Hacks and Patches

Noise bands at low ISO with Moon T7 in EX Tele mode.

autiep03 — Mon, 19 May 2014 00:12:13 +0000

I recently purchased a GH2 and have hacked it with Moon T7. It is amazing, thanks so much for this patch!

While testing out an interview sort of setup, I kept getting random bands of noise in the underexposed areas of the frame. This only happens in EX Tele mode and it is extremely distracting. Every frame seems to generate a new pattern of noise so the bands are quickly jumping around. I uploaded two consecutive frame grabs to show this. While my face is clear of the bands, the slightly underexposed space to the left is badly banding.

Any ideas why this is occurring? Maybe I am overlooking something.

Focus is set to manual, nostalgic with all at -2 except noise reduction which is at -1. White balance around 5000K. ISO is only at 200.

Thanks for any hep!

Looking for GH2 patch for specific 24HFPS performance

Brian_Siano — Fri, 16 May 2014 11:58:29 +0000

For the most part, I use Cake 2.3, which has been pretty good for me. Cake spans reliably, and at 30FPS I get 47mbps, and a little over two hours on my 64 gig card.

However, at 24fps, Cake reaches 64 mbps, and I get slightly less than two hours on the same card. Since I shoot a lot of live events in the two-hour range, I'd love to find a patch that gives me more than two hours on the 64gig card at 24fps-- so, one which runs roughly 45-50 mbps in 24H mode. Is there such a patch? Or, is there some way I can rejigger Cake to reduce the 24fps bitrate just a little?

GH2 with T5 hack stops recording after 12 minutes 30 seconds

olli66 — Wed, 23 Apr 2014 03:05:32 +0000

Any ideas why? I shoot in 24p (24L). I though it could have something to do with the 4gb limitation. I formated my card in NTFS. When I insert the card in my GH2 it says it is not compatible and the GH2 formats it to exFAT... I badly need the camera to handle continuos shooting on Saturday. Thanks for help or any ideas!

PTools - List of hackable cameras

duartix — Fri, 31 Jan 2014 06:03:39 +0000

I've looked everywhere but couldn't find one, and it's a doubt that troubles me and a lot of other people in other communities.

I was under the impression that as far as there was a public firmware available that any camera released after the GH1 was hackable by launching PTTools, loading the .BIN firmware file, applying the patch and flashing the output .BIN file. I was told this is not true.

So, gathering information from here: and here: http://www.personal-view.com/faqs/ptool/ptool-faq I've come to this list, which I wouldn't mind compiling/maintaining:

GH1 - Supported - Firmware 1.1 - Most settings

GH2 - Supported - Firmware 1.11 - Most settings

GX1 - Supported - Firmware 1.1 - initial release

G1 - Supported - Firmware 1.5 - initial release

G2 - Supported - Firmware 1.1 - initial release

G3 - Supported - Firmware 1.2 - identical to GH2, except 24p support

GF1 - Supported - Firmware 1.2 - 720p settings only

GF2 - Supported - Firmware 1.1 - identical to GH2, except 24p support

GF3 - Supported - Firmware 1.2 - identical to GH2, except 24p support

TZ10: Supported - Firmware 1.2

It would also be interesting to know which cameras are being worked on.

Fail - battery turning off or freezing

shg — Tue, 01 Apr 2014 19:36:38 +0000

Hi-

I've hacked my GH2 a few times and like the results. HOWEVER, I keep having a problem. Sometimes the camera will just stop recording (it'll make the BEEP noise like I've actually hit the record button) or the camera will freeze and I have to take the battery out to shut if off (the on/off won't even work). This has happened on a few hacks (most recently Flow Motion v2.02). Any help to prevent this would be GREATLY appreciated.

I searched for fail, freeze and a few other items, so if this has been covered my apologies and please point me in the right direction!

Custom GH2 Patch question

Brian_Siano — Mon, 17 Mar 2014 13:51:19 +0000

I've found that I generally use my GH2 in two situations: documentary and live-event coverage at 30 fps, and high-quality cinematography at 24 fps.

