GX80: 4k video recording settings

Hello,

I just got my GX80 (that's the European GX85) and was wondering what the best recording mode would be for run and gun videos.

I know manual is 'the way to go' but since I capture my 6 year old running around ( https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjfGPENpVL8pLMTcrbYKtTg ) that isn't always the most straight forward.

So as I am new to the system and my video knowledge is limited I'd like to see what settings you guys use, advise, and stay away from.

If I'd want to stick to the 180 rule, my best bets would be to stick to 1/50sec shutterspeed (shooting at 24 or 25p), set my apeture to what I desire in terms of DOF and have the only variable be the ISO. If I understand correctly, shooting with a fixed shutter speed and aperture but have the camera balance the exposure using an Auto ISO function is not possible? Is this correct?

So my other options would be:

Aperture priority with auto ISO (or a fixed ISO): this would lead to a changing shutter speed mid shot, right? Is there a way to actually see the shutter speed and ISO? That way I could learn which of the two the camera prioritizes, and learn 'how it thinks', how shutter and ISO move around, etc...

Here's a scenario: A mode, and Auto ISO: what shutter speed would the camera suggest (does the camera prefer a fast shutter, slow shutter, does it prefer 50/sec, ...) and which (shutter or ISO) carries the most weight (so which of the two will it change first)

Shutter priority: again, with or without Auto ISO? I read somewhere that panasonic camera's don't smoothly switch between apertures so this might not be the best?

P mode: no control, so no go

Which focus mode would you suggest? I guess one point with a large surface might be best for running around stuff? Continous AF for when the shoot will include movement, etc..., turning it off for static/framed shots? I know panasonics aren't the best focussing camera's so when doing run and gun shooting a larger aperture might be better to keep it from hunting as much?

I'm using the 12-32 kitlens if that matters.

Thanks in advance! Looking forward to your advice and I hope to have some fun with this camera

For run and gun shoot when you have no time to prepare your shot I use aperture priority, as you say, it is not possible to set auto ISO in manual mode. I really think many good videos are recorded without following the 180 degrees rule and for us amateurs I don´t think it is that important.

As for focus modes, I use single point autofocus with AFC on. I increase the size of the focus point and place it in the middle when I am vlogging so that it is easier for the camera to focus on me. When I am shooting landscapes or other people, I decrease the size of the focus point and move it with the touchscreen.

A very important trick I discovered is using the AE/AEL button to lock autofocus. What I realized is than when you have AFC on, the focus tends to hunt a lot and is a pain in the ass. So what I do is setting the focus point with the touchscreen, press the AE/AEL button to lock focus and keep it pressed as long as I want the focus to be locked, and release it when I want to change the focus point, pressing it again when the focus is where I want it to be. In this way, it is possible to pan or tilt without focus hunting, and you give the camera the oportunity to autofocus when you release the button.

I don´t know if I have explained myself...

Excellent advice!

Do you set the ISO to auto or keep it set at a fixed value?
I'm guessing 200 outdoor, 800-1600 indoor as in the film days?

Also: feel free to share your vlogs! ;-)

Thanks!

Benny

I set ISO to auto. I prefer having the shot even if the ISO is high... We are just trying to capture good memories, I don´t think having a grainy image is going to harm us...

In addition, I have the panasonic 15 1.7 and voigtlander 42.5 0.95, so shooting at night is not a major problem. However, autofocus sucks in low light...

How are you liking that 15mm?

It doesn't have IS, correct? Is it still stable with 'only' in body IS?

TwostrokePhotography said:

Hello,

I just got my GX80 (that's the European GX85) and was wondering what the best recording mode would be for run and gun videos.

I know manual is 'the way to go' but since I capture my 6 year old running around ( https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjfGPENpVL8pLMTcrbYKtTg ) that isn't always the most straight forward.

So as I am new to the system and my video knowledge is limited I'd like to see what settings you guys use, advise, and stay away from.

If I'd want to stick to the 180 rule, my best bets would be to stick to 1/50sec shutterspeed (shooting at 24 or 25p), set my apeture to what I desire in terms of DOF and have the only variable be the ISO. If I understand correctly, shooting with a fixed shutter speed and aperture but have the camera balance the exposure using an Auto ISO function is not possible? Is this correct?

So my other options would be:

Aperture priority with auto ISO (or a fixed ISO): this would lead to a changing shutter speed mid shot, right? Is there a way to actually see the shutter speed and ISO? That way I could learn which of the two the camera prioritizes, and learn 'how it thinks', how shutter and ISO move around, etc...

