Phil Peel

We discovered last night that we had fox cubs under our shed.

So this is a film of them shot with the GH2 14 to 140 mm lens with EXT  mode which doubles the focal length without loss in picture quality. However this was shot at 8pm to 9pm. changing exposure and ISO as I filmed. Ending up at 3200 iso and 1/25th sec. I also couldn’t see anything myself at this point.

Here’s an interesting article from Andrew Reid comparing the Panasonic GH2 with the range of Canons.

I’ve been testing the CineStyle picture profile today, and alongside it my Panasonic GH2 set to the Cinema Gamma film mode. The purpose of CineStyle on Canon DSLRs is to extract more dynamic range to produce an image over which you can have more control in post and avoid crushed blacks or washed out highlights in the original exposure.

The GH2 holds onto a hell of a lot, so even though the Canons have sensors capable of wider dynamic range, the GH2 still beats them, CineStyle or no CineStyle.

CineStyle essentially reduces the brightness of highlights to preserve detail, and boosts the brightness of darker tones to save more shadow detail. What it cannot do is increase tonality. The GH2 has more – it is the higher contrast camera, with better scaling and yet it still holds onto more dynamic range.

So with CineStyle I have more creative control in post but with the GH2 I still have a better end result, though it is more baked-in. Even with contrast -2 in Cinema Gamma mode on the GH2 blacks are dark black, then smoothly dark greys appear with plenty of detail. It also holds onto detail in highlights. For dynamic range as well as tonality it still beats the 600D with CineStyle.

via EOSHD.com – Canon 600D Technicolor CineStyle versus GH2 Cinema Mode.

Though the Panasonic GH2 is an excellent camera, it’s difficult to attach rigs and ancillaries, as it only has the single tripod screw thread. I’ve found that the camera tends to swivel off away from the follow focus as there is no way to lock it.

The GH2 also very light weight and plastic.  This rig seems to solve the problems, by enclosing it in a tough cage. However it is pricey, though looks well made.

Rumours are that the GH3 will be tougher

EOSHD.com – ReWo GH2 cage full review.

Great news: Karens film “Buon Giorno Sayonara” has also been accepted into Reno Film Festival (15th – 19th June) http://www.renofilmfestival.com/index.cfm and The End of the Pier Film Festival (Bognor Regis, 23rd – 25th September) http://www.eotpfilmfestival.co.uk/

Hermina’s film “Not in my shoes” has also got into the Fastnet Festival.

Which means that EVERY film made on last year’s summer course have now got into Festivals. Over 10 festivals!

If you are interested in coming on this years course 18th July to 5th August email me philpeel@gmail.com