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Where can I learn more and get help?
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Download an original Panasonic firmware image for your camera, and unzip it to get the .bin file. (see the download links, above)
Run PTool
Click “load firmware” and load the original Panasonic firmware .bin file
Make you settings in the Ptool window. If you want to load stored settings, see below.
Click “Save Firmware”. Choose a filename that is the same as the original firmware .bin file, except with a different number. (e.g. GH2__V11.bin instead of GH2__V10.bin) Note that the filename has two underscores.
What is testing? Who are testers?
PTool can load or save settings in an .ini file, letter A - J. (seta.ini, setb.ini, etc.)
To load an .ini file, place the file in your PTool directory before running PTool
Run PTool and load the original firmware
To load settings from a file, click a letter button at the bottom of the PTool window. Loadable settings have a green button.
To save settings to a file, shift-click a letter button at the bottom of the PTool window. Enter descriptions, and then click “store settings”.
How to flash your camera with a firmware image
Copy firmware .bin file to root of SD card. Fully charge you battery. Do not even attempt to use AC coupler or 3rd party battery!
Power off your camera if it was on.
Power on camera. After this press (not hold) green play button.
You'll see hourglass and prompt to update.
Press up arrow, and then press Menu/set.
Wait for the update to complete. Do not touch your camera while the update is in progress.
When the update completes, the camera restarts itself.
If anything unexplained happens after flashing, try resetting the camera. (Menu, Setup, Reset) Usually a reset is not necessary.
Small tips
1. Remember that Testers section settings are for testers. Use simple bitrate settings.
2. How can I make encoder hold better in low detailed scenes? Use Auto Quantizer settings