SD recording?
 

A friend of mine has the GH1 and has bought it mainly for its still camera capabilities. He doesn't have a hi-def tv but might at some stage want to shoot some movie footage on it in 16:9. Can the GH-1 shoot in the standard def mode? If so, what files are recorded to the SDHC cards in SD?

Tom, for some reason your post wound up in the AF-100 thread in Industry News. I've moved
it here where it belongs. The GH1 can record both 4:3 and 16:9 standard definition video. I'm
not sure about the file type, but you can download the manual from the sticky at the top of
the forum.

It only does HD, Tom, no SD, will do QVGA, VGA, WVGA, HD(1280*720) as M-JPEG

1920*1080 1280*720

Page 106 of the manual

Its two VGA modes -- VGA (640 x 480, 30fps) and WVGA (848 x 480, 30fps) -- are indeed Standard Definition video.

Its QVGA (320 x 240 at 30fps) mode is basically VHS resolution, intended for direct-to-web.

Oh, I was hoping it would do a PAL 16:9 720 x 576, Maybe it'll downconvert its AVCHD and feed it out through one of its many connections?

Page 153 of the manual, Tom it allows this via the A/V lead

Copy the playback image using an AV cable
File formats that can be used: [AVCHD], [Motion JPEG]
Copy images played back with this unit to DVD disc, hard disk, or video using a DVD
recorder, or video.
This can be played back with equipment that is not compatible with high definition
(AVCHD), so it is convenient for distributing copies. Image will be standard quality instead
of high definition at this time.
1 Connect this unit with the recording equipment with an AV cable (supplied)
2 Start the playback of this unit
3 Start the recording on the recording equipment
• When ending the recording (copying), stop the playback on this unit after stopping the
recording in recording equipment.
Note
• When you play back motion pictures on 4:3 aspect ratio TV, you must set [TV ASPECT] (P36)
on this unit to [4:3] before starting a copy. The image will be vertically long if you play back
motion pictures copied with [16:9] setting on a [4:3] aspect TV.
• Do not use any other AV cables except the supplied one.
• It is recommended to turn off the display of the screen by pressing the [DISPLAY] on the
camera while copying. (P57)
• See the instruction manual for the recording equipment about the details of copying and playing
back.
Copy the playback image using an AV cable
1 Yellow: to the video input socket
2 White: to the audio input socket
3 Red: to the audio input socket
A AV cable (supplied)