Panasonic Lumix GH4 Low light ISO trick that you may not know about

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Here is a quick guide on how to set up your Panasonic GH4 (or GH4R) to get better ISO settings for low light. It’s a little hack I found kind of by accident but it gives me more freedom when filming in low light, especially when I have to go above 800 ISO, but when 1600 gives too much noise.
I own a GH4 and a GH4R and before I bought it I knew that the low light capabilities were not great compared to other cameras like the Sony A7sII, I checked on forums and different videos explaining how to get the best profile settings to use in low light but I noticed that they didn’t have this feature implemented.
I’m often faced with the challenge of having to video in low light conditions such as a church or a dance floor when a wedding band is playing. Having the option to choose 1000 or 1250 ISO, even with a low light lens depending on how dark it is, means I can cut out some of the noise that would come with 1600. The low light footage that I can get looks a lot cleaner when I suddenly might have to bump up the ISO during recording, the increments don’t suddenly jump to a noticeable brighter setting anymore.
So here’s a recap of what to do:
Switch on your Panasonic Lumix GH4 (or GH4R)
Turn the dial to “Photo mode” (I chose “P”)
Go to the menu and the top submenu, find where it says “ISO increments”
Change from 1 EV to 1/3 EV
Exit the menu screen and return to “Movie Mode”
You will now be able to select different ISO levels
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[@Yew-Tyewbe]

Using a GH4 in 22 and this little gem of a tip will help massively. Thank you.

[@michaelandremovies]

Thanks for that! Still using the GH4 in 2020 and never knew about this.

[@FergbyFive]

Perfect. Just what I needed. I was getting so frustrated as it is such a big jump from 800 to 1600 and far too much noise at 1600! Thank you very much :)

[@santulinks]

Thanks, just used this on the Panasonic GX8. Couldn't figure out why I couldn't adjust the camera in small ISO increments in video. Super useful, much appreciated. Thanks for sharing.

[@recipiend5711]

oh man, this is amazing discovering. its very important. the other thing is people tend to do not learn and use the camera enough they only jump on youtube to post videos so that could be destructive for the product and make you feel like you dont have a good camera.
thanks man

[@SBVideoDonegal]

+Thinka Deep No problem. I love the GH4, even though it can be poor in low light sometimes. Looking forward to the next model in the Lumix range and hopefully better low light capabilities

[@recipiend5711]

I use the 25mm f1.4. I dont know if you shoot in complet dark, i always add some light. My problem is to get a wide angle for the indoor shots. Do you have any idea

[@SullyCortez]

+Liquid Media Video Production supposedly the GH5 has a true super 35mm sensor...shoots RED size 5K... 10bit interal 4:2:2 and 12bit external RAW/4:2:2.... Can go up to ISO 1,408,120 and uses the same battery as GH4....5axis internal stabilization, and the ability to swap mounts from Nikon, to EF, to MFT....I really hope this is true... btw that is not true.... it now does appear in video mode with the latest VLOG update. You dont need to switch to photo mode anymore.... it allows 1/3 EV steps now natively without any tricks

[@SBVideoDonegal]

+Thinka Deep Well I always try to use some light, but never at a wedding. Even if the room is very dark I wouldn't use one because it draws too much attention to me from the other guests and I'm trying to remain anonymous. I've ordered the Samyang f2.0 to give me better wide angle and I'll post a review of that soon

[@SBVideoDonegal]

+Sully Cortez Yea and a price tag of just $999.95 haha

[@thomas-hill]

This was featured a few years ago when the GH3 came out but useful for those peeps who didn't know about it.

[@tadobapictures]

Thanks for sharing this discovery! I am a G7 user and the same technic actually applies.

[@retro-litetheater2331]

I found this ISO trick works on the GH3 as well. Thanks for this great treasure.

[@mediacake]

my friend! thanx a lot for this precious issue!!

[@PeteWoronowski]

This is a great tip, Thank you so much!
Cheers, Pete

[@venelinbakalov5945]

Awesome tip! Thanks for the heads up, it's great for videomakers to know where to find this setting!

