Re: Upcoming New Features for the GY-LS300 Announced
 

Forgot to comment on the EF Speedbooster. I can't see any reason that the Speedbooster wouldn't work, but keep in mind you'd be scaling down to MFT (80%) to use it. You'd still gain the 1.4+ stop of light, but the FOV would be pretty much the same as with the Metabones smart adapter.

I have the Pocket Speedbooster, which is designed for the S16 sensor on the Pocket Camera. After I carefully measure flange to rear element depth vs the LS300 I'll give it a try - but in that case I would be dialing the VSM down to about 47%, and I don't think that's worth it for the speed increase, may as well just boost the ISO.

Re: Upcoming New Features for the GY-LS300 Announced
 

There is a very complete 4/3 lens list of currently released or announced lenses, as of June 2015, at: The Complete Micro 4/3 Lens List

What is very helpful is the 4/3 Lens Chart at the top of the page. Someone put a lot of work in putting this page together.

The problem I found with using adapters is with the basic camera so light and a lens with a lot of glass, such as with long telephotos, it really pushes the center of gravity forward and makes the whole package really nose heavy. The optimum way to go would be with fewer elements in the lens because it saves weight, generally gives a better bokeh, and to not use an adapter. The problem is with the dearth of available lenses.

Steve with regard to spell check it can be a pain in areas where there is a special vocabulary involved. As for spelling parfocal, if you’re using OS X one can teach it to spell. Highlight the word before it auto-corrects then right click on the highlighted word with it underlined (in red or blue) to open an option window and choose “learn spelling”. For other systems I assume they have something but I don’t know how it works. Hopefully this reduces spelling grief.

Re: Upcoming New Features for the GY-LS300 Announced
 

John, I completely agree that it's best to not use adapters if possible, they also introduce an extra place for slop, and they can be questionable (I think my CA-1 to MFT's back focus is off).

Problem is, when you're someone (like me) who's accumulated a lot of lenses of various provenance over the years, it's either adapters or very expensive remounting. I have Arri std, Arri B, Aaton, CA-1, Leica-R, Nikon-F, Canon FD & EF and MFT lenses (and just sold a B4).

So for me, the appeal of acquiring the LS300 (and the Pocket Cams for that matter) is the ability to use lenses I already have.

And that has resulted in a few surprises. For instance, as I mentioned above, my old Angenieux 15-150, a lens I never liked on my Aaton, has a very nice look on the LS300. It's also, surprisingly, the only lens that (nearly) holds focus throughout the entire range. So, a lens that's lived in the closet for over 20 years has found new life. And interestingly it has TWO adapters. It's a native Arri Std mount, adapted to Aaton, then adapted again to MFT - however the Arri to Aaton is a custom machined stainless steel piece built like a tank by Century Precision Optics that cost over $800 decades ago.

And yeah, I do know how to teach my computer to spell esoteric words (like back focus), but it's a new Retina MacBook and I'm too lazy.

Re: Upcoming New Features for the GY-LS300 Announced
 

A few thoughts from the last few days.

I've no doubt that extra Olympus' 5mm (10mm in 4/3rds) is very useful, but the Panasonic is stabilised which I really need, and it's less than half the weight (305g vs 700g) My 715g 24-70 2.8 makes the LS300 really front heavy, although it was never a problem on the FS100.

The single weedy 1/4inch thread on the 300 is too far back in my opinion, every long tripod plate I own hangs over the back of the camera making the rear panel difficult to access. Looking online and seeing huge long lenses hanging off the lens mount is really scary! I'd love to see the 300 fitted with something like my Juiced Designs EX1 baseplate I bought so long ago.

I'm chasing Hoodman to see which loupe setup they recommend with this camera. Their EX1 package might fit the bill, bit I think the 3.5 inch screen riser might be too tall.

There's a few LS300 related IBC videos coming online now...
Here's Rick Young's: And another (slightly funny) here:
The prime zoom feature still needs further explanation. Does it really only work with MFT primes? On Rick's video it's working with a PL prime, perhaps the adaptor is somehow 'smart'? It would be great if it worked on the Pana 12-35 2.8 to give an additional 20% reach, that would equate to 12-42mm!

Duncan.

Re: Upcoming New Features for the GY-LS300 Announced
 

I do like the IO on EF lenses, although obviously I've spent most of my like with non-IO. In my opinion the IO on Panasonic lenses is pretty ineffective, so I opted for constant aperture and that extra 5mm (and it actually looks like more in use - as I said, I had both lenses to test side-by-side)...

Thanks for finding and posting the video... Instead of this zoom feature, my wish would be the ability to save and assign to function buttons particular VSM settings. That would make this camera the best doc box out there.

And Duncan, my only real concern with the LS300 is that it seems you and I are the only people who have actually bought one - at least if you read the forums... Oh well, I've never minded being an odd-ball.

Re: Upcoming New Features for the GY-LS300 Announced
 

Don't panic Steve, I've also bought one - I haven't added to the conversation as you guys had summed up the issues (& good bits) fairly well.

I have a feeling that the zoom function will work with any lens - I don't think the prime in the video had a electronic adapter. At least I'm really hoping this is the case - it would mean the the Viogtlander M4/3 & Sanyang M4/3 lenses couldn't make use of this feature.

Being able to have some preset VSM settings assigned to buttons would be useful - although I'd then have to make some hard decisions on what to leave off the buttons.

I's also like to see some negative gain/lower ASA settings available. I believe this has been added to the JLOG but not the other settings. I'm still having to add external ND filters if I want to open the iris up beyond f4/5.6 on a sunny day.

Re: Upcoming New Features for the GY-LS300 Announced
 

Yeah, I agree, I can't see why the zoom function wouldn't work with dumb lenses, but then I don't understand the technology of how the mapping thing will work. But I'd love to be able to use it with my 17.5 Nokton, I could shoot almost all day with that one lens.

I also hope that the feature will work with external zoom controllers, I have an old cheapo one I bought with my XL100 that I've side mounted on the 15mm rod base in anticipation of the upgrade - which now they're apparently saying is October - I don't mind, just so it's bug-free when it's available.

I've shot a lot in the last week, all "tests", nothing for prime-time, but I'm really liking what I'm seeing. I've been shooting 1080 4.2.2. 50mbps and the images look great right out of the camera, very similar to the results I've gotten with the BM cameras shooting "film" mode and crunching with FilmConvert... I'm always amused by those who call for more dynamic range and then wipe it out applying FilmConvert (even after cranking down FC's gamma)... If I can get that look out of the box without having to dick with grading or DaVinci I'm a happy man.

BTW, I make documentaries exclusively, even my TV spots are docs - so I don't have, or want, the same standards that many narrative filmmakers have - but that doesn't mean I don't want good looking, effective images, and this camera - for me - is producing really good looking images.

Re: Upcoming New Features for the GY-LS300 Announced
 

As the 'prime zoom' feature is operated via the zoom demand, then it must surely work via the Lanc control too. I've got lots of old Varizooms from PD150 days.

By the way as you guys have seen, the videos I linked to earlier suggested how the Histogram and Spot Meter functions are switched on. He seemed to be using the joystick to replace the audio meters with the Histogram and so on.

I guess that's OK, there's only so much room on screen. Perhaps it also has an affect on processor overheads. I often leave audio levels set and listen for peaking rather than watching, so having one or the other isn't so bad.

Still no response for Hoodman US or UK regarding the loupe setup.

I'm pretty positive that I want lens stabilisation. I can see myself shooting much more handheld with this thing, where I'd often end up in tight spots, odd angles and so on. Micro shakes soon set in. So I think the Lumix OIS lenses will be my first choice, and hopefully this new zoom function will get me a bit more 'reach'.

Re: Upcoming New Features for the GY-LS300 Announced
 

Adding my name to the list of camera owners. As far as I've been able to find, this forum is the most active user's group for this camera, but please let me know if there's somewhere else I should be checking out, as well.

So far I'm quite pleased with the look and functionality of the camera, and I'm still working my way through the various settings trying to come up with the best combination for my needs. My primary use is talking head interviews. I spent some time last week looking how the settings affect things when shooting a test chart, but I really need to get someone in front of the camera to put it through its paces in a systematic way. And of course the new firmware update will give us some new options to consider, as well. I'd love to see a better ability to handle highlights, for example.

Re: Upcoming New Features for the GY-LS300 Announced
 

Dave, actually compared to cameras as short a time ago as 4-5 years, the highlight handling is pretty good on the LS300. At least it doesn't have that ugly chroma clipping the Panasonic cameras have suffered from (HVX200a, HPX500, HPX250, AF100, all of which I've owned) - it got worse through the generations - HPX500 and AF100 were the worst.

