We plan to cover this aspect in more detail in future articles. The final editing is all done in Final Cut Studio 7. Grading performed with Magic Bullet Looks.
11/12/2009 Zion Movie shot with Panasonic GH1 and Canon 7D
We shot this movie at our S to Zion National Park. Besides Video we shot mainly stills.
Cameras: Panasonic GH1 and Canon 7D
Filters: Sing-Ray Vari ND and Lee Graduated Neutral ND 0.6
All shots from tripod: Miller Solo DS-10
Captured at 1080p 24p
Time Lapse in last clip was shot with 7D in M-JPEG shooting every 5 secs
Lenses: 14-140mm on GH1 and mainly 24-105mm on 7D
Editing
Transcoded to 1080p Pro Res LT (for the GH1 using Neoscene and Quicktime)
Time Lapse assembled in Quicktime Pro
Editing: Final Cut Pro 7
Color Corrections in FCP
Music: Royalty free stock music that comes with Final Cut Studio
Exported at 720p for the Internet
Here is our take on using the GH1 and 7D/5D2
We use the GH1 in brighter light because it is good and easier to use:
- EVF
- Swivel LCD
- Live Histogram (just adjust the exposure via the Vari ND and keep f-stop/shutter speed constant)
- The 7D/5D2 LCDs are hard to read in bright light and these cameras don't have any exposure aids
The 7D/5D2 is our choice in low light
- Here I control the light via ISO/Aperture and no ND needed
The GH1 is a true Combo Cam. We can do stills and video with the same camera from the identical tripod position. Here are two still shots from the area near King City (California):
Best you download the video to your harddisk and play from there (you need to create a free Vimeo account though).
The video shows that we are photographers making a video. Hopefully in terms of subjct and framing for the good. The "motion" part will take a while to learn.
The GH1 works really as a Combo Cam. We can switch between the two modes very fast (switching between aperture priority stills and manual video settings).
We added some still samples from the G1/GH1. Some are shot with the GH1 and Leica 50mm lens. We are very pleased about the results.
8/29/2009 Combining Video and Stills
The diea is to show the scene and the resulting photo from that scene. This is a concept we like to improve over time. The stills have black side bars. We did not want to crop or resize the original photos.
Note: We used to high f-stops vor the video. Should have used either ND filters of higher shutter speeds.
8/28/2009 Panasonic GH1/G1 and Olympus E-P1 and compared
Size
Panasonic TZ5 & G1, Canon G9 and Olympus E-P1
The G1/GH1 is slightly bigger and has more of a DSLR look. The E-P1 form factor is very attractive (SLR kind of features disguised like a P&S camera.
AF (Auto Focus)
The G1/GH1 wins hands down in terms of AF speed. Even with Olympus lenses it is faster.
Lenses
The E-P1 allows AF (though often very slow) with more Olympus 4/3 lenses.
Viewfinder
We like the G1/GH1 EVF and miss one for the E-P1.
Image Quality
Very close as they share about the same sensor.
IS (Image Stabilization)
The E-P1 feature in body sensor image stabilization and the G1/GH1 has a lens image stabilization (Mega O.I.S.. Both have their advantages.
Use of legacy lenses
The E-P1 and the G1/GH1 can both use (with adapters) many 35mm lenses. This can be very attractive. The in camera IS works also for these manual lenses while the G1/GH1 have no IS with such lenses..
Drawing attention
With the G1/GH1 (looks more like a DSLR) you draw more attention than using the E-P1 with kit lenses and the LCD as framing device because you look like one of the many P&S shooters.
Flash
The E-P1 does not have a built-in flash. The G1/GH1 has an internal flash. Not essential for us but nice to have it in some situations.
Video
The E-P1 can take nice 720p HD videos. Unfortunately with hardly any control about aperture, shutter speed and ISO. The G1 does not have HD video capabilities. The GH1 is in a complete different league with its 1080p 24fps and 720p 60fps modes. The GH1 allows faster AF during video, silent lens motor and full manual control.
Conclusion
If you want a viewfinder, good zooms and a snappy AF the G1/GH1 wins. If you like the LCD for framing and want a smaller package use the E-P1 with the kit lenses. With the 17mm the E-P1 can be a lot of fun. Overall we personally prefer to have an EVF (G1/GH1).
8/21/2009 New Version of "Lost Memories" in B&W (V5)
We improved the video in Final Cut Studio by using some transitions. We publish the videos at 3 different places because different viewers have different experiences with the video hosts.
The Panasonic GH1 will be the first camera we likely use more for video than for photography. If you are interested only in still photos the GH1 is very close to G1 in terms of features and still image quality (read our G1 review here).
We bought the GH1 to experience one of the most advanced Combo Cams (does HD video and still with larger sensor than the consumer video cams). The main differences to the G1 are:
14-140mm f/4-5.8 MEGA O.I.S. (28-280mm equivalent)
HD video capabilities at 1080p 24fps and 720p at 60fps
The G1 is about half the price of the GH1 but we are not sure how long the G1 will be still available. A small part of this price difference is due to the added HD video capability. Most of of the difference is the price of this lens.
The lens itself is something new:
Likes
Silent motor (important for sound recording in camera)
Fast with GH1
Small and light for this huge range (shows the promise of the Micro 4/3 system)
Very useful range (hardly the need to switch lenses unless you want WA wider than 28mm or if you want to go beyond 280mm
Issues
Slow lens (hard to get this range and keep the lens small and light)
Still a kit lens
As said this time we started first doing videos because using the GH1 as a still camera is well known (although not with this lens).
In camera lens corrections
With the G1 there was a loud debate whether in camera lens corrections (distortions and CA) are a good thing or evil. For us it is very clear that in camera correction is wonderful for video. You can also do these corrections in video postproduction at the following cost:
Hard to find right filter and settings
Time consuming (rendering times explode)
You work on very compressed images (like strong JPEG compression) which very easily degrades the image quality
You have much lower resolution than 12MP stills to work with
Check out our first video (last one feaured) below and look at a scene with the 7-14mm lens at 7mm. We also added a single frame to our SmugMug Video gallery.
Our first GH1 videos
Note on viewing videos on the web: Playing videos is a task that needs fast internet speed (real and not nominal) and a solid computer performance. Over time we try to optimize the demands on the internet download.
Disclaimer: We are no experts in video. This means we are the same position as many photographers that plan to use the new bread of Combo Cams. We share our experience "as we go". Like with our still photography we report about real world experience.
Motion not smooth (this could be again due to bad conversion or other factors)
Need to learn better panning
Need still smoother fluid head
This was the first time where we had the urge to take a still photo during video recording. This was so easy because the framing was ready and we just needed to switch the camera to still photo settings.
Lost Memories (not cropped but CS4 post processing)
This was actually the situation where the GH1 shines because of all of this:
Small package for the lens range and the sensor size