[@markrobinson8254]

great tip for a troubling low light shot I have the camera all tweaked but this could really come in handy didn't realize it could go that high of an ISO thanks

[@LukeLifeCharms]

Woww i didnt know about this! Thank you so much!!

[@benjalockridge6247]

Just stumbled on this. Wish I had this for some low-light weddings!

[@nagromat]

Fab!! I was wondering why I couldn’t get the smaller increments...! Nice one 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@gothamoddisee]

This also works on the Lumix FZ2500. Really useful tip.

[@fiftyfivemill]

Great tip thank you for your knowledge appreciate you.

[@garynkiddgvm]

I just bought a GH4 , this isn’t a tip. This was essential! Canon camera natively do this. I didn’t even notice. This is a great way to fine tune your exposure.

[@iambilsy]

THANKYOU THANKYOU THANKYOU!!!! This has helped me instantly!

[@silverlightphotoco]

Thank you! This is VERY important and is always the first thing I do with every camera I use😃

[@southboundtraveler]

Nice one! Thanks for the tip!

[@OAK77uk]

Thanks so much for this - brilliant.

[@jaykiriona]

Thanks man, brilliant discovery!

[@JosephPaul4real]

This is very helpful; thank you!

[@joseafonso1872]

Thank you very much!
Great video!

[@alessiodemarchis3772]

Really awesome trick!! Thank you!

[@austinastray4444]

Thank you so much for this.

[@AndreLLMedia]

thank you !!! i just got the G7 and coming form a canon that had the more increments this was bugging me thank you again

[@peterslavik5917]

Great stuff. Thanks for sharing this , usefull for my gx80

[@juliensoaresbrito4363]

Your video is very helpful. THANKS FOR SHARING THIS

[@d33d19]

Great - thanks for sharing!

[@jiretox21]

good one. ThX, cool find

[@sunlightfilms5222]

Great find!!! Thank you!!!

[@johngriffin87]

Very nice catch! I just came across your video while playing with the camera. This will definitely be a useful tool in adjusting the camera. I have a GH4 and a G7 as a 2nd camera along with a handful of Lumix lenses. I haven't been busy enough to justify purchasing a GH5/s, but we'll see. In the meantime, there's still an awful lot about both of these cameras that I'm learning about and playing with. You can certainly get beautiful video from either one with proper setup and shooting technique.

[@fillintheday]

Nice tip! Thanks!

[@sunlightfilms5222]

Fantastic....you are a genius .... I would have never thought of that...

[@leonidas6656]

Thank you very much. Great Info.

[@adelinkuptv7926]

this was very helpful

[@heltunikt]

Great tip! Thanks heaps!

[@LiveAudioWrestling]

Great tip. Thanks.

[@youradica]

woah, works for the g7 as well! thank you!

[@sethbuadu4573]

WOW! Thank you!

[@elb7032]

Thanks a lot! tried this on my G7 and it worked, should help in the future!:D

[@Thenormies]

Wow. Thanks you for that! I had no idea.

[@judeangou]

The Normies

[@nandohobbit383]

complimenti per la scoperta che hai fatto.

[@greentokyo]

Wow!! I've had this camera for 2 years now and i never knew this lol

[@SBVideoDonegal]

+missingtear Every day is a school day! Keep learning and testing new things

[@modenim]

Nice. Thank you very much

[@NoName-ju9cs]

Very nice tip

[@tc3imagery]

Excellent, thanks!

[@colinthecameraguy]

Well done that man!

[@jeanvisuals967]

You a genius man i never saw this one

[@ngoninyembe338]

I did found it by accident too and its so amazing

[@FAIYA]

Thank you for this.

[@davehenderson9105]

Thank you this is a cool hack!

[@RaeganScarlett]

Tysm!! This works for a G7 as well

[@doverivermedia3937]

Very helpfull... thank you !

