It's Official: Firmware Update for DMC-GH2 / G3 / GF3 / GF2 coming

Aksel

http://www.techradar.com/news/photography-video-capture/cameras/panasonic-announces-gh2-firmware-upgrade-1038884

stoney

Can't tell whether mp4 is a good thing or a bad thing. What if their mp4 "new" impl is a way to prevent the future hack from achieving high quality and low gop? Assuming future consumer bodies support only mp4 format. Consipiracy theory...

Elenion

@Vitaliy
Then it could be everything. I really can't understand this choice.
Avchd is already suitable for every editing software why would they need mp4? If you want to give us footages for editing purpose just give us loglike film modes and 4:2:2 with 25p. They could make it inside avchd.
I think that they are just trying to bother you; with another codec (or container with another codec inside) you should restart the hacking process. They're fool

Vitaliy_Kiselev

@Elenion

Because AVCHD has restrictions imposed by standard.
You can use any compression parameters in MP4.
And if this guys really make exFAT working, it could be, in fact, most important change.

svart

I think the clue is in the words.. they said:

• New video mode which is suitable for editing video recorded at high bit rate (24Mbps)

So we already had 24Mbps in Creative Movie Mode and AVCHD is editable in most programs these days anyway so I don't really think it will be a naked mp4 file.

I think the biggest problem with editing the files from the GH2 is the color subsampling. Everybody complains about not being able to tweak the colors in editing with the panny cameras and now that DSLRs are in use all over the production world, I bet they want to at least keep up with Canon.

To that end, I'd bet we see 4:2:2 in the 24Mbps Creative Movie Mode or a new movie mode that is some lite version (8bit?) of their AVC-ultra spec (via wikipedia):

"The most efficient new parameter within AVC-Ultra is by Panasonic called, AVC-LongG. AVC-LongG enables compression of video resolutions up to 1920x1080 @ 23.97, 25 and 29.97p, with 10 bits of pixel depth at 4:2:2 color sampling, at data rates as low as 25 Mbit / sec."

swen24

@ Vitaliy_Kiselev

Is there a chance to flash the "new" Panasonic firmware on a hacked GH2?

LPowell

@Elenion - "Avchd is already suitable for every editing software why would they need mp4?"

AVCHD has been a self-imposed straightjacket for Panasonic that requires them to obtain Sony's consent for any extensions to that standard. It is in fact nothing more than a commercially-branded subset of the wide variety of profiles in the H.264 standard. Switching to an MP4 container would open the door to delivering higher bitrate and color-depth video encoding without the need to upgrade the AVCHD standard as a prerequisite.

svart

@Lpowell: Panny is firmly entrenched in AVC. In every blog, video, interview, etc they talk about AVC and all the things they are doing with it. That's not the type of promotion someone does when they are about to dump something they've put all that sweat equity into.

Just look at the other AVC-intra 50/100 and how they now have extended that to AVC-intra 200 and now AVC-Ultra.

They keep changing their own spec to keep up with higher and higher demands but they have consistently stayed with AVCHD.

LPowell

@svart - "They keep changing their own spec to keep up with higher and higher demands but they have consistently stayed with AVCHD."

Yes, but not nearly fast enough for us ;-)

svart

@Lpowell: No arguments there!

I guess we'll just have to wait and see what we get with this new firmware.

Overall I wouldn't be surprised at all that panny is looking at the hack. Watching others study your work is one of the best ways to learn about things you might have missed and also learn tricks you might not have thought of.

rigs

Panasonic has alot to learn from VK's and all the testers efforts. I believe they have been watching this and other sites. Why not see what other are doing in field testing to max out their cams. We will find out soon enough.

bwhitz

They don't really need to "record" 60fps... just an over-crank option AT 60fps maybe. So it can retain a high-bit rate.

Isn't that what everyone would use 60fps for anyways? Is anyone actually interested in using 60fps as-is?

RRRR

please, please panasonic.. enable 25p AVCHD.

fatpig

I seriously doubt that they will bring on 25p, 10bit or 4:2:2. This would be huge enough to be put first in their list. But MP4 would be nice aswell, i hope. maybe this at least leaves VK the possibility to hack it even more!

stoney

Let's start dreaming again. It's free :)

24p, 25p, 60p, 10 bit, 4:2:2... Come on!!!

plasmasmp

"They don't really need to "record" 60fps... just an over-crank option AT 60fps maybe. So it can retain a high-bit rate"

exactly. I want a 40% option

Vitaliy_Kiselev

@stonebat

stoney

What a lovely song. Never stop dreaming!!! We are happy dreamers :)

Clermond

keep in mind that Panasonic still needs to have some arguments to sell the AF 100. I don't expect too much.

Pavezer

Let it be 25p for gods sake! :D

I've found the GH2 amazing little camera but unfortunately it's not having a place in the projects we do just because of the lack of 25p. It's like colleagues laughing at it because they consider it a playground camera. "No 25p1080?!, don't bring it then". It's a fact which should change and GH2 deserves it.
Anyway, it's going to be interesting 3 weeks with the speculations and theories. ;)

My side of view, one of the great improvements in the new firmware will be:
• ON/OFF control of the touch-screen
I use GH2 as a travel camera (stills) a lot and I'm pretty much annoyed with the touch screen :)

fatpig

First I thought they made it possible to change ETC while recording, but i think i misunderstood.. :(

Tomaso

@stonebat
Never stop dreaming!!!!
My dreams include 24p, 25p, 30p, 50p 60p, 10 bit, 4:2:2... Come on!!!
But 1080 25p with at very good quality is the dream that comes first:-)
AVCHD or mp4 (H.264) as long as VK can improve it.

hslhsl

Hello,
news from Pana: GH2 Firmware V1.1 will be released in December:
http://panasonic.jp/support/global/cs/dsc/info/update_gh2.html

DLG

@hslhsl
hello ... well come! :)

hi to everyone,
I am another one of the dreamers: 25p, 50p, 10bit, 4:2:2 for me it's enough ... or better still, also pizza, beer and coffee... sorry i'm italian ;)

but coming to the big question (but it's only a curiosity): I do not know exactly how work a hack, maybe there is a post where you explain it (and I'd like to know it), but with the future upgrade, will be possible to continue to load the patch or have you to work on it?

thanks to all for the excellent work done until now.

arvidtp

@DLG : here's how to apply the hack http://personal-view.com/talks/discussion/1375/ptool-v3.63d-topic/p1

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