GH2 footage doesn't look as good as my old camera, why?
 

I have seen a disturbing but predictable trend of complaints about the GH2 (and similar cameras).

The common complaint runs along the lines of "My old (fill in the blank) produces better images than my new GH! What hype. I'm sending mine back."

Yes, some folks are achieiving poor results, that is true. But why? The reason is that the GH2 cannot achieve it's amazing potential by treating the camera as a point and shoot.

If you have never used a camera with interchangeable lenses, have never operated manual exposure, shutter speed, or ISO (gain to those that don't know what ISO is) this camera is a challenge and must be learned.

Videographers throughout the globe are purchasing this camera and expect to take it out of the box and get instant results.

Sorry, it doesn't work that way. I truly do mean that I'm sorry, because I am somewhat discouraged as well, but the reason for our issues is NOT the camera, but those that operate it.

I told my friend about these cameras, he went out and bought two. After we shot a wedding Saturday he is ready to get rid of them. Why? He doens't know how to set focus, he didn't understand the need for constant adjustment of exposure, he essentially had no idea what he was getting into.

Folks, if you haven't bought this camera and are considering it, expect a significant learning curve and lots of bad footage until you have learned how to use it.

I also suggest that the kit lenses with these cameras are poor, and will not achieve optimum results. They are useless for wedding work, but that is just my opinion.

The 20mm is adequate, but a total BEAR to operate under run and gun conditions. You MUST use at least two of these, if not three for wedding work, and if you're new to the world of hybrids, you better have a backup camera as well.

If you shoot outdoors, PLEASE buy a neutral density filter before complaining about the awful images. Most consumer cams like th HV30 have ND filters that kick automatically, the GH2 does not.

I thank Jim Snow and others for pointing this out before I found out the hard way.

Re: GH2 footage doesn't look as good as my old camera, why?
 

That's a good observation Jeff. That is common when anything new comes out. This reminds me of a social mutant I talked to a couple of months ago that wanted to argue that his VHS camcorder was "much better than all the crap you see these days", end quote. I suspect a psychiatrist could give you a better answer to this question than a bunch of camera users.

Re: GH2 footage doesn't look as good as my old camera, why?
 

Jim, you sum it up perfectly.

Re: GH2 footage doesn't look as good as my old camera, why?
 

Tell the disgruntled gh2 owner to turn off AF, set the ISO to auto, the WB to auto, the shutter 1/50, set to 24p in creative cinema,and buy a 50mm SMC f1.4 Pentax and use the EVF, not the LCD, and as you say, a ND filter. Hard to take bad video with that setup.

After a few days of that, start playing with ISO's and WB, and everything should fall into place.

Re: GH2 footage doesn't look as good as my old camera, why?
 

My main complaint is that the kit lenses are not manual enough!

Re: GH2 footage doesn't look as good as my old camera, why?
 

Same here, I prefer full manual lenses on my GH2 like the Voigtländer Nokton 25mm f/0.95 for video use.

Re: GH2 footage doesn't look as good as my old camera, why?
 

The canon T3i/550D i had before was much harder to use for video,its 18-55mm kit lens is not great or as good as the GH2 kit lens as far as i am concerned but to be fair i do little indoor filming.

Re: GH2 footage doesn't look as good as my old camera, why?
 

That's why Panasonic sells it without a lens as well. That way you can use your Belchfire 109mm lens or whatever else rocks your boat.

Re: GH2 footage doesn't look as good as my old camera, why?
 

Martyn, wasn't the 550d the t2i, and isn't the 600d the t3i?

The T3i is supposedly better for video work, but is not widely available yet, or at all, don't think it's realeased. The camera is reportedly a minor update, except for canon users as it is supposedly a nice step up.

Before I bought the GH2, I wanted a Canon, period, but the ease of use features were just not there for me. I absolutely am crazy about Canon lenses, and still would jump on Canon if they released something amazing.

I thought the Canon 600D was going to be the GH2 killer, but I was wrong, and I am deeply disappointed, as I had read much hype surrounding it a month ago.

Re: GH2 footage doesn't look as good as my old camera, why?
 

Why to people who don’t own the camera say it’s not as good as” my camera”? They are tools and each one is different, what might not work for one person could be perfect for another person. It’s only a camera, not your favorite teddy bear. The examples you view are only as good as the skills of the op.

This site is a good place to receive helpful information, don’t turn it into my Chevy is better than your Ford.

I have no dog in this fight as I own both the GH2 and T3i. Actually I bought the T3i for my wife to get started in photography.

I forgot, There is one item that the T3i has that is 10 times better than the GH2----- THE MANUAL. lol

Re: GH2 footage doesn't look as good as my old camera, why?
 