Here's a scenario: A mode, and Auto ISO: what shutter speed would the camera suggest (does the camera prefer a fast shutter, slow shutter, does it prefer 50/sec, ...) and which (shutter or ISO) carries the most weight (so which of the two will it change first)

Shutter priority: again, with or without Auto ISO? I read somewhere that panasonic camera's don't smoothly switch between apertures so this might not be the best?

Click to expand...

Depends on the lens, the mk 11 12-35 is good, although I don't know if your firmware will use that.

TwostrokePhotography said:

P mode: no control, so no go

Which focus mode would you suggest? I guess one point with a large surface might be best for running around stuff? Continous AF for when the shoot will include movement, etc..., turning it off for static/framed shots? I know panasonics aren't the best focussing camera's so when doing run and gun shooting a larger aperture might be better to keep it from hunting as much?

I'm using the 12-32 kitlens if that matters.

Thanks in advance! Looking forward to your advice and I hope to have some fun with this camera

Click to expand...

I'd suggest either Shutter speed priority with Auto ISO and a sensible upper limit (say 800 or 1600 if dark) or Manual with Auto-ISO. You also want a variable ND filter to get sensible apertures when it's bright out (I find the Hoya one works well for me).

Can you set the upper limit for Auto ISO for video?

Didn't know I could do that? Where's that setting?

Cheers

Benny

TwostrokePhotography said:

Hello,

I just got my GX80 (that's the European GX85) and was wondering what the best recording mode would be for run and gun videos.

I know manual is 'the way to go' but since I capture my 6 year old running around ( https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjfGPENpVL8pLMTcrbYKtTg ) that isn't always the most straight forward.

So as I am new to the system and my video knowledge is limited I'd like to see what settings you guys use, advise, and stay away from.

If I'd want to stick to the 180 rule, my best bets would be to stick to 1/50sec shutterspeed (shooting at 24 or 25p), set my apeture to what I desire in terms of DOF and have the only variable be the ISO. If I understand correctly, shooting with a fixed shutter speed and aperture but have the camera balance the exposure using an Auto ISO function is not possible? Is this correct?

Click to expand...

Yes, Auto ISO is not available in manual for video. But even apart from that, using ISO to control brightness is only feasible in low light conditions, as in good light you'll be forced to use base ISO regardless. You then have to close the aperture to control exposure and thus you loose control over DOF. Furthermore, in bright outdoor conditions the aperture has to be extremely small if you want to stick to 1/50s, in the region affected by diffraction softening.

IMO, the only reasonable way to adhere to the 180 degree rule is to use a variable ND filter to manually control exposure. Then you also retain DOF control. Might this be just too much hassle when you only want take videos of your kids? Yes, at least to me, it is.

TwostrokePhotography said:

So my other options would be:

Aperture priority with auto ISO (or a fixed ISO): this would lead to a changing shutter speed mid shot, right? Is there a way to actually see the shutter speed and ISO? That way I could learn which of the two the camera prioritizes, and learn 'how it thinks', how shutter and ISO move around, etc...

Here's a scenario: A mode, and Auto ISO: what shutter speed would the camera suggest (does the camera prefer a fast shutter, slow shutter, does it prefer 50/sec, ...) and which (shutter or ISO) carries the most weight (so which of the two will it change first)

Click to expand...

This is what I would suggest to use. The shutter speed floats freely as the camera uses it to control exposure. You will not get the traditional "cinematic" amount of motion blur, but that is hardly noticable in most cases. This is the approach used by all smartphones and action cams, which do not have variable apertures or ND filters.

TwostrokePhotography said:

Shutter priority: again, with or without Auto ISO? I read somewhere that panasonic camera's don't smoothly switch between apertures so this might not be the best?

Click to expand...

Similar to manual, without an ND filter the camera will be forced to use very small apertures outdoors and you loose DOF control. You might get flickering with some lenses, but I have not tested it.

TwostrokePhotography said:

P mode: no control, so no go

Which focus mode would you suggest? I guess one point with a large surface might be best for running around stuff? Continous AF for when the shoot will include movement, etc..., turning it off for static/framed shots? I know panasonics aren't the best focussing camera's so when doing run and gun shooting a larger aperture might be better to keep it from hunting as much?

Click to expand...

When shooting scenes with a lot of movement, you might consider using 1080p. The AF is much faster in that mode and you get less rolling shutter artifacts. Also, using a small aperture (F8, e.g.) helps the AF system a lot.

Aitoritu said:

For run and gun shoot when you have no time to prepare your shot I use aperture priority, as you say, it is not possible to set auto ISO in manual mode. I really think many good videos are recorded without following the 180 degrees rule and for us amateurs I don´t think it is that important.

As for focus modes, I use single point autofocus with AFC on. I increase the size of the focus point and place it in the middle when I am vlogging so that it is easier for the camera to focus on me. When I am shooting landscapes or other people, I decrease the size of the focus point and move it with the touchscreen.

