Don't expect to get much replies with a general statement like that and no samples for folks to comment on. But to answer your question...the hack eased the issue a lot...but it's no miracle worker.

I especially note that banding problems report for all cameras come mostly from guys with cheap TN 6-bit monitors :-)

from a PURELY non-specific viewpoint, I think the GOP1 does do better. The issue I had with GOP3 was that I really was still seeing some macro blocking. Don't get me wrong, it is MUCH better than stock or other lighter hack settings, but when it comes down to image manipulation in post . . . if macro blocks are there, color balancing and grading will make those blocks pop out like a bare tit in a cold breeze, no matter how careful you are. GOP1 to my eyes really has no visible blocking. Its all a light grainy noise fuzz . . . every frame. The light noise goes a really long way in breaking up any natural banding, whereas macro blocks simply serve to make banding worse. Don't get me wrong . . . GOP3 is really very impressive. I just personally feel that unless the blocking and other junk can be dispensed with completely, there really is little point in "lessening" it. But that's just me, and I'm no pro, just an art student with (I like to think) a natural eye and knack for this stuff.

@B3Guy
Thanks for your response. I will try everything that can help me to solve the banding issue...Where can I download the setting-file?
@Vitaliy
Yes I know the problems with cheap monitors... ;) Its unbelievable that you can find this kind of monitors in big production studios...

My assumption is that the banding appears only in very complex conditions...For example: a clear sky at 12 o´clock. I have to use an aperture at 22...Nearly closed. I guess that the less light which falls at the sensor causes these problems. For this reason a ND-Filter should help. But I have read that this kind of filter will boost the banding...It is really frustrating...The GH2 could be a very good camera...But the banding problem makes this camera useless for a professional use. The Canon 5D Mark II dont have these problems...It seems that Panasonic made not a good job... I have heart that Panasonic knows the banding problem...But there is no firmware update to fix it... What a shame!

@Stray What I believe B3Guy is seeing is the benefits of added noise in the image. He's right about the fine noise but at the same time I believe the noise contributes to a dithering effect on the image. I could be wrong but that's the way I see it also. It might not completley get rid of it (oh...and I believe the correct term is posterization) but it helps. I have not had any problems outdoors (at least so far) since the hack but indoors...on a clear colored wall...it sometimes shows up.

@Maxwell77...oh yes the 5Dll does have this problem. From the very first videos that came out on the 5Dll (as beautiful as they looked overall) was when I was first alerted to this problem. I would have never paid any attention to it if "some" people didn't start making a big deal about it. Now I look for it in every shot.... I hate when that happens. But what I don't get is your claim that this camera can't be used for professional use...when there are a plethora of users out there using it....professionally ,,,UNHACKED. I don't get your claim.

EDIT: Oh....I see that it's your choice not to use it this way. That's Kewl.

@Ian_T I get what you say about noise creating a dithering effect, but with certain colours I think thats going to be more of a hindrance than a positive (considering the cameras bias to noise in red, and it being more obvious accross different points of an images luminance profile).

I've not had any banding that really bugged me so far, but if I did I would do what I've done in the past which is to transcode the footage into 10bit or higher, roto shape out the areas of banding (attach the roto to the track if its a moving shot) and then use filters such as various types of blurs to smooth it out accross the higher bit range. Its far from a perfect solution, which would be to somehow resample the area and dither, but its smart enough in most circumstances.

Thanks for the enlightenment! I still feel like the "Reference" (P and B) frames do really strange stuff with wandering blocks of garbage, that shows up especially with motion. That's probably the improvement I see, which is a motion thing, I guess. I agree, the blocking is still there in GOP1, its just that it doesn't form clicks like a bunch of middleschoolers and go wandering around the image for a couple frames. The complete image processing for every frame causes macro blocks (if I understand correctly) . . . to be recalculated each frame, rather than only every i-frame in a group of several frames.

....but when shot and manipulated just right.....it comes awful close. :-)

Bring on some custom curves.

@Maxwell77
"You can use the GH2 for professional shootings...But only for definite situations. The GH2 is not an alternative for a RED. Perhaps my expections were to high."
[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[

Who on earth told you GH2 could substitute for a $50,000 cinema cam? And if you're really a pro shooter, why are you going out on gigs with a camera you're not fully familiar with? Every camera, including RED has limitations. To quote Dirty Harry, "A man has to know his limitations..."

@Maxwell77

It is more and more looks like bashing.
I am waiting for your examples.
30-40 seconds upload to Vimeo is enough.

@Maxwell77 what convinced you that the GH2 is really a good cam?? Its flaws are discussed in all camera forums. Also color banding. Didn't you do a research?

@Maxwell77

As I said, I am waiting for samples from your "ruined" shots.

@andres
Hey, I use my GH2 since one year for professional shootings. The results were always brilliant. The GH2 is a very good cam. Be careful what you are saying about the GH2. On Friday I had a shooting with a very blue sky. This was the first time that I realized this banding issue. Certainly it is my fault. I underestimate the problem. But this experience is important. Everybody makes mistakes. Apart from that you do not learn something. And I never said, that the cam is bad. But color banding is a problem. Now I know this. The comparison with the RED was only an example...There are a lot of other cams which do not have these problems.

And there is still a BIG missunderstanding. I used an UNHACKED GH2 for the shooting. When I saw the banding I hacked the cam to get rid of this problem. I did a few tests with a clear blue sky and realized the problem again. Vitaliys hack is awsome. 8 Bit per channel are a the problem. Not the hack. Higher bitrates will not change this.

I guess there is nothing more to say. We can close this topic.