Ptool for beginners / Ptool FAQ

Pietro Impagliazzo said:
It's still unclear to me why and when I need to check version compare and prevent version check.

I'd like to understand the mechanics behind this and how I should be careful with it.

Thanks a lot in advance.
Click to expand...

Version Compare was the first tool designed so you could you use the hack over and over. Panasonic doesn't allow you to roll back. It's either up or nothing.

When the first ptools were introduced Version Compare had to be incremented each time you loaded the patch. A lot of people were too scared that the patched firmware would ruin their camera and could never send it back to while still under warranty and were too illiterate to read that you had to increment each time you loaded the patch. Then came Prevent Version Check.

The title itself defines the purpose of this patch. Upon loading Prevent Version Check this does two things. First it eliminates the need to use check Version Compare once the patch has been loaded with Prevent Version Check. Secondly, it modifies the firmware so in case you are among the those who too worried they couldn't default back to panasonic's factory firmware, you could. It essentially tricked the camera into going to a 0.0 firmware so anything above 0.0, could be loaded.

You only need to check Version Compare one time, as long as you loaded Prevent Version Check simultaneously. From there after, each time you feel like you need to change something in the patch, just check Prevent Version Check.

A good way to tell if you need to check Version Compare anymore is to look at your firmware version in camera. If it reads 0.0, then skip Version Check and continue to keep loading Prevent Version Compare.

If from here on out you still don't get it, it's best you didn't load the patch.
 
What should I do/not do to keep the AVCHD playback feature ?
aka is there a bitrate I should not go over, some settings, etc
 
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Car3o said:
Version Compare was the first tool designed so you could you use the hack over and over. Panasonic doesn't allow you to roll back. It's either up or nothing.

When the first ptools were introduced Version Compare had to be incremented each time you loaded the patch. A lot of people were too scared that the patched firmware would ruin their camera and could never send it back to while still under warranty and were too illiterate to read that you had to increment each time you loaded the patch. Then came Prevent Version Check.

The title itself defines the purpose of this patch. Upon loading Prevent Version Check this does two things. First it eliminates the need to use check Version Compare once the patch has been loaded with Prevent Version Check. Secondly, it modifies the firmware so in case you are among the those who too worried they couldn't default back to panasonic's factory firmware, you could. It essentially tricked the camera into going to a 0.0 firmware so anything above 0.0, could be loaded.

You only need to check Version Compare one time, as long as you loaded Prevent Version Check simultaneously. From there after, each time you feel like you need to change something in the patch, just check Prevent Version Check.

A good way to tell if you need to check Version Compare anymore is to look at your firmware version in camera. If it reads 0.0, then skip Version Check and continue to keep loading Prevent Version Compare.

If from here on out you still don't get it, it's best you didn't load the patch.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the explanation. I'm already playing with PTool, figuring it out before I get my GH1.

Shipping takes a long way to get here, so...

I got caught in the middle of this thing, so It's a little confusing to read about problems that are now gone, but I'm not sure because I've never used the software.

___

One thing that I'd also like to ask in this thread as well is about the presets everyone talks about: "I was using the 'C' settings". What is C settings? Where do I find it?

I tried the official site, looked in some threads but couldn't find it.

Thanks.
 
i have an GF1 . i've read abut the hack but to be sure i need some advice. i saw that my sensor camera can't reed in full hd so i think i'll give up on this.

im interesting to change : i need pal , 24p, and famous 4:2:2 and maybe remove 30 min limit . i need the perfect settings :) . in the end need to be stable i' ve read about a lot of issues. thanks
 
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Pietro Impagliazzo said:
Corrupt, there are currently two projects focused on reliability:

http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?t=216063

http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?t=219132
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thank you pietro . i think ipowell patch settings sounds good for me, like he said " I believe this combination of patches delivers consistently superior image quality with rock solid reliability " thats its i was looking for .

i did not open Ptool yet, i have only macs, so i cannot see the settings and make an correlation. so far i found this : ipowell settings sims closer than perfect : no 24p- not stable- camera could freeze , no need full hd - coz gf1 sensor image will be scaled to 1080p, all the bitrate ranges and settings i'll find here posted in attached files http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showpost.php?p=2039780&postcount=5 Right ?

one more thing : 4:2:2 will be available than ?
 
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Car3o said:
A good way to tell if you need to check Version Compare anymore is to look at your firmware version in camera. If it reads 0.0, then skip Version Check and continue to keep loading Prevent Version Compare.
Click to expand...

You mean : "If it reads 0.0, then skip Version Compare and continue to keep loading Prevent Version Check", right ?
 
Car3o said:
The title itself defines the purpose of this patch. Upon loading Prevent Version Check this does two things. First it eliminates the need to use check Version Compare once the patch has been loaded with Prevent Version Check.

If from here on out you still don't get it, it's best you didn't load the patch.
Click to expand...

I downloaded the latest PTools and there is no "Version Compare" to check so - I don't get it. Do you mean "Version Increment"? Or are you talking about a different version of PTools? Or is it because I've loaded 1.32 firmware into PTools (to explore before I jump into the deep end)?

I have a never-been-patched GH1 with 1.22 firmware. If I check "Version Increment" as per the instructions, will I still end up with 0.0 firmware, or something different? Thanks.
 
Dear creator of ptool3, all is great about and with this software, except its color-scheme for the tips/explanations. For me those are barely readable, because they use a dark text (font-color) with a dark background. This is the case for all users with a color-theme where tooltips have a dark bg, I guess. But this should not be a problem, since the official txt-color that goes over it is supposed to be lighter than the one ptool3 uses.

I'll look into it by changing the win color-theme so your tool is readable, but for the time being I would set proper colors for those text-boxes if I were you. I'm not using a terribly off-standard color-theme, so I'm sure many more users encounter this..

