Category Archives: Monitoring

Monitoring, Panasonic GH6, Uncategorized, UNDERWATER VIDEO, videography

Panasonic GH5M2 and GH6 HDMI Lag Optimisation

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Key Facts

  • The camera live view is one frame behind due to the image processing pipeline, faster refresh rates reduce delays
  • HDMI latency does not depend on cable length
  • Most monitors have low latency
  • HDMI can carry audio and video and those need to be synchronised: if one of them is slower than the other a delay is introduced to match up
  • Resolution plays a role but not as important as others

GH5M2 and GH6 Lag between LCD and HDMI

  • The camera LCD has a resolution of 960×640 pixels and a refresh rate of 60 fps that can be reduced to 30 fps
  • When recording the camera shows the live view on the LCD with a delay of c 1 frame from real life
  • If you go into the menu HDMI Recording Output and set Sound Output  OFF you can see the real lag between the LCD and the HDMI
  • This lag is typically 2 frames from the LCD 
  • As frame  rate drops the lag increases
  • When the Sound is disabled the lag of the GH6 is generally better than the GH5M2
Measurements Results

Video Tutorial with my recommended settings

Items shown in this video

1. Atomos Shinobi: https://amzn.to/35DmFhD

2. Manfrotto 290 Xtra: https://amzn.to/3sSYggF

3. Manfrotto Light video head: https://amzn.to/3vTCHPc

4. Smallrig Monitor Mount: https://amzn.to/367f22z

5. Smallrig HDMI cable: https://amzn.to/3sVwNe9

6. Panasonic GH6: https://amzn.to/3HTUZlv

7. Panasonic 10-25mm 1.7: https://amzn.to/3KtxAcn

8. Atomos Ninja V: https://amzn.to/3MEKia0

HDMI Optimisation Wrap Up

  • Monitoring has acceptable delays from live time 50-150ms
  • Audio recording introduces a delay of 65ms on the GH5M2 and 35mm on the GH6 
  • The GH5M2 lag  of 190ms in 24p is too high and should be reduced to 160ms
  • There is a bug in the 30p mode on the GH6 as the lag is higher than 24p this needs to be corrected