Many initial users of the Panasonic Lumix GH3 camera who tried to record its 1080p signal externally have been disappointed to see that it wouldn’t work. That’s because as shipped from the factory, the GH3 does not output its native framerate over HDMI. For example, in 1080/25p mode, it duplicates each frame and outputs 1080/50p over HDMI, or in 1080/29.97p mode, it duplicates each frame and outputs 1080/59.94p. At NAB, Steve Wise of Átomos told me about some unusual menu settings with can be used to coax the GH3 to output its native framerate, plus a new firmware update for the camera which makes this more reliable. Ahead are the details.
Links to articles about the GH3 camera in ProVideo Coalition magazine
- First Look: Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3 DSLM hybrid still/video camera December 5, 2012, by Adam Wilt
- Panasonic Lumix GH3 gets more serious about audio & video than its predecessors September 22, by Allan Tépper
Firmware update for GH3
Here is the official Panasonic notification about firmware the update dated March 28, 2013.
What is VIERA Link?
VIERA Link is Panasonic’s trade name for CEC (Consumer Electronics Control), which is an HDMI feature designed to allow the user to command and control up-to 15 CEC-enabled devices that are connected through HDMI.
Why would VIERA Link affect HDMI output framerate?
I have no idea whether this was intentional or not, but when VIERA Link is active in the GH3, the HDMI output will not be native. So step 1 is to deactivate VIERA Link in the GH3 menu.
Unusual menu settings
1. Deactivate VIERRA Link.
2. Go to Select Output.
3. Set Output to AUTO.
Theoretically, this should work equally well will all three 1080p framerates offered by this camera (region model dependent): 23.976p, 25p, and 29.97p, and it should work both for recording with an external recorder like the Ninja2 (for which Átomos had made the initial investigation with Panasonic) and for live studio use. I am awaiting a response from Átomos as to whether they have tested all three framerates for both uses. I’ll update this article or publish another once I hear. I the meantime, if any reader has a GH3 and has occasion to test this, please comment below.
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