GH2 official discussion thread

Some nice improvements, but some big disappointments:

- (apparently) no true 50/60p 1080 modes - major blow.

- 50/60p no longer available for 720p either - why??

So high-frame rate resolution is almost identical to the GH1:

1280x720p = 921,600 pixels
1920x1080i = 1920x540p = 1,036,800 pixels

- 'variable framerates' seem to change playback only, same as setting the FPS header of the file to play faster/slower. No real benefit AFAIKS.

- crippled HDMI output? Please - even my old Canon HV20 has full smooth 4:2:2 HDMI out.


BTW, you don't have to 'extract' 25p wrapped in 50i, you just set the timeline to 25p and that's it.
 
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Vitaliy Kiselev said:
Looking at zoom levels it looks like
1080p with 2.6 zoom is indeed 1:1 pixel mode.
If it is so, it is major breakthrought.
As you could use many cheap C mount lenses. Included wide ones.
And all this without any aliasing.

I have $30 10x F1.7 B4 mount zoom coming soon :-)
Click to expand...

Do the various other modes work in the zoom mode, gamma curves etc?
 
g.l said:
Some nice improvements, but some big disappointments:
Click to expand...

Not so fast, ok?

- (apparently) no true 50/60p 1080 modes - major blow. If there's no way to recover full-res frames, it's just 25p/30p - what's the point??
Click to expand...

Only codec is restricted. Sensor provides 1080p60.
So, we have high hopes for this.
My understanding that "60i only" feature had been implemented only after all other DSLRs specs became known. And no competition had been found.

- 50/60p no longer available for 720p either - why??
Click to expand...

?? It is available.

- 'variable framerates' seem to change playback only, same as setting the FPS header of the file to play faster/slower. No real benefit AFAIKS.
Click to expand...

Wrong.
It work same as AF-100.
I.e. 30fps sensor data encoded in 24p container.

- crippled HDMI output? Please - even my old Canon HV20 has full smooth 4:2:2 HDMI out.
Click to expand...

We don't know anything for certain.
Only few words that it skips frames during recording.


BTW, you don't have to 'extract' 25p from 50i, you just set the timeline to 25p and that's it.
Click to expand...

In won't work with 50p source without deinterlacing (two subframes are actually different here).
 
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g.l said:
Some nice improvements, but some big disappointments:

- (apparently) no true 50/60p 1080 modes - major blow.

- 50/60p no longer available for 720p either - why??

So high-frame rates are effectively downgraded in resolution over the GH1!

- 'variable framerates' seem to change playback only, same as setting the FPS header of the file to play faster/slower. No real benefit AFAIKS.

- crippled HDMI output? Please - even my old Canon HV20 has full smooth 4:2:2 HDMI out.


BTW, you don't have to 'extract' 25p from 50i, you just set the timeline to 25p and that's it.
Click to expand...

Thanks g.l, I hope getting 25p from 50i is simpler than I first thought, but Vitaliy thinks de-interlacing may be required.
 
lowlight said:
Thanks g.l, I hope getting 25p from 50i is simpler than I first thought, but Vitaliy thinks de-interlacing may be required.
Click to expand...

I don't think. I am sure about this.
GH1 sensor output is 25p encoded in 50i.
Here it is 50p encoded in 50i.
It'll look as camcorder footage. Deinterlacing required.
 
Re: HDMI

Re: HDMI

That translation may just be talking about a pulldown for playback... Would make more sense if panny is trying to leave things as open as possible - which I think they are.

They know the hack/custom stuff is providing substantial extra value, but also insulates them from possible support problems that can occur when a major company tries to push the technology too far. I.e. It is safe and secure for the 50,000 or so normal users but they can benefit from the hackers too - and deny responsibility if something goes wrong.
 
Very exciting! I was determined to avoid the impulse preorder but I might just have to put one in...at least to have it in there, not expecting units to ship for awhile.

I think I will probably wait for codec tests though. If anyone gets their hands on one early from Panasonic for whatever reason please do a codec stress test vs GH13, and if you can, post a GOP analysis or something.

