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GayWolf420
June, 2025

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Finally hacked my GH2

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plorr
Posts: 3131 - Karma: 520
So after having my GH2 for around 2 months, I finally took the time to hack the firmware. I used CBrandin's 66mbit patch. So far it has been totally stable, and has definitely improved the quality of the 720 60p mode at 32mbits. I haven't tested the 66mbit 1080p24 yet. The footage seems to hold up much better to grading as well. The only problem is it eats up card space twice as fast.

Here's what I shot the first day after installing the hack. Everything is handheld shot with the 14-42 kit lens at 720 60p, and conformed to 24p in Cinema Tools.


14 years ago
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plorr
Posts: 3131 - Karma: 520
Took some 1080 24p footage today. 2 out of 35 shots got corrupted for some reason. I'm a little worried about that. Probably gonna tone down the bitrate for 24H to be safe. Also, the quality difference isn't THAT noticeable from the original bitrate, especially not on Vimeo.


14 years ago
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123+ski
Posts: 2832 - Karma: 581
What settings are you using?
I use the 176 GOP1, and it is insane. The 24p is great (I need to install the new settings for 60-), and the quality is so much better. Even on vimeo or youtube it is a noticeable improvement. It may also be your memory card. I have heard the sandisk extreme 30mb/s (not uhs-1) cards work best. I have an 8gb (getting a/multiple 16/32's soon), and I have never had any issues
14 years ago
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plorr
Posts: 3131 - Karma: 520
I'm using CBrandin's 66mbit GOP2 settings. I have two 16GB Sandisk extreme 30mbs cards, and at 66mbits those are chewed up in 30 minutes, so I imagine at 176mbits with i frame only the files would be absurdly large. I guess I will try it out though. Are you using driftwoods patch? How stable is it?

Honestly I was more concerned with the 60p mode anyway, since I was already happy with the quality out of the cinema mode. And other than just resolving more detail, it should help with grading and noise at high ISO. Hopefully I'll get a chance to test that out in the next week or so.
14 years ago
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123+ski
Posts: 2832 - Karma: 581
ya i get 4-5 minutes on my 8gb card haha, and I haven't tested it extensively, but i am using driftwoods 176 gop1 v.3, but I will be using another patch for 60p when I get the time to mess around and test and install. But overall I have had no issues with stability in 24p cinema mode. i really wish I had a vimeo plus account so that I could upload more larger hd files (i have youtube, but the quality is meh)
14 years ago
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plorr
Posts: 3131 - Karma: 520
Yeah even if the quality is amazing its hardly worth it having that large of files. You would have to have like 5-10 32GB cards to film for a whole day.

What I really need to do is just get better lenses. All I have right now is the 14-42 kit lens and a a minolta 50 1.4. Got my eye on a wide angle next, then I'm gonna start saving for the voiglander 25mm 0.95 or the panny leica 25mm 1.4.
14 years ago
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S.C
Posts: 3071 - Karma: 2,523
shiit thats sick
14 years ago
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123+ski
Posts: 2832 - Karma: 581
ya I know. I tried updating to the 244mb "smooth as fuck" patch, and tweaking the settings, but there were issues, so now I am going to try the newest one from driftwood, the AQ2. At some point I need to get on there, lurk and just test all the different patches.

for a wide angle, you might want to check out the noktor 12mm 1.6
14 years ago
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plorr
Posts: 3131 - Karma: 520
I'm thinking about buying a few cheap 2gb sd cards so I can store different patches on each one so I can change settings on the go. I havent tried any besides the 66mbit one I have installed now, but I'm pretty happy with it so far. I'm not trying to get greedy with IQ, all I really wanted was an improvement in the 720 60p, which CBrandin's patch definitely did.

And yeah, right now its between that or the panny 7-14. The range of the panny would be nice, and it is super sharp. But the noktor is faster, cheaper, and I like the look of it better from what I've seen. I think I'll end up getting the panny only because it is more versatile and the AF could come in handy once I pick up a glidecam or a blackbird.
14 years ago
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Boo.
Posts: 692 - Karma: 417
We need to make a hacked gh2 cult. These things are the future... atleast until the GX1 comes out.


I'm using the ccbrandin 66M GOP12 AQ2 MAX VARIATION patch--which is cool because it allows the bitrate to vary depending on the scene a bit rather than just recording a flat 66mbps.

I've got the 20mm pancake, 14-45, and 45-200. Just sold the 14-140 and am looking to get the new 14-42 x lens, steady zoom, and IQ is supposedly sick.

The video is blocked, cause I'm in school, but I'm looking forward to other NSer's gh2 work!
14 years ago
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123+ski
Posts: 2832 - Karma: 581
I would be wary of AF, its the same as on the 14-42, they gave both a firmware update. Honestly at 7mm and f8 the DOF will be so deep already, but I could see AF being useful at times. I just installed the AQ2, and i no longer get card speed errors on 720/60, but I only took like 30 seconds of video of my desk. And instead of getting 2 gig cards, I would just get better cards, because you won't be able to record on them unless they are good class 10 cards, and you can store the settings ini files on your computer and load them instantly
14 years ago
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