Other than that, thanks for these patches and I'll definitely donate!
 
David_L said:
Sean, The most common complaint re: pulldown is that it adds an extra step and wastes a lot of time. If you are transcoding a lot of material, the time adds up.
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Not only that, it uses twice the space and speed of storing images, so your SDHC is bound to break sooner with the pulldown.

I still don't really see why Panasonic decided on this in the first place. Most users prefer native 24/25 fps straight from the sensor.
 
With Ptool 3.4 out now, I'm curious to know how people are inputting the different settings (i.e. "C") with the extra 4th input field under the AVCHD section. Not sure how the other Ptool versions had it broken out, but I always see 3 sets of numbers for the GH1.

3.4 reads:
Video Bitrate FHD/SH
Video Bitrate H
Video Bitrate L
Overall Bitrate

Since I'm new at this, and have been digesting everything on this board, I haven't come across this question. Would love to know
 
Hello,

Since I've bought the GH1 or GH1K (which I assume "K" is for kit) 1 month ago, I've tried about 20 times to get the hack to work. I have followed the directions completely. Using a full battery, ticked the Version Increment, and Prevent Version Compare. My bin is named GH1__133.bin. Load the SDCard and push play and... nothing.

The camera was bought new August 3rd through G&H. I am a novice photographer, but not a novice videographer. I've rooted my Nexus One, and modded my XBOX, but hacking this camera is driving me insane. :kali:

I've used Windows 7 via Parallels and the OS X Wined tool.

I can't find one "VIDEO" tutorial that actually walks a person through the hack. I only find various textual walkthroughs that are each different in little ways. Either, Panasonic has done something to my camera to prevent this hack, or I am missing something major. I am using an LX Series 32 GB Class 10 SDcard btw.

I only bought this camera because of the hack. I am in Beijing and am about to go into some rural areas of China with some epic scenery. I really need 1080p for the areas I'm going. What a waste of a trip this will be for content without this hack. :cry:

Thanks in advance for any assistance, reasoning, or direction.

-neven
 
Do i update the offical firmware before the hack?

Do i update the offical firmware before the hack?

I have hacked a gh1 a few weeks back before the issue with panasonic blocking the hack with new firmware. Unfortunatly a few days ago my gh13 was stolen :cry:. I have just got a replacement one from ebay which has the original panasonic 1.0 installed and was just wondering if i should update to the latest firmware on the panasonic site (which i did with my last cam) or would this now block the hack and i should just hack it as it is?
 
I have a PAL GH1 and I would like to know if it is possible to just increase the bit rate in both 1080 25p and 720 50P in AVCHD modes.

Will camera be able to play the AVCHD files with higher bitrates?

Thanks.
 
I have a Transcend SDHC Memory card class 10 . I cannot understand why if I set the bitrate of AVCHD up to 50 Mbps, for around 6 out of 10 times (6/10) I cannot record the video for more than 10 seconds because it canceled with saying something like "due to the limitation of the writing speed" ....

The memory SDHC card is new and the speed can be 20 Mb/s . I do not think that speed is low for this recording mode .

In addition , when I set the MJPEG to native 24 fps the image motion is really very jerky .

So far I have not got the best settings for this system like so many people have done. Why ? My SDHC memory speed is not enough or what ? Is it right that many people say just SD card class 6 is already enough ?

I cannot understand what is going on with my camera or my SDHC card !

Is there anyone experienced such problems like me ?
 
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ndquan said:
I have a Transcend SDHC Memory card class 10 . I cannot understand why :

- if I set the bitrate of AVCHD mode for FHD lower than 50 Mbps , SH 22 Mbps and so on with (or without ?) setting the fps down to 24p, the file cannot be playback on the camera .

- If I set the bitrate of AVCHD up to 50 Mbps , I can playback the file on the camera , but for around 6 out of 10 times (6/10) I cannot record the video for more than 10 seconds because it canceled with saying something like "due to the limitation of the writing speed" ....

The memory SDHC card is new and the speed can be 20 Mb/s . I do not think that speed is low for this recording mode .

In addition , when I set the MJPEG to native 24 fps the image motion is really very jerky .

So far I have not got the best settings for this system like so many people have done. Why ? My SDHC memory speed is not enough or what ?

I cannot understand what is going on with my camera or my SDHC card !

Is there anyone experienced such problems like me ?
Click to expand...

In the beginning everyone had many problems.
But now, after few months of tests, there are some settings working.
Personnally after many tests I decide to go with the B settings :
My cam is in PAL (Europe)
SDHC card : SANDISK Class 10 (very important)
and settings are :

- Prevent version compare=Checked
- Third-party battery=Checked
- All Interface Languages=Checked
- 30min limit removal=Checked
- Native 24/25=Checked
- Video Bitrate FHD/SH=32000000
- Overall Bitrate=34000000

I did not change the audio bitrate

With these settings you are able to playback on your cam.

I did not touched to other settings (JPEG included)
Filming in JPEG is not a choice for me. I find this Codec very obsolete and you are limited in the length of your shots. And the image is not so good (very personal appreciation !) besides if you need to post-prod some Chroma Keying (Blue Screen)

About the 32/34000000 for the AVCHD Compression you don't need to go bigger.
Professional Cameras in AVCHD are set around 24/34000000.
Like we said in french "le mieux est l'ennemi du bien" meaning « leave well enough alone ».
Try these settings and give me a feedback.
Good luck.

PS : And remember : always formating your card in the Lumix NOT on your computer....
 
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Thank you very much for your so quick reply, my French friend. So it means my hardware is okay at their specification. It just the software problem (my settings) . I will try following your settings.

I also just checked the speed of the SDHC card and it seems okay : read 19.2 Mb/s , write : 18.6 Mb/s.
 
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