Setting Up the GH4 Part 1 Custom Modes, Setup and Playback Menus

Setting up the GH4 can be a challenge but there are worse things............

 

The GH4 is one of the most comprehensively specified cameras ever produced with an amazing array of features, specifications, functions and capabilities for still and motion picture. The camera can be extensively configured for individual preference.  

This little series  of posts on setting up the GH4  reflects my own use of the camera. As a result I am unable to provide the new user with guidance on some aspects of the camera's many capabilities.  The GH4 resembles Adobe Photoshop. It has a multitude of sophisticated functions and capabilities enabled by software (firmware). Each individual user has the option to select some capabilities and ignore others.

* I do not do motion picture at all. This is simply an individual preference. Some might think it sacrilege to buy the most capable video/stills hybrid camera ever made then not use the video component. But there it is. You can read all about motion picture starting at Page 191 of the Owners Manual.

* I do not use any touch screen functions. I have tried them all in a succession of Panasonic cameras and have concluded that touch screen operation just gets in the way of a streamlined picture taking workflow.

* I never use Creative Control Mode, Page 77 of the Manual.  If you do want to experiment with this Mode, make sure the item labelled Menu Guide on page 8 of the Custom menu is set to On. This allows all the special effect filter settings to be displayed.  

* I do not use Wi-Fi /NFC. Not yet, anyway. Maybe in the future it might find a place in my workflow.  A very comprehensive description of Wi-Fi begins on Page 254 of the Manual.

* I have no interest in image editing in camera, which receives extensive coverage starting on Page 221 of the Manual. I shoot RAW, transfer images to the computer using Adobe Bridge, perform initial editing in Adobe Camera RAW 8.5, then on to Photoshop CC2014 for final editing if required.

If you have never before  used a recent model Panasonic M43 camera your first encounter with the GH4 might be a bit daunting.  Operation of  almost everything on board can be configured by the user by choosing from a multitude of options. Fortunately the newcomer can set the main Mode Dial to iA or P, leave all the Fn buttons at default and proceed to make pictures immediately.

After a familiarisation period you will probably want to start setting up the camera to suit your personal preferences.

Custom Modes  The GH4  allows you to memorise five completely different camera configurations. This works via the Custom Modes on the Main Mode dial. These are C1, C2, C3-1, C3-2, C3-3. Unfortunately you can't personalise the name of each Custom Mode, so you need to write down somewhere which Mode does what.

Each Custom Mode will memorise most of the Main Menu, Q Menu and Fn function settings plus the Main Mode Dial setting present at the time the Custom Mode is set.
Some menu items are not registered as custom settings. These are listed at the bottom of Page 321 of the Manual.

The only settings which cannot be attributed to a Custom Mode are those of  the Drive Mode dial and the Focus Mode lever, for the simple reason that these are hard (physical, not electronic) controls.

So, you might want different groups of settings for general photography, sport/action, tripod and motion picture, for instance.  No problem. I note in passing that there is currently much enthusiasm in the camera commentariat for retro style cameras which use a control layout lacking a Mode Dial. This type of user interface finds no favour with me for many reasons, just one of which is that it is unable to provide Custom Modes. I fail to understand why, in the electronic era one would make cameras which deliberately underutilise the potential benefits of electronic operation.

Viewfinder diopter  Viewfinder eyepiece diopter can be adjusted to personal preference with the knurled wheel on the right side of the eyepiece. I have found it is worth rechecking this several times in the first few weeks of use to make sure of optimal sharpness.

Throughout this guide  I indicate my own menu selections with reasons as appropriate. This is in no way prescriptive but might help a new user to streamline the process of setting up the camera. There are a LOT of decisions to make.

Setup Menu  This, as you might expect, is the place to begin setting up the camera.

* Clock Set.  You will be prompted to set this when the camera is first switched on.  World Time and Travel Date are there for you to play with.

* Wi-Fi. There is extensive coverage of this feature in the  Advanced Owners Manual.