Actually Norm, that is a valid thing. when I used the 40d, I was able to turn to the manual for help, not so with the GH2. I do refer to it, but it is not quite the same.

Have you used your T3i for video? Any thoughts regarding it's ease of use relative to GH2?

Re: GH2 footage doesn't look as good as my old camera, why?
 

...I felt the same way when I bought my Canon 60D last September, which I eventually sold in February. ( I bought a GH-2 in December with the idea that I would only keep one camera, which turned out to be the GH-2 )

Canon has a long way to go to catch up with the GH-2, which I don't think is going to happen until the Canon 5D MK3 finally shows up. ( I might end up buying one if the video is decent )

Re: GH2 footage doesn't look as good as my old camera, why?
 

Sorry Jeff, I have not used the T3i. I would like to try the movie digital zoom, which is suppose to be a 3X to 10X. Every time I come near the camera my wife growls. She now has a splint on her thumb but she still has the camera. I have only had the cameras for a few days and have been spending what time I have reading posts and trying to understand the GH2. It is very difficult for an old guy like me to understand this camera. I do think I am really going to like it eventually, you guys keep spoon feeding me information.

As for theT3i, all I have done is read some of the manual and it also looks interesting. My first guess is that it will not be much different than the other Canons but with some nice added features. Again it all depends what your needs are. I have some Canon and Nikon lenses and feel comfy with Canon, so it should work for me.

Re: GH2 footage doesn't look as good as my old camera, why?
 

I should have looked closer at the Canon for the lens benefit, but it should work out with the GH2. I thought long and pondered it, and went with the Panasonic. I'm still not certain I made the right choice, as I ponder lens options for the GH2, but there you have it. I thought the benefits would outweigh the disadvantages, but the 14-140 lens is a poorer performer than I expected. It actually is a decent lens, but I was wrong to think I could use is as a zoom in a dark church.

Thanks Norm.

Re: GH2 footage doesn't look as good as my old camera, why?
 

So, what do you end up using for lenses with your GH2? I see the Voigtlander 25mm f/0.95 Nokton lens seems to be a preferred choice, but I can't tell yet if it'll work for weddings in dark churches.

My mind is numb from all the research! I keep waiting to order anything until I know the total costs for lenses, adapters, if rails will be necessary, batteries, etc.

Re: GH2 footage doesn't look as good as my old camera, why?
 

Birger has a new adapter for the GH2 and AF100 that will allow the Canon 'L' lenses to be used with the full functionality of the lenses. It's expensive though but it might be worth it for those who already own Canon lenses.

http://www.birger.com

Re: GH2 footage doesn't look as good as my old camera, why?
 

$700 is a little steep for my budget to add on to the already spendy Canon L series. I have no lenses to start with. I'm starting to rethink the GH2 if I can't find a fast lens that works in dark churches from a distance.

Re: GH2 footage doesn't look as good as my old camera, why?
 

An old manual focus 50/1.4 in ETC mode is about a 260mm equiv. Do you need something longer? There's a few fast cine/tv zooms that should fit the bill.

Re: GH2 footage doesn't look as good as my old camera, why?
 

Without doubt after a couple months of use i find my GH2 can beet the 550D all round, its a lot sharper even in 720P than the 550D or yes T2i in the usa,the 550Ds 720P was poor but i miss 25P as my editing set up realy struggles with 24P and it puts a slight jitter on 24P after its rendered, color i like the GH2 color but i did the 550s as well.So far so good.

Re: GH2 footage doesn't look as good as my old camera, why?
 

Have you considered the Lumix 20mm f1.7?

Re: GH2 footage doesn't look as good as my old camera, why?
 

None of these seem to have image stabilization, and I need the shallow depth of field, and yes a longer lens because I can't be right up in the wedding party's faces.

Re: GH2 footage doesn't look as good as my old camera, why?
 

Dan, the 20mm 1.7 is a wide angle lens, does not work from a distance. And it is not bright enough sometimes, at least for wedding stuff.

Great zooms at a reasonable price are EXTREMELY challenging to find for under 2K. You can get a prime such as a Canon 85mm f/1.8 or Rokinon f/1.4 85mm for under $500, but depending on the church it will be too long, or not long enough. A fast zoom lens f/2.8 continous costs about $2500 new. Any slower and I don't see how I can use it.

Lisa, let me say you are wise to proceed with caution. All my extra money is going into lenses, and I will have less flexibility than before, and it will be more difficult to do my job, and often the results will not be any better than with a regular camera.

You can find decent fast lenses, but they are primes, which even many photographers often don't like to use!

Photographers often carry at least two cameras, they carry one around their neck, and the other on in their hands, and I even know one guy who keeps two around his neck. I have a whole new respect for those who have been using DSLRs for weddings.

