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Panasonic exposure limitations

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Vesku said:
I think I have figured the reason why Panasonic dont want to show exposure values in video recording.

Panasonic lenses cant make smooth automatic exposure changes. The camera must use iso or shutter speed to make smooth exposure changes. It is generally not a good idea to use changing shutter speed for video. When using the red video button Panasonic camera uses a locked aperture and changes only shutter speed and/or iso and the exposure is then smooth.

Panasonic dont want to show us that the camera is using "odd" video exposure values like very high and floating shutter speeds because it cant use aperture for video exposure. Most users dont care but if a serious user could see the camera using odd exposure values it would be bad for Panasonic reputation of video oriented camera.

If a user could see those odd exposure values with red video button he would want to prefer manual video mode. Manual video mode P uses also those odd exposure values so Panasonic has chosen not to show any of the automatic exposure values.

The result is that users shoot with wrong apertures and shutter speeds in many situations for example using f22 or 1/2000s in sunny days.
Click to expand...
There's a reason why cine lenses have toothed focal and aperture rings. Cine lens aperture rings are stepless as well, so smooth exposure changes can be made. The idea of changing shutter speeds or ISO mid shot is just nonsense. ND filters solve the problem of keeping low shutter speeds in bright conditions. No serious video shooter is without ND's.
 
Roderick Balle said:
Roderick Balle said:
.... When using the red video button Panasonic camera uses a locked aperture and changes only shutter speed and/or iso and the exposure is then smooth.

Panasonic dont want to show us that the camera is using "odd" video exposure values
Click to expand...
The idea of changing shutter speeds or ISO mid shot is just nonsense.
Click to expand...
That is exactly the reason Panasonic dont want to show what their cameras are doing in automatic mode.
 
Vesku said:
Roderick Balle said:
Vesku said:
.... When using the red video button Panasonic camera uses a locked aperture and changes only shutter speed and/or iso and the exposure is then smooth.

Panasonic dont want to show us that the camera is using "odd" video exposure values
Click to expand...
The idea of changing shutter speeds or ISO mid shot is just nonsense.
Click to expand...
That is exactly the reason Panasonic dont want to show what their cameras are doing in automatic mode.
Click to expand...
Who shoots video in auto mode anyway? I know I don't . Nothing looks worse than noticing an exposure change in video footage. Manual also means manual white balance as well. As in, you should always set your white balance manually when shooting video.

There is software available that can read exif data of video files, like Videospec. It is just not standardised and can get scrubbed whilst going through the wash in post.
 
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I recently acquired a GX8 and there is one thing that really bugs me. I love that you can position the focus point quickly and accurately using your finger on the touchpad. Unfortunately, my nose likes to reposition the point to where it's not wanted.

There's an easy fix, assign one of the function buttons to disable or enable the touchpad. But this is the annoying bit. It would be great if the button was a simple toggle, press it once to change the state it's in. But it doesn't work that way. You have to press it once to bring up the display, press it again to change the state, and half press the shutter to remove the display, three moves in all.

If it were a simple state change then the process of changing the focal point would be very quick, press the function key to enable the touchpad, move your finger across the pad to position the focal point, then end my pressing the function key again to disable the touchpad. A total of three moves.

Instead you have three moves to enable the touchpad, one move to change focal point, and three more moves to disable the touchpad. A total of 7 moves, more than double what it needs to be. That can mean the difference between nailing focus in a fast action situation like a wedding or an event, or missing the shot.

Maybe Panasonic is listening.

Dan
 
Have you tried using the offset touchpad setting? This allows you to keep your eyes in the viewfinder, whilst moving the focal point on the touch pad in a relative manner, as opposed to an absolute manner. It sounds confusing, but in practise works really well. Give it a try.
 
dgnelson said:
I recently acquired a GX8 and there is one thing that really bugs me. I love that you can position the focus point quickly and accurately using your finger on the touchpad. Unfortunately, my nose likes to reposition the point to where it's not wanted.

There's an easy fix, assign one of the function buttons to disable or enable the touchpad. But this is the annoying bit. It would be great if the button was a simple toggle, press it once to change the state it's in. But it doesn't work that way. You have to press it once to bring up the display, press it again to change the state, and half press the shutter to remove the display, three moves in all.

If it were a simple state change then the process of changing the focal point would be very quick, press the function key to enable the touchpad, move your finger across the pad to position the focal point, then end my pressing the function key again to disable the touchpad. A total of three moves.

Instead you have three moves to enable the touchpad, one move to change focal point, and three more moves to disable the touchpad. A total of 7 moves, more than double what it needs to be. That can mean the difference between nailing focus in a fast action situation like a wedding or an event, or missing the shot.