For the former, I want the camera to be able to shoot for long periods of time (spanning), and it's nice to get good quality, so I usually use the Cake 2.3 patch in these circumstances. Higher bitrates, reliable spanning.

For the high-quality stuff, I'll be using a high-bitrate hack (Intravenus 2 seems to be my best bet), and while spanning is desirable, it's not strictly necessary.

Is it possible to create a patch where these are combined? When I shoot at 30fps, it uses Cake 2.3 settings, and when I shoot at 24fps, it works like Intravenus 2?

What My GH2 Dreams Of

producer — Thu, 20 Mar 2014 07:04:23 +0000

A look like this, straight from the camera (CineBOOSTER):

Writing article for IOV magazine and need some advice.

AlanEHoward — Sun, 09 Mar 2014 05:13:20 +0000

Hi all, I'm a GH2 user that is still using an unhacked camera. I've been asked to write an article for the next edition of the Institute Of Videography magazine and I'd like to focus on my experience of the GH2 along with the updates promised with the GH4. The article is for people considering moving into DSLR from HDV cameras. I obviously need to highlight the hacks and have done some research, but could really use a chat with someone who knows what they are talking about... If you've got experience of hacks and are willing to take a newbie through the basics over the phone I'd be extremely grateful, and obviously give you a big credit. (I've noticed some fairly harsh treatment of GH2 newbies looking for advice, so please understand I'm a self shooting producer not a technician or engineer, and be kind!)
If you're interested in helping me out please PM me with a number and I'll call you back .... FYI I'm based in the UK. thanks in advance.

Alan

Is the Driftwood Cluster 3 Series DREWNET T9 GH2 hack the best for UAV / aerial film?

HugoClifford — Sun, 09 Mar 2014 04:56:32 +0000

Hi folks, I would like to know please if the Driftwood Drewnet T9 hack is the best for the GH2 for filming aerial UAV footage? From looking at the excellent feedback from Drewnet, I believe T9 may be one of the best ... Is it reliable? Will it be good for aerial filming of motocross?
I have a standard 14 - 42mm lens. I have a SanDisk 32GB Extreme Pro 95MB/s mbps card - will this suffice or do I need to buy another 64GB card (also 95MB/s mbps)? Or is the Drewnet T9 hack more than 95mbps?
Sorry if this is already covered but I have looked for a few hours in this site. This site is a fantastic resource! Big thanks to all who contribute.
Many thanks for any responses, Swoopy (in UK)

GH2 Hack (Don't kill me for asking this question) lol

bman — Mon, 03 Mar 2014 17:18:20 +0000

Please don't kill me for this question I've searched these forums for 2 days. I know there's answers out there but can't quite find one to fit me.

Yep I want to hack the GH2. I just am doing green screen and want a nice clear image. Want a very reliable hack that's not going to destroy my camera.

Question 1. Which one do I buy?

Question 2. Once hack is installed do you just press record on the hacked settings to get the best video?

Once again don't kill me, I am just lost. I'll even donate money to the person that helps me out if I need to lol.

trouble reverting back to factory settings from Flowmotion hack

niceprguy2 — Sat, 01 Mar 2014 18:00:16 +0000

I installed the latest flow motion hack the other day and when I try to revert back to factory settings the camera does not recognize the new file when I insert my memory card into the camera

GH2 HDMI output 4:2:0 or 4:2:2 with garbled chroma timing

zcream — Wed, 16 May 2012 05:58:55 +0000

For over a year, there have been contrasting reports. Can @Vitaliy_kesselev give a final answer ? Is the GH2 HDMI output a YCbCr 8bit 4:2:0 or a YCbCr 8bit 4:2:2 with timing and cadence issues ?

