Panasonic GH4 first day test

Every few years a camera comes along that makes a lot of noise. 5D and FS700 for example and recently the GH4. All offering the seemingly impossible ahead of the curve.

Promising 4K, decent slow motion frame rates, small form factor among a load of other features that will make most video nerds happy the GH4 certainly made some noise and so far I cant really argue with it either.

I got the camera last week which I was in Slovenia so was keen to give it a testing as soon as I got back, get used to it and see how it performed. With this in mind I gave my mate, Bristol local and Trek world racing rider Laurie Greenland a call and asked if he wanted to go shoot a mini edit. Worked out well in that he had just got his new 27.5 race bike that morning and wanted to test that out as well.

• All filmed with the GH4, and 14-140 kit lens.
• All filmed in about 2-3 hours in the rain ( to test the weather proof claims )
• In either 1080/96 or 4K/24  
• Using the CinelikeD picture profile, with everything turned down, and Master Pdsl at +10

Here its set up with the video mic pro. The screen is sharp, bright and easy to use.

Settings differ between shots a lot, but for slow motion stuff either 100th or 200th shutter speed, for full speed either 50th or 100th. ISO tried to keep it on either 200/400/800 when outside and the shots indoors at the start are at 1600.

The brilliant WIFI option to use with Iphones and Ipads.

One thing thats worth mentioning as well is the amazing way you can link the camera via its built in WIFI to your phone/Ipad etc

You have full control of the camera, and I mean full. Anything you can do with the camera itself you can now do with no delay, wireless from your phone. When I say no delay I really mean it as well, even violently whipping the camera about the image on the phone shows no noticeable lag, great feature.

Great for when the camera is in a rig, on a jib or even as a small second monitor.

Was raining pretty hard all afternoon and other than rain getting on the lens it didn't flinch once. 

The Weather sealing seemed pretty good as well. Wouldnt want to test it any more to be honest but it dealt with some pretty real persistant drizzle well and without grumble.


Please find the video below. Only short and I tried to include shots that highlight what I want to talk about.



I have taken a few screen grabs of clips to show you some of the things I noticed: 

C4K/24 , The first few shots where inside a dull bike shop. I wanted to see how it acted in low light, and these where shot at ISO 1600 and show some pretty clear noise.

This camera never claimed to be amazing in low light, so it was no surprise that it doesnt quite match the 5D3. That said the image is also a LOT sharper, which really makes any noise there is stand out quite a lot more than the 5D.

200/400/800 are all fine and clean enough to not notice any real noise. Its just as you step up to 1600 you notice some. I managed to underexpose slightly which didn't help, so if your shooting low light on the GH4 make sure you nail exposure and maybe over expose slightly. Not an issue as the image retains lots of detail in the highlights.

C4K/24 off the camera

Graded

1080/96 off the camera

1080/96 Graded

1080/96 off the camera

1080/96 Graded

As you can see with my picture profile settings the image right off the camera is really nice and flat and grades well. I will play about and tweak the settings slightly to see if backing off the Master Pdstl helps reduce noise etc but for now I am really happy with the image.

Everyone was saying the 1080/96 image was pretty unuseable for wide shots with lots of detail, but as the final shot in the video shows, I cant see that. Looks great to me.

As for the 96P being soft, when the image is this razor sharp to start with again I didn't notice it at all in real world use. Coming from a 5D3 that in comparison has grease all over the lens all the time it all looks pretty sharp to me.

You get a better image for grading in every way than the 5D3 from what I have seen, and nearly as nice as the FS700 but still not quite. But this camera costs £1500 ish not £6000 ish so...

The C4K looks great, being able to crop in on shots is great, having the room to stabilize in post is again great, its sharp, doesn't band in sky's, is at a sensible data rate so doesn't rape space on cards and drives and the crop factor of the lens isn't much of an issue, its just part of the camera and something you forget pretty fast and just deal with.

Its pretty much the same story for the 1080/96 as well, for 1080 web delivery I cant see any real noticeable difference. Nothing to write home about anyway. Perhaps just steer clear of slow motion check shirts etc and you will be fine.

I think as soon as Metabones pull their fingers out and give us a good EF to M43 speed booster this camera will sing. Till then its still pretty damn impressive.