Maybe Panasonic is listening.
Click to expand...
Lets make the solution much more complex than it needs to be! 😳

Easier than all that rigamarole, without disabling an extremely compelling and useful feature, is to simply tilt the EVF up a few degrees. Simple, effective., no Byzantine button press sequences worthy of Olympus interface designers. DONE.
 
dgnelson said:
I recently acquired a GX8 and there is one thing that really bugs me. I love that you can position the focus point quickly and accurately using your finger on the touchpad. Unfortunately, my nose likes to reposition the point to where it's not wanted.

There's an easy fix, assign one of the function buttons to disable or enable the touchpad. But this is the annoying bit. It would be great if the button was a simple toggle, press it once to change the state it's in. But it doesn't work that way. You have to press it once to bring up the display, press it again to change the state, and half press the shutter to remove the display, three moves in all.

If it were a simple state change then the process of changing the focal point would be very quick, press the function key to enable the touchpad, move your finger across the pad to position the focal point, then end my pressing the function key again to disable the touchpad. A total of three moves.

Instead you have three moves to enable the touchpad, one move to change focal point, and three more moves to disable the touchpad. A total of 7 moves, more than double what it needs to be. That can mean the difference between nailing focus in a fast action situation like a wedding or an event, or missing the shot.

Maybe Panasonic is listening.
Click to expand...
they are listening but rarely doing something.

I am sorry that Panasonic camera is so difficult to use for you. It is some times like trying to solve a number lock of a safe when learning a new feature.

Exposure is a basic tool of any camera. Touch pad is just a fancy optional feature.

I think many would complain if they could not see exposure numbers when taking photos.
 
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jeffharris said:
Easier than all that rigamarole, without disabling an extremely compelling and useful feature, is to simply tilt the EVF up a few degrees.
Click to expand...
Thanks Jeff. Yeah, maybe that would work for me. I'll give it a try, see if I can get used to it.

Dan
 
Vesku said:
I am sorry that Panasonic camera is so difficult to use for you.
Click to expand...
Not really difficult, it's just an annoying feature of this camera which I otherwise love.
Vesku said:
Exposure is a basic tool of any camera. Touch pad is just a fancy optional feature.
Click to expand...
Touchpad may be a fancy option, but focus point positioning is an important function of any camera, and Panasonic could make this easier.

Thanks Vesku

Dan
 
dgnelson said:
Roderick Balle said:
Have you tried using the offset touchpad setting?
Click to expand...
Thanks for the suggestion Rod. Yes, that's how I use it. My nose still want to change the position of the focal point.

Dan
Click to expand...
I find I have to use the flipped out to the side orientation for touch AF. Then it works perfectly without the nose moving it
 
dgnelson said:
Vesku said:
I am sorry that Panasonic camera is so difficult to use for you.
Click to expand...
Not really difficult, it's just an annoying feature of this camera which I otherwise love.
dgnelson said:
Exposure is a basic tool of any camera. Touch pad is just a fancy optional feature.
Click to expand...
Touchpad may be a fancy option, but focus point positioning is an important function of any camera, and Panasonic could make this easier.
Click to expand...
Yes, true. I almost always use single focusing and reframing. In autofocus video the focus point positioning is more important. The subject is often off center.
dgnelson said:
Thanks Vesku

Dan
Click to expand...
I can turn my GH4 LCD inside the camera. It protects the monitor and also saves battery if using EVF auto off setting. No nose errors.

By the way this topic is about Panasonic exposure, not focusing.
 
dgnelson said:
I recently acquired a GX8 and there is one thing that really bugs me. I love that you can position the focus point quickly and accurately using your finger on the touchpad. Unfortunately, my nose likes to reposition the point to where it's not wanted.

There's an easy fix, assign one of the function buttons to disable or enable the touchpad. But this is the annoying bit. It would be great if the button was a simple toggle, press it once to change the state it's in. But it doesn't work that way. You have to press it once to bring up the display, press it again to change the state, and half press the shutter to remove the display, three moves in all.

If it were a simple state change then the process of changing the focal point would be very quick, press the function key to enable the touchpad, move your finger across the pad to position the focal point, then end my pressing the function key again to disable the touchpad. A total of three moves.

Instead you have three moves to enable the touchpad, one move to change focal point, and three more moves to disable the touchpad. A total of 7 moves, more than double what it needs to be. That can mean the difference between nailing focus in a fast action situation like a wedding or an event, or missing the shot.

Maybe Panasonic is listening.

Dan
Click to expand...
To avoid "nose" touch just lift the EVF slightly. That is what it there for.

The accessory eye cup is also worth its weight in gold:-) Completely shuts out bright light.

