@Fontee Beautiful documentary footage. Well done.

Here's a 3GOP setting with P-Frames for 24H, HBR/25p and 720p50 (6GOP with IPB frames) only.

720p50 still needs some improvement, however I think it already looks pretty good in use.

What do you guys think about the setting?

@feha

I don't know. Not yet tested...

@bkmcwd

Hi!

The reason to experiment with P- instead of B-Frames was the quite poor B-Frame scaling in HBR/25p mode in previous patches. Motion often does not look really smooth (depending on the actual scene, of course).

With the previous 3GOP patches in HBR mode I, P and B-Frames contribute to the distribution of bitrate... although P-Frames are actually not apparent in the video streams - but "in the background" P-Frames are still used in interlaced modes (FSH/HBR) and affect both I- and B-Frame scaling.

With I- and P-Frames only in 3GOP I was able to effectively switch off B-Frames (in Scaling-Tables and GOP-Tables). This allows a better and more predictibale control over the ratio of I- and P-Frames. In HBR/25 mode I-Frames are not quite as large as in, say, GOLGOP13. But the P-Frames are much larger than the B-Frames. Also, if you look at the screenshots of the streams in "Time" mode the bitrate seems to be pretty constant (unlike GOLGOP13 in HBR/25p mode... which shows a pretty inconsistent bitrate due to the GOP-tables that are required to make the settings stable). The "HQ" Matrix used in this setting visually compensates the somewhat smaller I-Frames... video looks pretty sharp and I also like the look of noise of the HQ Matrix. (please note: this is a modified version of the HQ Matrix - so don't copy it into other settings. B-Frames are switched off in 24p and 1080i modes. I addition in 1080i I use the actual B-Frame scaling table on P-Frames).

So all in all: although GOP3ZILLA and GOLGOP13 work pretty well in HBR/25p mode I felt there is still room for improvement (especially regarding motion). This new setting needs more testing but I feel motion looks smoother and static scenes still look pretty sharp. As to 24p: I-Frames are really large, so possibly there might be an improvement, too?

Right now I consider this an "experimental" setting... I have to test much more under different shooting scenarios. However I thought I'd share it so that other users may test it as well.

@towi I took a few laps for 13 minutes amongst the shrubs in my back yard. In 24 H mode at f9 shutter 50 I was able to span 1 time on a Sandisk 32GB 20 mb/s card. Peaked at 99,595,826 and average was around 71,646,588.

Looks decent and impressed that 24H spanned on the 30mb/s card.

I have much more to look at but if I can reliably keep it going I may do try it on a live night shoot this coming weekend.

@towi

"the bitrate seems to be pretty constant (unlike GOLGOP13 in HBR/25p mode... which shows a pretty inconsistent bitrate due to the GOP-tables that are required to make the settings stable)"

What is the merit of the bit rate being constant? Although three kinds of frames are used also in the stock firm and the bit rate should not become constant?

@jfro - cool! spanning in 24H mode on SanDisk 20MB/s cards sounds good!

@bkmcwd - I don't know much about all these technical details... but as far as my understanding goes I think on a static scene the "Time" graph should show an even bitrate curve (given audio is also constant). Did you try 24H? I think the HQ Matrix shows a really nice noise.

@Manuel_Lopez - yes, PAL modes are not exactly a strength of the GH2 (then again the good old "Sanity V3" patch does a great job in HBR and FSH modes). 24p looks extremely good for such a camera... but of course, if you need 25p, you won't really profit from 24p...

Attached a slightly modified version of the settings (changes only apply to 24p and 720p50).

GOP3 with P-Frames for 24H, HBR/25p and 720p50 (720p50 = GOP6 with IPB frames):

Apart from all the discussions around (Nick) Driftwoods settings, must say I always appreciate settings for 25p. As soon as I have the time to test your GOP3PAL I will do so. Thanks for your efforts.

@towi

I tried your 25p. However, in test chart shooting, the camera froze in 2 seconds. Is a frame limit too high although it may have influence of a matrix?

@towi , the HBR 25 mode still is not that smooth while panning ... even 24p spanns ...

Testing the GOP3ZILLA standard V2 BETA4. Different file sizes encoded with the best so far (IMHO) software "MainConsept Reference Encoder" from the original file (about variable 85Mbps and 900 MB). Shutter speed 100, variable ND filter. No color correction. Lenses used, Lumix 14-45mm, Canon FD 50mm f/1.4, Olympus 40-140mm f/4-5.6. Just press the "Download" button.

1280x720 24p @ 6Mbps (45ΜΒ) https://www.dropbox.com/s/ebm2hs3nb7j5nsw/GH2__Paraliakos%20720_24p_6Mbps.mp4

1280x720 24p @ 20Mbps (140MB) https://www.dropbox.com/s/zwpi4uzb1gbqbg5/GH2__Paraliakos%20720_24p_20Mbps.mp4

Full HD 1920x1080 24p @ 42Mbps (337MB) https://www.dropbox.com/s/azf27lfwmbtq7qt/GH2__Paraliakos%201080%2024p%2042Mbps.mp4

GOP3HQ

Here's a new setting aimed at PAL-users shooting 24p (24H), 25p (HBR) and 50i (FSH).

On static scenes the HQ matrix produces pretty large I-Frames. With motion the ratio of I- and B-Frames is comparable to Flowmotion 2. The result of this setting is higher IQ on static scenes while still providing very good motion rendering. All in all the setting looks very similar to Flowmotion 2, however on bright high detailed scenes it may look somewhat cleaner (sharper) than Flowmotion 2. Above all the setting has been stable in all my tests (on SandDisk 30MB/s and faster cards)… whereas Flowmotion 2 may crash under certain extreme conditions. Then again, FloMo2 shows somewhat less chroma noise.

HBRp25 - FloMo2 vs. GOP3HQ, motion (FM2 on the left, HQ on the right):

HBRp25 - QP of the same scene (Flowmotion2 on the left, GOP3HQ on the right):

HBRp25 - QP of FloMo2 vs. GOP3HQ on a static highly detailed daylight scene (Flowmotion2 on the left, GOP3HQ on the right):

Streamparser grab GOP3HQ, 24H, static:

Streamparser grab GOP3HQ, 24H, fast pans:

This setting is really good for 24H, 25p and 50i - try it!

720p50 is not yet ready (it may work fine, though ...)

Cluster v2f