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GH2 impressions

ptomsu

Workshop Member
Louis,

this is a wonderful photo! The sensor of the GH2 is rocking. I wish that the E5 had got that sensor - sigh ....
 

biglouis

Well-known member
ptomsu and Don, thanks for the comments. I was completely surprised by how well the sensor coped with 3200 and also how well the lens behaved. I did relieve some of the luminance noise in LR3 but I was expecting complete mush and instead I got a reasonably usable capture.

LouisB
 

DHart

New member
Louis, I'm finding very nice performance at high ISOs as well with the GH2... it's a really impressive camera. I was trying some Film Modes for movies and found they were also influencing my RAWs (I only shoot in RAW). Apparently in P, A, and S priority, the Mode setting does have some influence on RAWs (coding telling the RAW converter to make some changes "under the hood"). My understanding (still quite limited) is that in M priority, the coding from a Film Mode doesn't get passed along to the RAW converter... anyway, I changed my Film Mode to Standard and have been shooting M and I'm very happy with the RAWs now. Still not a lot of use with the camera yet as I work with other cameras as well and I've been a bit distracted playing with legacy primes - AND rediscovering my GF1.

There is a lot to learn about how this camera works... it's an amazing image making machine, that's for sure. Must admit that although I've got my techie/nerdularialley oriented tendencies, I'm still rooted in "old school". I've been so "manual everything" oriented for so long that I get bogged down in some of the custom programming features that may apply in this case and that case but not the other case, and all of that - add in the video options and WOW... the engineering/programming behind a camera like this just boggles my mind. Give me manual settings and aperture priority (and once in a long while, shutter priority) and a nice, plain RAW file and I can very happily work with that. ;)
 

slau

New member
I am not sure if this requirement of the +1 EV adjustment is unique to the GH2. Aperture mode is my preferred exposure mode for since I remember using cameras with 'auto' setting. My Canon 1DsMk3 seems to routinely require the same +1 EV to get the 'proper' exposure I like. My 1DMk3 requires +1/2 EV regularly.

To clarify: I like to have my exposure setting to get an image with a histogram as much to the right as possible, without blowing out the highlight. Both my G1, GH1 & GH2 seem to require at least the same amount of plus EV adjustment, if not more, to get the 'proper' exposure I like. I did notice that the metering of G1/GH1/GH2 (central average is my preferred setting) tend to be more 'conservative' for the highlight, which require more aggressive plus adjustment for me than my Canon 1D/1Ds gears.

I am not sure that 'the film mode affects the Raw file' statement is exactly correct. I would rather say that the film mode does have some effect on the metering, or how one mode is more emphasis on the highlight exposure while the other mode have more emphasis on the shadow exposure. This is just my own observation and have no scientific experiment to support it. I shoot only in raw and also a Lightroom 3/Photoshop CS5 user.

One thing we all seem to agree is: the GH2 is definitely an improved camera over the GH1. I still have to really learn the in-and-out of the GH2. But, this may have to wait until I have a chance to use the GH2 during a trip of one or two weeks, shooting side-by-side with my Canon gears. So far, I am pretty happy with the improvement of the AF performance of the GH2, which makes using the new 100-300 lens much more enjoyable.
 

biglouis

Well-known member
Don and Stephen, interesting comments. I am still amazed, incidentally, I look through the viewfinder. I have never seen an EVF which is so like an OVF. Quite astonishing in such a relatively affordable camera.

LouisB
 

Jonas

Active member
Louis, I'm finding very nice performance at high ISOs as well with the GH2... it's a really impressive camera. I was trying some Film Modes for movies and found they were also influencing my RAWs (I only shoot in RAW). Apparently in P, A, and S priority, the Mode setting does have some influence on RAWs (coding telling the RAW converter to make some changes "under the hood"). My understanding (still quite limited) is that in M priority, the coding from a Film Mode doesn't get passed along to the RAW converter... anyway, I changed my Film Mode to Standard and have been shooting M and I'm very happy with the RAWs now. Still not a lot of use with the camera yet as I work with other cameras as well and I've been a bit distracted playing with legacy primes - AND rediscovering my GF1. (...)
We know since earlier that the G1 does something wit the raw files depending on the noise reduction settings in the film mode. That was hard to see with the eye but was there. With the GH1 it was easy to see.

The above was independent from the raw converter settings, it could be tried and confirmed by using a raw converter not reading the processing instructions from the raw file's EXIF values (plain dcraw for example). So, the raw files were different.

What you describe is a raw converter reading the EXIF values and trying to mimic the in-camera settings, no? That is not the same as the raw files is depending on the camera setting.

I haven't followed the GH2 discussions very close. Are there reports on the raw files really getting manipulated differently depending on th ecamera settings?

/Jonas
 

DHart

New member
Just a quick snap... I had just received a new legacy lens (Canon FDn 50/1.4) and was running around the house snapping away. My bud, Harley, was snoozing at the top of the stairs, I was about 8' down the stairway from him looking up, and I asked him if he wanted to go for a ride... then he gave me this look, like, where to, dad?

GH2 / ISO 2500 / Canon FDn 50/1.4 / shot at f/1.4

 

DHart

New member
We know since earlier that the G1 does something wit the raw files depending on the noise reduction settings in the film mode. That was hard to see with the eye but was there. With the GH1 it was easy to see.

The above was independent from the raw converter settings, it could be tried and confirmed by using a raw converter not reading the processing instructions from the raw file's EXIF values (plain dcraw for example). So, the raw files were different.

What you describe is a raw converter reading the EXIF values and trying to mimic the in-camera settings, no? That is not the same as the raw files is depending on the camera setting.

