New Nx500 owner.. which 2.5K hack?

Hello all,  I just purchased an NX500 with 16-50mm lens and will likely get the 30mm f2 next.   I'm hoping the NX500 can replace my Panny LX100 as my primary video camera and portable travel cam.   I own the Nikon D610 for serious work etc.  The lx100 is great, especially for video,  bit it's slightly soft at wide angle and a bit noisy for my taste.  Anyway, video performance is a pretty big part of the equation for me, so I want to attempt the 2.5k hack not only for the crop factor but also to help with low light noise compared to crop 4k (?)... so, which hack is easiest or best to implement?   Thx all.

Kisaha wrote:

ohcello wrote:

Hello all, I just purchased an NX500 with 16-50mm lens and will likely get the 30mm f2 next. I'm hoping the NX500 can replace my Panny LX100 as my primary video camera and portable travel cam. I own the Nikon D610 for serious work etc. The lx100 is great, especially for video, bit it's slightly soft at wide angle and a bit noisy for my taste. Anyway, video performance is a pretty big part of the equation for me, so I want to attempt the 2.5k hack not only for the crop factor but also to help with low light noise compared to crop 4k (?)... so, which hack is easiest or best to implement? Thx all.

I love the LX100, but NX500 is a so much better camera.

Both are great, Vasile's is a bit faster, but more steps to enable it, I haven't even tried it to be honest, Kino Seed's is super user friendly and has a ton of features (which most are no needed, but good to have a look).

If you care only for video, maybe Vasile's is more appropriate, maybe I have to give it a go too.

Thanks so much.  These hacks... do you have to load them every time you start up the cam, or just implement it once?  Looking forward to putting the LX100 vs. the NX500 in the field ; )

I'm wondering if having no crop with 2.5K video helps in low light vs. cropped 4K video?  The one nice aspects of the LX100 is having f/1.7 Image Stabilized video at 26mm... I'm hoping that f/3.5 on the kit lens is 'close enough' in that regard ... or else I can get the 16mm f/2.4 but no IS, etc.... I'm not thinking about the 16-55mm f/2-f/2.8 just yet ; )

With the vasile hack you load it once.

However the 2.5k is pretty much useless. Tons of moire, artifacts, and low quality overall.  There is a reason they left it out of the official firmware!

1080p looks much better than the 2.5k.

parakalien wrote:

With the vasile hack you load it once.

However the 2.5k is pretty much useless. Tons of moire, artifacts, and low quality overall. There is a reason they left it out of the official firmware!

1080p looks much better than the 2.5k.

I was surprised at just how good the 1080p is. I know it's not apples to apples comparison but to my eyes the 1080p looks more detailed than 4k on any phone I've owned.

Just a shame that uploading to YouTube results in a lot of compression, which is why it can be useful to upscale to 4k first.

markyboy81 wrote:

parakalien wrote:

With the vasile hack you load it once.

However the 2.5k is pretty much useless. Tons of moire, artifacts, and low quality overall. There is a reason they left it out of the official firmware!

1080p looks much better than the 2.5k.

I was surprised at just how good the 1080p is. I know it's not apples to apples comparison but to my eyes the 1080p looks more detailed than 4k on any phone I've owned.

Just a shame that uploading to YouTube results in a lot of compression, which is why it can be useful to upscale to 4k first.

I'll have to test it of course, but I was hoping the 2.5K with no crop would help in low light compared to the 4K mode.  We'll have to see.  It doesn't necessarily have to match the LX100 at f1/7 vs. Samsung kit lens at f/3.5, but I was hoping it would be close.  Even then, IS it not that crucial at 24mm FOV equiv in my opinion, so I could entertain the 16mm f/2.4 and gain 1 full stop of light over the f/3.5-5.6... and if I wanted to go big $$ and big size maybe the 16-50mm f/2-2.8 : )

Given your emphasis on video quality and concern about the 4K crop on the NX500, I'm thinking you would have been better off getting a used NX1.  BTW, the 16-50mm S lens is much more balanced on the NX1 too.

