installing gh2 hack with a mac
Thanks to Vitaliy Kiselev there is a firmware hack available for the panasonic GH2. It’s still being developed and possibilities are increasing. I was a bit afraid myself to install the hack. Is it safe? Can it damage the camera? How do I install? Many reasons for not using it. But because great results can be seen online and sometimes this little plastic monster is even compared to RED I decided to try it.
It’s hard to find out, especially if your not a technical geek and if your on a mac, how to install it. Most info can be found at http://personal-view.com All info is there but it’s hard to find and there’s a lot of talk about technical stuff, the site is also PC orientated so it can be confusing sometimes.
How to install:
- First you need The hack software PTools, it’s a Windows app. You can download it here: http://www.gh1-hack.info/ptool3d.zip (Latest version when I installed was 3.61, latest version right now is 3.62)
- Next thing you need is the original firmware. Download it here When downloaded It’s a file called GH2__V10E.bin Unzipp it and it becomes a .bin file
- So what to do with a .exe file if your on a mac? The solution is virtualisation software so you can open the .exe file. It’s called Wine Bottler.
- Install the file on your mac. I have put both ‘wine’ and ‘winebottler’ in my applications folder. Not sure if both are needed, but this way it worked for me. If you do know, please let me know. I started both apps.
- I then double-clicked the ptool3.exe file and I was able to open it! Following screen appeared.
- Press ‘load firmware’ and locate your GH2__V10.bin file. Open it.
- Select version increment and make sure the square box is ticked, then make sure you enter 10 just under the “enter increment”
- Under AVCHD Movie Mode select Video Bitrate 24H and set it to 42000000. Set Video Bitrate 24L to 35000000. I used these settings. Some people try even higher bitrates. But only play with these settings if you know what your doing! If not, like me, just use these. I always use the 24H setting, so this is the only one I needed to change. Some people also change GOP settings. I did not. Only play around if you know what your doing.
- Now save the firmware somewhere on your mac, call it GH2__V11, (make sure you spell right, 2 lower lines)
- copy this file to your SD card (root folder) and then insert it into your GH2
- You will need a battery with at least 2 marks left on the on-screen indicator, do not use a power source AC adapter!
- Turn on the GH2, enter the green playback button and an option to update the camera should appear.
- Select update and your GH2 is installing the new firmware!
- When finished, you’re done! When you now use the 1080 24 H setting it’s actually recoding in 42000000 bitrate!
- Everything at your own risk 
- Tips? Let me know or share on http://personal-view.com
- Just saw a test on youtube with bitrates of 110 mb! Check: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16HD0QHCT9g&feature=player_embedded#!
[...] Find out how to use the hack on my blog: beeldlab.nl/installing-gh2-hack-with-a-mac/ [...]
Oracle has a program called Virtual Box that may be better suited for this than Wine.
I’m sorry but this is just a copy of this guy’s blog post somewhere else http://www.zeroplusplus.com/easy-panasonic-gh2-42mbps-firmware-patch-instructions/
It’s certainly not a copy. Just trying to help the mac users who are afraid to update. So, it’s good to see other people had the same thoughts! Create simple step by step instructions. So thanks for the link. The more people who share, the better. It’s a good thing! So if my instructions are not convincing, or if you like to have more points of view. Go check it out! http://www.zeroplusplus.com/easy-panasonic-gh2-42mbps-firmware-patch-instructions/
[...] Instrucțiuni de instalare: pe Windows PC si pe mac. [...]
Last night I successfully loaded the GH2 hack settings onto my GH2 and used increment of 10 in the Ptool. I titled the hack GH2__V11.bin and it worked fine. Today I experienced problems using the 44mb settings with my Transcend Class 10 card so went into Ptool to tweak the settings down a notch. However, I am not able to save the hack without it giving me the “Wrong file name, camera won’t be able to read such a file”. I have experimented using a lot of different numbers, I am definitely using the double underscore but it just won’t let me save. Any suggestions?
Think you have to save all next versions higher then version then GH2__V11, so GH2__V12 or higher. 44 mb should work fine though, they even test with rates above 100. But i’m not a technical expert on this. Think it’s best to post your question on http://personal-view.com/ The geeks are out there.
Thanks for posting this. What class card do you use for the hack? Wonder if my class 6 cards will work fine at 44 mb…
Hugo, do you actually use these settings, or the newer Driftwood settings everyone seems to be raving about? Some of the footage I’ve seen looks great but so does non-hacked footage. I find it hard to discern whether it’s the lens, shooting condtions, camera-craftmanship or the hack settings…
I’m worried about the consequences for workflow ie buying very fast cards that fill up in no time, error/crashing issues, editing issues, export issues and since I almost exclusively produce for the web (and the occasional dvd) I wonder if it’s worth it…
Thanks for posting this little tutorial, by the way.
groeten,
Jeroen
Hi Jeroen,
Yes, i use these setting and never experienced any problems.
But your right, it’s more about craftmanship then hack, it’s silly to judge compressed Vimeo video. The driftwood setting (is that the ‘Intra setting?) is interesting but I guess you have about 8 minutes on 16 gig card. Not practical. On other hand, it makes you think before you shoot, not a bad thing.
Hi Jeroen,
Yes, i use these setting and never experienced any problems.
But your right, it’s more about craftmanship then hack, it’s silly to judge compressed Vimeo video. The driftwood setting (is that the ‘Intra setting?) is interesting but I guess you have about 8 minutes on 16 gig card. Not practical. On other hand, it makes you think before you shoot, not a bad thing.
Hoi Jeroen,
Ik heb een europees model gh2 die schiet 720 50p is het mogelijk doormiddel van deze hack er 720 60p van te maken??
Hi….Experiencing a problem….similar to a user abaove. When I try to save the firmware image (this is the first time), I get the message “Wrong file name, camera won’t be able to read such a file”…I try higher numbers, I know I’m using two underlines….but no success. Any ideas..?
Using the GH3 now so not experimenting with hacks anymore.