Spreading like a virus across the interwebs (e.g., here and here), evidently Panasonic is letting you activate V-Log on your GH4 now, following these extremely simple steps:
- Download firmware version 2.3, unpack the .bin file onto an SD card’s root, and press play on your GH4 to start the update (careful: more detail here)
- Get Panasonic’s Image App from the Google Play store or iTunes Store
- With your GH4 in Movie mode, open the tablet/smartphone app and connect to your GH4 via Wi-Fi/NFC
- Go to “Remote operation” where you can select “Q.MENU”
- Under the “Photo Style” option you can select “V-Log L,” which updates in the camera
- Now on the GH4 itself, save this configuration as a custom profile
- (You won’t need to go back to the Image App anymore. Your new profile is available whenever you turn on the camera, in Movie mode, going forward.)
Thanks to Mishel Plaku, who sent this information and the associated pictures to me via the GH4 User Group. If Panasonic didn’t intend for this to happen, you can expect an app update and/or associated firmware update soon. So, it would be prudent for you to double-check your Android or iOS settings, which can disable automatic updates. Also, keep a copy of that version 2.3 firmware you downloaded, dated September 10, just in case Panasonic changes their mind.
It’s been almost a year since V-Log was shown working on the GH4. Panasonic hasn’t given any explanation why they locked it away all this time, even while the rest of the industry flew past them, respecting widespread customer demand to shoot in film color space. (Even the Sony RX100 IV purse-cam has got log.) At first there were rumors of V-Log having a licensing problem vis-à-vis Panasonic’s VariCam division, but mum’s the word. Panasonic also never clarified whether there were any changes to the profile since then, resulting in just a name change to V-Log L. At most, there has been the suggestion that it took a very long time for Panasonic to figure out how to circulate the upgrade, as a securely paid feature, shipping environmentally un-friendly retail boxes with a code on paper that could have been delivered over the Internet like countless other hardware licenses. And here we are today, with an incredibly ironic conclusion.
Personally, I’m still buying it, but I’m glad that I get to try it out “early.” (UPDATE: Here is Panasonic’s official response with firmware update version 2.4.)
Note that for a quick conversion from film V-Log L to video Rec. 709 color, Panasonic has all along offered this free downloadable pack of LUTs for you to use, in DaVinci Resolve (.cube) and other formats. For example, you could load it into Premiere using Lumetri, or load it onto an Atomos Shogun for accurate monitoring/recording. For now, I plan to use FilmConvert‘s ARRI Log profile (coupon code FOCUSPULLING for 10% off) until they release their official free V-Log L profile, which will take a very long time as always.
For updates and community sharing, JOIN the Vimeo User Group, WATCH this video on how to add your clips, LIKE the Facebook page and/or FOLLOW the Twitter feed @GH4users. Looking forward to seeing your work with V-Log L!
I cant believe they slipped up like this. Now at least we get to preview the profile and see if we want to pay for it.
That’s a good way of putting it. Also, buying it will protect you from its removal through future firmware/app updates, and also will add the feature’s native ability elsewhere in the camera’s menus.
As of tonight the download links to 2.3 have been removed from the Panasonic download page. The message says “During Server Maintenance”
No need to buy it, just backup the firmware and the current version of the android app. Fuck Pana$onic. As long as you do not upgrade the firmware….
I wouldn’t go that far. Even if we agree about criticizing the unnecessary pricing/long delay, the fact is, Panasonic’s terms of sale say, you pay them $100, you get a box with a code written on a piece of paper inside to activate V-Log L. That said, the way that they gave it to everyone in this manner too is a stunning oversight after the extraordinary lengths they took to package it securely for retail at a relatively minor profit.
Video on the matter up here: https://youtu.be/KOb5YeMMRcU
panasonic deserves the $99, I tried this method it works and only sharpening and noise settings can be changed in custom settings. Thanks for posting it, I think this way allot of people will appreciate it. this way people can see before they buy what they are getting for their money, I think panasonic should not disable it in the app.
It seems Panasonic has disabled the firmware update on their site as of this post.
As I note in an update to this post, see: http://lumixlounge.com/2015/09/vloglactivationissue