Nevada Landscapes wrote:

Given your emphasis on video quality and concern about the 4K crop on the NX500, I'm thinking you would have been better off getting a used NX1. BTW, the 16-50mm S lens is much more balanced on the NX1 too.

Yeah.. good point.... but the NX1 is just too big.  I want something close the the LX100 in size for video and for portable high quality photos...

But indoors is important, because for outdoors, in good light, my Galaxy Note 4 video is pretty darned impressive at 4k 30p.... almost identical to my LX100 (less some mild differences in dynamic range as you would expect).  So obviously I have that with me at all times.

So the low light factor is pretty crucial as I have a decent 4K outdoor camcorder on my phone (I usually don't zoom much when doing video, so that's not a factor).

But the NX1 puts me in the same size category as My Nikon D610, which I already have "trouble" bringing with me all the time : )

I actually don't take *that* much video compared to photos... which is why the NX500 is so attractive.... I mean being able to have the NX500 with the 30mm f/2 or kit lens... or both... in such a small package.... that's what is driving this decision.... I'd take that thing everywhere!

I'll have to see how the 1080p  / 2.5k / 4K does with the kit lens compared to the LX100 to see what the real world comparision looks like.

ohcello wrote:

Nevada Landscapes wrote:

Given your emphasis on video quality and concern about the 4K crop on the NX500, I'm thinking you would have been better off getting a used NX1. BTW, the 16-50mm S lens is much more balanced on the NX1 too.

Yeah.. good point.... but the NX1 is just too big. I want something close the the LX100 in size for video and for portable high quality photos...

But indoors is important, because for outdoors, in good light, my Galaxy Note 4 video is pretty darned impressive at 4k 30p.... almost identical to my LX100 (less some mild differences in dynamic range as you would expect). So obviously I have that with me at all times.

So the low light factor is pretty crucial as I have a decent 4K outdoor camcorder on my phone (I usually don't zoom much when doing video, so that's not a factor).

But the NX1 puts me in the same size category as My Nikon D610, which I already have "trouble" bringing with me all the time : )

I actually don't take *that* much video compared to photos... which is why the NX500 is so attractive.... I mean being able to have the NX500 with the 30mm f/2 or kit lens... or both... in such a small package.... that's what is driving this decision.... I'd take that thing everywhere!

I'll have to see how the 1080p / 2.5k / 4K does with the kit lens compared to the LX100 to see what the real world comparision looks like.

I used to own the note 4 and the quality of the 1080p out of the nx500 is far superior than 4k on the note 4. There really is no contest.

markyboy81 wrote:

ohcello wrote:

Nevada Landscapes wrote:

Given your emphasis on video quality and concern about the 4K crop on the NX500, I'm thinking you would have been better off getting a used NX1. BTW, the 16-50mm S lens is much more balanced on the NX1 too.

Yeah.. good point.... but the NX1 is just too big. I want something close the the LX100 in size for video and for portable high quality photos...

But indoors is important, because for outdoors, in good light, my Galaxy Note 4 video is pretty darned impressive at 4k 30p.... almost identical to my LX100 (less some mild differences in dynamic range as you would expect). So obviously I have that with me at all times.

So the low light factor is pretty crucial as I have a decent 4K outdoor camcorder on my phone (I usually don't zoom much when doing video, so that's not a factor).

But the NX1 puts me in the same size category as My Nikon D610, which I already have "trouble" bringing with me all the time : )

I actually don't take *that* much video compared to photos... which is why the NX500 is so attractive.... I mean being able to have the NX500 with the 30mm f/2 or kit lens... or both... in such a small package.... that's what is driving this decision.... I'd take that thing everywhere!

I'll have to see how the 1080p / 2.5k / 4K does with the kit lens compared to the LX100 to see what the real world comparision looks like.

