4K Vs 8K Video: Which is Better for Shooting?
4K Vs 8K Video: Which is Better for Shooting?
There are a number of factors to consider when choosing a camera and resolution is no doubt at the top of the list. Video quality is everything after all. With the growth of 8K, you may be wondering, is my 4K camera enough? And is 8K worth the higher price tag? Here, we’ll get to the bottom of the 4K vs 8K video debate.
How Resolution Impacts Video Quality
Resolution refers to the number of pixels captured in your footage. The greater the number of pixels, the greater the sharpness, detail, and clarity of your video. Shooting in 4K means there is a horizontal display resolution of around 4,000 pixels, while shooting in 8K means 8,000 pixels.
Higher resolutions produce objects that are crisper. The quality of the imagery remains even when you crop or zoom into a frame during the editing process. The higher the resolution of the camera the more subtle detail you’ll be able to capture in the colour and texture of your shot. And when footage is compressed or downscaled to a lower resolution it looks even better.
With this in mind, you’d think that choosing 8K is a no-brainer in terms of video quality. Yet, in many cases, 8K shooting presents more problems in the current landscape as we’ll discuss below.
4K vs. 8K Video: Which Is Better?
The Argument for 4K
Shooting 8K footage is not feasible for most videographers or content creators. The file size for an 8K video is enormous. One minute of 8K footage requires approximately 20GB of storage space. For one minute of 4K footage, this drops to around 5GB.
4K is currently the more practical option for most professionals. If you were to upgrade to 8K, you’d also need a higher capacity SD, XQD, or CF card, a higher capacity hard drive, and likely a more powerful computer. The costs add up.
Right now, most people stream video on their phones in full HD or on their 2K/4K TVs. 8K TVs exist but are not yet mainstream. So, shooting in 4K will suffice.
We must also remember that 4K shooting has a tonne of benefits. 4K provides exceptional definition and video quality compared to full HD. Even when 4K footage is downscaled to HD it looks sharper and cleaner than footage shot in lower resolutions. Thanks to high frame rates and bit rates, 4K cameras further allow for high-quality colour grading, visual effects, and post-production flexibility.
Recommended 4K Camera: Sony FX30 Digital Cinema Camera
With the Sony FX30, you can capture footage in incredible 10-bit UHD-4K. Intuitive features such as cinematic colour enhancement produce high-quality imagery and reduce the need for extensive editing in post-production.
The Argument for 8K
Yes, shooting in 4K is excellent but some filmmakers are adopting 8K technology as a means of future-proofing their work. Just as 4K became mainstream over time, it’s likely that 8K will become the norm in years to come.
Many major Hollywood films are shot entirely in 8K, and some even in 16K. And though they’re not widespread, 8K TVs are indeed readily available now. Platforms such as Vimeo and YouTube support 8K video. All of these aspects imply that we’re moving towards the era of 8K.
Naturally, shooting in 8K offers staggering sharpness, clarity, and detail creating a more immersive viewing experience than ever before. When you shoot in 8K and downscale for streaming on 4K devices it provides an extraordinarily sharp and detailed video quality. So, if you’re a professional filmmaker and want to elevate your production to the next level or get ahead of the curve, then you may decide to opt for an 8K camera.
Recommended 8K Camera: RED V-Raptor 8K Camera
The Red V-Raptor VV camera offers a powerful suite of tools to take filming to the next level. With 8K resolution, you’ll be able to capture unprecedented levels of detail in a range of dynamic environments.
DIGI TECH has an extensive catalogue of high-end 4K and 8K cameras so you’ll be sure to find the right fit for your creative and practical needs. Browse our catalogue today.