I've set my clipping level at 108%, and using Cine Gamma (not WDR because it clips at 100%) I'm getting pretty pleasing high ends - be aware that I'm a 40 year 16/S16 veteran, so I'm not put off by things like windows blowing out - in fact I like that look. I watched a BBC production a few weeks ago that held detail outside windows so well that it was distracting and pulled the eye away from the subjects in the room.

I set mine at Black Level 0, Cine Color Subdued, Detail -5 (will go lower, probably around -10), Knee automatic. I haven't custom adjusted the knee because I'm waiting for the new firmware before I experiment more.

BTW, and this is totally my opinion which many don't share, nearly every camera I've owned recently looks better with the ETTR philosophy - But being from film and Panasonic cameras like the HPX500, I tend to ETTL slightly. Seems to work better with this camera too. It saves the highlights and there's actually still a lot of detail in the blacks that can be pulled up if needed (but, again, old 16 film guy, I like black blacks, that's why I use FilmConvert with my13 stop DR Pocket Cameras)..

Re: Upcoming New Features for the GY-LS300 Announced
 

Re: Upcoming New Features for the GY-LS300 Announced
 

Yeah and that is not a native MFT lens (well it might be native in the sense that it has an MFT mount, but it's not native to MFT), nor is it a smart lens... hope springs eternal... now if they would just actually release the firmware - but as I said above, it's better they get the bugs out first...

Re: Upcoming New Features for the GY-LS300 Announced
 

OK, gotta say I'm really liking this camera. I have it set up with the Gratical side mounted and a Movcam LANC grip (pirated off one of my Pocket Cams) on rods. I can't tell you what a pleasure it is to not have to be carrying around a pocket full of ND filters and extra batteries for the camera and a audio pre-amp.

I've been shooting with the 12-40, set at either 87%-92% for wide or in the 50s if I want a little more reach. There is some noticeable noise in mid-range shadows in the low 50s, but it isn't horrible and for most things I can live with it. It's a very nice way to work - super light camera and lens combination - and fantastic images

And speaking of audio, I tested the 300 against my C100, using identical mics, and the 300 is at least as good, maybe better. I tested using a Rode NTG3, Sennheiser 416 and an old Audio Technica that I've used as a nose mic forever. Sennheiser, as always, was the winner - I don't know why people are always saying the Rode is just as good, it isn't - in fact my 25 year old Audio Technica came in second ahead of it, at least by my ears. FYI, Pocket Camera with JuicedLink pre-amp is and always has been s__t.

Bottom line, this is a fantastic camera for the price - now, make it better with that firmware update por favor...

Re: Upcoming New Features for the GY-LS300 Announced
 

Interesting that the 12-40mm can be set that wide on the VSM, the Pany 12-35 needs to be set to 80% or it will vignette at the wide end.
The Oly 14-35mm f2 can be set to 86-89% - it's a great bit of glass but does make the cam quite front heavy. The Oly 35-100mm f2 is so large and heavy that it's impracticable to use handheld - there is also a problem with the lens communicating with the camera sometimes (manual focus wont work, have to power the cam off & on to get power back to the lens - the joy of focus by wire)

I've also added a viewfinder (Alphatron) and a LANC handgrip (Tilta) - it has made the LS300 a very usable small package.

The 416 is a way better mic than the Rode - but you do pay for it.

Re: Upcoming New Features for the GY-LS300 Announced
 

The Olympus 12-40 will actually handle 92% with just a slight vignetting in the bottom right corner, doesn't show up on TVs, but does on computers or projectors... Set at 92% the lens is essentially a 9-10mm,, pretty useful,, And with his camera you can easily and quickly dial it up... I'm having fun again,,,

BTW, Rohan, I have an old surfing buddy who lived in Canberra, John Beaton PhD... He was chief archeologist at the university there.. Always meant to visit him, but never made it...

Re: Upcoming New Features for the GY-LS300 Announced
 

Not much surfing in Canberra - we've only got a muddy lake. (it is only a two hr drive to the coast)

Re: Upcoming New Features for the GY-LS300 Announced
 

Yeah, I know, we both gave up surfing in graduate school... we were both at UCLA and other things just got in the way. With the LA traffic the beach is about 2 hours away there too.