Re: GH2 footage doesn't look as good as my old camera, why?
 

The Lumix 20mm f1.7 which I've been using, equals 40mm on the GH2, which to me is not wide angle. It also functions very well at a distance. In EX mode it can exceed 100mm. In low-light, I find this lens better than any of my fast Canon lenses.

Re: GH2 footage doesn't look as good as my old camera, why?
 

Dan, Lisa specifically said "longer lens". 50mm is considered portrait. 85mm, etc. is more of what is considered to be a long lens. For dark churches 1.7 is stretching it, at least where I live. Are you saying your 20mm f/1.7 is superior to a Canon f/1.4? You didn't specify which lens the Panasonic is superior to, I'd be interested, as I'm looking at lenses myself.

Re: GH2 footage doesn't look as good as my old camera, why?
 

Jeff,

Like Lisa, I think many of us are looking for a fast, long, stabilized, low-light lens for under $700. Unfortunately, though this lens exists in some video cameras, it doesn't yet exist for DSLRs. If only we could match the larger DSLR sensor with our favorite camcorder lens. So, as your initial post explains, we're attracted to the DSLR sensor and the search for our ideal lens combination begins.

I use a Tamron f2.8 17-50mm and Canon f1.8 28mm with an EOS 7D. Though the lenses perform nicely, 7D low-light images, in my opinion, are not useable above 800 ISO, and in rare cases maybe 1250. I was rather disappointed to discover this. On the other hand, I was happy to discover the GH2, again in my opinion, produces good images at 1600 ISO and often as high as 3200. I can shoot the Lumix f4, 14-140 at 3200 ISO with better results than the 7D with f2.8 17-50 at 800 ISO. The Canon f1.8 on the 7D is only marginally better, and nowhere close to the Lumix f1.7 20mm.

I haven't used the Canon lenses on the GH2, because I don't want to lose the lighter weight, auto AF+AE and in-camera image processing provided by the Panasonic lenses.

I also use the Lumix f4, 7-14 with great results. Canon is still not able to supply their equivalent to this lens.

Re: GH2 footage doesn't look as good as my old camera, why?
 

Ok Dan, so the camera is more the culprit than the lens, you're saying. There are fast lenses available, but which brand, which adapter, and which size seems to be the questions that complicate it. And do we lose any light as a result? Some adapter it seems yes, some no, but I have no clue.

I'm now looking at Canon FD lenses because they are inexpensive and apparently work well with an adapter that Nigel B. recommends. There's the 50mm f/1.2 for around $400, the 50mm f/1.4 for around $130, and 85mm 1.8 for a couple or three hundred, maybe a bit more, I forget. Prices are for FD mounts, not the newer lenses. Do I want to invest in those old lenses? Not really.

I'm thinking I'm going to have to use at least one conventional video camera for wedding work, at least for ceremonies, or use 3-4 of these hybrids so can can cover all the focal lengths I need. Two to three in the back, etc one long, one medium.

Re: GH2 footage doesn't look as good as my old camera, why?
 

Your Lumix 20mm f1.7 is a micro 4/3 lens? Or 4/3 lens?
Just curious...I have the micro 4/3 lens and the 20mm is 20mm on my GH2.

Re: GH2 footage doesn't look as good as my old camera, why?
 

Jim,

I use the H-H020 Lumix G 20mm / f1.7. This is a Micro Four Thirds mount lens for G Series cameras. Considering the GH2 crop factor of 2.0 puts this lens at 40mm.

Here's the spec from the Panasonic site: "f=20mm (35mm camera equivalent 40mm) ".

Re: GH2 footage doesn't look as good as my old camera, why?
 

Got ya. You were using the 35mm equation . That's true of all the lenses we have been talking about (unless you are using a full frame camera).... I was sorta talking about lenses in general in addressing Jeff's quest for a fast a fast 50 mm or 80mm lens for his weddings. In this case any lens, he would still have to go through the 35mm equation on any llens he could buy....like the rest of us.
I was just thinking of the mm's before we got to that point.
I still think the 20mm 1.7 could be useful. So with the 35mm equation and the ETC , that lens would then be somewhere around 96mm? And still be 1.7 lens?

(sorry for the spelling...I am just so pissed about this administrations lack of action in Lybia).

Re: GH2 footage doesn't look as good as my old camera, why?
 

Thanks for backing me up on that Jim. That's the point I was trying to make when I mentioned "In EX (ETC)mode it can exceed 100mm.". And, as you mention, no loss of f-stop. Personally, I think this is a huge benefit. Assign a function button to EX mode, and you can switch lenses with the touch of a button.

Re: GH2 footage doesn't look as good as my old camera, why?
 

