Petition to increase the GH1's functionality with increased bitrate and HDMI-out

[asdfyoyoyo]

I've started a PETITION to request that Panasonic consider making changes to the following aspects of the DMC-GH1:

1. Increase the bitrate of the AVCHD codec to 24mpbs or higher.
2. Allow for HDMI-out during recording.

This isn't a "we demand x,y,z" petition. Instead, it is merely an attempt to make Panasonic aware of an opportunity to meet the specific needs and desires of the consumer. I plan on sending the results of this petition to the proper channel at Panasonic so that they can see the amount of user's interested in this device meeting it's full potential.

If you are interested in learning more about this petition, please CLICK HERE, and sign the petition if you agree with it's suggestions.

The petition is ENTIRELY FREE, however a page may pop up asking for an optional donation. This is NOT REQUIRED, it is merely their way of allowing you to help keep their site running. You may choose to decline and it will NOT affect your signature or input.

Please be sure to consider writing in the "comment" section, as this is what will show up in the publicly viewable "signatures" page. I have chosen NOT to display anyone's names, so as to respect confidentiality. However, anyone who accesses the petition will be able to see to comments of other users.

I realize that some may find the idea of this petition silly, seeing as the product is not yet released in the United States. However, the idea here is to show Panasonic that there is a high level of interest in this camera having these options, and possibly even allow changes to be made before the product is released. I realize this is a long shot, but I suppose there is no harm in trying, and I thank you for your support.

Also, anyone who has ideas on how to improve the verbiage of the petition, or has any other suggestions, I will welcome them gladly. And please feel free to link to the petition wherever you think there might be interest.

If you feel so compelled, please add the following line to your signature... "Interested in the Panasonic GH1? Sign THIS PETITION to support 24mbps recording and HDMI-Out!"

Thanks for your time.

(mods: I am unfamiliar with all of the nuances of this forum. If this post is out of line, my apologies and let me know the steps to rectify the situation)

[chameloon]

Good idea, but having Winston Churchill as a first signature may not give too much credibility, as a start.

[asdfyoyoyo]

Thanks,

I will be scanning the petition for false/accidental entries. Perhaps I should also make the signature list unavailable to public view so that credibility is unhampered.

EDIT: Instead of names being listed in the signatures area, I will have comments listed. To keep confidentiality, I will not be publicly listing any names of those who sign. If you do NOT want your comment publicly visible, please PM me and I will get it sorted out. Thank you.

[Finster]

Good idea, but having Winston Churchill as a first signature may not give too much credibility, as a start.

That's funny.

[codeloss]

Okay, I signed.

There's a mistake in the text of the petition near the bottom - "24kbps" instead of mbps.

[asdfyoyoyo]

Change made. (not sure how I goofed on that after writing mpbs every other time, oh well.)

Thank you.

[LizaWitz]

24Mbps is the highest supported by AVCHD. We're not likely to get a non-AVCHD camera in this line in the near term-- unless some other standard supplants it.

There was an email from a panasonic rep who said that monitoring while shooting was possible on a "television"-- though its not clear if they were talking about HDMI or composite or component out.

That feature might be in there already...

[asdfyoyoyo]

24Mbps is the highest supported by AVCHD. We're not likely to get a non-AVCHD camera in this line in the near term-- unless some other standard supplants it.

There was an email from a panasonic rep who said that monitoring while shooting was possible on a "television"-- though its not clear if they were talking about HDMI or composite or component out.

That feature might be in there already...

Thanks Liza,

I have changed the wording of the petition to reflect 24mbps as AVCHD's maximum rate.

"We request that the GH1's AVCHD bitrate be increased to the AVCHD codec's maximum of 24mpbs. This should help to reduce the appearances of macroblocking, aliasing (stair-stepping), and allow for resolution of finer detail in the DMC-GH1's video imaging. "

If HDMI monitoring is already included and we just don't know it yet, that would be a very pleasant development.

Any other suggestions are welcomed and appreciated.

Thanks for the information and the support!

[sblfilms]

Honestly, if live HDMI output is made available...the GH1 will be the first camera that really suits all my needs. I can't believe I'm saying that...but it's the truth.

[asdfyoyoyo]

We've already got 25+ signatures and some good input. Glad to see the support on this. I believe that if these features are implemented in the GH1, Panasonic will have a big hit with this camera.

Please be sure to inform/encourage anyone you might know that would be interested in this petition.

Thanks