@Galvoguru

I am looking forward to your design. Yes, modding a new camera is a difficult personal choice! Unfortunately we haven't yet sourced any bricked GH2s to play with. As much as I want to, I haven't opened my own.

Results of my setup. Used a basic Ebay shoulder mount. Small12v brick battery w/d-tap to power the lens. Strapped the batter to the back of the shoulder mount for ballast. All hand held. Rode Video Mic just plugged directly into the GH2. Fujinon 15x lens. Note: that you will get some soft corners and CA wide open. Things clean up nicely at f4, great at 5.6. The better lenses are the Canon "J", not "YJ". As well as the Fuji Pegasus III are pretty good. My lens is an average quality Fujinon. Your mileage will vary. Backfocus is critical to get a sharp image. Though I have not tried it yet, someone stated that a crossover lens would solve the soft corners issue. But they are more expensive.

With some of the new power zoom "PZ" Panasonic lenses, the ENG features are becoming more incorporated IMO. Then you could still have use of the electronics and OIS. Just waiting for a higher max f-stop version of the PZ lenses and then you could ditch the whole 2/3 ENG experiment IMO.

@mikel. The results you're getting seem to be typical of what others (including myself) have seen. I have a couple of J lenses, the image quality isn't bad but I've not really had time to see how the images look when using the camera on a 'real' job (need to get the audio side of things sorted first). The softer image from an SD lens may look quite nice, the softness is 'organic' and in some situations may help to give a smoother look to the picture. When you viewed your footage on a 'big screen' and at full resolution what where your first impressions? @Roberto. Using the external mic socket for record trigger is not an option I'm going to go with. For me (IMHO) the external socket is of more use for using external mics (although it wouldn't be difficult to have 2 different lead configurations so you could swap between ext trigger use or ext mic use). Thanks for the info re the trigger voltages, this confirms the tests I did in our earlier communications. Re the audio control box, I was going to include switchable 48 Volts for both channels as well as a mic/line switch and gain controls. There would be a headphone amp and monitoring could be switched between CH1(L)/CH2(R) or 'mix' (1+2). The one thing that's not here is monitoring the playback audio (witout using an external monitor), the only way to solve this is to take a tap off the internal speaker (as I've already mentioned) but of course this means opening-up the GH2 and having a flying lead for the signal (not very nice...), I don't like the idea of drilling a hole in the body for a socket. Either way I need to make a decision here. I do want a remote trigger for the record function and I'm looking at the possibility of using a small solenoid to operate the record button. If you have any suggestions please let me know...

@Galvoguru

The adapter was actually homemade, from the existing CCD block combined with a M4/3 minolta adapter I fit on there. Not ideal but I didn't have the budget when I started the project to get a 300$ B4 to M4/3 adapter. Eventually I do want to modify the rig to have one of those adapters, and make it so I can put on other adapters as well..

@Galvoguru

Yes, you just might be right - a modded GH2 just could become a sought-after item, like a Bolex Super-16 conversion. Or, on the other hand, like the original Sony Walkman, the original item itself may gain cult value, as untouched as possible. I learned the hard way - I drilled a hole in my Walkman for an external mic; worked perfectly but destroyed the value. :-(

All these decisions can really only be dealt with using risk analysis, even if to some, a $700 camera seems small. Companies practise risk analysis for everything. Once you learn the basics you'll be ready to understand how the GH2 got built and sold the way it is.

I'm attaching a simple Risk Analysis Calculator spreadsheet, written by a Dr Gary Hinson. I've filled-in some example parameters I can think of, but haven't allocated given numeric values to any of the fields. That's up to you. Look for tool-tip explanations. The numbers in red boxes are the calculations which the spreadsheet does for you, according to weightings Dr Hinson has worked out.

[Sorry about the Implement Selective Training title of the spreadsheet; I forgot to change that from my last analysis].

Whether or not you find the calculation meaningful, the simple act of writing it all down adds up to dealing with it.

On the other hand, there are
• Risk Management procedures to be employed, reducing or eliminating each threat
• Benefits to be added up (another calculation - just make it up yourself)

I must add, I have one benefit of my own which I must balance against the risks: Without modding things to do what I want, I suffer frustration which doesn't go away. So sometimes I open something up immediately on purchase, voiding the warranty just to get that out of the way! Modding gives me the satisfaction of taking control of what I've paid for.