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GH4 Firmware 2.3, V-log for $99, Epic Panasonic marketing fail
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  • AlexauwaAlexauwa

    Thx for reply. I see. Someone got a download link to gh4 firmware 2.3?

  • Dr_JonDr_Jon

    You'd also need the old version of the Panasonic App, so non-trivial. I'm pretty sure the forum rules mean no-one is likely to help, I'm certainly not about to upset anyone. I'd say shoot Cinelike-D and use balazer's LUTs.

  • AriaAria

    I know this may sound dumb but I was wondering if you can record the 4K output to a Ninja 1080p recorder just for the 10bit VLog?

  • AlexauwaAlexauwa

    Has there really been an improvement in firmware 2.4 over 2.3 in Vlog L issues? According to Panasonic: Use of the V-Log L workaround associated with firmware Version 2.3 runs the risk of the Zebra Function not working and the Histogram reading improperly.

    Any tested this? Does is issues only refer to internal GH4 function? What about using 2.3 Vlog and recording on 10bit 4:2:2 on Atomos?

  • AlexauwaAlexauwa

    For Android imageApp can be downgraded here. http://apkpure.com/panasonic-image-app/com.panasonic.avc.cng.imageapp What version would I need to match with v2.3?

  • Dr_JonDr_Jon

    For iOS 1.9.5 went with 2.3 and 1.9.6 with 2.4.

    You can set the HDMI output by choosing the "4k down convert" mode in the menus, of which P213 of the manual says:

    [AUTO]: When the motion picture size is set to [4K] or [C4K] in [Rec Quality] and the connected device is not responding, the HDMI output picture quality automatically switches to [1080p].

    [1080p]: When the motion picture size is set to [4K] or [C4K] in [Rec Quality], the HDMI output picture quality switches to [1080p].

    [OFF]: Outputs the image through the HDMI connection with the picture quality set in [Rec Quality]. • When [OFF] is set, the image may not be displayed depending on the connected device.

  • crowbarcrowbar

    Can someone clarify for me - unlike with the loop hole version 2.3 where zebras are best set to around 75%, with the V-LOG L paid version 2.4, the zebras are working correctly right, in other words is it safe to set to 100% and then expose the brightest highlights just shy of 100%? In the following examples that is what I did and the in camera meter showed plus 1 stop to 1 2/3rd stop over depending on the scene. The result then in the NLE, using the Waveform and RGB Parade scopes, showed an exposure ranging from 25 to 75 before grading.

    I have listed the main LUTs used in the sample clips. In addition, there are further color and exposure grading adjustments. Comments and advise are appreciated…..like many, I see problems using V-LOG internally at 8 bits especially with heavier contrasty grades as follows. I have also included one clip using Cinelike D for comparison. Also of note, the model had applied sun screen and make-up applied unevenly and so there are resulting blemishes which might be confused with camera artifacts… yet the limitations of 8 bit V-LOG are seen plus Vimeo always seems to add magenta to the coloration compared to original!

  • nobbystylusnobbystylus

    In the legit version, I find that the zebras need to be set to 80% and that is 'nearly' where they clip to white This is the same on a GH4R (i've just bought a 2nd body as i'm doing lots of 2 camera shoots at the moment) with pre-installed V-Log.

  • nobbystylusnobbystylus

    @crowbar - the skin tests video look brilliant to me.. I think V-Log is fantastic when shooting outdoors for skin tones even internally in 8 Bit, when ETTR. Interiors are a bit trickier, white balance and ugly light sources can mess things up for internally recorded V_log very easily, but it was never great in Cine D either.

  • jopereirajopereira

    In my non-legit version I also find 80% zebra is, more or less, the same as 105% in other profiles (I use Natural) -> they both give me the "white point" (give or take a little). On safe side, I don't let the zebras came in, on a more tolerant day I let zebras kick in and most/many of the times the white point is not reached. Like crowbar, I haven't an definitive answer: is the v2.4 histogram the same in V-Log as in other profiles, or it stays in meddle ground like in v2.3?

  • FlaaandeeersFlaaandeeers

    Is a 1080p recorder like the Atomos Ninja worth it for working with vLog? I mean, I could spend $295 for my kind of work (guerrilla filmmaking) but not $1k more for a 4k recorder. So, 4k internal vs 1080p external... What do you guys think?

