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G2 Hack Development
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  • So why did the ptools hack stop working on the G2? Panasonic changed something to protect it? If this is the case, why then is it not "re-hacked" again? I mean to say, why can new cameras like G3/G5 be hacked but the newer model G2 cameras cannot?

  • If this is the case, why then is it not "re-hacked" again?

    Because we got GH1 body after Panasonic changes for dumping. Similar fix worked for GF1. But not for G2.

    I see no reason now to make G2 dumping, as new bodies prices are low enough.

  • I think I understand. You are saying you got a GH1 body to work with from before Panasonic changed the G2 firmware/hardware in newer bodies. When you say "I see no reason now to make G2 dumping, as new bodies prices are low enough." What do you mean? Are you saying that new body prices for other cameras that are better are low enough? Such as G3 for example? None of these "newer body cameras" can have manual video controls though, which is what was possible with the original G2 hacks no? It would just be nice to still use G2 newer bodies. Is it major work to do it all again?

  • @clicktor

    Again. We collected donations, got body and made chip dump for newer GH1 (with protection).
    To make similar fix it is required to make same for G2.

  • Ok thankyou I understand. So there is no possible way without a newer G2 body. What if someone was to lend you one for an amount of time? What is involved in making a "chip dump". Is this an activity that requires minutes, hours, days, weeks or months?

  • @clicktor The activity requires inspiration. G2 is no inspiration to indie filmmakers. Borrow your friend's shoulder to cry on. Get a cheap Gf2 or Gf3 body.

  • By inspiration I would assume you mean considerable time and effort and imagination in order to "glitch" the camera into outputting a dump of some description, which can then be decrypted and so on. Am I on the right lines? I understand what you are saying. @stonebat no shoulder is required here. I am not complaining, and have only asked polite questions throughout rather than demands. I appreciate the work that goes into these hacks and I am grateful. I suppose if I really care to go on using a G2, I could swap it for an earlier model. It seems there is no easy way to tell which ones work or not either by serial or manufacturer date.

    I would like someone to confirm for me though if manual video controls DO in fact work with the earlier G2s. I think they do.

    Thankyou

  • Also just to note, it seems some people cannot understand why someone would want to use a G2. Well here in the UK recently they were able to be bought brand new for £190 including kit lens. They are more ergonomically designed than a G3 with grip, eye sensor and external mic option. The G3 to some, is not an upgrade plus G3 is new to hacks and manual video options are not done yet.

    GH1 and GH2 are much much more expensive.

    GF1 and GF2 etc.... these cameras do not feature an EVF (electronic viewfinder). Not everyone uses them JUST for video and wants a good hybrid camera for both duties, for little outlay. The G2 fits this perspective very well and with hacks was a killer camera for the money, especially since it has ETC (extended crop mode as GH2).

    I hope this explains why the G2 is still a good bang per buck cam.

  • I would like someone to confirm for me though if manual video controls DO in fact work with the earlier G2s.

    Yes, they do.

    By inspiration I would assume you mean considerable time and effort and imagination in order to "glitch" the camera into outputting a dump of some description, which can then be decrypted and so on.

    It requires actual body to make chip dumping. Almost no one is interested, as of today, so I really suggest you to go the G5 or GH2 way.

  • @clicktor you should be able to buy a 2d hand GH1 for very cheap, I bought one a few months back for 300€ with a panasonic mic and a novoflex leicaM-to-M43 adapter. Selling the accessories, the GH1 cost me 150€.

    Looking for 2d hand kits and selling the lens is usually a good way to buy cheap.

  • @lenuisible that's a good recommendation I had not yet thought about. I will look into specs of GH1 as it was previously a camera I always wrote off as too expensive, but I see the price has come down and it is similar to G2 spec wise, but obviously better on video.

  • @clicktor I bet Gh2 price would come down fast after Photokina.

  • @lenuisible Wow, good deal, only 150 for a GH1 body! ;) Where did you get it? ebay? I am not able to find a GH1 body here in Italy, I can find on ebay a lot of announces 350-400€ for body only...it's high price for an old model..

  • @AlbertZ in France I regularly visit 2 web forum which have a dedicated Marketplace sub category, one about µ4/3 stuff, the other one about leica. From time to time there are good deals, and as I live in Paris, it's often hand to hand transaction, so you can see what you're buying.

    I only use ebay for rare stuff, like old Canon FD lenses, and I usually buy stuff sold by french, to avoid competing with the entire planet !

    Edit : for example here you could have bought a GH1 with 2 battery and the 14-140 for 650€. Then you need to sell the 14-140 (I don't know in Italy, but in France you can sell it fast for 400€, 450€ if you're not in a hurry), you would have had the GH1 with 2 battery for 250€ :

    http://www.zmphoto.it/forum/viewtopic.php?t=65180

  • I only do video occasionally just for hobby. Mostly, I do still photography. I like the touchscreen, swivel screen, and viewfinder. I found that the old Lumix G2 is good enough for my purpose. Is any one could inform me at which serial number the Lumix G2 is turned to be unhackable?

  • I know two years ago Vitaliy said that buying a Lumix G2 is not good.

    I got near new Lumix G2 kit for my wife in reasonable price. The third and fourth serial number is 0J. I think the camera is the last batch of Lumix G2 that could be hacked using Vitaliy's PTOOL. The camera runs LPOWELL's Fast 3GOP. It is indeed a very good HD video camera. The internal sound quality is not as good as my Lumix G6, but AVCHD 720p25 video from this camera until ISO1600 is good enough.

    The firmware file size of the Lumix G2 is bigger compared to GF2 and GH2. It is 17MB for G2. This fact makes me wonder, what is inside the huge file firmware?

    But leave the Lumix G2 alone, most of us at least already using newer generation camera.