GH2

Setup


First step for configuring the GH2 for video shooting
is to set the dial to Creative Movie Mode.

The GH2 will use different menus based on

the context of what mode this dial is in, so it's
important to set it to this.

The GH2 shoots its highest quality video in the
1080/24p Cinema mode* whilst in Creative Movie
mode.

1. The menu can be accessed by hitting the

Menu/Set key. In order to set the GH2 to
24P CINEMA, move over it with the D-pad,
and then press the center button (will turn
dark green).

24P CINEMA mode will offer you the
highest quality recording, with the highest available bitrates, and best implementation of
the AVCHD codec. (You could also select MANUAL MOVIE MODE if you want to shoot in
720/60p, 1080/60i, or another format)

2. On the next menu down, the
MOTION PICTURE menu, (with the logo that
looks like a motion-picture camera with no
M) set REC QUALITY to 24H.
This is the highest quality option.


If you picked MANUAL MOVIE MODE instead of 24P CINEMA this is where you will select
things like 720/60p, 1080/60i, etc.

Set EXPOSURE MODE to M to allow for control of aperture and shutter during video. This
is perhaps the most important setting in the menu, and is often missed by new users.





CONTINUOUS AF can be set to either on or off. This determines whether or not a
compatible lens will auto-focus continually during video recording or whether they will
only focus when the shutter button is depressed halfway.

I.DYNAMIC allows you to extend the dynamic range (range of what is properly exposed)
of a shot by allowing the camera to boost visual gain (making the image brighter but
adding noise) in darker areas exclusively. The default setting is OFF and it should only be
turned on in specific situations, as they demand it. In lowlight having I.DYNAMIC on can
drastically reduce your image quality. There are multiple levels, and it can be accessed
from the Q. Menu later.

When WINDCUT is ON the camera will try to cut out wind-noise on the internal mics.

MIC LEVEL DISP. should be set to ON unless you really don't care anything about the
audio coming off of the camera.

MIC LEVEL ADJ determines the volume at which the microphone (internal or connected
through 2.5mm jack) records

EX. TELE CONV records 1080p off one part of the sensor and zooms in about 4x. It
doesn't degrade the image in video mode like digital zoom does (leave that option off

REC HIGHLIGHT enables an effect similar to "zebra" on conventional pro and prosumer
camcorders. It flashes black on the areas that are overexposed. It works even while
recording (but don't worry it won't show up on the recorded image.) This is a very useful
feature but can also be distracting.


NOTE: In MANUAL MOVIE MODE > Record Quality > FHD is 1080 and SH is 720.