Michael Coffee

I've never posted on this forum before but I read it quite often, and I thought I should finally contribute since I have actual useful content this time that nobody's actually definitively confirmed. I have the Panasonic GX85, the US version. I have it in my hands and it's a beauty. But let's just get straight to the point.
1. In AVCHD and in 4K, there is no 29 minute recording time limit. There still is a weird 29 minute (and 4GB) limit for FHD/HD/VGA MP4 clips, but none for AVCHD and 4K MP4. Part of me didn't actually believe it, so I took a fresh battery, a fresh 64 GB card, put the camera into 4K video mode, IBIS on, and just hit record. 1 hr 29 min 9 sec later, the card filled up, and the camera stopped recording, but the battery still had one bar left, and the camera never quit recording on me. It was warm, but not hot to the touch. It was indoors and at night, however, but I'm just telling you, recording long clips is well within the realms of possibility with this camera. I'm actually quite excited about being able to record indefinitely in AVCHD as well. When I'm recording a long event, it's not that important to get the best quality, but it's important to be able to get SOMETHING. I can run this camera up on a tripod, set it to AFC mode at 1080/30p 24Mbps AVCHD, hit record, and come back some time later and know that it got SOMETHING for last hour and a half. AVCHD can be annoying to work with, but a lot of consumer-level camcorders still use the format, so in effect, I'm getting a very capable large sensor camcorder to go along with my high-end 4K shooter. No complaints at all.
2. And that's not all, folks. I've had a GH4 and one of my least favorite things about filming 4K in the GH4 (and GX8 and G7) is that stupid 4 GB file size limit thing. So when you're shooting 4K, every six and a half minutes, there's a new 4GB file. But that's history now. On the GX85, if you use an SDXC card (basically anything bigger than 32 GB), the camera will give you one single monolithic file. I record a lot of musical performances, so long takes are kind of standard in my regular usage. I am not joking when I say that my editing process for 4K just became 40% happier. According to the manual, a file will split if "the continuous recording time exceeds 3 hours and 4 minutes or if the file exceeds 96 GB." Since the battery can't even last that long, for all intents and purposes, GX85 will give you single takes in single files.
I expected the IBIS and the 4K and the beautiful design and all the other stuff. But I honestly didn't expect these two features. I really thought they were going to burden us with a stupid 29 minute limit in all settings (I assumed that and ranted about in other forums, I feel dumb now, oops) and never in my wildest dreams did I actually think they'd solve the 4GB issue with this camera, but they did.
It's safe to say, this is the best MFT mirrorless shooter right now. GH4, you had a good run, but GX85 is the king. This is a true hybrid shooter. And at about half the price as a GH4 when you consider the cute pancake zoom has decent resale value.
As an aside, GX8 buyers have got to feel a little burned by the GX85. I'm sure a lot of them would love large file support and 5-axis IBIS.

Because organic flaws such as imperfect focus pulls have character.  Seriously.  At least in my head.
I don't know if you've ever composed and arranged music on a computer, but if you rely on precision and algorithms to lock in rhythm, it ends up sounding rather soul less.  Imaging can be similar: too clean and clinical.
But, I understand CAF is a useful tool.  it has been refined for dedicated motion picture cameras.  I've seen it in action and was impressed, but I personally wouldn't use it for my stuff.
Also, expecting smooth motion-picture-efficient CAF in a $700 photography camera (this year) is overly optimistic.
 

what settings/ profile?

I looked at Canon too before buying the GX80, but quickly found that clearly innovation and progressing their lower-end DSLR's weren't their thing. They've somehow been able to market virtually the same camera ever since the 50D- absolutely brilliant for making massive amounts of money! That's not saying they can't make nice images, because they can... but you hit the nail on the head with the word "soft." They decided that details in video should only be for their higher-end cameras. I look at the GX80 and it screams "2016," newer Canons in this price range scream "2010."

I just posted something similar with regards the nx1 the other day. There is definitely certain scenes that gain much more from 1/40, and certain that work well at 1/50...I find that my 5d at 1/50 has much nicer movement than my nx1 at 1/50 ... I find that 1/40 on the nx1 gets me closer to the footage 1/50 5d footage

You are absolutely right. As for filmic look. I dont know how to say it (english is not my first language), but the filmic image is sharp, but somehow soft at the same time. The softness can hide all distracting imperfections which videoish image will reveal. Videoish look is super sharp which is too distracting for me (it draws away the attention from the story), but I dont mid it in home videos and documentaries. That is just my subjective opinion.

