Quick Start Guide for Shooting Video with the Panasonic GH4

Quick Start Guide for Shooting Video with the Panasonic GH4

Two options for using this camera: Option 1: The simplest method is to use the C1 Preset that has been entered into the camera. Option 2: Put the camera into Creative Video Mode and make your own adjustments. In Creative Video Mode, the camera has also been set- up for ease of use. This guide explains each option. Please look at both. There are several ways to operate this camera and many options. This guide is designed to get you started. Please refer to the manuals for more information.

Panasonic GH4 Option One: Using the C1 Preset and Basic Operations

The C1 Preset and Basic Operation The C1 preset creates MP4 videos that are 1920 x 1080 30p (29.97) 200 Mbps. You can edit these videos directly in Adobe Premiere. This option involves five easy steps: 1. Erase all images and videos on the SD card from the previous user 2. Change the dial to the C1 Preset 3. Put the focus dial on AFC 4. Use Image Stabilization if necessary 5. Press Record. Exposure, focus and white balance will be set automatically while you shoot.

Panasonic GH4 Step One: Erasing Previous Images and Videos

Step One: Erasing Previous Images and Videos Enter the Play Back Menu Playback Controls

Deleting Videos from the SD Card Press Trash button while in the Playback Menu Please Erase all your images before handing back the camera.

Step Two: Change the Dial to the C1 Preset

Step Three: Change the Focus Dial to AFC: this ensures constant auto- focus during video capture. Hold down the shutter button to focus on your first subject. After that focus will change automatically.

AFC is for Continuous Focus change Press the shutter to set the initial focal point Set Lever to AFC Green indicates in focus

Step Four: Stabilization: ON when the camera is handheld OFF when the camera is on a tripod

Step Five: Press the Rec. button to start recording. Elapsed recording time Recording format Rec. Indication Rec. Button Audio Level Meters Rec. time remaining on SD Card

If you do not see all of this information in the LCD display, press the Display button on the back of the camera to toggle through the different display types.

Panasonic GH4 Basic Operation: Backing up Videos

Take out the SD card from the camera and into your Mac. Back up the.mp4 files on to your drive. They can be imported directly into Premiere.

Panasonic GH4 Audio Recording Left Channel Microphone Right Channel Microphone

Notes on Improving Audio Recording The stereo microphone on the camera can pick up noise when you manipulate the camera. This built- in microphone will also pick up room noise It is suitable if the subject is close to the camera in a quiet environment If you want a better audio recording quality, rent a Zoom audio recorder from the CDA Slate the shot (with a proper slate or a hand clap) so the audio recorded with the Zoom can be synchronized later with the video in Premiere (by making a merged clip)

Panasonic GH4 Option Two: Creative Video Mode

Creative Video Mode This mode gives you more control over the image and 4K Video options. Turn the Dial to Creative video mode. Note: You cannot take still pictures in creative video mode.

Panasonic GH4 Creative Video Mode Choosing a Video Recording Format

GH4 Menu Access Menu Button Exit Menu Page Button

Choose the Rec Format:

There are four Rec Format Options: MP4(LPCM) and MOV are the best options. Adobe Premiere accepts both file types.

A decent computer is required to edit these two formats.

4K options do not appear unless you are in Creative Video Mode.

After choosing the Rec Format, choose the Rec Quality. This determines the image size, frame rate and image quality.

There are many options for HD video formats. 1920x1080 23.98p (24p) is the most common. The 200 Mbps, ALL- INTRA variation is the highest quality.

Each HD frame rate has three quality options from best to worst: 200 Mbps, 100 Mbps and 50 Mbps. The lower the quality, the longer the recording time on the SD card.

The HD 100 Mbps Settings have a Variable Frame Rate Option.

Setting the Variable Frame Rate is a separate menu option.

Shooting with a higher (variable) frame rate creates a smooth slow motion effect.

About Frame Rates: The more frames per second, the more detail in motion and the less blur on moving subjects 23.98 fps (24p) is the common frame rate for HD TV and Projectors 29.97 fps (30p) is also a common frame rate with more precise motion detail 59.94 fps (60p) is usually used for a slow motion effect Frame rates higher than 60p are used for slow motion effects

If you see only 25p and 50p (PAL) frame rates change the System Frequency to 59.94 Hz (NTSC).

Changing the System Frequency to 24.00 Hz (Cinema) will give you true 24 fps. This is different from 23.97 fps. All TVs, Video Media Players and other HDMI devices expect the NTSC frame rate of 23.98 or 29.97. Only choose the 24.00 Hz option if you are shooting for DCP (digital cinema package).

Video Recording Time on 64 GB SD cards. MOV and MP4 (LPCM) format: 4K 30p,24p : 1h 25 min 1080 60p,30p,24p 200 Mbps All Intra: 41 min 1080 60p,30p,24p 100 Mbps: 1h 23 min 1080 60p,30p,24p 50 Mbps 2h 45 min Multiple continuous files are created of 4 GB each (max.)