I used to own the note 4 and the quality of the 1080p out of the nx500 is far superior than 4k on the note 4. There really is no contest.

Well, I hope you are right as the Note 4, outside anyways, is very impressive to me at 4K.... very close to the LX100 in the side by side shots I have done.  Even indoors with good light they are pretty close.

Kisaha wrote:

markyboy81 wrote:

ohcello wrote:

Nevada Landscapes wrote:

Given your emphasis on video quality and concern about the 4K crop on the NX500, I'm thinking you would have been better off getting a used NX1. BTW, the 16-50mm S lens is much more balanced on the NX1 too.

Yeah.. good point.... but the NX1 is just too big. I want something close the the LX100 in size for video and for portable high quality photos...

But indoors is important, because for outdoors, in good light, my Galaxy Note 4 video is pretty darned impressive at 4k 30p.... almost identical to my LX100 (less some mild differences in dynamic range as you would expect). So obviously I have that with me at all times.

So the low light factor is pretty crucial as I have a decent 4K outdoor camcorder on my phone (I usually don't zoom much when doing video, so that's not a factor).

But the NX1 puts me in the same size category as My Nikon D610, which I already have "trouble" bringing with me all the time : )

I actually don't take *that* much video compared to photos... which is why the NX500 is so attractive.... I mean being able to have the NX500 with the 30mm f/2 or kit lens... or both... in such a small package.... that's what is driving this decision.... I'd take that thing everywhere!

I'll have to see how the 1080p / 2.5k / 4K does with the kit lens compared to the LX100 to see what the real world comparision looks like.

I used to own the note 4 and the quality of the 1080p out of the nx500 is far superior than 4k on the note 4. There really is no contest.

Most people never seen their videos outside their mobile devices's screens, so they do not know.

Physics are physics, and small DJI cameras or Phantom 4/Mavic are just not acceptable for serious work for me (of course they are excellent for hobbyists, especially the Mavic).

The absolute minimum for me is a 1inch sensor, with APS-C being the sweet spot for me - not huge/heavy/expensive, not 1/3 of the inch small!

NX500 is topping the DxO list (with the Nikon 7200, together), it is not just a little camera, 28megapixels BSI APS-C vs 12megapixels, well, 1.333" one(?)?

I think you will just love the NX500+30mm.

Maybe just up the bitrate a bit with a hack (best bitrate is 70 I think in NX500, 10 less than the NX1) and you will be great.

Yeah I have been eyeing the NX500 for a long time.  it's too bad there is not an image stabilized wide angle prime, but the clincher for me to try Samsung, to be honest, was the 30mm f/2.  As far as I can tell, there is no other lens in the world that fast and that small that is near the 50mm focal length (35mm equiv) for 1.5 crop camera.  Sony's /Sigma's 35mm are bigger, Fuji, while being 35mm f/1.4 (which was VERY tempting BTW)l, is bigger, Fuji's new 35mm f/2 is bigger, Canon has the 22mm f/2, but that is too wide for my taste, and Canon has some bizarre aversion to 4K as of now.  the 30mm f/2 keeps the NX500 as small as my LX100 but I will get a extra stop of light over Sony and Fuji's pancake lenses which are both f/2.8.  Yes, the m4/3 has a 20mm f/1.7, but that's too close to the LX100 in sensor size, low light, DOF, etc. for my taste.

I will check on the bit rates.... so is the 2.5K that bad?  There are so few video samples out there that I found... and the short ones I have seen look just OK but it's hard to tell on youtube : /

markyboy81 wrote:

parakalien wrote:

With the vasile hack you load it once.

However the 2.5k is pretty much useless. Tons of moire, artifacts, and low quality overall. There is a reason they left it out of the official firmware!

1080p looks much better than the 2.5k.

