New firmware landed yesterday for the Panasonic GH6 camera. No. It doesn't make the C-AF focusing any different. At least that's not in the upgrade notes. But what it does bring to the party is the ability to record ProRes Raw video to a Ninja V+ device fitted with a fast SSD drive. You can shoot full gate (the width and height of the sensor) at up to 60 fps at 5.8K.
If you don't need Raw video files you'll want to look at what you can do in Apple ProRes. Because you can shoot that to an internal card in up to the 5728 by 3024 (17:9) format at 29.97p. Make sure you have a fast CFexpress card installed because those ProRes HQ files are 1.9 Gigabits per second. A bit faster than the 400 Mbps in a camera that's....less capable. You can shoot ProRes 422 at lower rates and at a straight ahead 4K setting and you'll actually end up with files that are fast and fun to edit. But.... it takes a bit of mental adjustment to reconfigure your brain for bigger data deposits.
I really like the color and tonality the GH6 video files deliver. I think it's an amazing camera even though it may have a few quirks. I also like the lenses I've put together for the system although most are long while most video projects seem to lean into the wide angles.
And once again the timing is weird.
I got an e-mail from a client last week asking about a video project. I'm on the fence about whether I want to bid the project or not. It would require a bunch of pre-production, script supervision, the casting of one talent and the negotiating for a wide package of national or international usage for the talent, several full days of shooting, the services of a sound person, enough freelance assisting staff to cover a typical on location corporate shoot, and a ton of editing on the backend. Which I would happiest farming out.
The problem for me is that the project is in an industry that's not exciting. The client is....careful and aesthetically conservative. The samples they've shared are not challenging or especially exciting and I'm not even sure I want to work in Austin during August. Seems like a better time of year to escape to somewhere cooler and more laid back (which in itself is a wry statement about the directions in which Austin has grown. We used to be the capitol of "Laid Back").
One of my peers and I discussed all this over the phone this afternoon and his advice, as usual, was that I should bid the project so high that I'd be delighted to get to do it. And I understand the financial appeal but I'm still not all that interested. It's a lot of work. And responsibility. And missed swims...
My plan for the near future is to work with the GH6 everyday and in every way until I am intimately familiar with every video menu setting, every switch and every capability of the camera. If I decide to do the project (and am actually awarded the bid) I don't want to start the learning curve at that juncture, I want to be ready to go. I want to be completely confident that I can deliver.
It's pretty much the perfect system to use on a gimbal and this project would be shot on a gimbal 100% of the time.
Of course the idea of bidding the price delightfully high --- and then getting the project --- opens up my mind to the idea of also snagging a Leica SL2-S and testing that camera side by side with the GH6. Now that actually sounds like fun.... Low light champ versus in-depth video monster. It never stops.
I have to decide just how much I want to keep my hand in the video game in the next couple of days. Compared to tradtional photography it's quite a bit more work. Maybe I'm just getting lazy.
9 comments:
Take the job. I want to read about your process.
R.A.
If I had your abilities, and what seems to be your growing disenchantment with corporate work, I might be interested in doing music videos for good but early-stage musicians who'd really appreciate the help, even if there wasn't much money involved. Just for the fun of it. There are a lot of really great music videos out there now, and what better place than Austin?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rXLmt6i-hBY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xK5YHU2-jY
Skip it. Go swimming, then Quebec in August.
It's called the "Flinch Method" of bidding. Kick it up until they flinch. Far past the point you'd bid if you really wanted the job. If they flinch and still accept, why not do it? Goes without saying that at that point it will be well worth your time. And it could fund a swell vacation and/or another Leica bauble or two.
Cheers!
TB
Sounds like an 80K + job to me. Have fun with your GH6.
Kirk:
First off, I truly appreciate your candid perspective on the arc of your professional journey and maintaining quality of life.
Now, just to play devil's advocate. My metaview (if you will) of your thoughts over the past year would tell me that, on the one hand you are strongly attracted to projects that will develop professional skills and be personally satisfying ("Hey, I've still got it - and more!"), and on the other hand, the more people in the project mix, the less satisfying (i.e., maddening!) is the experience = not many quality of life points.
An analogy could be: a creative person (photographer, writer, architect, etc.) in a box - the bounds of which are usually budget and time. The first assessment of the box (budget and time) might seem roomy enough to deliver a rewarding experience. Not a problem, boxes are actually helpful boundaries and we have the experience to make this work. As more people and complexity join you in the box, the experience moves predictably from an enlightening and intimate creative partnership (you, the talent, and an art director) to a stressful and unrewarding experience - i.e., "ten pounds of poop in a five pound bag" (to quote my dad) - of all the personalities who want to join you, with their opinions about your decisions regarding:
"...a bunch of pre-production, script supervision, the casting of one talent and the negotiating for a wide package of national or international usage for the talent, several full days of shooting, the services of a sound person, enough freelance assisting staff to cover a typical on location corporate shoot, and a ton of editing on the backend."
...end of quote.
I'd be sad to read a September blog entry from you about a painful reminder of lessons learned!
How about an equally engaging and technical project of your own design, where you control more of what's in the box with you. Something like a video documentary about some of the talented (Olympian) or interesting personalities in your swim club?
With much appreciation for your frank personal, and insightful technical, writings.
-- john merlin
Hi John Merlin,
I needed to read that. THANK YOU. I'm ready to let some of this stuff go. Including tightly wound up videos with small paydays.
I appreciate you writing all that out so logically and insightfully.
Cool. And smart. Thanks, Kirk
Kirk I think you bought too many Leica cameras last year:
https://petapixel.com/2022/07/08/2021-was-leicas-best-financial-year-ever/
I used to be far to busy in my worklife, forcing me to reduce my worklfe for a home life balence. It was suggested to me that I up my fees for those "Pain in the Proverbial" clients to rid myself these agents of indecision. Well it shifted 50% of the painfull ones but now its far more rewarding being financially and relationship wise as well.
Cheers from Oz
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