I don't know those zooms you mentioned... One thing that is bothering me is that (as I said somewhere above) lenses that "act" parfocal on the C100 and the Pocket Cams need to be refocused with the LS300 when you pull back. What's weird about that is the Olympus and Lumix lenses (12-40 and 35-100) require a slight counter-clockwise turn, and the EF lenses (24-105 and 17-55) require a slight clockwise, so it's not the camera's lens mount... Apparently there's some electronic "focus by wire" happening on the other cameras and not on the LS - and refocusing at 12mm at f4 or above requires a really good EVF.

Also, another weird thing is the Canon EF 24-105 is an excellent lens on the C100, I use it 90% of the time with that camera. For some reason it's just not that sharp on the LS300. And it can't be the Metabones adapter because it doesn't have any glass. I'm going to try another cheapo adapter I (one with a built-in iris) have later today and see if there's any difference.

Re: Upcoming New Features for the GY-LS300 Announced
 

Sadly I have another issue. I shoot docs exclusively, and like to set up my camera with the nose mic (Audio Technica) on CH1 and a Lectrosonic wireless on CH2 so my soundman can cruise separately. That way I can get good audio from two sources at once and chose channels later.

I have a shoot later this week and was setting up my wireless, and discovered that my camera isn't recording from CH2. It shows on the VU and I can monitor only CH2 in headphones, but for some reason the channel isn't recording. I've tried switching back and forth between mono and stereo in the system menu with no luck. I've tried hardwiring into CH2, but still nothing records.

This is very weird. Any ideas anyone?

My first camera was locked on "Lolux", my second had a diopter that couldn't be adjusted and now the third is only recording from one audio input. I've registered the camera this time, so I can't return it to the dealer.

I really like this camera a lot, but JVC has got to get their quality control act together.

Re: Upcoming New Features for the GY-LS300 Announced
 

Tried reseating the handle? Maybe the connection isn't quite all there?

Re: Upcoming New Features for the GY-LS300 Announced
 

Thanks, but I did try that, although I assumed since I was seeing it on the VU and able to monitor the channel that probably wasn't it.. But I did discover the problem... Well it's not a problem, it's a quirk that hopefully can be fixed with firmware unless it's just my camera..

I was set at 24P, I always shoot 24P except for some TV spots. Just for the hell of it I switched to 30P... and it works... No big deal, I'll shoot this job 30P (no one except film types notice the difference anyway).

Do me a favor when you get a chance and see if your camera will record discreet mono tracks in 24P.

Re: Upcoming New Features for the GY-LS300 Announced
 

Okay, so I got my audio issue worked out...

DON'T SHOOT 24P IF YOU NEED TWO DISCREET CHANNELS OF AUDIO... for instance an on-camera mic and a boom or wireless. TEST FIRST and learn from my experience. It took me nearly 4 hours to figure this one out because it's not until you load it into a computer that you discover CH2 isn't there. Bummer.

So I moved on to lenses again and am amazed to discover that my little f2.8 12-40 Olympus Pro at 87% (4K setting), 80% (normal MFT) and 52% (S16) is noticeably sharper than the EF 24-105 and EF-S 17-55 at 100% (with both Metabones and the adapter with the iris, don't remember the name).

Go figure. There may be some noise in there with the lower VSM settings, but it's not really noticeable unless you're hunting for it. Pixle-peep away if you want...

BTW, I did most of the lens tests at ISO800 because I figure real world, right. But even at 1600 the Olympus beats the Canons. I said this before, but I reiterate, I am very surprised because I like both those lenses, especially the 17-55, on my C100, which is also theoretically at "100%". This camera seems to handle lenses differently than any other I've used.

Re: Upcoming New Features for the GY-LS300 Announced
 

Probably the best way to describe this camera!

Glad you got the sound issue sorted.

I think you have sold me on the 12-40, but I'll need to use a shoulder rig more often I suppose.

I still find shooting on my EX1 to be a liberating experience every so often.
I'm sure the DVX-200 with it's fixed lens and MFT sensor will keep a lot of people happy.

Re: Upcoming New Features for the GY-LS300 Announced
 

The 2.0 firmware is available. I've downloaded and installed it, and I'll report back after I've had some time to play with some of the new settings.

Re: Upcoming New Features for the GY-LS300 Announced
 

It's hassle trying to find the update isn't it?

This fools you into believe it the right place: JVCPro-MSIS

Eventually Google found this page: JVC Professional Customer Support - Firmware Upgrade

Re: Upcoming New Features for the GY-LS300 Announced
 

Now I just need an FCPX + El Capitan update for J-Log...

Re: Upcoming New Features for the GY-LS300 Announced
 

Duncan - another thing I like about the Olympus is that it has a focus ring that slides forward and back to activate/de-activate auto focus. If you ever, as I do, like to hit auto focus momentarily, for instance when wide, this feature means you don't have to fiddle with the button on the camera.

Be it known I am not an Olympus advocate - nor am I a JVC advocate - In fact this lens and this camera are the first I've ever owned from those respective manufacturers.

Many are discounting and badmouthing the LS300.. Well, it deserves some badmouthing, at least JVC certainly does. They could have made real waves if they'd put as much into manufacturing and support as they have in R&D. Oh well, it still shouldn't be discounted. It'll do more than a C300 MKII at less than a third of the price (except, of course, low light - the LS is pretty weak there, that's why I've kept my C100).

BTW, that 2.0 firmware isn't the zoom VSM feature is it? I thought it was an older one.

Re: Upcoming New Features for the GY-LS300 Announced
 

According to the download page this new firmware is:

Version: V0200-0118, Release Date: 2015-09-29

What's new:
Added new features:
Cinema 4K recording formats
70 Mbps mode at 4K
Histogram
Spot meter
VSM Zoom
JVC LOG (Cinema Log) with 800% dynamic range
Native resolution format on HD-SDI output
ZIXI Adaptive Bit Rate and Fast FTP
Multicast Streaming in UDP mode
Zebra icon on LCD screen
Support Clip Continuous recording in AVCHD


Here's a link for EU users: http://www.service.jvcpro.eu/public/...el=GY-LS300CHE

Re: Upcoming New Features for the GY-LS300 Announced
 

I've installed it... The update went fine.

The prime zoom function is working well with my Sigma 24-70 2.8 on a Fotodiox dumb adapter.
It's variable speed on the zoom rocker, so you can feather the speed quite nicely.

I've tried my Vari-Zoom LANC controllers, and while they will trigger record they won't control the Prime zoom feature, which is a shame. Mine are Sony LANC and IIRC remember there's a couple of different variations on the LANC protocol, so perhaps someone else can test their LANC kit?

J-Log is there, and there's a 1D-LUT option in the LCD/VF menu so you monitor the recording with a LUT applied.

My LCD still looks sub par, but I can learn to live with it.

70Mbps 4k is there.

I've mapped the histogram to the joystick and it works well.
You can set upper and lower 'percentage pointers' on the histogram, from 0% right up to 110% in 5% increments. (The lower actually goes from 0-105%). These pointers are shown as red vertical bars on the histogram.

When you set the camera to J-Log, the histogram options change to F-Stops and I'll profess my utter ignorance about how to use this setting. The default 'pointer' setting in J-Log are a very narrow range on the histogram scale. Is that normal?

I'll try and shoot some tests, to see if the fixed pattern noise has improved at all.

EDIT. Quick update. On my first recording (in 709) the noise is still there. Yuk.

Re: Upcoming New Features for the GY-LS300 Announced
 

Right after I posted I went to the JVC site and did the same... No joy with my LANC controller either, don't know the brand, came free with a Canon XF100 I bought several years ago for a carry-on.

The zoom feature is a great addition. Too bad I have to use the rocker because handheld, shoulder mounted, it just isn't practical for an in-shot zoom. But it is good on a tripod, it's a fast way to set the VSM, and handheld it works well to zoom in to focus, which in itself is worth the price of admission.

I shot some 2K at 23.976 and the judder is really bad (remember, I normally shoot 24P so I know what it should look like), I guess I need to experiment with the shutter.

Try as I can, I'm not seeing any FPN in my footage shooting 1080, cine gamma and cine color subdued. I've set the black to 0 and chroma to +2. The picture is clean, even up to 43% (I think that's the #) on the VSM zoom. I've even tried crunching the blacks with FilmConvert to force artifacts and can't see anything. Maybe I'm just not knowing what to look for (old film guy) but in any case, it's not going to bother an audience if it is there.