Ian
 
dgnelson said:
Vesku said:
I am sorry that Panasonic camera is so difficult to use for you.
Click to expand...
Not really difficult, it's just an annoying feature of this camera which I otherwise love.
dgnelson said:
Exposure is a basic tool of any camera. Touch pad is just a fancy optional feature.
Click to expand...
Touchpad may be a fancy option, but focus point positioning is an important function of any camera, and Panasonic could make this easier.
Click to expand...
What could be easier, simpler or more intuitive than shifting the focus point with a finger (I use my thumb) when using the EVF?

With my GH2 I spent lots of time fussing with the 4-way button pad. The GX7 saved me from that. I rarely compose with the subject (if there is a specific one) dead-center in the frame, so the ability to quickly and intuitively do so is crucial.
 
dgnelson said:
IanYorke said:
dgnelson said:
The accessory eye cup is also worth its weight in gold:-) Completely shuts out bright light.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Thanks for that tip, I'll look into it.
Click to expand...
The extended eyecup should be standard issue! It makes a big difference in bright light.

Another nice add-on is one of the Fotodiox hotshoe mounted thumb grips. I use them on my GX7 and GX8 and it improves the already good handling quite a bit.
 
Roderick Balle said:
Vesku said:
Roderick Balle said:
Vesku said:
.... When using the red video button Panasonic camera uses a locked aperture and changes only shutter speed and/or iso and the exposure is then smooth.

Panasonic dont want to show us that the camera is using "odd" video exposure values
Click to expand...
The idea of changing shutter speeds or ISO mid shot is just nonsense.
Click to expand...
That is exactly the reason Panasonic dont want to show what their cameras are doing in automatic mode.
Click to expand...
Who shoots video in auto mode anyway? I know I don't . Nothing looks worse than noticing an exposure change in video footage.
Click to expand...
When the video image goes completely black or massively overexposed during a clip it looks worse than a smooth exposure change and optimal exposure.
 
Vesku said:
Roderick Balle said:
Vesku said:
Roderick Balle said:
Vesku said:
.... When using the red video button Panasonic camera uses a locked aperture and changes only shutter speed and/or iso and the exposure is then smooth.

Panasonic dont want to show us that the camera is using "odd" video exposure values
Click to expand...
The idea of changing shutter speeds or ISO mid shot is just nonsense.
Click to expand...
That is exactly the reason Panasonic dont want to show what their cameras are doing in automatic mode.
Click to expand...
Who shoots video in auto mode anyway? I know I don't . Nothing looks worse than noticing an exposure change in video footage.
Click to expand...
When the video image goes completely black or massively overexposed during a clip it looks worse than a smooth exposure change and optimal exposure.
Click to expand...
You're not without exposure change options without having the need to change ISO (Gain in video parlance) In Shutter priority, let the camera transition aperture. Use a variable ND. Do it in post with an edit?

AGC (Auto Gain control) is normal in decent video cameras, but for whatever reason we don't have it in these hybrid cameras. Still, they offer so much already, you just have to use your ingenuity to get the shot.
 
Roderick Balle said:
Vesku said:
Roderick Balle said:
Vesku said:
Roderick Balle said:
Vesku said:
.... When using the red video button Panasonic camera uses a locked aperture and changes only shutter speed and/or iso and the exposure is then smooth.

Panasonic dont want to show us that the camera is using "odd" video exposure values
Click to expand...
The idea of changing shutter speeds or ISO mid shot is just nonsense.
Click to expand...
That is exactly the reason Panasonic dont want to show what their cameras are doing in automatic mode.
Click to expand...
Who shoots video in auto mode anyway? I know I don't . Nothing looks worse than noticing an exposure change in video footage.
Click to expand...
When the video image goes completely black or massively overexposed during a clip it looks worse than a smooth exposure change and optimal exposure.
Click to expand...
You're not without exposure change options without having the need to change ISO (Gain in video parlance) In Shutter priority, let the camera transition aperture. Use a variable ND. Do it in post with an edit?
Click to expand...
All of those makes visible faults in video image and smoothness. Auto iso is very smooth and non-disturbing. The lack of auto iso in M and auto iso upper limiter makes it less valuable. Lack of minimum shutter speed makes also A-mode dangerous. The lack of exposure numbers makes everything a big guessing game.
Roderick Balle said:
AGC (Auto Gain control) is normal in decent video cameras, but for whatever reason we don't have it in these hybrid cameras.
Click to expand...
We have auto iso = auto gain.
Roderick Balle said:
Still, they offer so much already, you just have to use your ingenuity to get the shot.
Click to expand...
The camera is usually smarter than me. I just dont understand why Panasonic has removed part of that camera ingenuity.
 
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