I was surprised at just how good the 1080p is. I know it's not apples to apples comparison but to my eyes the 1080p looks more detailed than 4k on any phone I've owned.

Just a shame that uploading to YouTube results in a lot of compression, which is why it can be useful to upscale to 4k first.

Don't use a tiny phone display to judge 1080p and 4K videos. Use a large screen TV screen instead. NX1 with a pancake lens or the 16-50PZ is not much larger then a NX500. It's completely portable to take anywhere with a pancake lens. Even with the battery grip. I use my NX1 with 16-50PZ and the battery grip when i need portable camera. No issues taking it anywhere and it is still light compared to any DSLR.

VisualFX wrote:

markyboy81 wrote:

parakalien wrote:

With the vasile hack you load it once.

However the 2.5k is pretty much useless. Tons of moire, artifacts, and low quality overall. There is a reason they left it out of the official firmware!

1080p looks much better than the 2.5k.

I was surprised at just how good the 1080p is. I know it's not apples to apples comparison but to my eyes the 1080p looks more detailed than 4k on any phone I've owned.

Just a shame that uploading to YouTube results in a lot of compression, which is why it can be useful to upscale to 4k first.

Don't use a tiny phone display to judge 1080p and 4K videos. Use a large screen TV screen instead. NX1 with a pancake lens or the 16-50PZ is not much larger then a NX500. It's completely portable to take anywhere with a pancake lens. Even with the battery grip. I use my NX1 with 16-50PZ and the battery grip when i need portable camera. No issues taking it anywhere and it is still light compared to any DSLR.

The nx1 is just too big... my D610 with a 50mm prime is actually not that big to carry.... so my 2nd cam has to be substantially smaller. .. I'm hoping the 2.5k fits my needs ... we will see

Kisaha wrote:

brianluce wrote:

I too was really excited about the 2.5k hack but no samples to speak of and the few reviews of it are mostly like the one here. However, I believe there are two versions, an early and a later one. The early one had very low bit rate. Maybe the higher bit rate is better? Seems a bit of a mystery yet.

All you complaining about it, just load the mod (literally 1 minute operation), shoot some 2.5K video, and upload it to youtube, or whatever for the community to share.

As simple as that, and community will thank you for ever (or for a little while).

I plan on doing just that.  There are so few 2.5K samples, and most of them don't have any detail behind them as far as which lens, settings, etc.  What I plan on doing is putting the NX500 through its paces against my lx100 with indoor and outdoor video...1080p, 2.5K, 4K, etc.  As far as still images go, I think I have a good idea which cam will prevail there : ).

Kisaha wrote:

ohcello wrote:

Kisaha wrote:

brianluce wrote:

I too was really excited about the 2.5k hack but no samples to speak of and the few reviews of it are mostly like the one here. However, I believe there are two versions, an early and a later one. The early one had very low bit rate. Maybe the higher bit rate is better? Seems a bit of a mystery yet.

All you complaining about it, just load the mod (literally 1 minute operation), shoot some 2.5K video, and upload it to youtube, or whatever for the community to share.

As simple as that, and community will thank you for ever (or for a little while).

I plan on doing just that. There are so few 2.5K samples, and most of them don't have any detail behind them as far as which lens, settings, etc. What I plan on doing is putting the NX500 through its paces against my lx100 with indoor and outdoor video...1080p, 2.5K, 4K, etc. As far as still images go, I think I have a good idea which cam will prevail there : ).

That will be most interesting! I had a friends LX100 for a little while back in the day, I loved this little camera, just couldn't justify having, one instead of a bigger sensored (and almost equally small with the right lens) NX cam. It is a little great camera of its own, but I doubt it can rival the NX500 in video quality and sensor reading, as the 28 BSI sensor is still a piece of advanced sensor manufacturing.

We are eagerly awaiting your contribution to the community, cheers!

I hope you are right, but some of the youtube head and head videos I have seen show the LX100 doing quote well.... so we'll have to see.