@azo I have the lumix 14-140 3.5-5.6 and the Voigtlander 25mm F0.95. Obviously the Voigltander is manual lens but would not class it as a classic old soft lens...

Ideally I want the right balance, I don't want to lose clarity and detail in the image but I don't want it to be too sharp and digital. I also dont have the time to mess around with sharpness in post so i need to go with the image out of the camera. I was thinking maybe -5 sharpness for the lumix and -3 for the voigtlander ?

I am having an issue with 4k footage that I need a bit of guidance with. It seems if I put 4k footage into a 4k timeline in fcpx and then render out to 1080p the final output seems strangly sharp, sharper than the raw files on the sd card?. I dont have the same issue if I render to 1080p from a 1080p timeline so I wonder what fcp x is doing in the 4k timeline that is different?

It also takes an AGE to render anything when using a 4k timeline, even if rendering down to 1080p, rendering from a 1080p timleine takes no time at all?

@caveport a clue to what?...the slow render time or the sharper image?

@Caveport: And how would the result compare if rendered and exported out in 4K from a 4K timeline and then using Apple compressor for example create a New HD 1080p version? I like the idea of this workflow because you have a master 4K version for sort of future proofing and from which can be created any number of versions....of course there a difference between sharpness and resolution right... With the GH4 then, Setting the sharpness to - 5 for ex. should take care of sharpness issues while the 4K resolution shines.. Regardless of final output.. What do you think?

Ok here is the first example..this is the 4k footage, in a 4k timeline rendered out to HD...which has come out a lot sharper than the original footage on the sd card when viewed on my mac

I don't have a 4K camera, (still just the GH3), but, this sounds like an interesting question. I tried to view the YouTube videos but they are blocked in the USA.

@crowbar Sounds like you should try your own suggestions and use the method that produces the most pleasing result. I don't have any standard workflows as I create workflows for each project based on the requirements of the finished product. My most common setup is 4k shoot with Panasonic GH4, edit on HD timeline in FCPX, round trip to Resolve (grading only) and back to FCPX for final output with audio mix added. This preserves my 4k footage resolution at each stage and future-proofs my project without having to render at 4k. If I need 4k in future, I can change the FCPX timeline resolution make a few adjustments and create a new output. If I'm working in Avid I stay HD at every stage and let Avid create new media on import. Premiere Pro works a bit differently and I'm quite new to it, so I'm still developing suitable workflows.

I use the GH4 downscaling out of camera to 10bit 422 prores recorded to a ninja blade - it's still downscaling, but the camera makes a better job of it than my avid editing software. Plus it's another process in post I don't have to worry about

@caveport: Thanks, that makes total sense, I had not thought of changing the resolution of the timeline within the same project without having to start a new one. So then with 4K in a 1080p timeline, everything will work smoother, faster rendering etc. and then should one need a 4K output, the timeline resolution can be changed to 4K in that same project and re-rendered. I think I got it by George! I guess I have been exporting out mostly 4K projects just to enjoy that resolution on the 5K iMac retina but the fact is that rendering with lots of grading in a 4K timeline is just very tedious even with a fully upgraded machine.

@lmackreath I just tested your workflow and cannot replicate the sharpness issue you describe and is visible in your Youtube clips. You might need to check each step to be sure something has not caused the sharpness change in your video.

@simo777 This is not a hidden feature. It's there since gh4 was released

Geez people. Someone tries to help others, and you are all over him. @paglez If something has been available on a camera since its release, it can still be a "hidden feature". (Some less hidden than others). @joethepro Many peolple get confused by menus. Also, how does "not really a hack" translate in him saying it is a hack?

Someone will come across his video and find something new they had never explored.

@fredfred27 I was more referring to the title of the video saying its a hack. I just hate how that word is used for everything now, especially something as trivial as a shooting option thats plainly available from the menu. No offense intended.