OM-1 Video Question

[Andrew Ellis]

Firstly let me preface this question with the fact that a videographer I most certainly am not, so this could be a very basic question for seasoned video shooters out there.

Right, with that out of the way, to the questions. I've shot video on my Olympus cameras for years now, but basically just set it to record 4k video and away i went. I'd like to explore the OM-1's more advanced video features, but ran into a few issues.

As I understand it (and correct me if i am wrong), if I shoot in H264 codec, I have the choice of 24-60FPS but all in a non Log or HLG format. If i want Log or HLG i have to switch to the H265 codec. However, this is where my inexperience shows. I understand if i shoot in OM-Log 400, that the minimum ISO is ISO400. I would have assumed (as per shooting photos), that the ISO would only climb when the light levels drop, however what I've been finding is that if I select H265 and Log 400 picture control, that outside, my ISO's climb straight away to ISO1000-1600 meaning that my aperture is closed down to say F11-F16 automatically to prevent the image being blown out.

I assumed that if this light level warranted these settings, that as my shutter speed was locked at 1/100 sec (in shutter priority mode and 50FPS), that my shooting settings would have been something like 1/100 sec, ISO400, F5.6 (not ISO1600, F11 for instance).

It only seems to be when light levels get really dark (i.e. inside), that the aperture opens to max. It's obviously me doing something wrong, but anyone got any ideas please ?

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Lets make pictures, not war........

 

[Joe Lynch]

Try putting the exposure mode in manual with auto iso, then set your shutter and aperture and let the camera choose the iso, and use the exposure compensation to adjust if needed. The iso 400 indicator will blink if the scene is overexposed and the camera can't lower the iso any more. And you will see a lot of blinking iso 400 indications in bright sunlight at normal video shutter speeds.

I don't have a big enough ND filter for the Great White, so I run in to this a lot in bright sunlight, even shooting at 1/400th and f11 for the 200 fps h.265 OMlog400 settings.

The best solution for me is a proper 3 stop ND for my big lens, you may need a 5 stop for the slower shutter speed and normal frame rates.

So, short answer is use a 5 stop ND for sunlight outdoors. Short term is increase the shutter speed so the footage isn't overexposed, assuming your aperture is already pegged out .

The good thing is that the h.265 codec and OMlog400 work great if not overexposed, whereas I never could use it with the h.264 files in 8bit on the earlier cameras. I wound up just using Flat with the E-M1ii, iii, and X bodies.