Ptool for beginners / Ptool FAQ

tester13 said:
File name, not fully charged battery, etc. All of them are known for long :)
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the battery is fully charged, and the file name is correct, but everytime i hit the 'play' button it just goes to showing my shots and ignores the firmware on the card... erkk

UPDATE: AH!! it was the filename.. no idea how that happened!
 
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RandyQ said:
I think this question and response needs to be phrased better. Allow me to make the question more specific:

Q) Can I change PAL to NTSC, OR NTSC to PAL, as many times as I want, or is this a ONE TIME permanent change that can only be done upon applying patch?

A) ?
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The answer is that the change is permanent for the firmware you installed.
The ability to add extra options to menus is not there yet, as the author needs more tools (compilers, assemblers and such) to do this. Hopefully this will come soon.
 
Tester13,

First, fantastic job here on all these changes to the filmware, very impressive.

Second, let's say Panasonic comes out with a firmware update version 1.35 , and we have already updated our cameras to say version 1.38. Can't we use the ptool application, and the new "GH1__135.BIN" from Panasonic, open the "GH1__135.BIN" file in the ptool application, and change the version number of the new Panasonic firmware update to say version 1.39 and then be able to update our camera's firmware to the new Panasonic firmware? Does that seem possible? Or is the ptool application only compatible with "GH1__132.BIN"?

Best,
-Tim
 
Timmyjoe said:
Tester13,

First, fantastic job here on all these changes to the filmware, very impressive.

Second, let's say Panasonic comes out with a firmware update version 1.35 , and we have already updated our cameras to say version 1.38. Can't we use the ptool application, and the new "GH1__135.BIN" from Panasonic, open the "GH1__135.BIN" file in the ptool application, and change the version number of the new Panasonic firmware update to say version 1.39 and then be able to update our camera's firmware to the new Panasonic firmware? Does that seem possible? Or is the ptool application only compatible with "GH1__132.BIN"?

Best,
-Tim
Click to expand...

Once and if Panasonic comes out with a newer firmware, most likely tester will have an updated ptool to accommodate the newest firmware by the same day.
 
I have updated my GF1 and I tried out a few of the .mov and AVC-HD settings. I played the AVC-HD files in VLC and I could see the 448 Kbits/sec audio in the properties. However, the video bitrate hovered arround 20 mb/sec even though I had selected 40 mb/sec.

Is there a good way to confirm that you are getting the higher bit rate for the video? What program do you use to measure this?
 
Hi really sorry if this is a stupid question but I read the thread and couldn't find info.

How do I overwrite the same firmware to my GH1, last night I wrote the modified bit rate firmware 1.32, now I'd like to add the native 24p to it and write again but the camera just says no valid picture ( my battery is charged). :(
 
Hi - long time lurker, first time poster :)

The FAQ mentions the need for Class 10 cards for high bitrate footage. Does that include the new higher bitrate AVCHD? Or is that just for MJPEG?

I recently invested in a couple of Transcend 32 gig Class 6 cards and wondering if they are obsolete for mud free footage in AVCHD.
 
uncultured said:
The FAQ mentions the need for Class 10 cards for high bitrate footage. Does that include the new higher bitrate AVCHD? Or is that just for MJPEG?
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I'm using a Class 6 card for AVCHD, but it can't handle MJPG. And the thing is, not all Class 6 are the same; mine is a Lexar Professional, which is just one hair's breadth away from being ratable as Class 10. Other Class 6 cards might be little over half the speed. So it depends on your card.

I recently invested in a couple of Transcend 32 gig Class 6 cards and wondering if they are obsolete for mud free footage in AVCHD.
Click to expand...
Only way to know is to try 'em.
 
uncultured said:
Hi - long time lurker, first time poster :)

I recently invested in a couple of Transcend 32 gig Class 6 cards and wondering if they are obsolete for mud free footage in AVCHD.
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should be fine I just tested on a transcend with the 30mb setting
 
Firmware benefits for the GF1?

Firmware benefits for the GF1?

I went through the GH1 firmware thread but I'm not a technical guy at all so I have a couple of doubts regarding the firmware when it comes to the GF1. It is to my understanding that the firmware can also be applied to the GF1 but it is not clear to me what does the firmware do (it IS clear to me what it does to the GH1). I didn't want to disturb the main firmware thread, so I decided to post here. So, if anyone could enlighten me regarding the GF1:
- Do we have full control over video parameters now?
- Do we have variable framerates?
- Do we have variable resolution or still only 720p?
- I know this firmware is regarding video only, but could there be any benefits photography wise?
 
Barry_Green said:
I'm using a Class 6 card for AVCHD, but it can't handle MJPG. And the thing is, not all Class 6 are the same; mine is a Lexar Professional, which is just one hair's breadth away from being ratable as Class 10. Other Class 6 cards might be little over half the speed. So it depends on your card.