Video Recording Time on 64 GB SD cards for the two lower quality video formats AVCHD 1080 60p: 5h 1080 60i: 8h 12min but try not to use this frame rate 1080 30p: 5h 48 min 1080 24p: 5h 48 min Multiple continuous files are created of 4 GB each (max.) MP4 format: 4K 30p,24p: 1h 23 min (also creates multiple files) 1080 60p,30p: 20 min (this creates one 4 GB file continuous recording is not possible 320 minutes in 16 separate 4 GB files) 720 30p: 30 min (this creates one 4 GB file continuous recording is not possible 480 minutes in 16 4 GB separate files)

Format and Rec. Time Information on the Display: Creative video mode Programmed exposure Rec Format and Frame Rate Recording time on card With that video format

Panasonic GH4 Creative Video Mode Exposure Settings in Creative Video Mode

In Creative Video Mode: Choosing an Exposure Mode in the Menu

In Creative Video Mode: Choosing an Exposure Mode on the Touch Screen

Exposure Modes P (Program): only ISO changes can be made (set ISO to Auto if you wish) aperture and shutter speed are set automatically the simplest way to use the camera A (Aperture Priority): aperture can be changed manually while the camera changes shutter speed automatically use this mode to control depth of field S (Shutter Priority): shutter speed can be changed manually while the camera changes aperture automatically use this mode to control motion blur M (Manual): full control for the geeks

Adjusting Exposure on the Camera Aperture Adjustment ISO adjustment (then back wheel) Shutter Adjustment

Exposure Settings in the Display in Manual Exposure Mode Creative Video Mode Manual Exposure aperture Shutter speed ISO

Adjusting Exposure on the Touch Screen Touch Screen Menu F: Aperture SS: Shutter Speed ISO Sound Levels F: Aperture SS: Shutter Speed ISO Sound Levels

Exposure terminology Aperture: an opening in the lens to allow more or less light Aperture also effects how much of an image is in focus (depth of field) Larger lens openings ( f/1.4) create a shallower depth of field (smaller area in focus) Depth of field is also affected by the focal length of the lens.

Exposure terminology Shutter: the length of time for each single exposure each frame of the video is exposed for this amount of time Shutter Speeds are expressed as a fraction: 60 means 1/60 th of a second For video the normal shutter speed is twice the frame rate, ex: 1/60 th of a sec. is used for shooting video at 29.97 fps Going below this 2x rate causes excessive motion blur in the image The higher the shutter speed: the less motion blur in the image Very high shutter speeds can cause motion to look like clockwork and may also cause distortion in fast moving objects

Exposure terminology ISO: the camera s sensitivity to light A higher ISO number means a greater sensitivity to light: an exposure is possible in low lighting Always shoot on the lowest ISO possible Higher ISO numbers increase noise in the image ISO 200, 400 and 800 are the most common ISO settings ISO 1600, 3200 and 6400 are useful but expect a lower quality image

Exposure terminology All three of these elements (Aperture, Shutter Speed and ISO) coordinate to determine the exposure Example 1: choosing a larger lens opening for shallow depth of field will let in more light you may have to compensate by choosing a faster shutter speed or a less sensitive ISO Example 2: choosing a slower shutter speed to increase motion blur will let in more light you may have to compensate by choosing a smaller lens opening or less sensitive ISO

Examples of depth of field changes In the following examples note how the focus area (depth of field) narrows as the f stop (aperture) opening becomes larger. Notice how the shutter speed compensates for the changes in light level caused by the aperture changes. The larger the aperture opening, the more rapid the shutter speed becomes. These are examples of depth of field in still photography. While shooting video I would never go below 1/50 th of a second shutter speed unless I wanted a lot of motion blur

The LED screen in very accurate and detailed! Use Zebra Stripes to indicate overexposure. These are turned on by default.

Panasonic GH4 Focus

Use AFC for continuous auto focus while shooting. Press the shutter to set the initial focal point. Set Lever to AFC Green indicates in focus Note: Auto Focus can become a problem in low light.

Manual Focus: Set the lever to MF

The manual Focus ring activates a magnified window in the LCD: use this to set the initial focal point. Two choices to escape out of magnified window

Panasonic GH4 Creative Video Mode Check List Erase all images and video on the SD card from previous users Put the camera in Creative Video Mode Choose a video recording format and quality Choose the exposure mode of your preference Choose the focus mode of your preference Check the image stabilizer on the lens Check audio levels if applicable

Panasonic GH4 Menu Options Here are the following menu options I have selected for ease of use.

The White Balance is on automatic by default.

Motion Picture Menu: Photo Style: STD (Standard) it is much easier to manipulate the image after shooting - Cinelike D is a good option as well. AFS/AFF: AFF I recommend using the AFC auto focus option but in case you turn the dial to AFS/AFF then keeping this setting on AFF will ensure that the camera tracks focus on moving subjects Continuous AF ON Metering Mode: on Multiple by default Luminance Level: 0-255 this ensures the full range of luminance Silent Operation: ON this prevents the camera from making a noise when starting and stopping recording

Motion Picture Menu continued Mic Level Disp.: ON you can see audio levels in the LCD Mic Level Adjustment: 0 adjust if necessary to be used if the Mic Level Limiter is OFF Mic Level Limiter: ON this adjusts the sound level automatically Wind Cut: AUTO by default

Custom Menu Settings: here are a few important settings Cust Set Mem.: this is were you can create your own custom set- ups in the C2 and C3 settings. Please do not change the C1 setting Silent Mode: ON prevents camera noise from the Rec. button Shutter AF: ON focus when shutter is pressed half- way Peaking: OFF I can t see anything when focus peaking is ON Zebra Pattern: Zebra 1 or 2 pick a pattern and set your luminance limit I set the limit to 100 percent, 95 percent is safer

Panasonic GH4 Appendix from the manual Resolutions and Quality by Video Format