GX7 video settings?

MerikW wrote:

Hi!

I would love to get some feedback on what video settings you are using on the Panasonic GX7. The GX7 is my first camera that can record decent video so I'm very new to it all. I've read the manual but you don't get very much help in how to get the best results.

I recommend for video standard or natural(=neutral) profile and contrast decreased a bit .

What mode is best to use? The M-Camera symbol mode? Or just stay in P or maybe S and record? I've read that it is important to decide what shutter speed to be used and a rule is to have shutter speed at 2x the FPS. So I use MP4 50p and should use a shutter of 1/100s. Do anyone think like this?

If you want to set exposure values you must use manual movie mode and choose the exposure mode A,S,P from video menu. 2xfps is a common rule and it gives normal looking motion blur.

This is kind of tricky situation because manual movie mode automatic exposure S (i.e 1/100s) is in theory a good choice but Panasonic cameras changes apertures in jumps or steps so the result is jumpy exposure. If you use A then camera changes shutter speed steplessly and smooth but you get easily too high shutter speed and choppy motion. If you trust P exposure then camera tries to select both optimal values but it is not showing the values and nobody knows what it is doing. M (manual) is best for result but you must know what you are doing and if light changes you get easily under or overexposed clip. Auto iso in M mode would solve these problems but Panasonic is not offering it.

I hope I didnt confuse you more

And deciding on what format to use, MP4 or AVHCD? I use MP4 now because it seems to work good in iMovie. I can't even see any difference between 25p or 50p but maybe higher is better?

50P motion is smoother but it demands more playing end editing power. AVCHD 28Mbs has much better IQ than mp4 (mp4 is lower bitrate if I remember right, I dont have GX7, I have GH4) .

I've found a setting in the Motion Picture menu that says "Flkr Decrease", should this be used? It says it will set the shutter speed to 1/50 or some other values but I can't understand what it will actually do.

This is for electrical lights indoors because in Europe is 50 Hz lights and electricity and the 1/50s or 1/100s does not interference with lights. If you choose other values the video will flicker in indoor lightning. In US or other 60HZ land you can use 1/60 or 1/120 indoors.

Sorry for all the questions but I haven't found any answers to this and I would really appreciate some help. And maybe some of the questions could have been posted in the video forum..