Panasonic GH4 - Slow-mo at 96fps and 4K rolling shutter test

[Andrew Reid]

Did you test maximum exposure time for an electronic shutter still? It was 1 second with the gh3. To have long exposure possible electronically would be a big deal for timelapse people. I've asked a few places and it seems nobody has looked into this yet.

Thanks.

 

Frank has the camera at the moment for a Red Bull shoot but when we next meet up I'll check this. It's on my list!

[Andrew Reid]

Hey, I'm new here too, thanks for all those great infos on the GH4, can we a have a comparision with a blackmagic pocket too?
I'm looking forward a good cinematic look and I'm a little afraid with the gh4 despite all those good things you think about it.

Keep up the good work!

 

Pocket was included in my studio test scene video with the GH4 here 

[kenji]

Pocket was included in my studio test scene video with the GH4 here 

 

Thanks man for your answer, I've already seen it, I was reffering to this : "I’ll be shooting a comparison between the 5D Mark III raw and the GH4.

Can 8bit 4K from a 2.2x crop sensor area really match the cinematic look of 14bit raw from a full frame sensor?"

 

I was asking myself the same about a blackmagic pocket too in comparison, your personal insights, DR, grading...

[Daedalus0506]

As you mentioned before Firmware 1.0 is there. Do you expect the GH4 to be delivered in europe on 24th of April?

[MaxAperture Films]

According to Amazon: This item will be released on April 30, 2014.  I have heard Europe orders will begin to be released on May 5th.

[Marcio Kabke Pinheiro]

I think I will give one of these a go. Problem is some EF glass like the 85mm F1.2L needs active mount even to focus and of course IS needs an active mount too.

 

For shooting wide open on the others, I'll consider it but I'm not sure the optics will be up to Caldwell (metabones) standard on it?

 

I have this RJ adapter, but for Nikon G mount. Not Metabones standard, but much better than Mitakon's and other chinese options - and it costs 1/3 of Metabone's price.

 

0.72x crop factor, and a full stop in gathering light, both confirmed. Could not test about increases in sharpness (did not had time), but for sure no decreased quality in center of the image. In general, the reports are some increase in center sharpness and a little decrease in the corners. It have a "blue dot" flare problem when pointed directly to a strong light source, though.

Good design point: the optical assembly is screwed in the adapter - you can screw / unscrew it to correct infinity focus and other issues with specific lenses (in fact you can even dissasembly the entire optical element - I made it by accident...). The mechanical quality is good too - on par of other RJ adapters.

If you need absolutely maximum quality, I think Metabones still the way to go. But if you are on a budget, or want to experiment a little with focal reducers, it could be a good option.

[Juan Guerra]

Not convinced at all by the 96 fps from the GH4; the low end LX-7 point and shoot camera from Panasonic shoots 120 fps at 720p that looks better than the GH4's 96fps.. Anyways, many thanks for the test.!

By any chance can you add the BMPCC to the comparison between the GH4 and the Mark iii..? Would definitely like to see dynamic range comparisons between the 3 of these... Thanks.!

Juan

[Andrew Reid]

I'm not sure, sorry, how you can really compare slow-mo from a small sensor without interchangeable lenses, to the look of a large sensor with interchangeable lens. They will look completely different.

[Darktide Media]

What were the settings on this footage? Looks like something right off the camera. Was there a Cine D look or anything. Post grading to the footage? It looks good to me like some have said its better then 5d3 1080 or most 1080 cameras out there. Mabye with HDMI it will improve it a bit more??

[krisicwalsh]

In the beta firmware footage that I've seen, at least, I think it's worth noting that the GH4's 4K has pretty much the same rotten rolling shutter as the a7S and AX100, but overcomes it completely at 1080.  I don't think this generation of cameras will get non-jelly 4K, period, but that's just my guess.  There are a lot of features across these three cameras that we're being given for a remarkable price, and I don't honestly believe this will prevent the cameras from being used for amazing things.

 

I shoot dance and performance, and so will this make the camera unusable? No, I'll just shoot in 1080 when I need to, and take advantage of the awesome 96fps when it's required.  This test really does show it off very well, great shots.

 

Christopher Saalbach-Walsh

@krisicwalsh

[Julian]

Did you test maximum exposure time for an electronic shutter still? It was 1 second with the gh3. To have long exposure possible electronically would be a big deal for timelapse people. I've asked a few places and it seems nobody has looked into this yet.

Thanks.

 

It's still 1 second on the GH4 (firmware v1.0). Just checked.

[Orangenz]

In the beta firmware footage that I've seen, at least, I think it's worth noting that the GH4's 4K has pretty much the same rotten rolling shutter as the a7S and AX100, but overcomes it completely at 1080.  I don't think this generation of cameras will get non-jelly 4K, period, but that's just my guess.