Only way to know is to try 'em.
Click to expand...


mimirsan said:
should be fine I just tested on a transcend with the 30mb setting
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Wow thanks for the quick response! This certainly makes me feel a lot more comfortable trying the firmware out.
 
It would be great if there was a post that went into more detail on what some of these settings mean and do. I'm leery of giving this a try because I don't know what all these options mean and how they affect the camera. I don't want to just arbitrarily be selecting options and inserting values without knowing how those values affect the picture. So if someone could take the time to create a "GH1 Hacking with Ptool for Dummies" :laugh: post or something like that somewhere that would be great. Either here or a new thread.

Also, I have these additional questions:

I don't understand the C vs D thing. I don't see a C or D option in Ptool.

The question about the 23.971fps on the 24p mode has been asked a lot and no one is answering.

How does increasing the bitrate affect recording time?

How does the 24pN affect the recording time?

How do you determine the bitrate?

It's all confusing. Thanks!
 
Mike@AF said:
It would be great if there was a post that went into more detail on what some of these settings mean and do. I'm leery of giving this a try because I don't know what all these options mean and how they affect the camera. I don't want to just arbitrarily be selecting options and inserting values without knowing how those values affect the picture. So if someone could take the time to create a "GH1 Hacking with Ptool for Dummies" :laugh: post or something like that somewhere that would be great. Either here or a new thread.

Also, I have these additional questions:

I don't understand the C vs D thing. I don't see a C or D option in Ptool.

The question about the 23.971fps on the 24p mode has been asked a lot and no one is answering.

How does increasing the bitrate affect recording time?

How does the 24pN affect the recording time?

How do you determine the bitrate?

It's all confusing. Thanks!
Click to expand...


All the patches in the ptool have info whether or not it's been tested, working and or if it's a risk. None of the current patches can do any harm to your camera. If for some reason you don't like what you're seeing, just simply load the original firmware back.

The C and D settings are just different settings that are used to up the bitrate. It's not an actual setting but rather just different set of numbers that work. It was confusing.

29.976 vs 29.971...it's .005 different, you think it's going to affect anything?

24pN doesn't affect the recording time.

You determine the bitrate with programs like VLC or QT by looking at the media info.
 
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Thanks for the answers. I don't know if the .005 difference is going to affect anything or not. That's why I was asking. If it's a really long take and you drop it in a 23.976 timeline will we see issues at all?

With the higher bit rate, does the camera show proper time remaining for recording?
 
rawfa said:
I went through the GH1 firmware thread but I'm not a technical guy at all so I have a couple of doubts regarding the firmware when it comes to the GF1. It is to my understanding that the firmware can also be applied to the GF1 but it is not clear to me what does the firmware do (it IS clear to me what it does to the GH1). I didn't want to disturb the main firmware thread, so I decided to post here. So, if anyone could enlighten me regarding the GF1:
- Do we have full control over video parameters now?
- Do we have variable framerates?
- Do we have variable resolution or still only 720p?
- I know this firmware is regarding video only, but could there be any benefits photography wise?
Click to expand...

GF1 have almost all patches, including AVCHD bitrate and MJPEG bitrate adjustment.
No, we don't have variable framerates.
And we don't have variable resolution, only scaled 1920 on GH1.
As for stills, I don't have any real plans as of today.
My main complains for stills are bad random internal flash with manual glass and no focus confirmation for manual glass.
 
This is probably a better place for this question:

What is the difference between "Video Bitrate Adjustment" and "Video Bitrate Adjustment Simplified"?
 
Thanks a million tester13. It is as if Panasonic released GH2 early and are giving away free to current GH1 users :D . Wait why credit Panasonic? It IS as if tester13 has granted us the option of a free GH2 ;)

I haven't yet patched mine. Just one question:

If I apply the patch now, then I cannot use the next official firmware update from Panasonic, if and when it arrives because I had already used up the version number?

Or just renaming the 'future original firmware' file name would do the trick?
 
I'm just now getting up to date on this info so please forgive me if you have been drilled with this question over and over.

What is the best setting thus far to be able to record at high bitrates on MJPEG without it cutting off? I know that I'll need a class 10. I plan to pick one up on tuesday.


Tester 13, I am definately going to leave a nice donation on tuesday when I have money because I really appreciate your work It is really going to improve my life and I want to help the cause. Sorry I'm the only weirdo that gets paid on mondays at midnight.
 
nobbystylus said:
the battery is fully charged, and the file name is correct, but everytime i hit the 'play' button it just goes to showing my shots and ignores the firmware on the card... erkk

UPDATE: AH!! it was the filename.. no idea how that happened!
Click to expand...

hi, i'm having the same issue as you describe, but i check and re-check the filename ((GH1__134.bin) the GH1__133.bin went fine), battery fully charged but still can't upgrade subsequent patchs, any input to help me?

(uptade) ok i fix my issue, it was the increment and bin file name not coherent. thx tester13 for your work ,
from french gh1 users community, best regards
 
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