GH1 vs 7D w/ Tester13 Firmware Hack!

Z

zstowasser

Member
I want to say first thank you everyone on this board! I have learned a lot and watched many "test" videos to figure out what I was to invest my money into.. so here is my contribution to the community!

Thank you for the Post on Tester13's hack Phil! This and Andrew's Video inspired me to make a test vs the Canon 7D. (Btw Andrew Reid's night shots and Your Joshua tree videos inspired me to buy a GH1!)

I did two tests. One is in mid morning light with overcast clouds. The 7D sharpness was at a 1 (from what I read that was a "better look"... but compared to the GH1 it looks poor), so I did another test in mid-day sunny light and the 7D at sharpness of 3.

I did a test of AVCHD 50Mbit with Sigma 30mm 1.4 on GH1 and Canon 35mm 1.4 L on 7D, then Did the same Canon 35mm 1.4 L on the GH1 with the EOS-m4/3 adapter.

Then Did some MJPEG tests at 50Mbit with same lens setup as well.

I'm VERY impressed with the GH1 now... There is a richer, more real life look. The 7D looks very clean and cool but different than real life. So they have their own purposes.

The GH1 has the moving screen and no record limit and I can look through the viewfinder when recording for stable handheld shots and no extra $400 z-finder...

HOWEVER, I absolutely love my new 2.5x Z-Finder Pro on the 7D, its like virtual reality. especially walking around holding a Sigma 10mm Fisheye!! so much fun.

I'll probably keep using my 7D setup, but good to know about the GH1. I do use the GH1 for interviews/business things that I can set the camera and not worry about it. And do the closeups / extras on the 7D.

Test 1 - http://vimeo.com/13110813
Test 2 - http://vimeo.com/13110941

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Below is the description on the videos!

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This is some test footage of Tester13's GH1 hack to increase the bitrate and quality of the Panasonic GH1!

This First Test was done in mid-morning light. After looking at the footage and seeing the 7D wasn't as sharp as the GH1, I checked my 7D settings and realized I had my sharpness setting at 1 (From reading tutorials online). So after Lunch, I set the sharpness to 3 and WOW it is MUCH Sharper. So I re-shot the GH1 tests and did some MJPEG tests as well.

In the Second test (The Mid-Day Light test), the Auto-White-Balance on the GH1 was making things a little yellow (more realistic looking), but didn't realize this until after I was looking at the footage next to the 7D, which gave things a cool look but it was more digital and blue but I like that look! In the morning light example the colors were coming out pretty close.

The .MOV MJPEG Files required rendering to playback at fullspeed in project along with the Pro Pres 422 files. I Couldn't tell much of a difference between AVCHD and MJPEG and If I had to choose, I'd go with the AVCHD at 50mbits.

I also had a couple recording "quits" on the MJPEG mode.

I have only done quick clips this morning (2minutes or less), the next test will be to do 1080/24p AVCHD recording and see how long it can go.. hopefully over an hour.. I use it for doing family interviews and business meetings!

Settings:

Tester13 GH1 Hack Tests
Version 3.40D
Firmware 1.32
Native 1080/24p
All AVCHD Bit Rates to 50,000,000
Overall AVCHD Bit Rate to 52,000,000
Limiting AVCHD Bit Rate to 60,000,000
AC3 Audio 448000 BPS

Class 6 Transcend 16gb card
Vari ND Filters
Auto White Balance
ProRes 422

Canon 7D Settings Morning Light
Neutral
Sharpness 1 (up one from default)
Contrast -2 (2 less from 0 [middle])
Saturation -2 (2 less from 0 [middle])
Color Tone (Normal)

Canon 7D Settings (mid-day)
Same as above except:
Sharpness 3 (default on standard)

GH1 Settings
Film Mode Custom - All At Zero

MJPEG Settings (from Andrew Reid)

MJPEG
1920x1080 24p
◦ MJPEG E1 Quality = 400
◦ MJPEG E1 Table = 103
◦ MJPEG E2 Quality = 350
◦ MJPEG E2 Table = 116
◦ MJPEG E3 Quality = 250
◦ MJPEG E3 Table = 120
◦ MJPEG E4 Quality = 200
◦ MJPEG E4 Table = 125
 
Thanks so much for the input. Just to let you know, you title threw me off, thought the 7D was hacked(lol). Anyways, so with the setting set for 3 on the 7D what is your like on this vs. the GH13? I'm assuming the 7D to you has a tad more sharpness? Sounds like your Z finder gave your 7D a boost to you though. Thanks again
 
The main link download is v3.40D .. it was confusing to me as well. But I hear there is another version in development that allows the native 24p to be viewed in camera!
 
