GH2 official discussion thread
- Thread starter Vitaliy Kiselev
- Start date
Peter J. DeCrescenzo
Veteran
Read the GH1 "unable to hack firmware FAQ":
http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?t=218001
Concerning the GH2, whether or not it can be hacked depends on Panasonic releasing a publicly available firmware update at some unknown future date. So, until that happens, it's somewhat uncertain. But likely, eventually.
Meanwhile, the GH2 appears to have many, many very useful features as-is.
Well if he has the original file to do the color correcting then I definitely would be interested. Anyone have the source for that video?
Yeah the "can the GH2 be hacked" question is getting a bit irritating to say the least.
First, why do you think it even needs to be hacked? The GH1 hack started as a research project with no goals other than to see if things could be changed. It then worked around (I won't say fixed because it IS still a hack) a few of the problems people asked about. that's it.
It wasn't meant to be a fix for every little problem people have with the camera. Similarly, the GH2, which hasn't even started selling yet, could very well be better than the prototypes we are getting *little* information on right now.
Lots of people heard about the GH1 hack and then ran out to buy GH1's. That's great for panny but it's misguided for those who didn't/don't understand what this whole thing was about. You don't just go buy a camera in hopes of getting some great piece of gear with a quick change of firmware without expecting some problems along the way. You'll be disappointed for sure and from the number of the "FPN/BANDING/whatever is terrible, I thought the hack was supposed to fix everything and cure cancer too!!" threads I've read over the last 6 months, it's obvious that a lot of people didn't even understand what they were getting into and just letting the whole fanfare make up their minds.
That comes to the moral of my rant.
You buy the camera because it has what you WANT already, not what you THINK it will have in the future.
Now please stop asking if it can be hacked. We don't freaking know right now and chances are that the camera will be perfectly fine and won't leave anybody wanting for a hack.
Also something to think about.. The more people talk about hacking, the more panny will be likely to lock the code down tighter.
First, why do you think it even needs to be hacked? The GH1 hack started as a research project with no goals other than to see if things could be changed. It then worked around (I won't say fixed because it IS still a hack) a few of the problems people asked about. that's it.
It wasn't meant to be a fix for every little problem people have with the camera. Similarly, the GH2, which hasn't even started selling yet, could very well be better than the prototypes we are getting *little* information on right now.
Lots of people heard about the GH1 hack and then ran out to buy GH1's. That's great for panny but it's misguided for those who didn't/don't understand what this whole thing was about. You don't just go buy a camera in hopes of getting some great piece of gear with a quick change of firmware without expecting some problems along the way. You'll be disappointed for sure and from the number of the "FPN/BANDING/whatever is terrible, I thought the hack was supposed to fix everything and cure cancer too!!" threads I've read over the last 6 months, it's obvious that a lot of people didn't even understand what they were getting into and just letting the whole fanfare make up their minds.
That comes to the moral of my rant.
You buy the camera because it has what you WANT already, not what you THINK it will have in the future.
Now please stop asking if it can be hacked. We don't freaking know right now and chances are that the camera will be perfectly fine and won't leave anybody wanting for a hack.
Also something to think about.. The more people talk about hacking, the more panny will be likely to lock the code down tighter.
Here is a video explaining interlaced vs. progressive. If anyone has a better video please post it. All of these 1080p @ 60 FPS embedded in 1080i questions are getting old.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-JXfyvlPh0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-JXfyvlPh0
Read the GH1 "unable to hack firmware FAQ":
http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?t=218001
Concerning the GH2, whether or not it can be hacked depends on Panasonic releasing a publicly available firmware update at some unknown future date. So, until that happens, it's somewhat uncertain. But likely, eventually.
Meanwhile, the GH2 appears to have many, many very useful features as-is.
Another possibility is dumping the firmware directly from the eprom chip, which I think is what vitaliy hinted when he said he needed a higher resolution image of the GH2 inwards (to see if that was feasible).
Danielvilliers
Veteran
I have started a thread here http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?t=223918 with the link to the youtube file. I thought that it was surely one of the most important piece of info of the GH2 as it is actual footage with lot of details. Until now no response !!!
So I downloaded a clip (thanks florisvaneck for pointing out the resource) that indicated it was shot in 1080/60P mode on TM-700 and ran it through the paces.
Honest to god, 1920x1080 progressive footage at 60 fps. So my question to Lumix division is why are you creating this extremely confusing and regressive situation with interlacing footage sourced from the sensor at full HD resolution at 50/60 fps instead of giving it to us as is, just like you do with a top-end camcorder?
A parallel question to dpreview: why are you providing cover for this travesty instead of calling Panasonic out on this?
Last edited:
Jaybilizer
Member
I am most excited about the HDMI output while shooting. I can't wait to test shooting directly to a AJA Ki Pro mini.
Jaybilizer
Member
HDMI recording to the Ki Pro at 1080i would mean I would have to my old pulldown removal work flow to get 24P. That kinda sux. One day the world will be free of interlaced video and on that day, I shall rejoice.
philiplipetz
Veteran
What about the missing frames in the HDMI stream?
