Panasonic Lumix DC-ZS200 (edit: mostly about ZS100 though)

[Chrisedge]

Set those for tonight.

Does it always give you the warning triangle when you turn it off?
Since the aperture changes as you zoom does that effect exposure?
No stabilizer at 4K? (True?)
How long should I expect ONE battery to last (No way to get a minutes left on battery on screen?)

[Datfly]

Set those for tonight.

Does it always give you the warning triangle when you turn it off?
Since the aperture changes as you zoom does that effect exposure?
No stabilizer at 4K? (True?)
How long should I expect ONE battery to last (No way to get a minutes left on battery on screen?)

Yes, you always get the triangle.
It  does effect  the exposure slightly. The exposure button under your thumb fixes that instantly if needed.
No stabilizer in 4K sadly.
90 min - maybe a bit more depending on zooming etc...

[Chrisedge]

Thanks! This may be the one to FINALLY replace my HX9V...lol

I am bummed about no stabilizer but we will see tonight.

[Datfly]

Put you mic setting on high wind...helps with cleaner audio for loud shows.
Here's my complete set up. Scroll through & pick & choose what you like.
If you have any other suggestion I might have missed in set up lmk!

ZS100 Camera Settings:


SET TOP DIAL ON CAMERA TO THE VIDEO CAMERA ICON/M mode:

Video Camera Icon Menu:

screen 1: Record format > MP4 for PC or Other for MAC
Screen 2: Record quality > 4k/30 p
     AF mode > facial recognition
Screen 3: AFF
     Continue AF > on
Screen 4: No change
Screen 5: Silent operation > on
     Wind noise canceller > high
   

Wrench/C Menu:

Screen 1: Silent mode > on
Screen 2: No Change
Screen 3: Direct focus area > on
Screen 4: Gridline > on
Screen 5: Highlight > on
     zebra pattern > on
Screen 6: No Change
Screen 7: FN Button Set >
     Settings in Record Mode >
     F1 Button (Exposure compensation: on screen #12)
     F2 Button  ISO (On Screen #5)
Screen 8: Eye sensor > LVF/Monitor switch > Monitor



PUT TOP DIAL ON CAMERA ON (M) MANUAL MODE:

Screen 1: Aspect ratio > 3.2
     Picture Size > L20
     Quality > RAW + .JPG SF
Screen 2: AF Mode > Facial Recognition
     AFF
Screen 3: No Change
Screen 4: No Change
Screen 5: No Change
Screen 6: ISO Increments > 1/3
Screen 7: No Change
Screen 8: Stabilizer > ON

[Chrisedge]

So for those Wrench C settings, the dial on top is on C?

I did that.

[Datfly]

So for those Wrench C settings, the dial on top is on C?

I did that.

When you hit the menu button the 5 icons on the left of the screen will each
lead to a setting.

1  - camera
2 - video
3 - Wrench-C
4- Wrench

[Datfly]

So for those Wrench C settings, the dial on top is on C?

I did that.

Always put the top dial on the Video Camera/M icon to shoot 4K on the camera.

[Chrisedge]

So handheld at 370mm, no stabilizer...ummm. Does anyone use stabilizing in post? I have tried it in Vegas 13, and it helps, but wondering how much it effects the final quality.

[guitard]

How long should I expect ONE battery to last (No way to get a minutes left on battery on screen?)

90 min - maybe a bit more depending on zooming etc...

Any difference in OEM battery life vs Wasabi Power batteries?

[guitard]

So handheld at 370mm, no stabilizer...ummm. Does anyone use stabilizing in post? I have tried it in Vegas 13, and it helps, but wondering how much it effects the final quality.

I've tried a few of them over the years and never got a result that I thought was worth the trouble.  It always seemed like a double edged sword ... the stabilizer fixes one problem ... but creates another (equally or more) annoying problem.

How far from the stage will you be shooting?  I just bought it and haven't used it yet, but I plan on using the ZS100 when I'm somewhere other than the cheap seats.  If I'm in the cheap seats where security is much less of a concern, I will film with my camcorder (Sony AX100).

[Datfly]

How long should I expect ONE battery to last (No way to get a minutes left on battery on screen?)

90 min - maybe a bit more depending on zooming etc...

Any difference in OEM battery life vs Wasabi Power batteries?

I have only used OEM's as I learned years ago with my 35mm camera that the non OEM's usually
let me down at critical moments.

[Chrisedge]

So I was pretty impressed. No stabilizer wasn't much of an issue, even zoomed all the way in. (Granted I had a rail) House of Blues had the stage majorly backlit, so I had it on ISO800 and about plus 2 exposure. The footage looks a little grainy but sharp. The grain goes away as soon as the stage is lit. I chose to change to manual focus and used the button to occasionally have it auto focus.

Is there a way to lock the aperture in video to 5.8 so it stays more constant? It was brighter when I zoom out, and I don't want to have to keep adjusting the exposure. And any tricks to reduce the grain or should I just worry about that in post (or chock it up to the poor performer lighting?) I will post a video shortly once it's rendered.

Thanks Datfly!
(and yes I plan on using it for U2)

[webvan]

Great thread, thanks for the tips shared in here. Might finally pick up a ZS100 at some point. For pics only the Sony HX90 does a pretty decent job in manual mode.

[tapeheadtoo]

Is there a way to lock the aperture in video to 5.8 so it stays more constant?

If you put it in Aperture Priority Mode (A on dial) you can set the aperture wherever you want and it will stay constant.

[Chrisedge]

Here is my first attempt

Metric
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppKXQHuZ5iQ


This was 800iso, so I will try and get down to 400, and expose it up as much as I can. Again, super backlit too.

I use Vegas to output, any suggested bitrate to keep it from being massive uploads? (I am exporting at 4K 50,000,000 bit rate...)