  • mrbillmrbill

    422 10 bit 1080p for me

  • VeskuVesku

    @crowbar

    Thanks for samples. I still cant understand the hype around V-log.

    This example shows clearly the limitations of V-log. Results are rough, noisy and like 10th generation re-render. I dont like colors either. A bit odd contrasty feeling with blueish black tones. CineD clip is smoother and better but has that yellow/orange tint.

    Why internal V-log? I think it may be OK for extreme dynamic range scenes like sunsets. Is the GH4 default colors so bad that one must use "7 bit raw" to get better image.

    I think in generally GH4 suffers noise and high iso roughness. Colors and dynamic range are good. V-log makes these issues worse.

    It may be useful in professional projects when using other V-log cameras (or ?log) and the goal is easy edit and grade using same LUTs.

  • AlexauwaAlexauwa

    How do you define the correct exposure of the shot when using GH4 Vlog Profile? Special in Atomos the light meter bar is gone. What tools do you use on set to the best results for noise smoothness and high details captured?

  • tedbrahtedbrah

    V-log looks outstanding in some situations but it's just not useable for others which makes it not reliable and therefore not useable. Panasonic should just fix the blocking and banding and so many people will actually buy it.

  • caveportcaveport

    +1 tedbrah

  • crowbarcrowbar

    @vesku - Thanks for your input, I had a much easier time grading the 10 bit ProRes ungraded samples that Driftwood provided earlier. With that footage I was happy with the graded skin tone results and posted my version on this thread. In my recent examples above keep in mind that many of the close up shots were surrounded by green and yellow forest, trees and grass which adds to the challenge of grading skin tones. My white balance was set at 5200, perhaps could've been dialed in better but even still I have always gotten yellowish tones out of cinelike D which has to be corrected in post. I do agree that there is something rough about 8 bit V log at least with my grading here but then I did go for a high contrast look. Or is this something you have noticed in general with many posted V-LOG samples? I think dialing back the opacity of the Luts would help with this perceived roughness...

    For anything important I now use the natural picture profile setting which looks great right out of the camera and then with minor adjustments, film LUTs etc. it can look really good. However I must say that with my Blackmagic pocket I am able to get superior looking skin tones with it's great ProRes codec. Just something more organic and naturally film-like to its log footage once it is graded. If Panasonic's GH5 comes out with internally recorded ProRes, that will be worth getting really excited about!

  • crowbarcrowbar

    @nobbystylus: Thanks for your positive input. Obviously skin tones are somewhat subjective and so of course the exposure and coloration depend on the model, race and if they are tanned or not. As an example, from what I understand, the DP Shane Hurlbut hates skin tones that lean towards magenta but greatly prefers yellowish tones. Yet in the case of the model above, in reality she has more brownish red tone to her darker Asian skin. As filmmakers we have license to manipulate all these grading parameters to our own individual taste, the context of the story, mood etc.

  • aaronchicagoaaronchicago

    @crowbar that's funny that Shane hates magenta leaning skin tones when Canon is exactly that. He's Canon's golden boy.

  • AlbertZAlbertZ

    Filmconvert has released its new V-LOG profile

  • TjaboTjabo

    Whoops, please delete this post...

  • aaron_waaron_w

    @aaronchicago That actually makes sense though. On Canon's standard profiles, you're right about the magenta. But on the Canon cameras that Shane tends to use, C100, C300, 1D-C, (a lot of times as crash cams) skin tones are very noticeably shifted towards yellow. At least in c-log they are. I always have to rotate the hue angle back towards red to get it to match any other cameras.

  • estarkey7estarkey7

    @Aria I use the Ninja 2 with the GH4 just for the 10 bit recording and it works great!

  • AriaAria

    @estarkey7, thank you for responding to my question. Do you have to do anything special with the GH4 output? Is it just the 1080p output or is it the 4K VLog or Cinelike D output which is converted to 1080p by the Ninja?

  • zachasurpzachasurp

    @Aria I have a Ninja Star that I've used with the GH4. The GH4 has an internal menu option in the HDMI output section. Internally it shoots 4K, down converts to 1080p and then sends that signal out to the recorder. I've found that it actually comes out a bit sharper (not digitally over sharpened, just clearer) than the GH4 internal 4K, down converted to 1080p in post, but that could just be a placebo.

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