


Here is a quick comparison between the 18mbps and the 45mbps outputs from those files: Sample files shot using a D5100 are available here: Advertisements

The three announcement threads are pretty long, here is some of the more interesting data we dug up: 2 minute Time limit based video – ALPHA.Remove Time Based Video Restrictions – BETA.NEF Oversampling, IGNORE,its for Astro folks testing – BETA.Remove NEF Nikon Star Eater, for Astro folks.Remove Time Based Video Restrictions – DOES NOT WORK CORRECTLY.Liveview Manual Control ISO/Shutter – BETA.Change Time Based Video Restrictions to 17:28.

I think this is just the jump that every Nikon videographer has been waiting for and I hope this will expedite the development of this custom firmware. Here is the list of improved bitrates (red) from Nikon Hacker’s beta page. The firmware is still in Beta phase (so as always it s try-at-your-own-risk thing), but initial tests look promising. The hack is ported to many, many cameras including the older D5100, and the entry level D3100 (“only” 54mbps). Over the last month, the Nikon Hacker team has been releasing more patches so there are even more good news. Depending on the Nikon Body, you can get up to 64mbps (D7000) as opposed to the 24mbps that the camera ships with from Japan. The folks at Nikon Hacker recently released a beta load with an upgrade to the camera bit rate output. Sadly, Nikon users do not have that option. This firmware gives the camera some nice control features, but I suspect that this firmware is usually installed for the better video it provides ( raw video, dual ISO, better dynamic range and so on). It is a fairly known fact that Canon videographers can magically “upgrade” their cameras using the Magic Lantern custom firmware.
