What's so good about all these new Cluster X settings? In simple terms, after looking at the rate control, quantisation and scaling matrices found in the GH3, Nikon D800 and Canon 5DMKIII I decided upon a radical approach to find out if the GH2 was capable of getting near their very low QP values (which range from predominantly 1 to 30 depending on the detail and luminance of the subject).

What I found was (and this had me concerned before) was that Panasonic's implementation / or ptools labelling!) of rate control using the GH2's quantisation parameter isn't too clear. I needed a way of having a minumum Quant and a desired maximum quant. Strangely with Initial Quantizer = 30, Quantizer for 1080 modes = 3 (+-2 can offer a QP of 1 !) and Quantizer for 720 modes = 30 I could sortof achieve this!!!!

With 720 using B frames (switched on in the 720 encoder 1 settings as = 3) Quantizer for 720 modes seems to work as a highest Quantisation setting (high is worse, low quant is best) together with Initial Quant of 30 (don't worry about such a high starting value here - after the first frame it settles straight back to lowest achievable (best) for the scene. Subsequently, Quantizer for 1080 modes = 3 gives me my lowest desired (best quant) for each opt 24p, 1080i, HBR and 720 modes.

This quantizer rate control now seems to work as in newer High Profile Level 5 (5.1) cameras such as the 5DMKIII and Nikon D800 (and seemingly the GH3) and when matched with a new softer looking matrix - as analysed on the Canon 5DMKIII (with adjustments) - brings a degree of softening to the over sharpe Pany lenses.

I'm also sure that 1080i/FSH?HBR modes work better with half the coded picture buffer size of 720p modes (indeed I switched off 720 Bottom setting (the buffer amount as in automatically works it out) whilst offering a fairly low buffer in bitrate settings in 'patches for testers'.

In summary, the range of QP will be (certianly in 1080p24 modes) from 1 to 30 - often staying very low (less than 10) all round. I believe (although only tested by myself) that the result offers extremely good looking 720p modes (probably the best ever), certainly superior 24p with Intra & Long GOP, and great looking HBR/FSH and iA mode control (though further strenuous tests may well be required). High dynamic functions work it seems too.

All the new Cluster X series settings for each GOP attached below have been tested on the notoriously sharp Pany OIS lenses. Give me feedback.

Its as simple as A, B, C, D, E, F ! Each .ini setting in ptools for Cluster X Series will equate to setA ('DREWnet' 12/15 GOP), setB ('Nebula' 6 GOP), setC ('Spizz' 3 GOP), setD ('Moon' 1 GOP/3 GOP). Any updates will stay on these sets.

"Cluster X Series isn't for pussies!" Driftwood 2013

If you enjoy these settings please don't forget to donate to personal-view by clicking on the link above. Gratitude and thanks to Vitaliy Kiselev.

Hello Sound Devices family. Due to global semiconductor shortages, we have sadly been forced to put production of the 833 and MixPre-3 II on a temporary hold. We expect we will be able to restart manufacturing the 833 in November. We don’t have a restart date for the MixPre-3 II yet but we will let you know as soon as possible.

The MixPre-3 II and 833 are not being discontinued. We will continue manufacturing them as soon as our parts arrive! Other 8-Series and MixPre II Series mixer-recorders will not be affected. Some of our resellers still have 833s and MixPre-3 IIs in stock.

Thank you so much for your support during these shortages. We appreciate you all!

Sad news to know you no longer can buy these, but also not a total surprise what with all the supply issues there have been in 2021/2020 across all industries.

Makes sense they'd discontinue (for now) the 833 and MixPre3, as they are each the cheapest models in their respective product lines (8 Series & MixPre Series), thus probably have the smallest profit margins.

Wasn't that long ago Sound Devices did a price hike of their products, but I guess that alone wasn't enough to dampen demand, and now they have to (short term) cancel a couple of products to help ration out their stocked supplies of components.

Just wanted to share the good news, these oldie but goodie cameras are still making moves.

Here's the link, http://www.academy.ca/2017/petrol/

Feel free to check out our series http://www.petroltheseries.com

or on YouTube

Shot with a Canon 5D Mark III and Panasonic GH2; I would love to hear what you guys think.

Any shares and subscribes are much appreciated!

YouTube: www.youtube.com/petroltheseries

If you like Ferrari's and sport bikes, I think you're gonna like this.

Some GH2 and Red One stuff along with several dji inspire and phantom shots in subsequent episodes.

Please feel free to comment and subscribe.... we're already getting alot of love and support from the petrol heads.