A very important trick I discovered is using the AE/AEL button to lock autofocus. What I realized is than when you have AFC on, the focus tends to hunt a lot and is a pain in the ass. So what I do is setting the focus point with the touchscreen, press the AE/AEL button to lock focus and keep it pressed as long as I want the focus to be locked, and release it when I want to change the focus point, pressing it again when the focus is where I want it to be. In this way, it is possible to pan or tilt without focus hunting, and you give the camera the oportunity to autofocus when you release the button.

I don´t know if I have explained myself...

Click to expand...

Excellent summary, I second that. The only difference in my case is that I set the AF/AE Lock button behavior to "AF Lock" (not "AF ON"). Then the button toggles between continuous AF and AF locked. This means I don't have to keep the button pressed when I want the camera to focus. In general, I lock focus whenever possible.

I also use subject tracking sometimes. The tracking works fine, but the AF itself is less reliable than with a single point. But when the subject moves in an unpredictable way (e.g., a kid), I find it a better choice than the single point mode.

TwostrokePhotography said:

How are you liking that 15mm?

It doesn't have IS, correct? Is it still stable with 'only' in body IS?

Click to expand...

I have the 15mm/1.7 as well and I also use several other lenses without OIS (9-18mm, 25mm/1.8, 45mm/1.8). The IBIS is fantastic for video, I have found little difference between IBIS and Dual IS.

I am just a casual video shooter still leaning when would video be better to use than still.

I mainly use S for video (A for still) because shutter speed can affect the video IQ. Auto ISO is always supported.

I would avoid A since GX85 might change the shutter speed during recording.

BTW, you can also use EC for the changing lighting condition. It is very effective and can be faster than let the camera to do the adjustment (when needed) by itself.

If on a great hurry, select iA+, and hit the red video button. It could also do a very good job.

I use aperture priority in good light outdoors and shutter priority with auto iso indoors or low light. i dont mind high shutter speed/sharp motion.

Aperture priority gives smooth exposure changes outdoors. Shutter priority makes nasty stepping aperture changes.

Indoors or lowlight the aperture stays fully open all the time when using shutter priority and proper SS like 1/50s or 1/60s. Exposure changes then smoothly with auto iso.

alcelc said:

I am just a casual video shooter still leaning when would video be better to use than still.

I mainly use S for video (A for still) because shutter speed can affect the video IQ. Auto ISO is always supported.

Click to expand...

No, shutter speed does not affect video IQ at all, it changes the amount of motion blur in video. On the other hand, S will give you a soft image on a bright day (without an ND filter), as a very small aperture has to be used.

alcelc said:

I would avoid A since GX85 might change the shutter speed during recording.

Click to expand...

Why is that bad? I would say a change in aperture is more problematic, as a DoF change might be distracting and the lens might not be able to change aperture seamlessly.

alcelc said:

BTW, you can also use EC for the changing lighting condition. It is very effective and can be faster than let the camera to do the adjustment (when needed) by itself.

If on a great hurry, select iA+, and hit the red video button. It could also do a very good job.

--
Albert

Click to expand...

You don't have to select iA+, the red button starts a video in auto mode in all modes apart from video-M.

Vesku said:

I use aperture priority in good light outdoors and shutter priority with auto iso indoors or low light. i dont mind high shutter speed/sharp motion.

Aperture priority gives smooth exposure changes outdoors. Shutter priority makes nasty stepping aperture changes.

Indoors or lowlight the aperture stays fully open all the time when using shutter priority and proper SS like 1/50s or 1/60s. Exposure changes then smoothly with auto iso.

Click to expand...

That I think is an excellent advice, as under artificial lighting one might get banding/flickering with improper shutter speed. And it is important to note that the correct shutter speed does not necessarily correspond to the 180 degree angle, as it depends on the AC frequency, so e.g. it is 1/60s in the US (even if one shoot 24fps) and 1/50s in Europe (even if one shoots 30fps). In my experience, lower shutter speeds generally work as well and a fixed shutter speed at twice the frequency (1/100s or 1/120s) is ok too.

TwostrokePhotography said:

How are you liking that 15mm?

It doesn't have IS, correct? Is it still stable with 'only' in body IS?

Click to expand...

I like the lens a lot, beautiful colours and the image pops. It's compact and love the aperture ring. Manual focus is nice. However, autofocus in low light hunts a lot in video.

I would love more thinner depth of field but that would mean a much bigger lens that I do not want to carry around.

Ibis is nice and enough for keeping the camera still, although I am not too good panning and tilting, I have incredible shaky hands, I need to improve my technique...