I am planning to build up a Shoulder Rig for my GH4. I am pretty close to have all the research done, but there is one thing, that struggles me.

The GH4 will be resting on my shoulder and I have no very nice and easy way to access the main Buttons for setting Expsoure "ISO, Shutter, Iris". I´ve seen an "Handgrip relocator" from Zacuto for the FS700, so you can relocate the Handgrip where ever you want and have still the "One Hand Access".

So my Question would be, if there is some kind of "Third Party Handgrip" or an interesting LANC Solution for the GH4, that i can attach to my normal handgrip?

Thanks

Support for GH4 raw images had been present in the source code for some time already, now the official binaries contain that feature, too, so if you don't like to compile software on your own, you can now just download the latest stable binaries.

I was pleasantly surprised with how the night shots turned out in shooting this. Any feedback is greatly appreciated, thanks!

We're giving all our personal-view members the opportunity to put their questions regarding m43, the new Lumix GH4 plus more to a certain Mr Koyama - the man in charge of the whole GH4 project and product concept, product planning and support.

We will then collate all your questions and the best of them will be put to Koyama this week in which he has promised to answer as best he can. Deadline for your questions is this Friday, 4th April.

Write them below. Please stick to questions only - no comments off-hand or discussions. Don't be shy. Ask away!

Questions only - no stupid stuff - it will simply be ignored.

Video coming soon.

Great news!

At the moment my gh4 feels like a strong horse with 3 legs. If i want to make a video with it, I won't use the 96fps mode because it looks mushy, also I doubt I will use 4k, if anyway Im going to need to shoot some takes at 50p (4k 50p? too much maybe?), the 4k doesnt present much of an advantatge, rather a problem later in post aswell as weird changes in resolution and detail throughout the finished video. Im actually scared of using it for money work.. Probably customers wouldn't even tell but Im scared of ending up with non-solid products. I will keep using my well trusted gh3 for the jobs and the gh4 shooting at similar settings only... Doesnt feel so much of an upgrade.

Is there any possibility of a firmware hack? If any of those issues could be sorted, it would make this camera becomes a serious serious tool, to the level that I doubt that I would spend my money on bigger cameras instead of lenses lighting etc.

So the question is “Is built-in wireless something you would use”? Have you used it before? Has it been beneficial to you or did it not meet your needs? Did you have trouble getting the wireless to work?

I think wireless is one of the least understood new features that the cameras have. Everyone thinks of it as just another way to post a “Selfy”. When it actually could be a very lucrative tool in a Professional Photography portfolio.

There are some circumstances where quality is not the absolute number one priority. News reporting is one of those situations. In that scenario time to post is the ultimate priority. Image quality is definitely a goal but getting the picture distributed in near real-time is essential.

Sports often require near-time distribution as well. Laptops and even tablets are not always practical solutions for editing and uploading in the field. That is where built-in wireless and in camera editing can be very beneficial.

The problem is that all of the in-camera wireless implementations I have used have been cumbersome. For example Panasonic’s Lumix Link App will only upload very low resolution (960x540) images to social media sites.

They have an app built directly in the camera for uploading as you shoot the images. However, that app cannot create a separate folder or album when it uploads. Therefore, it just dumps everything into a generic “Mobile Uploads” folder that becomes very cluttered and unmanageable.

In addition, their upload while you shoot function doesn’t work with the new images from video feature. It won’t trigger the upload automatically like it does with the regular Still images mode.

I wonder if these flaws in the implementations are preventing users from seeing the potential of wireless? Hopefully, the companies will start to fine tune the wireless capabilities so that this feature is adopted by more users.

What would it take for you to use in camera wireless?

BUT - an unexpected project just came up and I'll be shooting doc interviews straight away. Producer just found out I have a GH4 and asked about shooting 4K -- mostly to have better reframing options in post.

My first (and second) instinct is to say "not a good idea" because I know I can deliver beautiful 1080P with no surprises in post. And no one on this project has 4K experience. Post will be quick: Adobe Premiere CS6, 1080P timeline and minimal grading if any. All the shoots will be interviews, interiors, nicely lit. SD cards limited to existing Sandisk Extreme Pro 95mb/s.

Frankly, the real problem is that I'm overwhelmed by the number of 4K recording options for resolutions, recording formats and data rates, with little time to figure things out. (And no time for testing so I can have my own professional certainty.)

Anyone with GH4/Premiere experience have any wisdom or suggestions about "safe and easy" 4K recording format settings for this situation? Or links to good discussions/posts about merits of the various 4K format choices on the GH4?

Any advice, help or links will be much appreciated. Thanks!

Pass : into_the_green

I'm guessing this has something to do with the polarising effects of Variable ND filters and the effect that has on highlights, reflective surfaces etc.

Any thoughts on this? Are there any Variable ND filters out there which minimise the 'polarising' effect as they're certainly more convenient, but right now I just can't trust the look i'm getting from them and straight NDs give me a much more 'realistic' image (which I can apply looks to in post to take the edge off).

i contacted Panasonic to see if i can download the US 1.0 firmware and reinstall it as a firmware update, but thats not supposed to be possible.

so im asking you. do you have any ideas to get around this boundary?

Thank you very much

Panasonic Announces the Firmware Update Program for LUMIX DMC-GH4

NEWARK, N.J., Sept. 15, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --

Panasonic announces the new firmware update program for the LUMIX Digital Single Lens Mirrorless (DSLM) camera DMC-GH4. The firmware will be released to enhance the performance and controllability of the camera, featuring new 4K Photo Mode.

The 4K Photo is a new way of photography that Panasonic is proposing. It encourages users to capture the spur-of-the-moment in high resolution 4K photo by cropping out a designated frame from the 4K video. With the new firmware, it is easier to get a 4K photo by using the 4K Photo Mode. Once selecting the 4K Photo Mode, recording format / picture quality setting / brightness level are automatically set to the optimum parameters for photo shooting. Users can record high quality video either in 4:3, 3:2 or even 1:1 aspect ratios in addition to 16:9 – all can provide a still image with 8-megapixel equivalent resolution. Each JPEG image cropped out of the video footage complies with EXIF just as a normal still picture. While recording the 4K video in 4K Photo Mode, it is possible to mark the designated portion by just pressing the [Fn1] button. This can reduce postproduction work for searching the spur-of-the-moment worth cropping out. Moreover, 4K video can be recorded continuously with Loop Rec function which keeps saving the 5 newest 2-minute video files. Users can patiently wait for the perfect photo opportunity to come as long as they want keep the camera recording without worrying about the capacity of the SDXC/SDHC Memory Card*1.

There are more functional upgrades such as the addition of 4K video recording in 23.98p (MP4, AAC) and enhancement of controllability over ISO setting or the amount of flash emission. Also, the DMC-GH4 now expands its connectivity with external equipment. For example, the PC software "USB Tether*2" enables remote camera control (shooting, setting or image data transfer) by PC via USB.

The PHOTOfunSTUDIO 9.5PE and Panasonic Image App for iOS/Android will also be updated to support these functional upgrades.
The new firmware program is scheduled to be released with more information in detail at the Panasonic LUMIX Support Site at http://panasonic.jp/support/global/cs/dsc/ in the beginning of October, 2014.

*1 Use SDXC/SDHC Memory Card compatible with UHS Speed Class 3 (U3)
*2 *For more information on PC software "USB Tether", please visit the website of Promote Systems. http://www.promotesystems.com
Android and Google Play are trademarks or registered trademarks of Google Inc.
IOS is a trademark or registered trademark of Cisco in the U.S. and other countries and is used under license.

I'll Include pictures of each item.

1. There is some sort of square in the middle of the screen. I believe it has to do with the focus assisting. Is there a way to get rid of this square? I understand it's purpose, but I think it gets in my way, especially with the touch screen becuse it can move.

2. The AF box in the lower right hand corner. Again, I understand why it's there and what it does. But I don't always want that option available. It's just taking up real estate on my display.

3. My guides and info dissapear from the display after 1 minute of sitting. Is there any way to keep them displayed?

4. (no picutre included) This is one I've kind of grown to enjoy, but is there any way to remove the side quick menu from the display?

I'd appreciate any help! Thanks!

I've got two m4/3 panasonic brand lenses (14-42kit and 20mm pancake).

