Couple question for those with GH1
 

This cam has intrigued me since I first heard about it. Seems perfect for some good b-roll. I do have a few questions I haven't fully uncovered in the posts I have read here.

1. I think I read in the Panny information that you can be recording video and still take still images at the same time. If this is the case are the images taken still the full 12mp images the cam is capable of in still mode? I have not seen this discussed or mentioned on here yet.

2. I have read with interest some of the posts regarding the low compression levels and trouble with movement. Most of those complaints were on footage down - rezed to 24p or shot in 24p. If I wanted to shoot in 1080i at normal NTSC frame rates and the highest compression bitrate, is the footage clear even when there is moderate levels of movement. For the projects I want this cam for I don't need 24p or those kinds of looks but clear footage of moving objects would be very important.

3. I have seen it asked once in another thread but no one answered. Does the camera have a live SD output via composite RCA? This will be sufficient for my monitoring needs and the way we will be using it.

I'm not making an indie film but the above questions could decide if this camera would work for my project.

Thanks,

I don't have a GH1 but I can answer 2. and 3.:

2. There is no 1080i60 mode. However, you have 720p60 which handle all kind of situations pretty well, better than 1080p24.

3. There is live SD output when you are NOT recording. It stops when recording. So far, there is no way to monitor while recording (well, except onboard LCD/EVF).

Dang...that rules it out for me. I absolutely have to have a monitor output for my project. Not HD or anything fancy, I just need to see what I'm shooting from a remote location.