4K is a revolutionary new addition to video.. Or is it?
4K is a revolutionary new addition to video.. Or is it? We’ve been hearing this little term bandied around a lot recently, and as a consumer, it sounds good, right? More resolution, sexier picture, they say – but is it really? Lets take a simple and uncomplicated look at what it actually is and whether […]
4K is a revolutionary new addition to video.. Or is it?
We’ve been hearing this little term bandied around a lot recently, and as a consumer, it sounds good, right? More resolution, sexier picture, they say – but is it really?
Lets take a simple and uncomplicated look at what it actually is and whether it’s all it’s cracked up to be.
To start with, full high definition is 1080 x 1920 pixles. This is the standard high definition format for most consumer grade content – think television, DVDs (those old things), and internet (Youtube, Netflix, etc.).
4K definition is (roughly) 2000 x 4000 pixles, hence the name. For a clearer picture of the relative size difference:
As you can see, the 4K image is much larger.
It means that if you’re watching content in 4K, you get the same relative image but in twice the resolution (see below).
But of course, this is where the major problems lie.
Firstly, most televisions don’t support 4K images, so even if you’ve got a movie in 4K, unless your television can support it, it’s basically useless.
Secondly, there is a limited number of content that’s formatted for 4K. That means if you’re fortunate enough to have a 4K television, chances are there won’t be much content to watch within that format.
So what are the positives? Why is it marketed so heavily and why do all new cameras have this function if it’s not even functional?
A lot of the positives come from the filming end. Think about it like this: if you’re shooting a video at normal HD (1080), you’re only getting so many pixles in your camera. But if you shoot in 4K, you’re theoretically getting four times the pixel count (but only twice the resolution).
When you go to play with your picture in the edit, you have much more information to play with. Then, when you inevitably export your 4K footage to 1080, it will usually keep the better image quality. Of course, all of these things are dependent on many factors (hit us up for more info), but this is a basic guide to 4K.
4K can be very useful when used in shooting – but not so useful when consuming content.
So is 4K a revolutionary new addition to video? You be the judge..