conventional "vertical" ones that mounts on the horse shoe ?

Hard to say, not always 'better', depends on your application. In the case of the F&V R300, its size and output make it versatile enough to be used as an alternative to a panel LED as a general light. When far enough from the subject, ring or panel will start to look the same. ;p There are some effects that you can only get with a ring light, but usually only when the camera/subject/background distance is fairly short. Rodney has already pointed out a few.

There are plenty of reasons to use (and/or make) a ring light, especially for video:
+ Fill light - since the light is coming straight from the camera, it provides a nice wash of light pointed evenly at the subject. Like using a bounce or lanterns, ring lights can provide soft, diffused lighting.
+ Detail - if you're shooting something with lots of hard lights, ring lights provide a fill for the detail you may have lost in the shadows.
+ Halo shadow - If it's your only light, you'll get a "halo" of shadow outlining your subject (a signature ring light look).
+ Macro - shooting through a ring light provides perfect, even light from all sides of a small object.
+ Color effects - using different gels on different parts of a ring light creates color washes in all kinds of directions.
+ Catch Light - to see the stylized catch light in the subject's eyes, the camera needs to be pretty close. A bigger ring light means the catch light will show up from further away, but you also get a brighter, softer light!

https://vimeo.com/videoschool/lesson/312/the-many-uses-of-a-ring-light

 

[RyanKhoo]

Thanks Bamboo & kandinsky ...

Most onboard video lights have a small surface, making them pretty harsh head-on. A ring light typically has a larger surface area and shadows are tucked behind the subject. The ring also produces an interesting circular eye-light in close-ups.

Quite interesting, all the eyes have a circular "ball"

It's a special application light so I wouldn't recommend carrying it around all day. What scenarios would you use an onboard light?

I am looking at a light that can light up the subject when there are not enuf lights, eg doing an interview indoor where the lights are too dimmed ...

Is this type of light, The Panasonic VW-LED1 suitable for GH4 ?
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1018058-REG/panasonic_vw_led1_led_video_light_for.html

Thanks

 

[Bamboopictures]

The light looks too specular to use naked and too dim to use through a diffuser. For general interviews, a softer light is preferred over onboard light. To get soft shadows from LED lights, buy larger panels with 500-1000 bulbs or use a high intensity fresnel in a softbox or bounced off an umbrella/reflector.
For battery-operated ease of use consider the combination of two Auputure Amaran and a nitecore pocket monster as a rim light.

 

[RyanKhoo]

Hi all sifus who have helped me here,

Happy to inform you guys that I happened to walk around and stock for GH4 arrived ... so I quickly bought it ...

As stocks are limited, go quickly grab yours if you are waiting to buy ...

And I just tried the auto-focus, WOW so much faster than my old GH3 !!

Cheers

 

[RyanKhoo]

Just tried shooting in 4K.

Came back and put into FCPX ... walau eh, the video image is so clear and sharp !

 

[JacePhoto]

Haha. Sounds good.

 

[Deunamist]

of course lah.. 4K! and it's true 4K not UHD 4K.. must be fun!

 

[RyanKhoo]

of course lah.. 4K! and it's true 4K not UHD 4K.. must be fun!

Yes bro.

The 4K option is ONLY available when the format MOV is selected. You cannot have 4K if AVCHD or MP4 is selected.

Even then, the 4K is only 3840 x 2160 @25p.

If you want a higher 4K, you gotta goto Setup > System Frequency to change to 24p, turn OFF the camera and ON again, only then will you have the option 4096 x 2160 @24p appearing in the Rec Quality tab.

To record at Higher Frame Rates, you must select the option of 100Mps with a VFR available option in the Rec Quality tab. Once this is selected, then the Motion Picture > Variable Frame Rate option is highlighted for you to turn ON or OFF and you can select it to change the Frame rate say to 96fps ...

if you do not select the 100Mps with the VFR available option, the Motion Picture > Variable Frame Rate option will be grey-out ...

So bro Deunamist, what you mean by UHD 4K ?

So, which is true 4K ? 4096 x 2160 or 3840 x 2160 ? As both are 2160, the former must the even wider than 16:9 wheile the latter's ratio is 16:9 ...

Thanks

 

[Deunamist]

true 4K is 4096x2160. Haha.

 

[RyanKhoo]

true 4K is 4096x2160. Haha.

Oops ... I recorded only in 3840 x 2160 @25p because this aspect ratio is 16:9.

Why the need to be so wide at 4096x2160 ?

Thanks

 

[RyanKhoo]

Hi there,

I did a rough test to see the filesize of AVCHD Vs 4K recording both at 25p.

AVCHD I select 1080 and 4K I select 3840 x 2160.

My test shows that the filesize after importing is roughly 3MB/s for AVHD and 10MB/s for 4K.

So very roughly, 4K filesize is about 3.3 times more than AVCHD ...

Cheers
Cheers