I haven't followed the GH2 discussions very close. Are there reports on the raw files really getting manipulated differently depending on th ecamera settings?

/Jonas
Jonas... see Terry's post #252 above. You must have missed that part of this thread.

I haven't done any controlled, definitive testing on this. I wasn't super happy with some of my images that didn't receive +1 EV compensation. Not necessarily a problem with the camera, though. That was with the camera in Smooth mode, which I set for movies, not thinking it might have any effect on my still RAWs. After that, what I did do is change my film mode back to Standard and have been shooting mostly M. Problem for me is that my use of the camera has been with a wide variety of settings, modes, native and legacy glass, and different metering modes and such, that my results can't really count as scientifically controlled tests.

My general impression is that the GH2 sensor definitely likes to be exposed as close to clipping white point as possible, but without clipping. This often means using a bit of +1/3 to +1 EV exp comp. I don't find the GH2 sensor has as much "salvageable" dynamic range as the sensor in my 5DMkII, but of course comparing a m4/3 sensor to the 5DMkII FF sensor, that's probably to be expected.

I need more time and use with the camera to learn more about it. So far, though, I think it's the best m4/3 camera there is, for a variety of reasons. I love it. And I still love the GF1 very much too, for what it is and does.

The GH2 and legacy lenses have re-invigorated my passion for image making. After many years as a working pro, sometimes I need some new photo tools to refresh and inspire the passion. We're fortunate to have such wonderful cameras and so MANY cool lenses to play with. This is super fun.
 
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biglouis

Well-known member
Don, great capture! I'm amazed at the quality for iso2500. That is definitely a combination which will yield great results.

LouisB
 

biglouis

Well-known member
GH-2 100-300 iso1600 f5.6

This is not the greatest picture but I am amazed that I was able to capture detail at iso1600, whereas my GF-1 would have been total mush. The sensor in the GH-2 is definitely a step up.

 

Leica 77

New member
Just a quick snap... I had just received a new legacy lens (Canon FDn 50/1.4) and was running around the house snapping away. My bud, Harley, was snoozing at the top of the stairs, I was about 8' down the stairway from him looking up, and I asked him if he wanted to go for a ride... then he gave me this look, like, where to, dad?

GH2 / ISO 2500 / Canon FDn 50/1.4 / shot at f/1.4

Hi Don,

This is a superb portrait of your bud Harley! :thumbs::thumbs::thumbs: :)
 

Jonas

Active member
Jonas... see Terry's post #252 above. You must have missed that part of this thread.
(...)
Hi Don,

No I didn't miss Terry's post. I also didn't miss Amy's threads over at DPR. I may have missed some information in them but glancing at them once again now didn't change my impression; I never saw anything in them making me believe the raw files themselves were manipulated by the film mode settings. Amy only used ACR and the developed images will, of course, look different when the camera settings are changed.

I still guess they (the raw data streams) are somewhat altered but I would like to know for sure.

regards,

Jonas
 

DHart

New member
Jonas... no, I'm not saying that the film modes change the RAWs, though I don't really know for sure. Perhaps the side car info to the RAW instructs the converter to apply some changes to the RAW during conversion, which some converters may implement and others not. On this I don't know for sure either.

I do feel that my selection of Smooth mode for video work seemed to have created a change in the way my RAWs looked in LR3. But again, I really don't know enough to say this for sure as I haven't conducted any controlled tests on this. I must defer to others who have studied this more closely than I have.
 

DHart

New member
Leica 77, hey my friend, thanks for appreciating the image!

Louis, and all, here's another example of the GH2 at ISO 2500.

The clean look of the image at that ISO is very striking indeed, but what astounds me even more is the IS capability of this lens. I can shoot this camera with the 14-140mm lens at full extension of 140mm (280 equiv.) hand held, and at 1/15th second still get super crisp sharpness! The lens has shown this capability to me on a number of occasions and I'm mind boggled by that. I think the GH2 and 14-140 combination is truly a magical combination.

Here are two versions of the same RAW capture, LR3 conversion, GH2, ISO 2500, hand held, moderately dim interior shot with strong backlight from windows behind the subject (no windows behind me), 14-140 lens @ 140mm, aperture wide open @ f/5.8, shutter 1/15th sec. First image with slight cropping, no noise detergent, second image slight noise detergent (LR3).





I'm VERY impressed with this camera and this lens. (And it looks like I need to actuate my sensor cleaning function! I've been doing a lot of lens swaps.)
 

DHart

New member
One more fun shot from today with the GH2, ISO 800, 20/1.7 lens @ f/1.7



These next three with the Canon FDn 50mm f/1.4 lens @ f/2





 
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Mine arrived yesterday. I love it!

First question. How have you experienced users re-mapped your Function Keys?

The 'out of the box' suggestions are (IMHO) inappropriate for RAW users.

Especially that F1 that moves you into iA - does anyone use that?

Tony
 

biglouis

Well-known member
Mine arrived yesterday. I love it!

First question. How have you experienced users re-mapped your Function Keys?

The 'out of the box' suggestions are (IMHO) inappropriate for RAW users.

Especially that F1 that moves you into iA - does anyone use that?

Tony
Yes, I use the one on top of the body for setting the metering and at least one other for turning on and off the grid lines on the display. Can't remember what I did with the third.

There is no correct answer here (of course). I really enjoy have a grid superimposed on my viewfinder and I am sure it has greatly improved my composition.

LouisB
 
Thanks Louis,

I've opted for:-

1. Grid

2. Flash compensation. (I'm a fill fan)

3. Metering options.

iA is on the dial - so why give it a button?

Tony
 
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