Yep I have used the Gh4 for a long time...while everyone else was obsessing about noise in the shadows, dynamic range, low light etc..
I was obsessing about the jitter or strobe when you panned the camera, it kind of drove me nuts for a while...it was my single biggest beef with the GH4...so I did countless tests.
Heres what I found, its at its worst in 4K at 24P or 25P (especially in high contrast scenes) ...medium pans are the worst, slow pans can be acceptable, fast pans also can be OK.
Its not there in the higher frame rates at 1080P 30/ 50/ 60
It improves greatly at 30 frames PS in 4K, it improves a lot!! (thats your best bet in 4K I found) Low contrast scenes are also much better too
Turning on or off OIS in a lens makes little or no difference from what I saw....
It seems to be less on a 4K screen at 60hz than a 1080P or 1440 screen at the same 60hz refresh rate, I cant say that's totally the case tho..I have only done a few tests.
I have seen it other cameras without GS, especially in 4K.
The GX85 has it just as bad as the GH4 in this area, but the image stabilization is a huge plus, for that reason I am thinking of getting one.
I havre gotten used to it now, and I know what and what not to do...when in doubt, if you are just uploading to the web, use 29.97 (30P)
Cheers
Hope this helps

At risk of derailing, the new Panasonic Varicam remains the high-end cam I've not tried. It's just not as common as the others, but the image from all tests I've seen is spectacular.
Hopefully as much of this can trickle down into the consumer Panasonic models as possible.

Nice camera, but I saw some footage on YouTube and I dont like it. It looks too videoish to me, but this is no suprise for me, because I can say that about all Panasonic mirrorless cameras. I just dont like their image, its too oversharpen and too contrasty. The videos I saw look like home movies (I guess that great cameramen can get more filmic images from these cameras). The images from Canon DSLRS looks more filmic, but with Canon there is the problem that their features sucks. So the best cameras for me are probably from Sony, because you get the best from the both worlds.

Re mixing audio on 'phones, I have been getting very good results using the plug ins from http://sonarworks.com/ - and also TB Isone http://www.toneboosters.com/tb-isone/ - I like using monitors too, have been looking at a cheap small 3" set - these seem to get good feedback and are definitely cheap - the little Alesis 320's http://www.amazon.com/Alesis-M1-Active-Monitor-Speakers/dp/B0011Z87I0

I find this curious as well. Shooting video, in my mind, needs manual focusing. And most of what I shoot is documentary style, not narrative, so if pulling focus in a run n gun situation is doable, then it's even easier when things are under control.
I can't imagine letting any auto system control focus for me. I'm open to being convinced otherwise, but I certainly don't trust it.
Yet, in online comments such as these, auto focus seems to be one of the items at the top of spec sheets people like to acquire and/or brag about.
Of course, if you need the speed for action photography, different story
For video though, I'll stick with my collection of cheap old manual glass and the less inclined can buy the fancy stuff. 

The colour is very much like the 1D C / 1D X Standard JPEG profile and the files seem to feel nice and chunky this time round.

Hey Michael, thanks for checking out! Bought a 20mm 2.8 from Canon two days ago. Gonna see how that one works out.

My Yashica 28mm also has about 270 degrees throw
 
Hi, just looked and it is actually a Promaster 28mm f2.8 - not a Vivitar! Its supposed to be a rebrand of the Sigma mini wide II ... Good long focus throw

My Vivatar f2.8 (rebranded Sigma super wide II) has about 270 degree focus throw..
 

I 100% absolutely feel you would get new clients with either the C100 Mark II or Ursa Mini 4.6k. You can easily do interviews, documentaries and weddings with the C100 Mark II. Many people do not like DSLR's being used and prefer professional cameras which the C100 Mark II is.
 
The Ursa Mini 4.6K imo is a specialty camera where you definitely can get work doing Music Videos, Events or even small short film projects and commercials, just need to build up your reel and people will DEFINITELY note the quality.
 
With lesser cameras like NX1, GH4, etc. People from my experience really don't value those tools and you're looked at like an over glorified hobbyist. A C100 Mark II will cut perfectly as a B cam with a C300 which are used for a lot of tv shows. Make the step and don't be scared, it can honestly be the BEST decision of your life!

It's not perfect, but really amazing - especially compared to any other brand. Really usable, but it does really chew through the power..