Any more questions etc comment below.

Thanks

Aspect

Aspect media - The big gear post!

Here at Aspect we seem to have amassed quite the collection of gear over the last few years.

Gear is your best friend and your worst enemy. Just as soon as you buy something, the next model comes out. Gopro, BMCC etc all bringing out new versions of cameras just as the last products start to ship pretty much. This makes investing in gear you own tricky, but well worth it.

Here is a bit of info on what we chose.

So being on the cutting edge is damn near impossible to do, not really worth it now that there are cameras around that can do everything you could ever need, and not to mention damn pricey.

With all that in mind here is a glimpse inside the gear bags of both Chris and Jacob at Aspect.

Jacob the photo nerd who also shoots video, Chris the video specific wizard.

Despite the differing gear we both share the same main bags. The Lowepro Vertex 300AW.

Hell of a main bag, designed with the outdoors in mind, rugged, water resistant zips, AW rain cover built in, fits loads in, is comfy for wearing all day, fits tight enough to be fine riding with it on, and fits in all carry on luggage bins. Which when we have both been on about 20 flights each this year already is a pretty important one. You want to keep 90% of your gear with you at all times, and handing it over to baggage monkeys is your last LAST option. What more do you need !?

Chris -The video man

Chris's day to day bag for Video

Exploded view on the left, all packed up on the right. Just to prove how much you can fit in the Vertex. A real tardis of a bag.

From the top to the bottom of the left image we have:

• Canon 70-200ii 2.8 IS
• Canon 7D
• Samyang 35 1.4 
• Zoom H4N
• Sony FS700 ( with Slog upgrade ) 
• Canon 17-55 2.8 IS
• Tokina 11-16 2.8 
• Canon 50mm 1.4
• Shot gun Mic with dead cat 
• Sennheiser wireless lav mics
• Macbook pro 2014 

Lots of battery's, chargers, caps, remotes etc for it all.

Chris running the FS700 shooting for Monster Energy this Feb on Table mountain, RSA

We also have a load more gear for video that you obviously cant fit in that tiny little bag. From various tripods from big heavy duty ones for Jibs etc, to carbon legs for flying with and general work.

We also use steady cams ( Glidecam HD4000 and 2000 )
Sliders, Glidetrack
And various lights etc

These all have their own cases and bags that get ferried about most places we end up.

Getting the shots with the Steady Cam/Fs700 set up.

Jacob - Photo/Video

Jacobs normal day to day kit bag for Still/Video

So shooting both stills and video on most jobs the kit in this bag changes depending on the job. Its much more mix and match than Chris's which stays the same pretty much. 

If I just shoot photos, the Mics, LCDVF, intervalometer etc all come out and extra flashes, reflectors, soft boxes etc go in their place. 

But for a job we have tomorrow where both are needed, its packed as the images above shows: 

Canon 5Dmk3 

Panasonic GH4 with 14-140 IS lens

Gopro 3+black 

Canon 70-200 2.8 IS
Canon 24-105 F4 IS
Canon 100 2.8 macro
Canon 50 1.8
Canon 15 2.8
Zoom H4N
Rode Video mic pro
Rode Lav mic
3 x Nikon SB800 with extra battery packs
4 x PW2 flash triggers
Vari ND filter
Intervalometer 

LCDVF

Spare cards and battery's etc

Again more gear is used such as sliders, steady cams ( but the HD2000 as my video camera is a lot lighter than the FS700 ) lights etc 

Jacob shooting at the EWS opening round in Chile last month with the FS700

And shooting out in the Israel desert with the 5D3 a few weeks back

So that's it really. There might be the odd clamp, arm, tripod or bag left out but mostly its all here.

Capable of everything from top level still images, 240+ FPS high speed shooting, 4K and everything inbetween and all capable of going as far into the mountains as we can carry it. All in one bag mostly.

Saying that we do have a pretty wide range of Lowpro bags we use, some smaller, lighter for when you dont need much gear, are on a huge ride or location scouting. To Neater bags for commercial jobs in a city where turning up with half a pine tree lodged in your bag isn't quite on. We swap gear between then as it fits us. Its good to have options and they all do their own things.

Few of the other Lowepro bags we use day to day.

We use one for back up gear and spares full time, another for the Gopro gear and accessories, another for studio lights etc etc

Like I say, riding with these on is all part of the job and the gear we use there is just as key. From bikes ( Banshee Spitfires ) to Fox clothing and riding kit. Its all adds up price wise but your only as strong as your weakest link so it makes sense to spend that little bit more and get it right first time and that's what all this gear does.

Any more questions just ask...

Aspect

PS: GH4 test footage and real world footage coming in the next week for all those who are waiting/on the fence.

How ? Wideopenmag issue 22 cover shot

Had a few people ask me over the last few days how the latest cover shot of wideopenmag of Manon Carpenter was taken so I though I would put a blog post up about it.

The shot needed to be taken in the next week, I was about to leave the UK as was Manon and the magazine had to go to the printers, so time was of the essence. The day we had to make it happen had to be pissing wet, obviously, so the kind of sunny, bright, MBUK style cover shot was out.

This worked well to be honest though as Wideopens covers are never super glossy, going for a much more real kind of image, and they dont have all the headlines and titles all over them.

Anyway we got to the track in South Wales, hiked up the hill, had a look at a few jumps ( Jamie the editor had asked for a shot of her in the air with some style, to show girls can do a turn bar ) none of which where working quite right, so we tried about 2/3 till we found this one that Manon could get a good shape on and the shot looked good.

I set up some flashes ( Nikon SB800, with extra battery piggy back, in sandwich bags ) only 2, the back rim light had a coloured gel on it, been wanting to play about more with coloured light for a while now and this seemed like a good time. I shot it with normal clear backlight as well incase it was too much.

Few slight changes in lighting, angle and shape from Manon

This white back light shot edited up is almost my favorite, but I don't pick the editor does.

The fact it was raining is why you can see the cloud of purple specs behind Manon, if it had been dry this shot would of been much less eye catching and instead just seen a slight line of purple light around her outline, but with the rain it turned more into a cloud.

Here are the shots from when we turned up, worked out the lights, tweaked the angle, then let Manon have a few goes to get the best shape, then it was down to me and photoshop. 

Darkening down parts, lifting others, adding some contrast and then sending over the James who lays out the magazine.

2 flashes, one behind the stump with purple gel 1/4 power , another high to cameras left wide and soft 1/4 power.

The finished cover.

 There it is, some photos look just right off the back of the camera, others have a bit of work done. the end result though Im happy with. Check out the new issue in all good bike shops now, or free online at www.wideopenmag.co.uk

Recent tear sheets

The last few months have been pretty busy work wise, still the odd day here and there to actually ride my bike and have a life but busy.

The fruit of this labor is seeing my work published, where ever that might be. Online, in print, adverts, POS etc its all good to see the images in their final use and doing what they are meant to.

Anyways, will update or do another post next week when I get my hands on the last few months issues of MBR and MBUK which I have some work in, till then here is still from the last few Wideopenmags, Dirt and [R]evolution.

The latest WO 22, Cover shot, few adverts, and the Madeira article.

The WO 21 few nice snaps

Revolution and Dirts last few issues. 

Expect another post with some updates on more tear sheets, new projects we have coming up and also some big news regarding what we are up to for this season with regards to races.

Aspect

Monster Energy: This is SAM REYNOLDS

A week or so ago we put out a new edit we have been working on for a little while now with Monster Energy and their athlete and good mate of ours Sam Reynolds.

Shot at a few spots in the UK, and out in Norway last summer and pieced together over the corse of the last 6 months or so.

The video has been online a week now and is almost at 100,000 views with great feedback and interaction which is great.

See the video below, along with some photos that went live alongside the edit:

We are also working on a 4 part web series with Reynolds and his Monster team mate Sam Pilgrim which has started shooting, should be out in a few months and be pretty funny.

The Maderian adventure, photos and video

At the start of 2014 Sam Flanagan, Mark Scott and myself went out on a bit of a limb and took a trip to some where none of us, or anyone we knew had ever been before in search of some new riding, Maderia.

( This is the main edit from the trip ^ )

The trip was a huge success, we had an amazing time, met some amazing people and will be going back for sure.

Anyway, there was lots of media captured over the whole week, so here is a recap of whats already online, and where the rest of it will be in the coming weeks.