JoeJITSU said:
Thanks so much for the input. Just to let you know, you title threw me off, thought the 7D was hacked(lol). Anyways, so with the setting set for 3 on the 7D what is your like on this vs. the GH13? I'm assuming the 7D to you has a tad more sharpness? Sounds like your Z finder gave your 7D a boost to you though. Thanks again
Click to expand...
Sorry about the title, I suppose I should call it the GH13 instead?? cool name! :)

Yeah now that I have the 7D, an expensive set of lenses and the Z-Finder and a 64gb CF card.. I'm going to keep using that!!

HOWEVER, If i was just starting out, the GH13 with a relatively affordable sigma 30mm 1.4 and the kit lens and cheap SDHC cards and longer battery life and no need for a z-finder would be what I would do.

So if you are new to DSLR film making or film making in general, the GH13 is a fantastic place to start.

Also, the raw image looks SO freaking clear and sharp its mind blowing. I have it playing full screen on my Dell 30inch and its jaw droppingly sharp. Like real life.

Most people I show the video to cannot tell a difference between the 7D and the GH13 .. so its only just us nerds

For budget and usability, the GH13 wins!

Only thing I can say about the 7D is that with the Z-Finder and the increased weight of the 7D, the images come out more stable handheld... but the GH1 handheld is totally usable if you squish your eyebrow up to the viewfinder and hold the camera forward to your head to lock it in place!! Sometimes my nose would get red and weird, but hey, I had stable footage!! hehe. I then learned a certain angle to hold it so just my eyebrow would be on it and that worked out well.

Check out this video I made with the regular GH1 and the Sigma 30mm handheld. I think it came out great. http://vimeo.com/12119617
 
Hi Zstowasser , Thanks for sharing ;

I use the class 6 Transcend 16 GB card also ;
But with ptools 3.40d I tried your setting , On my japan version GH1 Both AVCHD&MJPEG I got card speed limit error ;

I rechecked my setting but still same issue ; So can you upload your ptools 3.40d setting file , Thus we can 100% sure we use the exactly correct setting ;

Thanks in advanced .
 
DavidTan said:
Hi Zstowasser , Thanks for sharing ;

I use the class 6 Transcend 16 GB card also ;
But with ptools 3.40d I tried your setting , On my japan version GH1 Both AVCHD&MJPEG I got card speed limit error ;

I rechecked my setting but still same issue ; So can you upload your ptools 3.40d setting file , Thus we can 100% sure we use the exactly correct setting ;

Thanks in advanced .
Click to expand...

I saved my settings as a .BIN file with version number... is that what you want. Otherwise I did not save it using ptools, sorry! I just inputted all the details below.

Weird that your card did not work. Maybe these chips are rated at certain amount but can go higher sometimes. Like how intel does their processors. they make all the same but test them, and the ones that aren't as fast become the slower processors and their speed gets locked lower? or if all the batch is good then they force some slower for the market and then other people go in and overlock it to its full potential... ?? ;)
 
I am just going to say this at risk of total attack from the Canon people but with the hack the GH1 slaughters the 7D, and it injures the 5D mkII. I was originally on the Canon camp when I decided to take the plunge into DSLR because the codec was better but I always thought it was mushy. Now without a doubt you can see how much better the GH1 is in detail and sharpness at both 720 and 1080p. I don't care how it's doing it... I don't care if I am being fooled by illusion of greater detail and really i should be shooting on a $25,000 hpx2000 that only shots 720p but it's a 'REAL' camera.... The GH1 is cheap and it looks f-ing incredible.

This is the first time in my life that shooting something on a 'video' camera LOOKS like what the movies look like to me and can be projected onto a real movie screen. I have been chasing that dream since I was 8 years old playing with VHS tapes and being pissed off cause it didn't look like 'the movies'.
 
Blackout said:
The GH1 is cheap and it looks f-ing incredible.