On every thread, the opinions seem to change between 4:2:0 and 4:2:2.

recommended patch for shooting gardens

paioandf — Sat, 28 Dec 2013 16:38:08 +0000

I have just started a long-format documentary project on a garden designer. After doing a number of projects with a kit that includes two unhacked GH2s, I really want the image quality for this project to be the best possible given the budget. I have just hacked one of my GH2's and want to start doing some tests and would love recommendations for patches that are reliable and can hold up to shooting very detailed garden scenes. The following is a link to a teaser for the project to give some idea of the kinds of scenes and style of shooting (all the footage for the teaser was shot with an unhacked GH2): https://vimeo.com/channels/643229

Thanks in advance!

Apologies in advance for this GH2 ISO question

matt_gh2 — Tue, 18 Feb 2014 21:25:43 +0000

Sorry guys for this ISO question - have a shoot tomorrow with a GH2 and forgot the rule about what ISO setting you should be on when you turn your camera off, in order to avoid the ISO bug when you turn camera on next. Anybody remember correct ISO to leave camera at when you turn it off? (Searched ISO bug topic but couldn't find).

Thanks and apologies for bringing up this old ISO demon topic!

Flow Motion 2.02 Noise

ThomOswald — Fri, 21 Feb 2014 07:02:29 +0000

I keep getting noise on these files. Any tips? SanDisk 32gb 95mb/s Extreme Pro 24p cinema Smooth all -2 24H f - 7.1 iso 160

Transcend SDXC stable GH2 settings

act — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 12:28:59 +0000

Please post here stable and quality settings for PTool patch that specially works on very popular Transcend SDXC 25MB/s.
It is optimal memory card with modern SDXC file system 64GB, very good price, good brand, lifetime warranty, but not fast as Sandisk Extreme 30MB/s
or Sandisk Extreme pro 45MB/s pricy 32GB cards.
Unfortunately some better and faster settings failure with card speed problem.
But some of settings works well but record stops at file size reaches 4GB.
Good stable setting for this card needed for events shooting, weddings or shows, there 20 minutes on 32GB card is not enough.
One event day for me is maximum 4-5 hours of footage for one camera.
I would like use no more than 2x64GB cards for that.
It would be 24p, but it's important for me also 50p(60p) mode works as well.
Thank you!

GH2 (A cam) & GF3 (B cam) stable Patchs for SKATEBOARDING filming

kaikerr — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 06:04:06 +0000

I've got a GH2 as A cam and just recieved a GF3 as B cam that I'm using for skateboard filming and would like any suggestion to hack the GF3 for best motion and being fully stable cam (span etc) and GH2 for best shoots (I've tested MOON and looks great). Is GF3 hacking like GH2 hacking (same flow)? And can you use the same patches on both? THANKS.

Looking for the best hacks for shooting live video.

Ravage — Sat, 08 Feb 2014 22:02:47 +0000

Good evening everyone. I have had my GH2s for over a year, and have only dabbled with hacks because I am nervous to use them in a live shoot incase something goes wrong, I could loose out on having footage. I typically shoot live Rock bands. This year I will be filming 3 Cruises in April. (Monsters of Rock cruise, Moody Blues Cruise, and Cruise to the edge) I have 3 GH2 cameras (2 I bought new, and 1 I just purchased used) I would like to try one of the hacks that would be best for my type of shoots. Think Concert stage, can be inside with concert lighting and outside poolside or on the beach. I will also be doing a lot of meet and greets and interview stuff. The end result for everything I am shooting is for a DVD / Bluray disk for the People to buy (It will be a few months after the cruise) I have a few different lens, the 14-140 HD Panasonic lens looks the best over all. I did just purchase the 45-175 HD Power lens, I have only gotten to play with it a little, I got it to be more like a video camera with w/t toggle. SO far not to impressed. I also have a Large Canon lens that is modified to work with the camera. It is pretty good but I still need some time with it to use it better. (Canon BCTV lens with Powered w/t) I realize that I could record at much faster data rates that would make it look better but that would cut down on how much I could record. So I would like to keep my record times to allow for a 2 hour show. I already have about 8 of the San Disk Extreme 45MB/s and I have a few 40 and 30 cards as well. I would prefer not to buy anymore at this point. Any suggestions and help is greatly appreciated. Dave "Ravage" Stabley

Looking for a hack for GH1, 35-40Mbps every time, FHD 25p, HD 50p

HollyBoni — Thu, 05 Dec 2013 07:43:00 +0000

Is there a hack like this? I need at least 30Mbps at every situation, no card erros. I used GOP 3 patches-> PAL mode sucks, Max latitude patches-> too low bitrates, no HD slow motion.