* Beep. Adjust Beep volume and E-Shutter volume to personal preference.

* Speaker Volume and Headphone Volume. Adjust to personal preference.

* Live View Mode. This item is confusingly named.  It appears to be a reference to the EVF refresh rate, although the Manual doesn't say whether the monitor is also affected. 60 fps is supposed to give a smoother response when panning but use more power. I found little difference between 30 and 60 fps in practice.

* Monitor Display (Note: to adjust EVF display simply look in the viewfinder while making adjustments. Both the monitor and EVF have the same adjustments).  You can change Brightness, Contrast/Saturation (increased contrast produces increased saturation) green/red color balance and yellow/blue color balance.

For the record I have left all monitor settings to default.  I set the EVF to Brightness +1, Contrast/Saturation to -1, Color balance to neutral.

Each individual has different brightness sensitivity and color perception so can benefit from the adjustments available.

* Monitor Luminance. I just leave this at the default setting which is Auto. But you get the option of more direct control if desired.

* Economy. Here you select elapsed times with the camera idle before entering  Sleep Mode and Auto EVF (LVF)/Monitor Off.  I set 5 minutes for each.

* Battery Use Priority.  This comes into play if the accessory battery grip is fitted. It tells the camera which battery to drain first.

* USB mode and TV connection are both about connectivity options. Select to personal preference.

* Menu Resume. When set On, each menu opens at the item last used. This is a very useful feature for quickly finding items most often used. In my case that would be Format in the Setup Menu. When preparing for low light tripod work it can be useful to pre locate Shutter delay in the Rec Menu so it is easily found in Prepare Phase of use.

* Menu Background. You get to play with the options here. Select to personal preference. I find the second option from the top easiest to read.

* Menu Information. For someone unfamiliar with Panasonic menus it might be worth leaving this On initially. When you are familiar with the camera switch this Off to declutter the screen a bit.

* Language.

* Version Disp. Here the current Firmware version of body and lens (if mounted) are displayed.

* Exposure Comp Reset. If set On, then any exposure compensation set during a shooting session will be automatically cancelled when the camera is switched off. I always set this feature to On because I often forget to reset Exposure Comp. Obviously I am not the only forgetful one.

* No. Reset allows you to reset the file number of a picture.  Reset returns all settings to shipping condition (default) and Reset Wi-Fi settings does what it says.

* System Frequency. In previous model Panasonic cameras motion picture settings were region specific, e.g. PAL or NTSC. But now all the cameras are the same and all can be set to preference. At last, thank goodness.

* Pixel Refresh. This optimises the imaging device and processing. Presumably something to be used if hot or blank pixels appear in your images.

* Sensor Cleaning. This is performed automatically every time the camera is switched on by vibrating the optical filter in front of the sensor, but can also be activated via this menu item.

* Format. This initialises the memory card, effectively erasing all data.  Because I test equipment a lot and make a lot of photos I use this frequently.

Hint: Always press the Playback button before formatting to ensure you are not about to wipe out precious images.  

I always format a new card in the camera before using it and always format a card which has previously been used in a different camera. If this is not done files may become corrupted.

Playback Menu

As a result of my workflow as described above, I have very little use for the Playback menu. I just leave everything at default. I make sure that Rotate.Disp is On so that pictures taken in portrait orientation are automatically rotated 90 degrees for playback.

The process of reviewing images on the monitor (or EVF, it works the same providing a seamless segue from one to the other)  is very sophisticated. After pressing the Playback button to bring up the last captured image you can

--Move from one image to the next with the Front Dial.

--Zoom into the displayed image, or zoom back to display several frames,  with the Rear Dial.

--Move the magnified area around the frame with the Control Dial.

--Scrolling with the front dial will move from one frame to the next at the same zoom level and the same frame location.

This is a very efficient way to quickly review a series of images of the same subject such as a portrait.  The three dial configuration does have advantages.

Next, Rec and Custom Menus