This is the first time in my life that shooting something on a 'video' camera LOOKS like what the movies look like to me and can be projected onto a real movie screen. I have been chasing that dream since I was 8 years old playing with VHS tapes and being pissed off cause it didn't look like 'the movies'.
Click to expand...

Yeah buddy!!!

Did you check out my "test 2" where I increased the sharpness of the canon 7d, they look pretty darn close, but for the price difference and the fact that an average person can't tell a difference.. the gh13 is the better choice!
 
Yeah I watched both the tests. I always think the canons does something weird with the color and is too mushy. Some people like it cause it willy wonkas the color out automatically like technicolor but I find it looses the detail in the color wash... like the middle of the flowers look like paint and you can't see the detail of the flower...
 
Blackout said:
Some people like it cause it willy wonkas the color out automatically like technicolor but I find it looses the detail in the color wash... like the middle of the flowers look like paint and you can't see the detail of the flower...
Click to expand...

Agreed... The GH1 definitely looks more natural!
 
zstowasser said:
I saved my settings as a .BIN file with version number... is that what you want. Otherwise I did not save it using ptools, sorry! I just inputted all the details below.

Weird that your card did not work. Maybe these chips are rated at certain amount but can go higher sometimes. Like how intel does their processors. they make all the same but test them, and the ones that aren't as fast become the slower processors and their speed gets locked lower? or if all the batch is good then they force some slower for the market and then other people go in and overlock it to its full potential... ?? ;)
Click to expand...

You can upload your .bin file or send it to me DavidTanSin@yahoo.com.sg , I just want to confirm I use the correct setting . Thanks :cheesy:
 
Zachary,
the vertical format video on vimeo, is it 7D or GH1?
I wish you a wonderful wedding!! :)
 
stip said:
Zachary,
the vertical format video on vimeo, is it 7D or GH1?
I wish you a wonderful wedding!! :)
Click to expand...

I have a Canon T2i. With this hack for the GH1 how would the artifacting/noise/macroblocking between the two compare (especially in low light)?

The T2i's static LCD makes it really hard to shoot certain things, so I'm considering possibly upgrading to a unit where I can move the LCD, but I don't want an downgraded camera.
 
stip: 7d - it was fun, I took my GH13 on the honeymoon to Kauai and the colors came out spectacular.

skital: 7d performs a little better. but they are about the same. Canon is coming out with a new camera, the 60d I believe with the moving screen. I don't use my screen that often anymore.. I find putting my eye up to it allows for a much more stable (and usable) shot.
 
I looked at both on an iPhone, not ideal I know but the GH1 looks phenomenal. It just seems to pop out of the screen whereas the 7d was a bit "mushy". I have just hacked my camera and took some shots today, similar flowers etc that just blew me away with the clarity even at 720p. I just need Tester 13 to work out if the camera can shoot stable MJPG at 25fps.

However GH1 doesn't fair quite as well in low light. Still for the price it's an amazing bit of kit. I do think that it's harder for GH1's to be taken seriously. It looks so dinky in comparison to your 7d or 5D. I guess the proof is in the footage

All the best

Richard
 
Richard - I've also since realized that in my test, I had the 7D's sharpness turned off (under guidance from the "pros") and also I was using the Canon 35mm 1.4 and I've found that it has a more "soft" image than the Sigma 30mm 1.4 - SOOO that plays a part in it. Phillip Bloom just posted a lens review and even said the Canon 35mm 1.4 is soft and due for an update, guess I should have bought the 24mm 1.4.. oops. BUUT I've got an opportunity to do wedding videos and I think the soft look is more sensitive and honest and feminine and it worked out really well for the first wedding video I did - almost all of it with the 35mm 1.4 canon and a little with the 18-135mm zoom - http://vimeo.com/13532211
 
skital said:
I have a Canon T2i. With this hack for the GH1 how would the artifacting/noise/macroblocking between the two compare (especially in low light)?

The T2i's static LCD makes it really hard to shoot certain things, so I'm considering possibly upgrading to a unit where I can move the LCD, but I don't want an downgraded camera.
Click to expand...


I have both cameras.

Canons have visually pleasing colours, but detail is gone. 1080p is more like badly upscaled 720p, not to mention moire.

I shot same scene with both cameras in order to compare:

http://i1024.photobucket.com/albums/y306/grunf12/gh13s.jpg
http://i1024.photobucket.com/albums/y306/grunf12/550ds.jpg
 
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