[@embracemydarkestfearband]

Thank you for this

[@SourceAwareness]

Thanks, Brother, you are a Legend!!

[@DevonteHillproductions]

Excellent!! Thanks

[@flyingmower]

Thanks for the tip, works on the Lumix FZ2000 and the FZ82.

[@watermelonslice.s]

You - saved - my - life.

[@brunofelixmusic]

That works with Panasonic Lumix G7, thanks for this brilliant tip.

[@martintsedri717]

Thank you so much !!

[@ProfessorDZ]

That is brilliant! Thank you!!!!

[@SBVideoDonegal]

No problem David, glad it helped

[@martinsenfilmundfoto7925]

Thank you!

[@Matituber]

You are a genius!!! thanks!!

[@adrianoc7105]

Thank you! From italy!

[@datamedicpr]

The Holy Grail of the GH4 thanks

[@tpstratton]

great tip!

[@rjhill7389]

Thanks for the tip...would've like to see you show some video in low light at ISO 1000/1250.

[@jarredcornette4501]

great hack! This is gonna help me out big time!

[@frenchstevenstark]

thanks

[@JoshuaEmpringham]

What a great help!

[@lindamuvic8110]

Thanks good trick.

[@dragonflymedia3979]

This is a great hack, just used it on my new G80, thanks

[@MattRobb]

Thanks alot

[@tomasmulasanchez7700]

Muchisimas gracias. Esto es algo super util y una deficiencia desagradable de esta camara que puedo resolver gracias a este video. Muchas gracias.

[@Technoane]

Also works for the Panasonic G7, thanks!

[@besogociridze]

SAME ON G7, THENX FOR VIDEO

[@harryroulet8905]

Thank You!

[@brooksyfilms916]

GREAT TIP

[@boook15]

Thanks so so so much

[@hopkinsnorthjuniorhigh8641]

THANK YOU!!

[@makemovieordie2154]

Super discovery! More flexibility. THANKS

[@darocapablo]

thank you!

[@johnpaulsaluba9622]

Thank you so much! LIFESAVER! i thought i could only have 200-400-800-1600..etc.

[@hiselectmedia]

Awesome thanks!!

[@AustrianGeek]

THX for this hint (!)

[@SBVideoDonegal]

+AustrianGeek No problem, glad it helps

[@pivami]

Thank You for the trick....good luck!

[@SBVideoDonegal]

you're welcome :)

[@ovihaliuc5405]

thank you

[@DjTallyIndia]

Amazing. That really helps a lot of people out..

[@ruff1draft]

When I purchase the GH4R I shall use this method. Thanks for the information. Shame this camera is not fully frame or APC. It would be better especially at the price point it is and the functionality off the camera and the great battery life.

[@larbueno]

I don't believe that this is considered a "trick"!? It's something we should all know about our cameras. These 1/3 step increment settings are fairly standard if not completely standard on just about any camera that use interchangeable lenses and on Plenty of point and shoot/one piece cameras.
UPDATE: I made my comment above and then read the comments. I had no idea so many were unaware of this setting on cameras. I wasn't trying to sound flippant in my response above, I guess I've just been in this business so long I took this information for granted. Why the manufacturers don't use 1/3 step increments as the default setting is beyond me? I'm glad so many of you found out about this information through this video.

[@ROOTSSchoolVT]

Thanks.

[@callan5323]

Great tip! You should show footage using the different ISO's.

Very helpful. Could you share the settings you recomend in standart and natural profiles? I just got my gh4 and there is so much confusión in youtube. I think whith the hippe the first videos about the color profiles are so biassed, and whith time profesionals like you seems to end up using natural and normal profiles. I just got to the party, six 4 or 5 years later and there is so much you cant teach about this camera.

[@MarketaMelicher]

Thank you!:)

[@stevenstrowman4912]

Amazing!

[@jonknowler8657]

fantastic , thanks very much !

[@sdutango]

I'm amazed how many people don't read the manual or play around the menu completely before start using.