working with 4k?

Hi guys

Just decided to buy a Gh4 to film in 4k (for interviews where i can shoot in 4k but output will be 1080). reason for this is so i can get a medium and close shot using the same footage (instead of using 2 cameras and trying to match the footage in post.

Besides turning spatial conform to 'none', is there anything else i need to know here?

thanks

Hey Phil,

You don't really need to set Spatial Conform to "none". You will have a much better vision of your scene when you choose the default "fit" option. Then you can zoom in whenever you wish.

Just be ware that the GH4 records highly compressed video, the more you zoom in the more you will see the compression artifacts. But you should be safe up to 150% or even a bit higher.

Also be aware that cutting from a medium shot to an artificially zoomed in close-up may not always work. The more difference between the two shots the better your cuts will look.

- Ronny

thanks Ronnie

Funnily enough, my quick sample didn't produce the best results (a lot of noise at 125 and 145%) it might well be my settings of course.

so far, not so good :huh:

Yes, I know.

People think that you can just zoom in to 200% when using 4K in a 1080 timeline because 4K has a higher resolution than 1080. But that's a myth, unless you are working with very high-end cameras and lenses and your lighting is perfect.

People forgot that when you zoom in in post in you also make any artifacts caused by compression, or any noise caused by low lighting, much more visible. OTOH 125% seems really limited. You should check your settings, always record at the highest possible quality if you need to reframe in post.

- Ronny

And on top of Ronny's suggestions, be sure to zoom when checking your focus.

Also, if you don't have a 2nd cam for another angle, record some footage from another angle before or after the interview (tight on the eyes or hands while talking, wide on the subject in the interview space). With only one cam, you gotta cheat.

Thanks again Ronnie/Timfo

i did see this video and assumed it would be straight forward.. but there are that many recording variations and settings on the GH4 it feels like a vertical learning curve :blink: