Luminous Landscape Forum
Equipment & Techniques => Motion & Video => Topic started by: fredjeang on November 06, 2011, 04:48:35 am
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Hi,
Does someone has hacked his-her (I don't know why I put "her" because there is never any lady here...) GH2 ?
I've been very impressed by the footage I saw filmed by an hacked GH2, but trying to find the informations, I have the problem that my english level is
not catching the all picture and I'd like to go "safe". I mean by safe, not a warranty issue but being able to understand step by step the all process clearly.
The hack comes apparently from this guy: Vitaliy Kiselev’s
Tha camera shoots at 176Mbit ! and only with SD extreme.
Footage stands the comparaison with Red and Alexas except in harsh light where the Gh2 still blows and chromatic aberrations. But otherwise, very impressive.
So apparently you have to go on this page: http://www.personal-view.com/
and find a user called: Driftwood
They said that the settings can be downloaded here: http://www.personal-view.com/talks/discussion/comment/19407#Comment_19407
But it's impossible to download anything so I imagine that we have to register first.
Then, what?
If someone has done that successfuly, please post your comments here.
Thanks.
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Fred,
l hacked my GH1 and it worked very well...Vitally is super at this but these are a collaborative work in progress.
The thread you refer to is a series of settings that you write in depending upon which framerate you are interested in...this is
not the hack itself. I will spend some time over the week looking at this.
However I am totally happy with the default GH2 settings for 24P...gorgeous tone and color and yes blow any camera's highlights
and it will bite you...some worse than others.
Hate this self-referral stuff ( I really do ) but the following is GH2:
http://robertemoorephoto.com/p645748420/h3b24a289#h3b24a289
Poor tripod and head adjustment but look at color, out of focus areas and dynamic range...not RED but
appealing overall...and talk about a sweet little package for travel.
Bob
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Oh yeah, the gh2 even as it is from factory is a great tool.
I love this little camera, honestly.
(Zacuto will have it featured on their next episodes).
If you have infos on that hack soon, please post.
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Here is listing for the hack and patches which will be used...down the list are all of Driftwood's patches.
http://www.personal-view.com/talks/discussion/953/gh2-patch-vault-most-popular-patches-in-one-place
Bob
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This is the most recent hack listed:
PT Tool
http://www.personal-view.com/talks/discussion/666/ptool-v3.62d-topic
and yes I have donated a couple of times...the stuff is that good.
Bob
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Here is listing for the hack and patches which will be used...down the list are all of Driftwood's patches.
http://www.personal-view.com/talks/discussion/953/gh2-patch-vault-most-popular-patches-in-one-place
Bob
Kept in favorite, Thanks for the link. I will look at it tonight in a quiet moment.
Cheers.
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I hacked mine. It's very easy and safe because you can always revert back to the original firmware. The high bitrates 176/220mb hacks really need good SD cards, with mine it often gave errors. Also they suck up memory (about 1 Gb per minute...) so that wasn't really practical for me. I ended up using teh 66Mb settings which is a good compromise.
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Hi,
When you say it's very easy, is there a place in the internet where it is explained simply? (and if visually better). Or pearhaps you could explain it here, you're welcome.
And then, it seems that there are many versions. How to know wich one?
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Fred,
Look here:
http://www.eoshd.com/content/tag/hack
http://www.personal-view.com/talks/discussion/699/avchd-maximum-image-quality-settings-and-testing
Bob
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Aahhh...
This is what I wanted this thread to be.
Practical infos that everybody can understand, and not just "I've hacked mine and it's great".
Thanks for bringing those usable and practical links.
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Fred,
Ye thanks a lot...now I have hacked my GH2! Was happy with the stock firmware and will not be able to look
at the results for a while due to work schedule.
Bottom line for now...176 MB is a bit unstable ...special cards and 500MB per minute of record time
makes it a no go for me. Trying Chris' 66 MB settings...good compromise on time for record and
stability.
New PTool 3.6.3 is great...ini file in same folder and it is a one-click deal. No hassle and again
less of a chance to input a bad value.
Looking forward to seeing the results...maybe this weekend.
Bob
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Hi Fred,
after so much advertising you´ve made for the GH2 I´m really tempted...I´m not really satisfied with the canon 5DII video skin tones. Does the GH2 support a high def HDMI output when recording? That´s the other downside of the 5DII.
Cheers, Ulf
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It does.
But I never did it so far personaly.
Panasonic delibaratly "by-pass" powerfull pro functions in the GH2 so they can sell their more expensive cameras, but it's there.
Fortunatly there are people that are hacking everything.
In fact, the GH2 is potencialy a movie sex bomb. Some guys have even hacked the HDMI recording to enhance it:
http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?237584-HDMI-Capture-Problem-SOLVED-AviSynth-RULES!
I don't want to deal with that, I'm not an engineer and prefer using the SD extreme with higher bitrate and end of the story. If in the future I really need power, I'd go Red.
The GH2 output is good enough for me, in fact clearly much better than the 5D2 in factory (except in extreme isos). IMO going HDMI recording with it is more an hassle than a plus IMO.
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fred: did you tried the 5dmk2 with magic lantern fw? it brings up their data rate as well high. not as much as the gh2 but 60 - 80 mbs as well.
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fred: did you tried the 5dmk2 with magic lantern fw? it brings up their data rate as well high. not as much as the gh2 but 60 - 80 mbs as well.
No Rainer, I did not try it so far. It's true that since I got the GH2, the 5D2 is starting to get spider webs. I find the panasonic, independently of the output, much more fun to use.
So I sort of have a lack of interest in trying to improve the Canon.
I think I'm going to sell it to a friend that is interested.
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Thank you Fred, this is an additional option, interesting read. What I actually meant was just the connectivity of a 7" on camera display. Whith the 5DII it is great to compose and when you start to take off the resolution slips down and is hard to follow focus. That´s why I considered an additional Canon 7D, but now I´ll take a deeper look at the GH2 first. Tempted by the Red too, but a bit afraid of the huge and heavy camera setup and additional crew needed. Anyway, thanks again.
Cheers, Ulf
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here's a good tutorial on the 42MB hack:
http://www.zeroplusplus.com/easy-panasonic-gh2-42mbps-firmware-patch-instructions/
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I've hacked it at 100mb/s !
Footage is simply amazing. Arri Alexa like.
Caution: do not install the Pana official firware. I had to removed it to the original firmware and then hack.
In higher isos more than 1600 (now enabled no isos limits), instead of the sort of soupish undefined dots you got film grain like.
No need to say that lower isos are impressive and ultra-clean.
Clips less highlights too.
BUT
there are also some downsides, as always.
-1) files are huge. 30 sec in normal gh2 is 50M, with the hacked it's 270M
That means SD cards will be filled in 40ish minutes and storage will be more costly.
That's really the biggest problem of the powerfull hacks.
I think I may reduced to a lower bit-rate and find a comnpromise because the workflow will be slower or I'd need soon a proper server installation.
-2) from 6400 isos and above, in some parts of the footage, not always, ( I've noticed that it shows-up in underexposure cases),
appears a "banding". Not quite the same as the banding causes by electrical frequency, just one or 2 fixed bands.
It does not appears at lower isos than 6400. Even at 6400, this banding disappear immediatly if you expose more. So it's only in under-exposures and not always. Weired.
and I wonder what could it be.
I've just done it and if I see more issues, I'll report here.
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More stuff.
Maybe our forum engineers will be able to have an answer.
The banding I was talking about at higher isos seems to affect almost all the GH2 units worldwide.
But I've noticed a sighnificant improvement when reducing by 1/2 shutter speed and film at 25 instead of 50. (and of course compensating on aperture to get the same amount of light)
That makes no sense but it works quite well and only on extreme under-exposed area it would show-up again but way more discrete.
720p and 1080i 1/50 are banding free, at least on my unit.
So it seems to affect the Cine mode only.
Nota: again, this got nothing to do with the light frequency banding. I'm talking about scenes where no artificial light at all is involved.
The GH2 seems to have a weired behaviour with higher isos-shutter-spend and for what is circulating over the internet, it's a conception engineering fact on this camera.
For me it's not a prob at all. I can live with it and rarely use 3200-6400 isos. If I have to I'd swich to 1080i for extreme isos.
But if you have some infos about it, that would be nice to know.
But hey, it's a 700euros camera...
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more and more...
Well, I could verify that the banding in higher isos is present on the GH2 before the hack. It's then, not a hacked problem but a factory problem.
Some people said that newer versions do not have this issue but in fact people with latest version have also reported this problem.
Some cured definatly this: exposing the sensor during hours under an incandescent light. (pointing towards a light).
What does the hack, is that as it contains more infos and the resulting image is more precise, the banding is simply more visible, but it was there.
On my unit, it happens from 3200 isos on under-exposed areas, and it seems to change quite a lot depending on the unit. Once your exposure is ok, this banding disappear.
In fact, keeping isos at 800 with fast lens is the only way to be safe in low-light with the GH2.
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I've hacked it at 100mb/s !
Is 100mb/s a stable hack these days?
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I've hacked it at 100mb/s !
Footage is simply amazing. Arri Alexa like.
Hi Fred,
which 100Mbit/s patch did you use?
Or did you create one by yourself?
High bitrate alone doesn't cut it. Appropriate Videobuffer and Quantization settings will improve IQ.
As you live in PAL land you also have to be aware that the GOP settings for 24p and 1080i50 are combined - so when you change the GOP length for 24p this will also affect 1080i50.
This is why I use 2 patches:
- one 166Mbit/s patch, Intra Frame only (GOP=1). I use this one for 24p (24H) only.
Actually the patch also works for 50i, sort of... it's 25p PsF in a 50i wrapper. But the codec doesn't hold up well - lots of artefacts may show up in high detailed scenes. However 24p/24H is really georgeous!
It's the "Dritwood Seaquake" patch (class 10 cards required): http://www.personal-view.com/talks/discussion/comment/25865#Comment_25865
The patch is to be used in PTools v3.63d
- the second patch is my "general" patch that works for both 24p and 1080i50.
66Mbit/s, GOP12, for 24p ("24H") and 32Mbits, GOP 12, for 1080i50 ("FSH").
It's based on the "cbrandin 66M AQ2" patch: http://www.personal-view.com/talks/discussion/comment/16759#Comment_16759 ...
but modified for better 50i performance; also for better 24p quality as I set the Auto Quantizer from 2 to 3 (some people reported crashes with AQ set to 3 ... but by now it never happened to me. If AQ3 freezes your camera simply set AQ back to 2 and the patch will work fine).
You'll find my modified patch attached. It is to be used in PTools v3.62d
By now I didn't mess around with 720p settings ... so I don't know how 720p performs with these patches.
Re Banding:
banding also shows up at ISO 160. It doesn't show up at ISO200.
see here:
http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?270722-Iso-160
http://www.campcomet.com/archives/797
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I use the Driftwood 'AQUAMOTION' version 2
Totally stable on my camera with class 10 Extreme 30MB/sec (so far)
About isos 160, yeah absolutly. It seems (not sure about that) that the GH2 "native" iso is 640.
Here are the specs of the Driftwood
Version increment=1
30min limit removal=Checked
Maximum ISO limit removal=Checked
PAL<->NTSC Menu=Checked
Video Bitrate 24H=100000000
Video Bitrate 24L=88000000
Video Bitrate FSH/SH=68000000
Video Bitrate FH/H=56000000
Auto Quantizer for 1080 modes=2 - More to details
Auto Quantizer for 720 modes=2 - More to details
720p50 GOP Size=1
720p60 GOP Size=3
1080i50 and 1080p24 GOP Size=1
1080i60 GOP Size=1
Encoder setting 1 720p=2
Encoder setting 2 720p=1
Encoder setting 3 720p=2
Encoder setting 4 720p=4
Encoder setting 1 1080i/p=2
Encoder setting 2 1080p=1
Encoder setting 3 1080p=2
Encoder setting 4 1080p=4
Encoder setting 2 1080i=1
Encoder setting 3 1080i=2
Encoder setting 4 1080i=4
Video buffer 24p=0x3600000
1080p24 Frame Limit=3688808
60fps Frame Limit=1088808
50fps Frame Limit=1308088
I'm not really hot to go to the 166 patch because of file-size and to my eyes, the increment in quality compared to the 100 is marginal while the file-size increment is not.
Best regards.
Anyway, we are pushing an already capable camera that can truly do wonders, but the banding issue is not very serious from Panasonic and I don't want to do more "researches and testings" on a camera that is not in the end a fully professional tool.
Although it can be perfectly used to create high-end imagery and certainly much better IMO than the 5D2 - 7D.
Those little cams like the GH2, the Nex are great but in the end consumer products.
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I use the Driftwood 'AQUAMOTION' version 2
Totally stable on my camera with class 10 Extreme 30MB/sec (so far)
good to hear! For some reason "Aquamotion" doesn't work as supposed to on my camera (same cards as yours). I consistently get Codec overflow...
Only "SeAQuake" works for me (again in 24p/24H mode only). Unfortunately file size is huge, true... but at least the patch works on my kit.
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Well, it seems that there are not 2 similar GH2s...users report very different experiences with the same hacks, settings and SD cards. It doesn't make sense, there should be a rational explaination for those differences from an engineer point.
As our forum engineers seem to be much more busy by (mega)pixel peeping and charts, I doubt we will ever have a sartisfactory explaination from there.
Maybe something as silly as this: I never used any Pana lens on my unit, no elec contacts, just manual primes and only use genuine battery and hacked audio is not been pushed. Maybe it has an impact but that's not in my knowledge.
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Just curious, what lenses do you use on the GH2?
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Many sort of different lenses: Leica M, Takumars, Canons (basically FD mount that I like), Zeiss, and even a small collection of former USSR lenses (some of them are simply "crap", others perform surprisingly very well).
Then I have some more oscur and exotic vintage lenses (generally collectables in M39 mount)
and C mount lenses, Pentax, Angénieux etc... (the widest C mount lenses have to be used with the crop mode, otherwise you vignete)
I'm currently waiting for a Pentax 1.2 in C mount.
I do not use zooms with the GH2. Generally I do not shoot really wide. I'd say that 80% is, transfered to 35mm, from 70 to 150-200.
The widest I'm using is 35mm equivalent. I found a small cage from India, a shop in Bombay if I remember well, that gives me good stability with the focals I'm working with but without sacrifising the compactness of the Gh2, wich I wanted to keep, the cage being small (very just for a Canon).
I refuse to mount big and heavy glasses on this camera, it looks ridiculous and it's not its strengh. My configuration, using a military image, would be light and maneuverable.
The only Pana lens that I'd buy would be the 20mm pancake.
I stopped to use follow-focus and built a "special" configuration on the cage that gives me real good manual control. Since I stopped to use follow focus, my focussing technique has improved by 10. I use 7 inches monitors that balance the weight.
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Fred, would you post a photo or two of your GH2 setup?
Bonne Année!
Chris
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Sure.
This is the smallest cage I found that was still 15mm roads able to receive standards shoulder mount and matte box if needed.
In fact, the way I configurated it, a 5D won't fit in it.
Those pictures are my favorite configuration for the GH2. I didn't have any with this cage so when you asked I took quick pics this evening in my bathroom with the phone and from the mirror.
in fact this is a small set-up. Think that I'm about as tall as Prince and have small hands so it would give you an idea of the size.
The secret of this configuration resides in B. I handle the cage with my right hand from there and not from the normal handlers.
The rods have shoulder mount (any standard one). There is in fact just one axis.
With the left hand, I use the rods as a support and can focus and aperture control with 2 fingers as you see in the pics. So the camera is placed on purpose very much in front of the cage. If I have to use a mattebox, there is still room for my fingers, it doesn't change anything. That way I can focus from about 1m50 to infinity with just one finger and keep precision and smoothness.
It's not orthodox at all, but bloody efficient. Way faster than with the follow focus and the 7" screen is big enough for accurate focussing. I've been learning never look anymore to the subject directly but only the screen.
It takes a while to be efficient at it but when you got it, you got it.
This set-up is also very stable, no shakes because it uses just one axis (the 2 rods from shoulder to hands)
The less devices and gadgets screwed and added, the better I feel.
Best regards and bonne année too.
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Mille fois merci - that is extremely useful!
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i just installed the hack fred is recommending and also i found an hdmi konverter from ebay/china which gives out the hdmi signal during film recording. the quality of the hack- files is incredible good!! just wanted to comment this here ..
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Thanks for sharing, Fred. That's a cool setup - especially because it's from the city I'm living in.
Since you already have the best lenses, the best hdslr and the best mount, I wish you more higher paying jobs and lots of money in 2012. And if the world ends, you can shoot it with the best setup, too!
Happy New Year!
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Have you seen Phil Bloom's "christmas shootout"? … GH2, C300, AF100, NEX5, 5Dmk2, 7D, F3 etc. …
Video: http://vimeo.com/34279033
blog: http://philipbloom.net/2011/12/28/christmas-shootout/
On the GH2 the Driftwood's "Quantum Beta-V5" hack was used.
I've tested the patch. It's 160Mbit/s (Intra). Huge filesize but IQ is phenomenal. Especially at somewhat higher ISOs as there is absolutely no "smearing" of noise… it's just, well, "noise". And infact gives a kind of film-like grain-look.
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This set-up is also very stable, no shakes because it uses just one axis (the 2 rods from shoulder to hands)
Fred,
No disrespect, but just looking at that rig gives me a kink in my neck.
At minimum it's crying out for an external EVF.
Regards,
B
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Bern,
You're welcome to express your valid opinions.
But let me clear something.
This particular set-up is not a mistake, it is on purpose.
Regards.
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Fred,
I also have been through too many accessories, particularly rigs, & monitors. Probably enough to finance a pair of Scarlets. Finding a personal setup that works is hard for any motion camera, especially dSLRs.
Glad to hear you have an EVF on order. I imagine you'll love it. The additional contact point greatly steadies the camera, & well...all cameras should have viewfinders, especially handheld.
Best,
Bern
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I agree Bern. I edited my previous answer because it was badly written (I'm quitting smoking and it costs me horrors to concentrate and prety much in a bad mood) to a more resumed and appropriate text that transmits my point.
About monitors, started with a 5" Marshall on the 5D but this chinese one is so much better for focussing accuracy, hdmi out too wich is important for me, battery last long but totally unreliable for WB.
To be honest, the EVF (Zacuto) is just because I want more flexibility but I quite like to have my head-eyes away from a device. Before no, but now for some reasons
I like more a different approach.
Anyway, in fact you get use of any set and with practise you can become really efficient and nothing is definitive. For ex I've been using handlers but I found one day by accident (I forgot them) this configuration I had to improvised and it
worked so much better. So I adopted it immediatly.
Same with follow focus. It worked brilliantly with an assistant, and make sure the assistant knows how to pull focus...and that's another story. But in a one man configuration, I don't like it (at the condition to use still camera lenses).
In fact, the more I am into it, the less I'm interested or attracted in heavy cine-video gear, lenses included. I want to "be" the reconnaissance squadron, not the big heavy battleship.
Same with steadyness. Before I was crazy and maniac about it, but now I'm starting to integrate much more voluntary shakes and defocussed (more amateur approach if you wish) because we did many many testings and even in high-end fashion, the conclusions were clear.
Each time we planned and took all the orthodox paths with heavy and expensive equipment, it lacked each time of liveliness and rythm. Unless I'd do a campaign for a swiss watch brand.
The funny thing, is that the experienced video pros were all agree on that, they saw the same things, but they are unable to abandon their heavy configurations. It cost them horrors. As I come from a different world, it doesn't cost me anything, I don't have habits to fullfill nor 20 of experience to justify.
I tend to learn a lot and respect the old fox of this industry, but I've also been learning not to listen to them.
But all set-ups have their place and their application range.
All my best too.
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OK, I know this might be a silly question but is it really worth hacking a new GH2. Are the differences that great, and also is the hack problem free when shooting.
Pete
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The GH2 is still a beta project, & currently questionable whether worth it, or not.
The image quality can be dramatically improved, but there are numerous compatibility issues. Some of the lower bitrate hacks are completely stable in all circumstances, & with all lenses.
I had mine at a modest 32 bit, but recently installed Panasonic's firmware update which wiped it off.
When the new hack becomes available I'll probably retry, but it will require very time consuming re-tests.
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OK, I know this might be a silly question but is it really worth hacking a new GH2. Are the differences that great, and also is the hack problem free when shooting.
Pete
It's not a silly question at all.
It is worth if you need high quality files and the differences are real. Check the Bloom's link in this thread. Resolution is astonishing.
Before the hack, I mounted expensive lenses on it and couldn't really find the expected quality, with the hack yes.
Higher isos is grain, film grain like and not those undefine artefacts.
DR is a bit better (more room before clipping highlight).
Details are superb.
Problem? sd cards. We are limited to the Scandisk extreme class 10 and on the highest hacks time recording is unstable. Files are huge so storage is more expensive.
There are some absolutly stable hacks, the unstable ones are the highest because of the SD limitations.
So when this hack makes sense? well, the GH2 for it's size can be usefull to shoot in narrow spaces etc...it could be integrated to a pro set and the delivered files would meet the standards of other much more expensive cameras. For a pro on a budget also, it would allow to get the best possible files, for the indy filmaker it gives access to a quality impossible without putting much more mediums.
The post prod stage is better because there are more infos to real with, files stand still better, handle more severe grading etc etc...
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I'd like to share this link I discovered by accident: http://vimeo.com/33456753 (I have nothing to do with those persons)
It's interesting because you see the GH2 in indy filmaking with a very light configuration.
The cameraman set-up is ultra cheap but IMO efficient.
I'm going to watch carefully how Recuenco evolves in its workflow and how much he embrasses lighter equipments.
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he he...
http://www.personal-view.com/talks/discussion/1030/gh2-versus-arri-alexa-and-f3-real-world-testing/p1
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Fred,
You might want to have a look at the new "Thirty" patch.
I just hacked my GH2 with this patch, & will be testing it as soon as I can score SanDisk's Extreme Pro 64GB SDXC cards.
What finally interests me in this version is stable 60 fps. Couldn't give that up just for higher bit rate 24 fps.
It will be interesting if my B-Roll camera's footage outshines my A cam's. The real test would be to attach a recorder to the AF100, & compare.
www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?271840-GH2-X-v3-quot-THIRTY-quot-(Quantum-7-P-frame-720p-Patch-for-30MB-s)
Best,
Bern
PS Note there are two different patches in the first post. I used the "EXTREME 60 VARIATION".
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What worries me about this, is how long it's operative before it crashes...
(sounds crap doesn't it?)
I need to do a serious testing on set with the 100 mb/s hacked unit, and I'll do it soon in a fashion work (and report here), but I'll have to secure that with other gear because I don't trust for the moment
the SD cards, although Extreme ScanDisk.
the 60mb/s seems totally secure but those above I don't know. The one Bloom is using is not reliable to date according to him.
So I'm very much in favor of the hack but at the condition that it allows us to work seriously. Is 170 mb/s usefull if it crashes every 5 minutes?
There is a point I don't get: everybody seems amazed by the heavy hacks output, and it's well deserve because, hey, details are better than with much more expensive pro gear...but then...you learn that it crashes every 5 minutes and nobody seems to care about it. All they see is IQ IQ, as always. It's pretty much useless to me then if unstable.
Also, everybody is talking about the 95 MB/s ScanDisk Extreme, but if I'm correct, the UHS-I is only compatible with the latest dslrs like the Nikons and not with the gh2, wich is not prepared for taking advantage of it's full potential. I'd really like to have more reliable infos on that precise card model, but from people who are actually using then on assignements and not to do personal youtube videos. It seems that many people are buying them but it's a known fact that there are issues with this model on the GH2.
Regards.
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Just received a 95 MB/s, & will put the combo through stress tests.
The same test caused the 24P 100 bit I-frame to not span the Sandisk 45MB/s, but the footage was fine, recording for about 4 minutes before shutting down. As I only use the GH2 for B-Roll this time limit is fine, but the 720/60 failed on the "death chart", & required pulling the battery.
If I have any issues on the fast card the hack will be erased.
Best,
B
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I suspect then that you used a UHS-I model with the 100 MB/s
try with this: http://www.sandisk.com/products/imaging/sandisk-extreme-sdhc-cards-
It's downgrading but in fact with the GH2 you shouldn't crash with this model.
(with this model and the 100 MB hack, I don't have crash and it records till the card is full)
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Fred,
The Hackologists state the best card for this flavor is the fastest Sandisk. I have on of the card you recommend, & will test it eventually, but not until after Sundance.
I'm shooting a light test, & a short stop-motion movie today. Due to the leisurely schedule I hope to pull some hack tests too.
In preparation I've put the hack thru "PappasArts CODEC test Chart V.2", aka the "Death Chart". All tests were done with the Lumix 14-140mm lens, which further stresses the camera due to software corrections for distortion. While a bit rushed, & not comprehensive, here's what I'm getting.
Spanned files do not play back in camera, but the footage is fine. Unspanned files play back fine.
24L spans fine, & I shut it down after 15 minutes. After rewrapping the footage Quicktime reports it running at 110 MB/s.
24H also shows 110 MB/s, so perhaps Quicktime isn't the best diagnostic app. I'll have my editor transcode some footage to see what's up.
As expected 720P in SH the camera locked up after a couple of minutes, & required pulling the battery, but so did the lower H mode. In these cases the footage is lost.
No real world shooting stresses the CODEC as much the "Death Chart" so maybe the hacks OK, but I'll need to do much more testing before I trust this mode.
Best,
B
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The 100 mb/s hack is still too big in terms of file size for my taste.
I just checked it this morn and it's exactly the 1/2 of an equivalent time recorded on a 4K Red One camera raw file...and it's not a Red one camera raw file.
I don't notice a significant advantage compared to the Vanilla Hack.
I will downgrade this hack to the Vanilla to balance the equation: quality-file size-stability-hassle free. (and the Vanilla is good for anamorphic).
In the end, I come to the conclusion that all this hack folies, with 400% magnification tests to verify how good the details are etc..., is a waste of time. The GH2 is not a pro grade camera. It's a fantastic tool and an incredible bang-for-the buck, truly usable for delivering top imagery, but...let's put things in their context. The output file without the hack of the GH2 is already superior to the 5D2 in many aspects. It's great to get it hacked without the shade of a doubt, but I'm staying with something super stable within a compromise. All the rest seems to me a pure pixel masturbation. Tomorrow they will do a 300mb/s hack that would record the atoms of a leave...2 secs before crash...
It was good and usefull, all the process of hacking, but now for me, the time spent to try to enhace-boost a camera of the GH2's class is over. I'm off this thread.
Cheers and thanks to all for your imputs.
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Fred, you are right.
However, there is one hack called "Sanity" ... for a reason.
It's 66Mbits at 24H, Auto Quantizer set to 4 (priority to details).