My GH2 report from the Photokina
My GH2 report from the Photokina
I have been at the Photokina today.
I was about 3 1/2 hours at the Panasonic GH2 stand trying to get most of the questions answered, that you all have asked.
I asked 4 salesmen there, 1 superviser and 2 product managers ans still some questions are not fully answered.
There was a lot of try and error in trying to answer the sometimes very specific questions, but they and I did what we could to get the answers together.
The very disappointing things in the beginning:
I had no chance to film footage with my own SD card, because they said it is a pre-series model and these may still change a few things in the final GH2.
Also, there was no chance to hook a GH2 to a HDMI monitor. All GH2 were connected with a cable to the counters and no HDMI monitor nearby.
Ok, but here for the questions and answers to the best of my knowledge and with no guarantee:
Sound level control:
Manual control possible before recording in 3 or 4 steps.
No change of the levels during filming possible.
You can watch the sound meters on the screen during the filming though.
Audio in:
is only mic in. You can not switch it to line in.
Earphone jack:
There is no earphone jack at the GH2.
Sound goes over HDMI during recording.
No sound via USB during recording.
HDMI out:
I was told, that HDMI out is the full quality with no dropped frames, no darker image or anything. According to them the HDMI output is debpending on your HD selection for filming. If you select 24p, HDMI out is 24p. If you select 720/50p it is 50p and if you select 1080/50i, it is 50i.
NOBODY could tell me, if the color sampling is 4:2:2: or 4:2:0. Sorry
When you record with HDMI out, the LCD screen still has a picture.
You can have the menus on HDMI out but you can also switch them off.
Firmware (3D):
The GH2 will come with 3D firmware. If firmware is coming as an update, nobody could tell.
Low bandwith banding:
Fixed pattern noise seems to be gone.
I made some very dark pictures with 12800 ISO and 4000 shutter and of course there was noise then, but I compared it to my GH13 that I had with me and I could NOT see the fixed pattern noise that I saw I the GH13.
I am not sure how far you can use the ISO. But the noise looked very good and very low.
PAL Version in 1080 24 or 25 frames
Sorry, no 25fps possible or planned right now. Only true 24fps, which was requested when there were wishes for a GH2. I never saw a request for 25fps..
Follow focus also in video mode via touchscreen:
Well, did not work in most models and nobody could make it work . But in the end I did find 2 models where it worked and it looked good to me. The GH2s on the Photokina were of course all pre series models and not all of them had all features working already. The product managers said, that this will definitively be working in the final GH2.
Codec B-Frames:
Nobody could tell me anything about B-frames. I left the question to be answered by engineers to be send to me via email, but I am not sure, if this will happen.
Tele Crop variabel:
No, tele crop is fixed.
40 FPS Burst:
Well, good news: The LCD screen is NOT black during the 40 fps burst. You can see it happen. Works for 1 second only.
NTSC and PAL:
There will still be 2 models, one PAL and one NTSC.
29:59 limit:
The 29:59 limit for PAL models will still be there.
Low Light:
There is no mentioning of the minimum lux needed by the GH2.
Recording, the picture:
The picture looke3d very clear with very tittle to no noise as far as I could see.
Aliasing, I did not see any during test filming. I filmed check shirts and horizontal lines and they looked good.
Skew, Rolling Shutter is present, when you pan the GH2 heavily, but I think less than in the GH1.
Flashlight: yes, the CMOS problem with flash is still there. A flash in the video was when I filmed about 1/4th of a picture.
Mud: I could not see any, but there was not enough detailed scenery to find out for sure.
ISO during Video:
The max ISO during video was 3200.
Manual focus mode:
no focus assist during recording.
But you can see in manual focus mode now, where you are.
They have a line from wide on the left side top tele on the right and oyou canm see, where you are in manual focussing.
Slowmo and tme laps:
slowmo (80%) and time laps (200% and 300 %) are recorded.
But they work in cinema 24fps only.
So, that was it.
I hope it answered a few of your questions.
If you have furthermore questions I will try the best I can to answer them.
As a summary it looks like a great camera and i am pretty sure, that I will get one of them this year still.
One more thing:
I discussed the GH2 wishes and so on with a product manager, why Panasonic is not responding and discussing with the users.
He made some good comments.
First it would be extremly man power intensive.
Second: With wich of the hundrets of models they shall start and where shall they end?
Also, when discussion what can be implemented, the are offereing the next features to other competing companies and they sure do not want that.
To sum that up. Panasonic is listening for the wishes of the customers. But intentionally not communicating these wishes in forums.
He also said, that several features are still to come. He did not say if in a firmware upgrad or in a possible GH3, but the development continues and keep wishing. It may take a while but as we see in the GH2, many of the wishes have been fulfilled.
Greetings
My GH2 report from the Photokina
I have been at the Photokina today.
I was about 3 1/2 hours at the Panasonic GH2 stand trying to get most of the questions answered, that you all have asked.