Trying to hack my GH2 cannot install Wine Bottler

AndrewD66 — Wed, 31 Jul 2013 21:16:06 +0000

I own a Macbook Pro early 2007 with Mountain LIon 10.6.8 installed. That is the maximum allowed. I am trying to install Wine Bottler but it requires X11 which is only available on Mountain Lion 10.7 and above. Is there an earlier version that I can install which will work on my computer? Is there a work around which will allow me to install Wine Bottler and Ptools? Thank You

Sd card and hack patch combination?

Byhuge — Sun, 17 Nov 2013 15:25:21 +0000

I am new to the GH2 and the patches. It appears to be a lot of scattered info that is difficult pull together. So any help is greatly appreciated.

Here is my question... Which combination of SD card and patch work reliably together?

Here is my shooting scenario...

It will be mostly indoors (bar, bedroom), low light. I am using a Rokkor 1.4 50mm lense. We will use Adobe everything, on a Mac, for post.

The other big factor is that it will be screened in a theater. So quality is very important.

Thanks again as this camera is new thing for me and any advice is very welcome.

Is anyone working on hacking the Lumix-G6?

jessedlyons — Tue, 12 Nov 2013 09:57:11 +0000

Sorry if this has been asked before, I did a search and came up with nothing.

I am new to all of this and am trying to determine whether I should buy a used GH2 or wait a little while and see if the Lumix-G6 becomes hackable.

GH1 - bitrates out of control ...

MichaelPM — Sat, 26 Oct 2013 04:41:05 +0000

GH1 - bitrates out of control ...

Hello everybody, I got a very strange problem with a hacked GH1. After several experiments with all kind of settings now it seems that I cannot stop the camera creating bitrates over 100 Mbit/s anymore, doesn't matter how I change the settings with PTool and what firmware I use. Sounds really stange, but even when I return to the official firmware of Panasonic, the framerates are boosted beyong 100 Mbit/s in hightly detailed scenes, so even the fastest SD cards sometimes could not write fast enough. Other things, like 30min restriction, went back to normal after reinstalling the official firmware.

I'm already using PNY class 10 32GB with 100 MB/s and Transcend class 10. MY body has Serial-Number WE9KC001772.

Any suggestions?

Is there Likely to be any more patches for the GH2?

Behler — Tue, 15 Oct 2013 09:31:04 +0000

So I have a GH2 and I was wondering if the GH2 could improve anymore after a few years of hacking the firmware.

GH2 shooting at 1080p 25fps Best Hack

Aviator — Wed, 26 Jun 2013 07:44:10 +0000

Are there any general shoot hacks out there that will allow shooting at 1080p 25 with bit rates over 55 and can record for at least 10minutes?

GH2 Flowmotion Hack HDMI Output for monitoring Camera changes from 720p to 1080i ?

vantulpe — Mon, 07 Oct 2013 12:50:46 +0000

Hi To all, I use the great flowmotion hack with a Pana GH2 but there is a problem, I record from a Octocopter (aerial movies) in 720p and send monitor picture via hdmi output to a monitor down to earth but sometimes the camera record in 1080i and after changing battery right in 720 p how can I solve this bug i used latest version pttools and flowmotion ... I recorded in Manual Movie Mode 720p FH Quality and converted the HDMI Signal to analog SD and send it to an external Monitor the result was 1080i/30 footage on my sd card ... my battery was empty while recording after changing the battery the camera recorded in true 720p/60! Are there any new solutions for this problem? For the problem recording in 720p on SD card while monitoring via HDMI output using analog converter... to external monitor Would be the sanity hack better for 720p ? Any experience in the community?

