Today, I stumbled upon an announcement from Philip Bloom. That there is a hack firmware for the T2I that enables the 2k, 3k, and 4k video recording mode. How true this is? I really do not know…all I know these HDSLR cameras have their limitations on recording videos on full HD. Because of codecs and among other things. All we have to do is wait and see. Supposedly this firmware comes out 1/1/11 for free. Again this is just a rumor…I really do not see this happening.

This is a small quote from Philip Bloom’s site.

I am not one for publishing rumours. There are many sites out there doing that sort of thing so I normally avoid it as speculation is a bit pointless, but this one is so odd and unlikely but I guess could conceivably happen that I had to share. I was just notified on my Facebook page by Forian Bottger about this that someone called Earz62801 will be releasing a firmware hack for the T2i/ 550d (not the other Canons) that will give it 2K, 3K,4K video recording capability and bit rates between 45mb/s and 175mb/s. . The date of the release is Jan the 1st. This is nothing to do with Magic Lantern, just totally out of the blue from this person. There is no other information that I can find about it.

(via Philip Bloom)

All I know is that if this is really happening there could be some complications on your T2I. The camera operator will only record a minute or less than a minute depending on which mode you want to record. For instance, does anyone want to record 6 seconds of 4K footage on their T2i? Surely the sensor cannot handle that sort of readout at 24fps?

There’s only one thing lingering my head. Could this be an April Fools prank? All I know is this is just a rumor. I really want to see how could this play out for video recording.

Here is a video announcement from these guys who supposedly made the firmware hack. “Coming out on 1/1/11”

More Updates from the supposedly “4K hack”

Heating issues - apparently, they had this problem 6 days ago and now it’s solved. Strikes me as strange how heat related problems can be solved and yet they’re delivering 4K at 175Mbit with no fan or heat sink, or any changes to the hardware. What solved it, a software optimisation? Seems unlikely.

(via EOSHD)

For me it seems fake a really thought out prank. How can the T2i do not over heats by shooting in 2, 3, or 4K? I really do not know. I will keep repeating this phrase. These cameras do not…do not have a fan or do not have a big card to support 175 mbs videos. There’s is too much work load for the T2i. 

Like my friend Jay Oxley from Rolling Shutter said:

550D/T2i apparently going to be able to do 2, 3 & 4K uncompressed due to firmware hack. Who has their money on the body just melting?! 

I think is a little bit ridiculous. That they decided to use the T2i and not the 7D or the 5D markii for the firmware hack. This firmware hack will be out in 1/1/11. If it’s a legit hack and not a thought out prank from someone seeking for his 15 minutes of fame. And has made a whole community of HDSLR users happy. On the other hand, Their users will have no idea on what to do with a 4K footage. Is it truly necessary? No!

Or if it’s a very thought out prank it will end up like this video…FAILING EPICALLY!! Check at the end as soon as he presses his zoom button on to the t2i’s body you can clearly see those are pictures made from Photoshop or who knows on GIMP. 

All known facts given from Ustream:

(Last update: 2010-12-30 5:10pm) will be released on January 1st 2011 11:11pm EST

• First two releases will be free. Later releases will cost around 50 USD.(smells like a lawsuit ready to go down)
• 4K resolution will be 4096x2304
• 60p in 1080p mode possible
• LiveView doesn’t work while recording
• 1080p with 175Mb/s Bitrate looks gorgeous
• Color-Space 4:2:2
• Moire and aliasing “fixed”
• 5D Mark II support will be released on January 11, 2011
• Recording time in 4K is only 6 seconds. Maybe 10 seconds in future release
• Writing 6 Seconds of 4K footage to card takes about 30 seconds.
• No playback in-camera
• 25p is NOT going to happen. Probably never.
• Heating was a problem until 6 days ago. But not anymore.
• Has built in limiter so you won’t brick your camera
• Battery will be sucked up pretty fast.
• Will NOT record in 16:9 (coming in future release)
• Will be first released for T2i (550D) and will later come to 7D, 5D Mark II. No Word on 60D yet.
• Monthly updated planned on each months 1st
• “Rolling Shutter isn’t much of an issue”
• No drop frames
• Youtube User Dod3032 will get the firmare one day early and will put up videos on youtube on 2011-01-01
• Sourcecode will also be released
• HDMI Out will still work
• Works only with fast Class10 cards
• Working cards are: Sandisk Extreme III class 10 8gb and above. Transcend class 10 16gb and above and Lexar Pro class 10 32gb.
• 7D Security is a pain in butt because of firmware counter. So no support yet.
• Not T1i (they don’t have one)
• Development took about 2 month in total (kind of fishy don’t you think?)
• Special Website will be up soon

I want to wish a HAPPY NEW YEAR to all of my friendly stalkers! Hopefully we will get a cool hack in 2011. If not the prank is on Bloom and all of us who read his blog…Bollocks!