Hi all, as a long-time reader (from the first time the firmware hack was mooted!) but virtual DSLR video virgin I've decided to roll my sleeves up and get stuck in. I've an NTSC GH1 bought in NY) but I'm UK based and I'm keen to firstly be able to switch it to PAL to enable me to work in 25/50i and avoid all that mucking about with pulldown (have I got that right). I'm also excited to hear what the PTool is able to do with regards to improving the video image quality of this fantastic DSLR.I have to admit tho that reading through all of the firmware hack threads has given me a bit of headache. What I'd like is to hack my camera, switch it to PAL and improve the quality of the FHD output but only if it I can guarantee stability (I use class 10 cards so I'm hoping that's a good start).Where do I stand in being able to locate solid walkthru advice from PAL users on installing the firmware and choosing the right patches to give me what I need. I'm confident with the IT side of things but all the talk of bit rates etc does fill me with a bit of trepidation and I really couldn't bear the thought of spending days with a wonky GH1 that requires me to become Sherlock Holmes in order to figure out what went wrong.Call me lazy or call be a typical consumer I would grately appreciate any tips or links to achieve my goal of having a kick-ass fault-free hybrid DSLR that I can hold up with dignity next to my friend's brand new Canon 7D Mk III (and hopefully even trump in some areas!)Many thanks again,VP
Befuddled Noob seeks advice
- Thread starter virgopunk
- Start date
Listen, what do you expect? You actually wrote "call me lazy" in your original request that someone do all your research for you. If anything, I admire your being upfront about it.
I'll say it again: everything you're asking about will be answered if you spend some time reading the relevant threads in this sub-forum. There are even stickies that lay it all out, step by step.
I get it. Generation Lifehacker lacks the attention span and gumption to work any harder than monkey-seeing, monkey-doing 3 JPGs on Instructables showing you how to make a DIY strapless backpack out of a pillowcase. Fine. If that's how far you're willing to push yourself, no hack for you.
I'll say it again: everything you're asking about will be answered if you spend some time reading the relevant threads in this sub-forum. There are even stickies that lay it all out, step by step.
I get it. Generation Lifehacker lacks the attention span and gumption to work any harder than monkey-seeing, monkey-doing 3 JPGs on Instructables showing you how to make a DIY strapless backpack out of a pillowcase. Fine. If that's how far you're willing to push yourself, no hack for you.
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Do this http://www.vimeo.com/15219964
Excellent. Thanks for that. Despite shaveblog's rather agressive response to what I felt was a pretty straightforward request you've provided me exactly what I was looking for, essentially a walkthru to make sure I didn't make any errors. If you try and read all the threads (which I have done) just to find some basic confirmation of the steps required it very quickly becomes confusing as different posters state different things. That's why people like Bradley take the time to create very helpful videos!
"I get it. Generation Lifehacker lacks the attention span and gumption to work any harder than monkey-seeing, monkey-doing 3 JPGs on Instructables showing you how to make a DIY strapless backpack out of a pillowcase. Fine. If that's how far you're willing to push yourself, no hack for you."
You're not a particularly well balanced person are you!?
You're not a particularly well balanced person are you!?
terra1
Well-known member
respect to the slave who stands up and asks why!? instead of just doing what so called wiser men have ordered!
once everyone dismounts from their high horses we can get on with lending a hand perhaps.
hey virgopunk, yeah all the hack threads can be pretty confusing as not everyone on here can spread knowledge in a clear way, they just spit out disconjointed information.
if you haven't managed to hack your camera yet i could do a quick screen recording of me going through the process, let me know? :smile:
happy birthday john lennon :smile:
once everyone dismounts from their high horses we can get on with lending a hand perhaps.
hey virgopunk, yeah all the hack threads can be pretty confusing as not everyone on here can spread knowledge in a clear way, they just spit out disconjointed information.
if you haven't managed to hack your camera yet i could do a quick screen recording of me going through the process, let me know? :smile:
happy birthday john lennon :smile:
FWIW, I followed all the hack threads for months and found it all rather confusing.
I only felt comfortable doing the hack after watching an idiots guide on YouTube and reading the 'high reliability' lpowell thread from beginning to end more than once.
I certainly think the lpowell settings are good ones to go for if a very low likelihood of failure is what you are after.
I've been shooting low light, with detailed lenses, plus bright sunshine outdoors with a mass of foliage in the background. I still haven't had a single problem - - other than my poor camera technique that is.
I only felt comfortable doing the hack after watching an idiots guide on YouTube and reading the 'high reliability' lpowell thread from beginning to end more than once.
I certainly think the lpowell settings are good ones to go for if a very low likelihood of failure is what you are after.
I've been shooting low light, with detailed lenses, plus bright sunshine outdoors with a mass of foliage in the background. I still haven't had a single problem - - other than my poor camera technique that is.
terra1
Well-known member
haha yeah chrisso i think alot of us have that same technique, i believe you have to get it wrong a few times and understand why is was wrong, it puts you in a good place to getting it right! :smile:
Ipowell seems to be a shining light with his posts/settings and sharing knowledge, a great guy to read on here.
i've found the more i've hacked my cam and had hands on experience the more i understand what everyone has been talking about :smile:
thumbs up to shaveblog
Ipowell seems to be a shining light with his posts/settings and sharing knowledge, a great guy to read on here.
i've found the more i've hacked my cam and had hands on experience the more i understand what everyone has been talking about :smile:
thumbs up to shaveblog
I found that the best settings are those provided by LPowell. I've been using those for the last few months and they seem pretty stable even on a Class 6 card. Follow his thread for upgrading the GH1. I agree that most of the hacking threads here are VERY confusing - a bit like Ptool itself - but you can get better settings with minimal effort by just following this one thread http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?219132-40Mbps-AVCHD-High-Reliability-Patch Although remember that you are only using a £600 camera so it isn't going to produce perfect results all the time. This is mainly down to the codec used which (like MPEG) is not an aquasition codec but a delivery codec so you will see artifacting in some scenes. The hack helps minimalise this, but the problems are still there from time to time.
Just want to say thanks to everyone for their help with this. It was reassuring to know that others also found the process of trawling thru some very long and detailed threads a bit confusing. Essentailly I was just looking for someone to tell me that it's not quite as complicated as it looks and the risks are actually pretty small. Personally the fact that I found my way to DVX in the first place let alone grasp anything on here was a bit of an achievement in my book!However, having familiarised myself with lpowell's excellent settings and the super-straightforward video guide on Vimeo I took the plunge and hacked the FW. Thanks again everyone especially evanflys and terra1