Greetings from Vienna Lars

Does this problem still exist with the GH3 ?

Greetings from Austria Lars

No replies has nobody any idea?

Perhaps the solution?! I found in the menu of the gh2 the hdmi output setting auto, 1080i and 720p It was on auto..... could changing the mode to 720p solve the problem perhaps.... Answer from "onlocation" There is no way to use the GH2 at 720p while using HDMI monitor. The way we solve the issue is to get a small cheap camera and aim it at the view finder. You can focus the lens on the small camera and focus the view finder, plus use a sun shade (gaffers tape all around) and you can get an ok picture, but it's not great. The best solution is to buy the GH3, one week after we got our we sold our GH2. GH3 is simply another level, if you are doing this seriously then don't even think twice, sell your GH2 while it is still worth something and buy the 3. Good luck.

GH2 720p50/60 and 1080i60 Settings

Ralph_B — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 17:22:32 +0000

It's time for SANITY!

While great work has been done with the GH2 hack for improving the 24P picture, I've been dissatisfied with the quality of the 50/60P and 60i patches. The biggest problem is mud in the shadows, and that has been the focus of my work - to minimize it.

So, may I present 'SANITY' - the patch that DOES IT ALL, and at reasonable bitrates. 'SANITY' produces the best 50 and 60 fps pictures you've ever seen from the GH2! Plus a sane 24P setting that isn't going to bust the bank - bkmcwd's superb 66M GOP12.

"SANITY' is the patch I load into my camera and go out shooting, and don't worry about it anymore. And I bring back great looking footage no matter what mode I shoot in.

'SANITY' has exceptionally clean 720 50/60P and 1080 60i. And of course, 24P.
(however, I can't guarantee 1080i 50 because it's settings are tied to 24P)

For those interested, the key to increasing the quality of 50 and 60 fps, is to use a larger GOP than the stock setting.

1080 60i - GOP 18
720 60P - GOP 39
720 50P - GOP 30

When you do this, all the stars align and good things happen.

So, load it up and get a taste of 'SANITY'!

NOTE: Only use FSH/SH mode for SANITY. Do not use FH/H.

Bitdefender stops Ptool and errors when writing fast SANDISK card

vdmeiren — Sat, 28 Sep 2013 13:35:04 +0000

Two issues:

When using PTOOL my virus scanner BITDEFENDER kicks in and stops the process, finding it a potential danger.
When managing to install a hacked firmware on the GH2 equipped with a Sandisk Extreme Pro 32 GB 95 MB/s, even with a low speed hack of 44 Mbs, I get error messages on the camera that the writing speed is too high for the memory card. Don't know what's wrong. Can someone help? Thanks.

Settings for flat style

humpman — Wed, 02 May 2012 07:00:25 +0000

Don't know should i start new topic, but i do. Let stop to dancing around those settings :-) It's simple to get best quality with these settings which available for now.

All this tested on GF2, i think it's same for GH2.

Video Bitrate FSH/SH : you can set it for example to 200 000 000, final bitrate will depends on what quantizier you will set.
GOP Size : 1
Encoder settings 1 180i/p : 1 Without this video will very jerky.
Quantizier : depends on your card speed. Fast card needed. Take 32 for start number.
Quantizier table : all to be 1.
1080 Scaling I : all to be 0x0. First 16 part is for Y, second for Cb, third for Cr.
Table flag1 I : all to be 0x0. (Not shure affect this seting or not )
Table High I : all to be 0x0. (Not shure affect this seting or not)

And that's it. You should to set all picture adjustments to -2 except sharpness. This settings will give you image that very close to that what you see in live view.

GH2 settings to match BMCC

belfryman — Mon, 26 Aug 2013 05:03:15 +0000

Does anyone have any suggestions for hacks or menu settings for the GH2 to match the BMCC perchance? Thanks.