Hell, if somebody gets the chance to USE it at photokina, bring a memory card along, shoot some footage, and see what we're dealing with with the codec...B-frames? Did they fix the bugs?

This will be the deciding factor for me and many others, and Panasonic should KNOW that it is given it's what the hack fixed and next to 24pn and HDMI out and audio (which they gave us!!!) it's the single thing we've complained the most about.
 
Yes, we definitely need raw MTS files from this beast.
As well as someone with portable HDMI monitor to try output.
 
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Solid upgrade, body only option makes it an appealing upgrade for users of the GH1. Will wait for some reviews before preordering.

Panasonic and other companies should release right away to catch us in impulse buy mode. Giving us weeks (or months in some cases) gives us plenty of time to talk some sense into ourselves...
 
Vitaliy Kiselev said:
Only codec is restricted. Sensor provides 1080p60. So, we have high hopes for this.
Click to expand...

High hope is what sense? If you're talking about a firmware hack, maybe (assuming the codec can handle the throughput). But that's far from certain and will take quite some time to happen.

Otherwise there is no hope AFAIKS.

?? It is available.
Click to expand...
Correct, I missed it.

Also, apparently the GH1 doesn't have true 50p/60p but uses frame duplication, is that correct? (I don't own one). If so, then that is a significant upgrade after all.

It work same as AF-100. I.e. 30fps sensor data encoded in 24p container.
Click to expand...
Hmm, I didn't get that from the video samples that were linked - they simply seem speeded up or slowed down on playback.

However this table for the AF-100 seems to show that recording framerate is indeed variable. If it's the same for the GH2, nice.

In won't work with 50p source without deinterlacing (two subframes are actually different here).
Click to expand...
True, which means you can't get full-res 25p at all (I don't count deinterlacing as that will have artifacts).

Storing interlaced 50/60 1080 footage is by far the worst choice they've made.
 
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Implications for Unhacked GH1

Implications for Unhacked GH1

I wonder whether the new 3-d lense will mean a further firmware update of the GH1. I have an unhackable June 2010 GH-1 that I got for $950US with lense. I am still within J/R World's 30 day window to return.

The sites that I have seen indicate that there is a firmware update for the G2, but not GH-1 to use the 3-d lense. Vitally, if they roll out a 3-D firmware update will it make the GH-1 hackable again?

Since I got the package so cheaply would it make sense to go ahead and keep the GH-1 until the GH-2 comes out and then Ebay it? $400 US a fair price for body only? What does the group think?
 
Vitaliy Kiselev said:
They have serious problems with sensor, as I understand.
Not enought production volume.
Same with AF100 using same sensor.
Click to expand...

The Japanese press release states a production output of 5000 units per month. Not sure if that's good or bad, but to me that doesn't sound like a whole lot to go around the whole world.
 
Ripayne said:
I wonder whether the new 3-d lense will mean a further firmware update of the GH1. I have an unhackable June 2010 GH-1 that I got for $950US with lense. I am still within J/R World's 30 day window to return.

The sites that I have seen indicate that there is a firmware update for the G2, but not GH-1 to use the 3-d lense. Vitally, if they roll out a 3-D firmware update will it make the GH-1 hackable again?

Since I got the package so cheaply would it make sense to go ahead and keep the GH-1 until the GH-2 comes out and then Ebay it? $400 US a fair price for body only? What does the group think?
Click to expand...

I think it is wrong thread to ask such question.
I'll remove it and my answer after some time, ok?

Only G2 firmware with 3D support is announced.
Plus November only.
Most probably GH1 never will get firmware update.
But I can be wrong here.
 
Vitaliy Kiselev said:
Yes, we definitely needs raw MTS files from this beast.
As well as someone with portable HDMI monitor to try output.
Click to expand...

I have a portable HDMI monitor and some memory cards...want to fly me to germany? I'm on the US East Coast for a couple more hours then going back to West Coast so if you hurry it will be cheaper :)

I was thinking about it and I suspect body only will be very difficult to get at first with all of the GH1 upgraders buying it, so a lot of us will probably end up with the 14-42 kit because it's only $100 or so more.
 
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