FSH (60i/50i high setting) is set to 36Mbits (in my modified hack - the original hack was 44M, but it was not stable).
At 24H the footage is virtually indiscernible from Driftwoods 150Mbits hacks (except maybe with some special motion where Driftwoods Intra/GOP1 hacks shine).
According to the hack's creator it also comes very close to uncompressed HDMI recording.
At FSH/50i (and 60i) it's by far the best of all the hacks I've tested. Supposedly it also delivers the best quality at 720p (I don't use 720p, so I don't know).
"Sanity" runs stable even on my old Class 6 SD cards. In camera playback works fine in all modes. It never crashed on my camera.
It's my "allround" patch (only for some special applications for 24H only I load one of Driftwood's Intra patches with a higher Mbit setting).
You'll find my modified hack attached.
The original hack is here: http://www.personal-view.com/talks/discussion/comment/33662#Comment_33662
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Fred, you are right.
However, there is one hack called "Sanity" ... for a reason.
It's 66Mbits at 24H, Auto Quantizer set to 4 (priority to details).
FSH (60i/50i high setting) is set to 36Mbits (in my modified hack - the original hack was 44M, but it was not stable).
At 24H the footage is virtually indiscernible from Driftwoods 150Mbits hacks (except maybe with some special motion where Driftwoods Intra/GOP1 hacks shine).
According to the hack's creator it also comes very close to uncompressed HDMI recording.
At FSH/50i (and 60i) it's by far the best of all the hacks I've tested. Supposedly it also delivers the best quality at 720p (I don't use 720p, so I don't know).
"Sanity" runs stable even on my old Class 6 SD cards. In camera playback works fine in all modes. It never crashed on my camera.
It's my "allround" patch (only for some special applications for 24H only I load one of Driftwood's Intra patches with a higher Mbit setting).
You'll find my modified hack attached.
The original hack is here: http://www.personal-view.com/talks/discussion/comment/33662#Comment_33662
That sounds good.
Thanks for sharing it tho_mas. ;)
I downloaded it and keep it warm.
Best regards.
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Did some non-realworld chart testing of Sage's "NINE v9b" patch that was posted on 1/24/2012. In each test I got the exact same results, & it didn't matter whether the lens had software correction for distortion. Or whether ETC, or OIS, was enabled.
CAMERA: Early model NTSC GH2. Was previously hacked, then overwritten with Panasonic's Firmware 1.1
BATTERY: Panasonic OEM
SCENE FILE: Smooth, all sliders @ -2.
ISO: 800
SHUTTER: 1/60th for 24p, & 1/125th for 720p/60
CARD: Sandisk 64Gb 95MB/s SDXC. Formatted between tests.
TARGET: PappasArts Codec Test Chart V.2 in 1080P on a 50" Samsung Plasma via a MacMini.
LENSES:
-Panasonic Lumix 7-14mm f/4
-Olympus M. Zuiko Digital ED 12 mm f/2.0
-Panasonic Lumix 20mm f/1.7 Aspheric G- Series
-Voigtländer Nokton 25mm f/0.95
-Olympus M. Zuiko Digital ED 45mm f/1.8
-Panasonic Lumix G Vario HD 14-140mm f/4.0-5.8 ASPH./MEGA O.I.S.
RESULTS:
24 H = Spanned, but no playback on spanned files.
24 L = Same as 24 H.
SH = Did not span, but footage is fine.
H = Spanned, & played back in-camera.
NOTES:
Impressive. As I only use the GH2 for B-Roll footage, & stills, these limitations are very workable.
Next up real world tests. And later my other m4/3, & 4/3 lenses.
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I have an interesting report about the GH2
The other day I went to see a high-end photographer wich I work sometimes with. He showed me some making-of stills of cine-video guys from the old school, 50 and above years old foxes, very experienced people that work with Arri Alexa and have a successfull production house (campaigns withy big brands).
They have integrated the GH2 on set, and not only as a C or D camera. I was slightly surprised to see the GH2 ocupate a relevant place. Even more surprise was that the making-of pics revealed that some operators where also using Canons and the accessories where on the light and cheap ones line.
That was the signal for me to do an enquiery. In fact, the gh2 in question is slightly hacked to 36. The fact is that the GH2 needs very very accurate exposure and sophisticate lightning. In controled conditions, it can deliver absolutly stunning files truly usable in the high-end production at a very low cost per-hour. And those guys know how to control conditions.
The GH2, it's a paradox, needs very experienced operators while the Alexa forgives much more. (and frankly, the menus of the Alexa are a sweet brize compared to the messy GH2...)
