Will 4K Be A Passing Trend?
by Al Caudullo, The 3D Guy
Is 4K Over-Rated?
It seems to be the question of the day. As you might expect the battle lines have been quickly drawn on both sides of the 4K camp. The naysayers claim that most people can't tell the difference between 4K and HD. On the other side of the fence the proponents are saying that it's a major jump from HD with better color and a true immersive experience. Plus, 3D on 4K TV's produces absolutely stunning results.
On both sides there have been some over-the-top claims that are knee-jerk reactions, both pro and con.
Arguing the creative merits of 4K is like debating whether a Monet or a Picasso is better. It is too subjective.
Having tested most of the 4KTV's on the market and a fair share of the available 4K cameras, I do feel comfortable discussing the current crop of offerings.
Much like 3-D, we are hearing cries of "there is no content!!" The true fact of the matter is that there is quite a bit of 4K content available and more being developed every day.
As a filmmaker, I have been creating and licensing quality 4K content for quite some time and the market is strong. From that statement you can well imagine where my allegiances lie.
My prediction is that this year at IBC, 4K will be the biggest topic of conversation. New cameras and more importantly, new delivery systems will be a hot topic.
There are some compelling arguments in favor of 4K when you look more carefully at the technical considerations of the format. 4K is not just about more pixels.
The current HD format uses the Rec.709 standard which uses 8-bit color sampling and interlaced frame rates.
The new ITU-R Recommendation BT.2020 gives us tremendous improvements with 10-bit color, progressive scan mode only and wider contrast ratios.
In simple terms it means that with the BT.709 standard we get about 35.9% of what colors the human eye can discern. With the new BT.2020 standard we will be treated to 75.8%. Quite an improvement.
The inclusion of 120Hz support means that Televisions will be able to produce cleaner images without having to resort to the artificial "motion smoothing" that today’s TV sets force on us. This will help eliminate the strobing and blur artifacts that are so prevalent.
There have also been side benefits to the 4K revolution. Cameras like the Panasonic Lumix GH4 have revealed in test after test that in 4K recording mode that it can beat other, much more expensive cameras from RED, Sony and Canon. This bodes well for Independent Filmmakers who are looking to enter the 4K market. In turn, that means more content. One of the very issues that detractors are screaming about. The rumor is that Panasonic will be making an announcement at IBC about improvements. This has the GH4 fanboys out there giddy with anticipation.
