Anyone familiar on how to check shutter count? I followed directions on how to get to the Temporary Service menu. But when I tried it, all i got was a screen with a bunch of squares with numbers. And if scroll left, right, up or down. Bunch of random numbers and letters appear.

Turn it off and back on, and everything is back to normal. Any ideas on how to do this?

Thanks

@lmackreath, I'm not a pro like many of the people on this forum are, but I suspect not too many of the pros care much for on-camera mics (like I don't either, actually).

At any rate, with the VMP I often find that the mic set on +20dB gives me a bit more gain than I can dial down to the preferred level in the camera, and the 0dB setting requires me to have to dial a bit more gain in the camera than I really want to... Having said all of that, both methods seem to give adequate results for what you can get with an on-camera mic. Neither one is great, but both are decent for some people's purposes.

@h2otara, correct me if I'm wrong, but I think Dave's use of the VMP setup like you described is for his video narratives with the mic off-camera on his desk? In that case I would undoubtedly end up using the same setup, because he has the mic pretty close to the subject, in a mostly quiet environment. Should (and does) work very nicely like that.

Depends on how you want to use the Rode VideoMic Pro. For interviews just mounting it on the flash shoe and plugging it in may be enough. For serious Video it may be used only for synching sound but you could use the internal one for that.

Not sure what the range of the Rode is or whether it is effected by Camera or other nearby sounds.

I use an Azden SMX-10 directional, stereo shotgun mic mounted on camera to record the Church Service 20-40 foot away. The results are very satisfactory.

I think we need to start a new thread if we want to speculate on the GH5

well, one way or the other, almost a year from now!

any better hopes?

Look for the GH5 at Photokina or to be announced in first week of Feb 2016. The GH4 was available May 5, 2014 so expect 2 years. It may have a 6-8k output Sensor with higher ISO capability? Extremely clean ISO 6400 would push the buy button for me.

truth being told, i do indeed need to have the camera in my hand for a true test obviously. my initial reaction was of course a bit childish. :-) the larger size of the gh4 will certainly be an advantage. using for now the gh2 with metabones and manual nikon assorted glass, and i love the results. the attraction is of course the 4k and maybe a new version is just around the corner...should i wait a little?

thanks for the reassurance however.

@touviere7 I find the GH4 to be a much more ergonomic camera to use. The GH2 seems tiny to me now. I assume when you focus, you have your hand on the lens. This is where the balance comes from. I have no problem using my thumb on the Fn3 button when focusing. Strange thing to be a deal breaker for you.

@touviere7 I understand your question now. I had the GH1, GH3 and GH4, but not the GH2. Actually, as fredfred27 said, the Fn3 is programmed to activate the focus assist by default, and I've changed the Fn2 button to the 4 arrows that allow you to move the magnifier where you want it. I find it easier to move the box where I want it first, and then magnify the area I want than to magnify first and then try to find what I'm looking for.

thanks tara,

but without the camera to try out, and very much used to push that dial with my thumb on the gh2, i would like to be able to use the same technique on the gh4. the pdf manual is not helping...

hi guys and gals,

just a general question:

i was wondering if the gh4 has a function identical to gh2 for manual focus assist: pushing the back dial? i 'm thinking of getting that body, and i can't find any answer going through the pdf.

thanks a lot!