Lisa, any lens will work with a GH2, though not every IS lens will maintain that feature. Solution? Monopod! or tripod...

Re: GH2 footage doesn't look as good as my old camera, why?
 

My heart bleeds NOT for the poor souls with a lens problem on the GH2. Firstly, most kit lens on any camera are compromises with modest performance specs. Don't hold your breath waiting for a $2,000 kit lens on any camera. A friend of mine just bought a 5D Mk II with a kit lens which he promptly got rid of while muttering "it's not fast enough" under his breath. If you don't like the kit lens, don't buy it with a kit lens. For those where "only the best will do", it's available without a lens so you can use your beloved 'Craig's Snout 105' or whatever lens you want.

Before all is said and done, adapters will be available that will allow virtually any lens on the market to be used with the GH2 probably more so than any other camera.

Re: GH2 footage doesn't look as good as my old camera, why?
 

After struggling with two previous HDSLRs (1 Nikon, 1 Canon), then experiencing video done right with the GH2, I too believe we'll soon have many more lens choices.

But I'm keeping my 'Craig's Snout 105'.

Re: GH2 footage doesn't look as good as my old camera, why?
 

Jeff I've been doing research and on these cameras that have smaller sensors than a full frame one, going faster than 1.7 actually you lose light because the opening is bigger than the sensor so all the available light is not hitting the chip but around it.... so there is not much point in going faster than 1.7

I picked up a canon fd 50mm f 1.8 for $25 free shipping on ebay and I think I could film in a cave with this thing, you gota remember that everybody on here is saying that the ISO noise on these GH2's is incredibly low, so don’t be afraid of using it... when you say that 1.7 is to slow for you, I almost fell out of my chair :P

Re: GH2 footage doesn't look as good as my old camera, why?
 

Thanks Jim for the suggestions regarding the ETC, I will get my camera back in a week or two, it looks like, and I'll try it first thing.

I'm going to probably try the Canon FD lenses, still not sure, still haven't studied the adapter thing too closely yet either. Do the FD lenses have aperture rings? I can't remember.

I shoot in dark spaces, gothic or greek revival styled styled buildings where lighting is an afterthought. 1.7 is pushing it, as I mentioned earlier.

1.7 is pretty good relatively speakiing, but you also have to keep in mind I'm also outfitting two GH1s. ISO on those above 200 produces very poor images, at least in my preliminary tests.

Some churches here built in the 1840s are exceedlingly dark. They don't care about lighting. Unfortunately, I do not shoot as often in modern, well lit protestant venues.

Getting closeups in these environments is difficult.

For some women in Cincinnati, a ceremony at St Xavier or St Peter's here is a lifelong dream, and this is a huge deal to them. Brides here sometimes/often want the biggest church, and longest aisle. This tranlates into dark and far to you and I.

David, if you're using a Canon FD 1.8 successfully, then imagine a 1.4.

Covenant Presbyterian church here is so dark it is beyond belief. I used the FX1000s which are quite decent in low light, and the results were pretty poor there. I've also shot in that church with the PD170 and VX2100, still the kings of affordable low light video, IMO, and it was still pretty bad.

Realistically, the results were fine, and I understand that. But from a customer's perspective, they were disappointing. When you can't get a decent closeup of a ring exchange because there isn't enough light, you have trouble.

The images below are from a typical Catholic church here, the 175 year old St Peter's in Chains cathedral, a sought-after venue for many catholic brides in this area. The FX1 shot is from LESS than halfway to the rear. I'm closer to the front than I am to the back. Try getting a closeup in that light with a 4.0. Will a high ISO compensate in this case? It will help, but I don't know. I was lucky in this case, because the church was not half full and I could get close.

The smaller photo is actually taken from the church's website.

Re: GH2 footage doesn't look as good as my old camera, why?
 

Yes, they do & in addition the cheap Canon FD>MFT adaptor that I bought has a ring labelled Open/Close which adjusts the aperture completely smoothly without steps
I have a collection of Canon FD lenses including a 50mm F/1.2L but my favourite on both the GH2 & my AG-AF101 is the 24mm F/1.4L.

Re: GH2 footage doesn't look as good as my old camera, why?
 

Which Nikon did you try?

Re: GH2 footage doesn't look as good as my old camera, why?
 

Actually, both the D90 and D5000. Neither provided any manual control for video, and both suffered extreme aliasing. Great stills cameras though. I've since seen some stunning D7000 video, so they may be catching up.

Re: GH2 footage doesn't look as good as my old camera, why?
 

Nigel, thanks for posting. Does the 24mm you favor come in an FD version? I did a search, didn't find it..maybe I missed it!

Re: GH2 footage doesn't look as good as my old camera, why?
 

It certainly does. http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography...nses/index.htm