As long as you don't stress the files with heavy grading on post and the base exposure is really well done it's incredible.
They mount their expensive PL lenses on it as they do with their Alexas and use light rods-supports and I even saw a 100 euros light stabilizer I wanted to buy some times ago in e-bay...and the fact is that it works, ocupates nothing and goes in any crazy angle.
I couldn't beleive that from old cine-video foxes, still currently active, but that's what is happening and they have fun like babies with their little toys with them.
I tend to not consider those light gear as "rescued" camera anymore and it conforts me in the sensation I have that we are going inevitably to smaller and lighter equipment, and I think that even Red is very aware of that. In the right hands those Panas, Canons etc can deliver the appropriate results at an unbeatable cost-hour and they are starting to invade the high-end and experienced film makers sets.
What yes I saw that the money was still there, was in talents, lightning and crew. In other words, they don't hesitate to "downgrade cameras" but they don't mess with light, crew and talents.
It's all logical in fact.
So to me, the hack is interesting to boost to some extend a camera, but both the GH2, the Nikon D4 and new Canons generations can actually deliver stunning results as it, without hack, it's just a matter of who use them and where the budget goes.
Now, I've read sometimes about the hacked GH2, sentences like "the Epic killer"...this is not serious either.
http://vimeo.com/35543622
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A motion-still from home, gh2 footage in almost absolute dark, at 12800 isos at 1.2 aperture, shutter 1/50.
It's dirty like hell but the grain in B & W would be exploitable IMO.
Not bad at all, considering that it is with ETC enabled wich is way more moisy at higher isos. A normal 12800 isos is cleaner.
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However, there is one hack called "Sanity" ... for a reason.
There's a new kid in town that seems reasonable for most uses, but I haven't put it though it's paces yet. It comes from a Dolby engineer that goes by lpowell.
He claims stability on all Class 10 cards, & all lenses. He also explains the hack in detail in language we can all understand. It's a worthwhile read.
http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?273358-GH2-100Mbps-Flow-Motion-Patch-v1.0-with-50Mbps-File-Spanning
I've followed, & corresponded with, lpowell for a long time, & have faith in him, so will test his patch soon.
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Bern, after the banding issue on the GH2 I decided to keep it anyway as an experimental-training tool in wich it can shine.
I gave a last chance on the hack saga with this Ipowell one. It's very good indeed. The one I prefer among all I've been testing.
However the customized Tho_mas is IMO better for 720.(just a subjective appreciation of course)
The ideal would be a customized hack of the both, the Ipowell for 1080 and the Tho_mas for 720. Easy to do in the program.
Now I stick with this one.
Thanks for the link.
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I'm stoked on this camera. It's so easy to shoot with and i like the look. I shot this with Leicas, Voightlander 4/3 25 0.95,12mm 5.6, and a canon MKIV w.80-200is (some of the bike from the car that are steady).
Its almost like shooting with a Gopro . I shot this in an hour this week by myself.
Just random footage dropped into timeline in FCX . But, i dont think i would shoot it on a real job....
Thanks
Tim
https://vimeo.com/36520996
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... i dont think i would shoot it on a real job....
that's the real disappointment. I came to the same conclusion too after a few time with it. I really loved the form factor. There are so many good things to like about this camera, but it's ruined by some issues, uncurable.
A pitty. It could have been a great tool.
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GH2's recent firmware update (1.1), which added higher bitrate 25p, & 30p, plus improved still's functions, has been hacked.
Below is a link to lpowell's patch.
http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?275559-Flow-Motion-v1-1-Patch-updated-with-HBR-25p-support
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One thing about the update is very promising: with the new PTools version 3.64d (for Firmware 1.1) you can change the encoding matrix.
Some hack developers are already working on "softer" matrixes to avoid banding.
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lpowell has updated his "Flow Motion" patch for the hacked GH2 to version 2.0.
http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?283724-GH2-100Mbps-Flow-Motion-v2-Patch-Banding-amp-Blocking-Be-Gone!
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lpowell has updated his "Flow Motion" patch for the hacked GH2 to version 2.0.
http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?283724-GH2-100Mbps-Flow-Motion-v2-Patch-Banding-amp-Blocking-Be-Gone!
Thanks Bern.
The Ipowell has been so far my fav hack. It seems, after a few teasting, that this new version indeed incremented the quality on the underexposed areas and the banding is more controled,
I see less artefacts.
It's stable too.
The GH2 (already extremely capable but with some limitations due to factory implementations and its 8bits) is more and more operative with the work of those hackers.
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The "Flow Motion" patch has been updated to version 2.02.
The link is the same as above.