4K Video Format
The term 4K describes a video format that delivers approximately 4000 pixels in horizontal resolution and thus has 4 times the resolution of Full HD. It is characterised above all by a higher colour depth and sharp and detailed images.
Below we will explain exactly what 4K resolution means and what you should be mindful of when buying a camera.
What Does 4K Resolution Mean?
The term 4K is somewhat misleading and is often used as a synonym for UHD (Ultra High Definition). There are several different meanings as can be seen below:
- 3840 x 2160 pixels: this is the most commonly used 4K resolution. It is also referred to as "Ultra HD" (UHD).
- 4096 x 2160 pixels: this resolution is often used in professional films and is known as "DCI 4K".
The newer 8K video format (7680 x 4320) also comes under the UHD category, as more than 8 million pixels are displayed and an 8K video format has over 33 million pixels. However, this format is called UHD-2.
The term QFHD (Quad Full High Definition) is used more commonly in regard to UHD for consumer electronics. For example, screens with a resolution of 3840 x 2160 pixels are characterised as QFHD. Here, the "quad" refers to four times the resolution of Full HD. QFHD and UHD are the same thing.
People have been working with 4K video in professional film and video for years. You can produce photos with over 8 megapixels without any problems for everyday use for quite a long time. Furthermore, more and more video cameras have come onto the market in recent years that enable 4K video recording for private use. Nowadays, even smartphones can film in 4K video format.
What You Should Consider Before Buying a Camera
Fast storage media such as SD memory cards or SSD hard drives and high processing power are needed if you would like to edit or store video recordings. This refers to 4K recording devices such as camcorders, DSLR cameras or smartphones, as the recordings take up a lot of storage space. Whereas computers or smartphones need a high processing power in order to be able to edit video recordings. This can result in additional costs as cameras and camcorders are quite expensive.
Another disadvantage is the comparatively low zoom factor. Only a 20x magnification is possible due to large amounts of data being processed. However, this should be sufficient for private use. Furthermore, streaming or downloading 4K content requires a fast internet connection. Not all internet connections offer fast enough transfer rates to play 4K videos without buffering or loss of quality. This can be a problem especially in areas with slow broadband.
In addition, it is important to note that 4K is not only dependent on resolution, but also on other device factors such as colour space, frame rate and video codec. All these elements influence the quality and playback of 4K videos.
Conclusion
4K videos offer higher resolution and improved picture quality compared to conventional HD videos. They allow for a more detailed representation of subtleties and textures. However, 4K videos require more powerful hardware and larger storage spaces. In addition, a slow internet connection and limited 4K content can make recording, editing and playback more difficult.
