Edit: I have added the key to the table below. Are the differences apparent now that you know what settings were used for each picture?

This thread is dedicated to talk about the highest bit rate hack with no adverse affects. To qualify for this the hack must not cause any perceived quality loss at the beginning of the files. It also must be completely stable with all Class 10 memory cards.

So far the highest settings that I have been able to get to achieve this are setting the Video Bit rate FSH/SH and 24H to 32000000. No other changes are made to the settings.

I have settled on an extra two changes that also enable class 6 cards to work with the hack. That entails setting the Video Bitrate FH/H and 24L to 25000000. These extra settings allow you to switch to 1080p,1080i, or 720p Low and record stable video with Class 6 cards like the Eye-Fi wireless card.

I have also attached several images that demonstrate the differences between recording at the standard firmware bit rates and the hacked firmware bit rates. I have included samples from the default firmware, the 32 mb/sec settings, the 42 mb/sec settings, the 42 mb/sec 3 and 6 GOP settings, the standard bit rate MJPEG, and 166+ mb/sec MJPEG settings.

I have named each of the files with a number 1 through 20. There are 1080p @ 24 FPS, 1080i, and 720p High samples from each of the settings listed above. There are also samples from the low settings for each format from the default firmware and the default firmware with 1080p 3 GOP and 6 GOP for 720p and 1080i settings.

The question is can you determine what settings were used with each one of these pictures?

Just copy the list below and put the picture numbers 1 through 20 beside each entry you think is correct. I will post the sample videos to vimeo and post the stream parser grabs if someone can correctly identify each one of the pictures.

Default 1080p High = 3
Default 1080p Low = 2
Default 720p High = 20
Default 720p Low = 18
Default 1080i High = 11
Default 1080i Low = 7
32 mb/sec 1080p High = 4
32 mb/sec 720p High = 15
32 mb/sec 1080i High = 8
42 mb/sec 1080p High = 1
42 mb/sec 720p High = 14
42 mb/sec 1080i High = 9
3 GOP 42 mb/sec 1080p High = 5
3 GOP Default 1080p Low = 6
6 GOP 42 mb/sec 720p High = 13
6 GOP Default 720p Low = 17
6 GOP 42 mb/sec 1080i High = 10
6 GOP Default 1080i Low = 12
Default 720p MJPEG = 16
166+ mb/sec MJPEG = 19

I have included the 4 settings files for these tests. Each sample was recorded with the GH2 on a tripod with constant video light illuminating the subject. The lens was a manual focus 55mm F1.2 Canon FD lens. The focus and aperture were not changed at all between shots. I simply pulled the memory card out and replaced it with the new firmware. I was able to apply the new firmware even with the manual focus lens on the camera.

The ISO was fixed at ISO 3200 because my other testing has shown that the bit rate of the video is directly related to ISO of the video. The shutter speed was 1/800 of a second.

The 1080i samples have distinct interlaced artifacts because VLC does a progressive scan screen capture without applying deinterlacing. If anyone knows how to take a deinterlaced screen cap with VLC I would love to know about how to do it.