 

 

GH4 1080 4.5 degrees

GH3 1080 5.3 degrees

GH4 4K 9.0 degrees

AX100 4K 13.6 degrees (probably more because it was not perpendicular)

A7S 13+ degrees

 

Average of 5 readings per train.

[Simon Shasha]

Rolling-shutter/jitters seem well controlled in this GH4 1080P test - mind the odd intro:

[jgharding]

Just to check if I've got it right:

 

GH4 on it's own will be able to record 4K 10-bit 422 from HDMI using a Shogun? Is that right?

 

SDI is only via yagghahaghagh add on?

[dafreaking]

Just to check if I've got it right:

 

GH4 on it's own will be able to record 4K 10-bit 422 from HDMI using a Shogun? Is that right?

 

SDI is only via yagghahaghagh add on?

 

Yep!

[JLemos]

First of I want to thank you Andrew for testing the camera in various ways and sharing your results with us, much appreciated!

 

This camera has really caught my attention and it feels like nothing can really compare at even a fairly close price point at this moment.

 

My concern though is that I come from Canon with a couple of L-series lenses that I really don't want to give up. I've been searching around to see if there's any news from Metabones on their EF-MFT speed booster but it seems like they've been quiet for a while. Anyone know the latest updates here?

 

Has anyone worked with using any other passive adapter/speed boosters for EF, like this one https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ry0nuJrXhpg, on an L-series lens? I understand that the aperture needs to be set in advanced on another camera, so if let's say I'm using my 24-70mm f/2.8, leaving the aperture wide opened, and moving the lens over to the passive adapter/speed booster, my work around for controlling exposure would be to use shutter speeds greater than what's equal to the angle of 180 degrees right? Am I risking to damage the lenses by using them on a passive mount?

 

How would you rate this as a solution in anticipation of Metabones finally releasing an active EF-MFT speed booster?

 

Thanks!

 

I think I will give one of these a go. Problem is some EF glass like the 85mm F1.2L needs active mount even to focus and of course IS needs an active mount too.

 

For shooting wide open on the others, I'll consider it but I'm not sure the optics will be up to Caldwell (metabones) standard on it?

 

 

I have one of those i think, it's branded as Camdiox (german brand) http://camdiox.wix.com/camdiox for use with my GX7.

I've used it filming part of a music video but i've been to much focused on the post production of that than doing proper tests.

 

Altough i've noticed some things, there's a blue spot (faded) sometimes on the center on certain lighting conditions, i wasn't able to put the Canon 18-55mm on it, i was just trying the lens i had around, all of my Samyang (8mm, 14mm, 35mm, 85mm) work nice, all the others M42 and Pentax K work also nice with the EOS adapter atached to the Focal Reducer.

 

The optics seem good but i have to check when the blue center spot thing happens.
When i get the GH4 and when the Metabones Speedbooster is out i'll get one of those, but this one is fair for getting some things done while the original isn't out. Could also be used after on a secondary camera.
I'll try to do some tests on the next days.

 

This is where i bought it.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Camdiox-Focal-Reducer-Speed-Booster-Canon-EOS-EF-mount-lens-to-Micro-4-3-Adapter-/251456982191?pt=UK_Photography_CameraLenses_Lens_caps_hoods_adaptors_ET&hash=item3a8c010caf

[_kevink]

Hey Andrew, I think someone lifted your video and isn't crediting you on YouTube...

Panasonic GH4 Slow Motion 96fps Test: http://youtu.be/jqKIydRt18Y

[Don Kotlos]

GH4 1080 4.5 degrees

GH3 1080 5.3 degrees

GH4 4K 9.0 degrees

AX100 4K 13.6 degrees (probably more because it was not perpendicular)

A7S 13+ degrees

 

Average of 5 readings per train.

 

How did you get these numbers? Did I miss the joke? 

[Jacek]

 

Thanks man for your answer, I've already seen it, I was reffering to this : "I’ll be shooting a comparison between the 5D Mark III raw and the GH4.

Can 8bit 4K from a 2.2x crop sensor area really match the cinematic look of 14bit raw from a full frame sensor?"

 

I was asking myself the same about a blackmagic pocket too in comparison, your personal insights, DR, grading...

 

 

I wonder the same..

 

Is GH4 (internal recording) much better for 2k than bmpcc RAW..?

 

Found only one small comparison with bmpcc (ProRes):

[AdamT]

The GH3 certainly does allow RAW shooting at 16MP in electronic shutter mode; I use it all the time.

 

Rolling shutter should be reduced with the GH4's e-shutter as the sensor read speed has been improved by 50%.  It should also be useable with ISO 3200 whereas with the GH3 it's limited to ISO 1600.

 

I have read, however, that the GH4's e-shutter files will be 10 bit only, whereas the GH3 captures 12 bits with e-shutter.