First up we put out a head cam run, the trails here took us all by surprise with how good they are and this was the perfect way to show the world what they are like first hand.

Next up we got a few still images out:

Then we got the main edit out, seeded it out to all our contacts at the leading mountain bike and cycling magazines and websites and it has had 35,000 plus views in its first week online alone.

( see top of post for the video )  

As well as shooting the video, sorting out helmet camera runs, and some photos to out alongside the online content I also shot still photos for 2 printed magazine articles for MBR and Wideopenmag , and also wrote the words for both, they will both be out within the next few months. (Thats where the best images are)

Next up for us is some jobs in the UK away from bikes, and a trip to Portugal, and then a 10 day road trip round South Africa with Monster Energy.

All go! Will try keep you up to date with some behind the scenes stuff on the Africa trip.

Jacob

Peaks of Life, makes Vimeo Staff picks

Here at Aspect we have been pretty flat out with work the last month or so, hence the slight lack of posts on here, but being that busy means we have lots of videos in the pipes.

 ( Always best to keep up to date with what we are working on via Facebook and Twitter )

Anyways, last week we put out this short documentary on Tom Wheeler, a good friend of us here at Aspect both as a rider, mate and fellow Filmer. He had a really bad crash a few years ago during a national DH race and this is the story of his recovery and journey back to riding bikes again.

It also just got voted as a Staff Pick over on the best video site going, Vimeo. We are pretty proud of it, if you haven't seen it already give it a watch, its inspiring stuff.

Canon XA20 initial thoughts...

Last month I got a new camera, I was toying with a few options and all for different reasons.

The issue I had was shooting video on a Canon 5d3 is great, the images are stunning and its small and easy to use, but its erganomically not a video camera, has no servo zoom, and is hard to keep steady and hand hold, it also only shoots 60p at 720 which is an issue when you shoot a lot of bikes and sports.

I was looking at Sony FS700, or something more like an EX1 etc

Aspect already has an FS700 so having two seemed a bit silly, and the EX1 and other cameras like it dont shoot 1080/60 either... hmmm, thought I would sit tight and wait a few months and see what else came out, im glad I did.

Step in the Canon XA20!

Now on paper it seems pretty damn good, MP4 and AVCHD at 35/28 MBPS, small ( DSLR size ) but a real video camera, the right shape, buttons in the right place, it has the most insane image stabilization ever, servo zoom and shoots full 1920x1080 HD at 60P, add in the fact it also has XLR inputs for top quality audio, 20x zoom and you have a pretty capable run and gun, documentary style video camera. Perfect for race stuff, road trips, and pretty much everything else. Put it with the 5D3, and FS700 already in our kit bag and we have most stuff covered.

On the recent Dirt mag run to the hills trip the XA20 got a fair hammering ( to the point its had to go in for a repair after Brendog hit the thing head on at 30mph and made the screen loose ) but it was amazingly easy to use, gives amazing clarity and quality and you can hand hold at something obscene like 300mm and the IS makes it perfectly steady!? 

Like I said the camera is away right now getting some TLC, but once its back I'm going to set up some shots, try out the different data rates and codecs, shoot some slow mo with it, compare it to the 5d3, and show you even though it has a small sensor you can still stop it down to F1.2 and get pretty shallow DOF.

For now see a short test of some footage straight off the camera in both AVCHD and MP4 and also a shot from my 5D3 for comparison. The Dirt run to the hills teaser video was partly shot on the camera and as you can see the footage looks great, equal to that from an EX1 as far as I can see...


Run to the Hills - Team DMR Teaser a Mountain Biking video by dirt



J

Jacob Gibbins 2014 Portfolio

Last week I put out my new 2013/14 still image portfolio.

With me shooting less races this season and more editorial and commercial work its a bit different to previous years but I am really happy with the work and have had a ball shooting all year.

Check it out below or via the link and let me know what you think.

issuu.com/jacobgibbins6/docs/portfolio_2014_high_quality?e=3556409/5247068

Jacob

Brendan Fairclough - Les Deux Alpes edit

Back in the summer Chris from Aspect went out to the Alps with Brendan Fairclough, one of the worlds best, and arguably most stylish riders for a week.

Here is the video that came out of the week, thanks to JoDesigns for the motion graphics work, and Boris for the still image.