GH4 Will Get Flat V-Log L Gamma But when And Will It Be A Free Update? Plus Anamorphic In V2.2 Update
UPDATE: 4-22-2015
New GH4 firmware is now ready for download. Download direct with links below.
At NAB this year I saw lots of great 4K cameras and I didn’t really think about checking on the GH4 but I was in the Panasonic booth so why not.
Notice the limited settings available for V-LOG L? Only Sharpening and Noise Reduction can be changed
When I did I found out that Panasonic has a new color gamma in the works and it’s called V-Log L. This new flat gamma is from the VariCam version of V-Log but since that is an entirely different camera and sensor Panasonic has to tweak it to make it work with the GH4. Is it really from the VariCam? I have no idea but the science behind making these profiles is very complicated and to get the right mojo from the sensor so the image does retain the color information for post.
Yes! V-LOG L.
Along with V-Log L news the GH4 is getting anamorphic in v2.2 update that should be coming early May. How cool is this! It records squeezed in 4×3 so you have to unsqueezed the image in post. The Convergent Design Odyssey 7Q+ can also monitor the image in anamorphic mode. This will make focusing much easier. The GH4 doesn’t do this and I can imagine shooting with the squeezed image is hard to do.
New update coming soon includes Anamorphic in video mode.
This is on the LCD on the back of the GH4. It’s squeezed in 4×3.
GH4 Vlog With Anamorphic 7Q (1 of 1)
Below is a sample of ungraded and graded images with the new anamorphic setting thats due very soon.
Impressive. V-Log L looks like it helps with the highlights. Thats a big deal. If you can recover detail in them in post I would love it. I never liked the look of curves in the GH4 settings. I just left them at default. When applied the image got pastie and skin looked really smoothed. Not good. I generally used Cine Like D and brought the saturation down a few. This was pretty good for me. More info below.
ANNOUNCING AN ANAMORPHIC FIRMWARE UPDATE FOR THE LUMIX GH4
With the firmware Ver.2.2 for DMC-GH4, a new Anamorphic(4:3) mode enables video recording in 3328 x 2496 pixel (equivalent to approx. 8.3-megapixel) resolution with an anamorphic lens such as 2x*1.
Anamorphic shooting is a cinematography method used to produce a cinemascope aspect like 2.39:1 or 2.35:1. The GH4’s 4:2:2 / 10 bit HDMI output is also available*2.
In addition, the firmware also makes it possible to set 1/16000 sec shutter speed manually when using the Electronic Shutter.
The new firmware is scheduled to be released in late April, 2015: LUMIX DMC-GH4 Firmware Ver.2.2 http://panasonic.jp/support/global/cs/dsc/
*1 To convert the footage to a cinemascope aspect for playback, corresponding software and device are required.
*2 If you use the HDMI output when [Bit Mode] in [HDMI Rec Output] is set to [4:2:2 10bit], black bars appear on the right and left sides of the image. As a result, the image will appear on the screen in a smaller size (2880×2160). In addition, you cannot record motion pictures while using the HDMI output.
Now on to what is this worth? What? You saying it’s not a free update? Well yes I am. I spoke to the Panasonic rep at the show and asked when the update would be available and he was vauge but shooting for late July. I asked if it would be a free update and sayed probably not. I was surprised. I asked how much would you think it would cost? He amswered around $200 but nothing set in stone and it could end up free. Well that was intresting and I sure hope t doesnt cost anything because if it does the camera probably would have to be sent in for the update. Cant see how it would be installed via download. It would end up on the open black market in minutes.
So what is worth to you? Are you willing to fork over a couple hundred for V-Log L?
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Filed in: 4K • Camera News • Featured Post • GH4 • Micro Four Third Lenses • Micro Four Thirds • Mirrorless • New Release • Panasonic
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