suntouched Loc: Sierra Vista AZ

It's a small world! Yes I am here until May and then we head up to Salem, Oregon until returning here in the fall.
Lucky you- Please let me know how the 100-400 lens compares. The longest m 4/3 lens I have is a Tamron 14-150- ok lens but not very long.
What type of tripod head are you planning to use?

mcveed Loc: Kelowna, British Columbia (between trips)

I think I'll just keep using my Gitzo 2531 tripod with Markins Q-Ball 10 ball head. Its more tripod than the GX8 needs, but better too much than too little.

suntouched Loc: Sierra Vista AZ

I have the same tripod as you- yes it's a bit overkill but still it's quite light so I don't mind too much dragging it around. I have an Acratech ball head that is quite fiddly to adjust- thinking a decent quality but light weight pan head might be better.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

Pan/tilt with leveling adjustment. Good for video.

Post photos when you get your new toys-I-mean-tools...

suntouched Loc: Sierra Vista AZ

:-)

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

Another positive review: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VI4LjIGwGGA

And, another: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NfySSktrYJA

One with some detail: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Moo1DcsOH40

suntouched Loc: Sierra Vista AZ

Bill- I looked at both of those reviews- thanks for posting. I agree- positive reviews. If I already owned the EM-1 I think I would keep it and just add the 100-400 mm lens. Seems that the lens works equally as well with the Gx8 or Olympus EM-1.

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

I've got a GX7 I like a lot. Where I get stuck is lusting over the 4K video. This is your topic so I shouldn't post a link, but this is what I want to do in 4K rather than the GX7 HD.

http://vimeo.com/146185237

Life might be shorter than planned!! Should I throw $3K at it?

suntouched Loc: Sierra Vista AZ

Ah it's the video more than the stills- I see. I don't do much video but I will attempt more with the Gx8. But first I have to get the settings right. I have been pretty happy with the image quality of the Gx8. It's easy to use although the setup was a bit complicated and I'm still not there yet. The focus is very fast- very little searching even with a third party lens. Similar to the Sony a6000- even a bit better. I have it set on back button focus and it's possible to place my thumb over the AF button and finger on the shutter at the same time and fire away. The IS has been fine even without the dual IS. It's not like I am taking photos of birds at 1/15 - wouldn't matter what equipment you used at that speed- everything would be a blur anyway. Maybe you could fine a used Gx8- might save a bit. The camera plus lens is a lot of money. It is probably the only lens that I will get.

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

Actually, I've developed an identity disorder. I alternate between trying to be a photographer and a videographer. It is my granddaughters fault. Five years ago they wanted to learn how to make a video. It seemed like a fun project, so I bought the gear and they brought the enthusiasm. I got hooked. And now I have more fun with cameras than ever before!

Consumer videography is in a wonderful "sweet spot" right now. There are excellent editing programs under $100 that are fun to use. Sony and Panasonic are providing wonderful cameras. Panasonic's GH4 gets the credit for probably being the first at being excellent for both stills and video. Panasonic has followed with the FZ1000, G7 and GX8. For compact, the Panasonic LX100 is terrific. Sony users love their RX100iv, RX10ii and a6300 cameras.

Since this thread is about the GX8, take a look at Panasonic's promotion of using 4K video to capture stills. At a camera show recently, large and gorgeous photos shot as videos with a GX8 were popping out of Canon printers.

Even Lightroom is involved. Panasonic 4K video clips sit side by side with the photos in the Library module. When you preview the video clip in Lightroom you can go frame by frame. Poking a small button will turn the frame into a JPEG of 8MP.

No, the JPEG at 8MP is not the same as 20MP RAW. But, depending on the size of the final print, it can be highly useful.

suntouched Loc: Sierra Vista AZ

Bill- you are so full of enthusiasm! I am interested in pulling a still from a video. I'm sure you could get an image that you couldn't get from a still. And I like the idea of doing the quick frames video projects. So that is exciting. I spend part of my time in Oregon and part in Az. Az is very arid and I miss the running water of Oregon so I thought it would be nice to do some video of waterfalls, ocean, etc. So the prospect of learning video is enticing. But I tried video a couple of years ago and the post processing to put something together after the fact was very time consuming and a big learning curve. I was using the i-Mac program at the time. Maybe there are simpler programs out there now but at the time the i-Mac software was considered fairly simple. And you can spend a fortune on equipment to provide a stable platform for video and also for all the extras. It never ends does it :) The video component was what led me to the Gx8 and of course the Leica 100-400 mm lens too. I appreciate the information and links you have provided-thanks.

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

--Pulling stills from video is easy if you have Lightroom. If not download the free and respected VLC media player.

(Shutter speed choices cause argument. Video tradition is to try to have a filmic look with some motion blur in each frame. So, the golden rule is to shoot ALL video at 1/60th. On the other hand, if you want video to look like video, you can use any shutter speed you want. Higher shutter speeds make for better "frame grabs".)

--Leaning video editing was hard for me at first. Then I stumbled over a guy name Steve Grisitti who teaches it online. In a couple days of watching his classes (instead of watching TV!) I became a "video editor". I'll post links to his classes if you want.

--My video gear is exactly the same as my photo gear. I use the same Costco tripod with ballhead when I want rock solid video. There is a trick where you can flop the ball over at 90 degrees and it functions similar to a gimbal. Fluid heads are for people that make bad videos because they want to wave the camera around to make viewers dizzy. In case you haven't noticed (!) you already have stabilization in your GX8 and you will have more with the 100-400.

suntouched Loc: Sierra Vista AZ

Bill- I do have LR and know how to use it although I do most of my post processing in Camera Raw and PS. The link to the video instructions would be most helpful. Thanks again :)

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

Steve Grisetti and his training mission shows up in a few different places. I found him when his focus was Adobe Premier Elements. He has added Sony and Cyberlink editors to his classes. Since I use and like Premier Elements (a lot), I'll point to where you can learn that from Steve.

The current version of Premier Elements is 14.

The 'premier' course is at Linda.com. It might cost $25 for enough access. Near Tacoma, the Pierce County Library offers access for free as many Libraries do.

http://www.lynda.com/Elements-tutorials/Up-Running-Premiere-Elements-14/424710-2.html

Steve's 8 part "basic training" course can be taken on YouTube. His channel has a lot. Here is the link to class one of eight:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVPLwPGrRqE

Steve and a partner have a complex website where the same 'basic training' class is available if you do a free subscription. More content is available if you have a paid subscription. The website seems complicated to me, but if you dig down a little you'll find it.

http://muvipix.com/


My suggestion to anyone wanting to use the video capabilities is to simply make the commitment and schedule a few days where it is a priority. 1. Buy and install Premier Elements 2. Get access to Lynda.com 3. Take Steve's course. Don't waste time trying to find "the best video editing software" if you are a video beginner. They are all good. Premier Elements might be better, but only because there are so many learning resources compared to the others in the under $100 category.