GF2 Hack collecting

Aria

I'm still not quite understanding what the proposed benefits of increased bitrate will be for the GF2. From everything i've read the video quality is quite poor for this camera. When hacking the GH1/GH2 there was already a high quality image to start with that had high resolution and detail. From what i've read the GF2 has very poor resolution. So my question again is what gives any confidence that a hack will raise the IQ level enough to make it worth buying?

stoney

@LongJohnSilver

If you are from PAL region, that's great. GH2's upcoming firmware is rumored to support 25p wrapped in 50i. GF2 is same thing. Its sensor output is 25p for PAL and 30p for NTSC. GF3 and GX1 are pretty much same where GF3 has only mono mic-in. GF2 has the hot shoe to mount a LED light. No manual control for video on GF1/GF2/GF3/GX1. The manual video control on cheap camera is actually a big thing. Sony NEX-5 and 5N don't have it either.

GF2 has mic level adjustment, too. I played with GH2 hack's mic level parameter, and it removed a lot of the annoying AGC.

GF1 has become a cult camera... but they might change their mind when they upgrade to Lumix X zoom lenses. GF2 supports X fully. GF1 not.

If GH2 hack and GF2 hack support 1080p25, there go your A cam and B cam :)

So why was it so cheap? No idea. I guess good things don't have to cost a lot.

Seriously... what can we do with $10 or $20? Let's contribute and enjoy good thing. It will be so cool to hold a hacked GF2 in hands.

keerah

i am choosing the model to buy and now i am at gf2
so, when i got it i will participate in donation too!
даешь хак Гф два )))))

iket

In for $20 for GF2.

Glad to help.

LongJohnSilver

I've just donated my 20$ ( @Vitaliy_Kiselev I specified GF2 in the special instruction field because the descritpion cannot be changed)

Now I prepare the oil & garlic for my nauticam based dinner :)

LongJohnSilver

@stonebat I tried digging in the GF2 specs with a terrible headache :)
What are the main differencies between GF2 and GH2?

- sensor?
- lack of manual video mode?
- lacking of 25p for both?

After many vicissitudes I've just bought my GH2 and I'm waiting for it on monday so I will put it in a Nauticam undewater housing.
If a GF2 will be hacked I'll eat my housing ;)

stockhausen

I entirely second Stonebats wishlist.. that would do me too, just picked up a used but mint /boxed GF2 body for £160, so theoretically Vitaliy should just about be able to afford the first of the 2???:] a lot of kits seemed to have been split up to sell the lenses here in uk so body ( especially silver if you can cope with that :] ) is damned cheap.

stoney

See my 1st post. GF2 is not a true successor of GF1. GF3 is not a successor of GF2. GF2 is unique and cool. I heard it's hard to buy GF2 in Japan. Obviously they love it. Panasonic didn't sell a lot of GH units. GF is the mainstream model for Panasonic m43 lines. After this holiday season, I bet there will be a lot more GF2 users. A lot more people will benefit from PTool if it supports GF2. Most of all... my wife prefers GF over GH. Nuff Said.

I'm hoping for
- 1080p30 and 1080p25. Please... progressive.
- higher bitrate with good stability. I will be happy with 2x default bitrate or higher. 34Mbps ~ 44Mbps.
- some sort of manual control. Let me control the shutter speed, aperture, and ISO.
- MJPEG FPS setting for Timelapse. This is so practical feature.
- Mic Level Adjustment Parameters. This might mitigate AGC when it's dead quiet.

Aria

Most of the reviews I've read have said the video was not very good. They said the resolution was disappointingly low. What kind improvement do you think is possible with a hack of the GF2?

I wondered if the problem was merely the bitrate or if the sensor was the problem. The prices Ive seen are tempting but only if the image quality can be improved substantially. Otherwise why not just get a GH1 and call it a day?

oscillian

Just picked up a used one with the 14mm pancake for 360 $

Vitaliy_Kiselev

At $205 (minus fees)

AmandaNL

You've got +20 dollar!

lenuisible

I just send an email to 43rumors to ask him to speak about this initiative. Hopefully he will, and this will speedup the collect.

tody

just picked one up.

stoney

available now

stoney

actually it might start today

stoney

I missed it. Guys, don't miss it. It starts on the 24th.

tody

this will be on sale at newegg today for $290.

Vitaliy_Kiselev

We are at about $155 (minus fees)

@Mimirsan

About G3, I do not know.
Let's do things step by step.

Mimirsan

I know this is a gf2 thread but i had a play with a g3 today...man I wish it was hackable...even if to get manual video controls!
So if Gf2 possible...G3 possible?

stoney

It wasn't direct sale from amazon. 3rd party company through amazon sold it at $299, and they sold out quickly. Prolly other resellers load'em up.

I'd say the newegg deal is almost as good as the expired amazon deal. Since the newegg deal comes with the bonus baggage, I guess the resellers aren't interested in.

There's 14.5mm kit deal, but a fair price of new 14.5mm came down a lot. A brand new "standalone" 14mm is around $200 on ebay. Selling a kit 14mm without warranty on eaby would be... around $150? In other words, it's not that great deal.

Very unscientific review video. "is this camera Ferrari of cameras?" "NOooooo" Hahaha. I can't watch whenever people expose m43 sensor.

tody

amazon recently were doing the gf2 w/kit zoom for $299. hope it will come back to that soon.

stoney

@oscillian good luck.

I ordered from newegg. GF2, 14-42, a bag, 4GB at $340. Go through http://www.fatwallet.com to apply for 3% cashback. Sell everything except the body. The net cost would be $220. Hopefully it becomes hackable. Use it for a few years. Sell it at no loss or possibly at profit.

I call it a free rental. Pretty much that's how I got GH1 body. Gotta love Panasonic.

tody

just donated!!

oscillian

Black friday is coming up...

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