Petrol Episode 1 CLICK TO WATCH -

Petrol Episode 2 Episode 2 CLICK TO WATCH -

• Panasonic GH2 Body only: $350.00 + 3 batteries, two chargers. Two battery are genuine Panasonic. Other is off brand. $70 for 2nd Panasonic and $40 for off brand. (Original Box is available if you'd like
• Nikon Nikkor 50mm F1.8 AIS: $70.00
• Nikon Nikkor 24mm F2.8 AIS: $150.00 - protrusion filed down to fit RJ Lens Turbo. Operates perfect! Original buying price. $250
• RJ Lens Turbo - Nikon F/G reducer speed booster turbo adapter to m4/3 mft GF5 GF6 GX1 EM5 EM1 BM - $100 (Comes in original box)
• Lowell Pro SlingShot 102 : $60.00 TOTAL: $860

Original price for all totals over $1000.

You can opt to BUY ALL for $700. I'll put it all in the Lowell Pro Sling Shot 102.

PM me if interested. US only. Paypal only. Buyer pays shipping. All equipment is well taken care of and maintained. Here are some videos I've made with this little powerhouse!

After receiving over a thousand replies in the last 8 weeks in the previous thread we continue the series here from the following link:-

http://www.personal-view.com/talks/discussion/5806/cluster-x-series-1

Whats it all about? Achieving the best looking overall pictures around - throughtout the popular GOPs. The great thing about Cluster X developments is you can mix and match some of the settings to combine into your favourite setting (e.g. GOP1 for 24p and 25p/FSH, GOP 6 For 1080i60/30p and 12/15 for 720p etc...). Slipstream settings do this for you (mixed and matched and with spanning capabilities where we can plus 80% modes on H & iA mode support).

This has been a tough (and still ongoing) challenge, each setting (and ptools patch change) takes an age to check & measure. Its exhausting work - even with 4 cameras on the go. The measuring to check Quantisation, frame sizes and stability adapting one change at a time is pretty debilitating on mental energy. I hope people appreciate waiting for each setting to appear.

All the new Cluster X series settings for each GOP attached below have been tested on the notorious 14-140 Pany sharp lens. Give me feedback.

Its as simple as A, B, C, D, E, F ! Each .ini setting in ptools for Cluster X Series will equate to setA ('DREWnet' 12/15 GOP), setB ('Nebula' 6 GOP), setC ('Spizz' 3 GOP), setD ('Moon' 1 GOP/3 GOP), setE (Slipstream 1) & setF (Slipstream 2) setG (Slipstream 3) and finally setH (Redshift). Any updates will stay on these sets.

"Bitrate is King. Who needs hi powered scaling matrices when enough Bitrate (if you have it) can drive the quantisation..." Quote from my conversation with Dark Shikari - X264 dev 2012

If you enjoy these settings please don't forget to donate to personal-view by clicking on the link above. Gratitude and thanks to Vitaliy Kiselev.

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Let's have a topic about it!

They also made a shorter series El viaje de Peter McDowell prot. by a british visiting south Spain and his adventures while getting acquaintance with its peculiarities.

http://malviviendo.com - HOMEPAGE
https://www.youtube.com/user/malviviendo/videos

gashô

http://Angelsaliensandmonsters.com

Anyway, a couple months ago I wrote, produced, directed, and starred in a short film. It was originally supposed to be a web series, but fate intervened.

Project Name: Griffin and Gretchen Duration: 3: 25 Seconds (Episode 1) Camera: Canon T2i

Story: First time directing with a first time DP. We had one day to shoot both episodes before the snowstorm hit.

We tiered the production to have actors arrive at specific times so we could make the most of the day. Didn't happen. Only one actor was on time, and that actor was the one scheduled for late afternoon. Needless to say we ended up way behind schedule.

Part One is more or less complete. Part Two missed the second half of the story. We ended up splicing together what we had to create a somewhat sensible story.

Production: So many mistakes. White balance was completely off. The sound was in cam, and a T2i will not win any awards for breath taking audio.

Editing was an adventure. It was too dark, too dark, too noisy, too quiet.

Overall: We learned quite a bit.

this our first episode of a Web Series we produced last year. its my first work as cinematographer and I learned a lot from this site.

shot on GH2 (Non Hacked & Hacked )

Lenses: Canon FD & Lumix

Software used: FCP7, Premier pro CS6, and AE CS6,ColorGHear

please feel free to comment so we can improve and share if you like it.

Special Thanks to Vitaliy & Shian.

I've got a question, do the fellow filmmakers here have any experience with the G series of Carl Zeiss (Contax Yashica - mount)

I've been working with the normal Contax Carl zeiss series for over a 2 years.

And i was wondering if anyone here ownes any of these G lenses and have any test samples, or comparing samples vs other lenses!

Cheers!

Thank you

Shot with non hacked GH2. (next episodes a hack will be used 4 sure) Lumix 14mm, 20mm, 14-140mm, Canon FD 50mm,28mm, 135mm