I've been wanting to start adapting some foreign lenses to my gh2 and gh4 but I'm pretty clueless on where to start. Since there are so many options, I'm a bit overwhelmed on what route to go. I've read a bunch about people adapt FD mount lenses to their cameras. And I've read about the canon 50mm. I like doing hyperlapse and timelpase photography, also, a lot of different kinds of video work. I usually use my camera outside in the sun, and at night for timelapses. I guess I'm just looking to get some more variety in my choices.

Any help is appreciated! Thanks

If you haven’t tried indoor climbing before you should. There are climbing gyms in almost every major city in the U.S. and even some in the smaller cities. It is a great low impact sport that really challenges the athlete to use their brain’s to figure out the problem as well.

If your kids don’t like team sports then climbing might be right for them. Check out your local gym or let me know if you can’t find one near you and I will try to locate one for you.

Camera Note: I really need a wider angle lens for these types of events. I was going to buy the 12-35mm for my GH4 but I decided to just get the LX100 instead. These venues are very dark so I need as fast a lens as possible. The LX100 with is Optical Power I.S. should be perfect for these types of events.

Everything was shot in Shutter Priority with Auto ISO. Hopefully, Panasonic will add the min shutter speed setting so I can switch to Program Priority with Auto ISO and gain more aperture control.

I up-converted to 1440p for YouTube. Auto Focus for 4K @ 30 FPS just isn’t where it needs to be yet.

Leif

Here are the links to parts I used:

CAGE: http://www.ebay.com/itm/FHUGEN-HONU-V2-0-VIDEO-CAGE-Kit-with-Top-Handle-HDMI-Clamp-for-GH3-GH4-A7-A7R-/231302638084?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item35dab62a04

SIDE RAIL CLAMP: http://www.ebay.com/itm/281056066980?_trksid=p2059210.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

2 PACK OF LONG 1/4"-20 SCREWS: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=&sku=920351&gclid=CPqemNGJ1cACFYk7Mgod2EoAfw&is=REG&Q=&A=details

2 LONG BRACKETS: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1062515-REG/desmond_d3d_3_mini_stereo_camera_bracket.html

I'll admit that this isn't ideal if you need to mount a microphone, but if you're going handheld for video only it's sturdy as hell.

I'm looking for some parafocal zooms. Here's some criteria:

• native or adaptable to m4/3rds
• manual iris or adapter that includes iris control
• hard stop focusing preferred
• breathing I don't mind but nothing outrageous
• no too-slow apertures like f8 or f16
• need a few choices for cinema-purpose films
• also some choices for live event/lecture shooting
• zoom controls huge plus! (I plan on using my rigs FF)
• under $5k
• broader focal length range preferred

I've had my eye on the Nikor 50-300 f4.5 for example.

Thanks for the input!

• treetah

Straight out of the box the following works;-

1 x IDX C-EBXLR Endura Individual Power System - One V-Mount Adapter Plate with 4-pin XLR Connector

1 x IDX CA-4XLR 4-pin XLR Male to 4-pin XLR Female Cable extension cable

1 x CUE 75 LI-ion Battery (XLR connector plus extra D Type adapter for powering other devices) or longer duration DUO 95 (which features extra two 'D Type' Power Outputs to power other devices plus a powered USB Out too!)

1 x IDX LI-ion Battery charger (for example the VLP PC1 single charger )

Lookout for a full report and video over the weekend regarding maximum recording times with fully charged batteries of the CUE 75 and DUO 95 packs.

Here is my first hand's on with the SLR Magic 10mm T2.1 I just received on wednesday in premiere, and also with their new variable ND filter :)

SLR Magic 10mm T2.1 on GH4 4K and 96fps 1080p mode

My very first impressions : solid, heavy (420g), compact, sharp at full aperture T2.1, only 2cm minimum focus distance. The ND filter : good first impressions, and two great options on it : lever and hard stop ! Perfect for video !

• SLR MAGIC 10mm T2.1 (f1.8 eq.), most of the clips @ T2.1
• SLR Magic ND variable filter

--

• GH4 4K cinema mode + 96fps 1080p mode
• Vcine mode with Andrew Reid presets
• No color correction

Music : Trentemøller « Come Undone (Trentemøller Remix) »