I asked 4 salesmen there, 1 superviser and 2 product managers ans still some questions are not fully answered.
There was a lot of try and error in trying to answer the sometimes very specific questions, but they and I did what we could to get the answers together.
The very disappointing things in the beginning:
I had no chance to film footage with my own SD card, because they said it is a pre-series model and these may still change a few things in the final GH2.
Also, there was no chance to hook a GH2 to a HDMI monitor. All GH2 were connected with a cable to the counters and no HDMI monitor nearby.
Ok, but here for the questions and answers to the best of my knowledge and with no guarantee:
Sound level control:
Manual control possible before recording in 3 or 4 steps.
No change of the levels during filming possible.
You can watch the sound meters on the screen during the filming though.
Audio in:
is only mic in. You can not switch it to line in.
Earphone jack:
There is no earphone jack at the GH2.
Sound goes over HDMI during recording.
No sound via USB during recording.
HDMI out:
I was told, that HDMI out is the full quality with no dropped frames, no darker image or anything. According to them the HDMI output is debpending on your HD selection for filming. If you select 24p, HDMI out is 24p. If you select 720/50p it is 50p and if you select 1080/50i, it is 50i.
NOBODY could tell me, if the color sampling is 4:2:2: or 4:2:0. Sorry
When you record with HDMI out, the LCD screen still has a picture.
You can have the menus on HDMI out but you can also switch them off.
Firmware (3D):
The GH2 will come with 3D firmware. If firmware is coming as an update, nobody could tell.
Low bandwith banding:
Fixed pattern noise seems to be gone.
I made some very dark pictures with 12800 ISO and 4000 shutter and of course there was noise then, but I compared it to my GH13 that I had with me and I could NOT see the fixed pattern noise that I saw I the GH13.
I am not sure how far you can use the ISO. But the noise looked very good and very low.
PAL Version in 1080 24 or 25 frames
Sorry, no 25fps possible or planned right now. Only true 24fps, which was requested when there were wishes for a GH2. I never saw a request for 25fps..
Follow focus also in video mode via touchscreen:
Well, did not work in most models and nobody could make it work . But in the end I did find 2 models where it worked and it looked good to me. The GH2s on the Photokina were of course all pre series models and not all of them had all features working already. The product managers said, that this will definitively be working in the final GH2.
Codec B-Frames:
Nobody could tell me anything about B-frames. I left the question to be answered by engineers to be send to me via email, but I am not sure, if this will happen.
Tele Crop variabel:
No, tele crop is fixed.
40 FPS Burst:
Well, good news: The LCD screen is NOT black during the 40 fps burst. You can see it happen. Works for 1 second only.
NTSC and PAL:
There will still be 2 models, one PAL and one NTSC.
29:59 limit:
The 29:59 limit for PAL models will still be there.
Low Light:
There is no mentioning of the minimum lux needed by the GH2.
Recording, the picture:
The picture looke3d very clear with very tittle to no noise as far as I could see.
Aliasing, I did not see any during test filming. I filmed check shirts and horizontal lines and they looked good.
Skew, Rolling Shutter is present, when you pan the GH2 heavily, but I think less than in the GH1.
Flashlight: yes, the CMOS problem with flash is still there. A flash in the video was when I filmed about 1/4th of a picture.
Mud: I could not see any, but there was not enough detailed scenery to find out for sure.
ISO during Video:
The max ISO during video was 3200.
Manual focus mode:
no focus assist during recording.
But you can see in manual focus mode now, where you are.
They have a line from wide on the left side top tele on the right and oyou canm see, where you are in manual focussing.
Slowmo and tme laps:
slowmo (80%) and time laps (200% and 300 %) are recorded.
But they work in cinema 24fps only.
So, that was it.
I hope it answered a few of your questions.
If you have furthermore questions I will try the best I can to answer them.
As a summary it looks like a great camera and i am pretty sure, that I will get one of them this year still.
One more thing:
I discussed the GH2 wishes and so on with a product manager, why Panasonic is not responding and discussing with the users.
He made some good comments.
First it would be extremly man power intensive.
Second: With wich of the hundrets of models they shall start and where shall they end?
Also, when discussion what can be implemented, the are offereing the next features to other competing companies and they sure do not want that.
To sum that up. Panasonic is listening for the wishes of the customers. But intentionally not communicating these wishes in forums.
He also said, that several features are still to come. He did not say if in a firmware upgrad or in a possible GH3, but the development continues and keep wishing. It may take a while but as we see in the GH2, many of the wishes have been fulfilled.
Greetings
Stephen Mick
Totally Usable
Seriously, big props to AKED for doing this. Gold star for you young man!
ATL Media Group
Veteran
Awesome! Thanks...
Looks like HDMI out is really a reality for this camera. Way to 1-up the competition Panasonic.
(actually more like 8-up)
Looks like HDMI out is really a reality for this camera. Way to 1-up the competition Panasonic.
(actually more like 8-up)