4K (image resolution)

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The articles 4K2K , 2K (film) , Ultra HD , Ultra High Definition Television and 4K (image resolution) thematically overlap. Help me to better differentiate or merge the articles (→  instructions ) . To do this, take part in the relevant redundancy discussion . Please remove this module only after the redundancy has been completely processed and do not forget to include the relevant entry on the redundancy discussion page{{ Done | 1 = ~~~~}}to mark. 130.180.18.14 09:52, Apr 30, 2020 (CEST)
DCI 4K and 4K UHD with a number of lines of 2160 and an aspect ratio of 16: 9 compared to the lower image resolutions 1080p , 720p , DVD (576i) and Video CD (240)

4K resolution , also called 4K , describes a horizontal image resolution in the order of 4000 pixels. In most cases, the image resolution is around eight megapixels .

description

The specification “4K” does not reveal which aspect ratios , bit depths , refresh rates or brightness and color values are encoded in the images. The ITU-R recommendation BT.2020 of the International Telecommunication Union , for example, defines the image resolution 3840 × 2160 (= 8.3 megapixels per still image) with an aspect ratio of 16: 9 and square pixels .

The images often have an aspect ratio of 16: 9. The following table shows some image resolutions with the number of rows or columns occurring in 4K for various aspect ratios.

Bildseiten-
relationship 		columns Lines Number of pixels
(megapixels)
4: 3 4096 3072 12.6
16: 9 4096 2304 9.4
≈17: 9 4096 2160 8.8
16: 9 3840 2160 8.3
3: 2 3240 2160 7.0
4: 3 2880 2160 6.2
1: 1 2160 2160 4.7

Image formats

The abbreviation 4K is also frequently used for various purposes for capturing, storing and transmitting image data.

equipment

Digital playback devices such as computer monitors , screens , televisions or projectors , as well as recording devices such as digital cinema cameras or digital cameras with a number of columns from 4000 columns can be identified with the attribute “4K”. This shows that these devices are able to fully process images with this number of columns without having to combine pixels ( downsampling ).

Images with a lower image resolution can be displayed in full format with the help of upsampling or, as in the case of Full HD, with line doublers on ultra-high-resolution display devices.

Since many video cameras (including cell phones) store color information in only a quarter of the brightness information ( color subsampling ), 2160p provides color information in 1080p, which improves color accuracy when viewed on a 1080p screen.

history

The abbreviation “4K” was used as a binary prefix in the early days of computer technology to denote a storage capacity of 4096 (2 12 ) memory words. The capitalized letter “K” was based on the abbreviation “k” of the internationally standardized prefix kilo , which stands for the factor 1000. The abbreviation 4K historically means 4096 and is also generally used to classify numbers in the range around 4000.

In film, the term 4K resolution was initially used for 4096 × 2160 pixels ( DCI 4K) and derived from the cinema sector. Today, manufacturers also refer to televisions with 3840 × 2160 pixels (4K UHD ) as 4K. The first commercial 4K camera for film recording, the Dalsa Origin with an image resolution of 4096 × 2048 pixels , was launched in 2003. Sony offered a digital projector with 4K resolution back in 2004 .

After 4K video cameras were offered by several manufacturers, the video platform YouTube began in 2010 with an initial option for uploading 4K videos. Cinemas started projecting 4K resolution films in 2011. The first 4K home cinema projector was also brought onto the market by Sony in 2012, and GoPro presented the HD Hero 3, its first 4K-compatible action camcorder , which, however, only had a low frame rate of 12 or 15 frames per Second could record.

4K TV Samsung UN105S9 UHD from 2014

In 2014, the video streaming service Netflix offered the television series House of Cards , Breaking Bad and some nature documentaries in 4K resolution that could be played on suitable television sets. Most TV manufacturers now had 4K-ready devices on offer, and Amazon Studios also began producing TV series in 4K resolution. With the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH4 and the Sony alpha 7S , the first mirrorless digital system camera housings were offered that could record films with 4K resolution.

In 2016, Ultra HD Blu-rays and the first corresponding playback devices finally came onto the market.

In 2018, ultra-high-resolution television screens with an even larger number of pixels and an image resolution of 8K came onto the market .

Criticisms at launch

The image resolution of 4K images can hardly be achieved by the human eye when looking at the entire image, but it is clear when closer. Many people no longer notice the differences in image resolution between UHD and Full HD. A subjective improvement is more likely to result from a higher contrast range and a larger color space.

The power consumption of 4K-compatible devices is often slightly higher than that of devices with a lower image resolution.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Harald Frater: 4K resolution - 4K resolution: sharper than Full HD , Wissen.de from August 19, 2014, accessed on June 14, 2018
  2. ↑ BT.2020: Parameter values ​​for ultra-high definition television systems for production and international program exchange , ITU, 2015, accessed on April 30, 2020
  3. ↑ 4K photo. And the moment is yours. , Panasonic , accessed June 14, 2018
  4. ↑ Wibke Bauer: 4K resolution - what does that actually mean? ( Memento of the original from June 14, 2018 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. , pitty NET of February 3, 2018, accessed June 14, 2018 @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / pittynet.de
  5. ↑ Rudi Schmidts: Basics: 4K - From RAW to 4: 2: 0. In: SlashCam - digital video technology and film. SlashCAM, February 17, 2014, accessed July 25, 2020 .
  6. ↑ National Bureau of Standards: Technical Note 571 , US Department of Commerce, United States of America, 1959, p. 29
  7. ↑ a b 4K Resolution - History , epfilms.tv, accessed on June 18, 2018
  8. ↑ Sony Unveils New "4k" Digital Cinema Projector , Projector Central, press release June 3, 2004, accessed June 18, 2018
  9. ↑ YouTube Adds "2160p 4K" Option To Video Quality Settings , HDTVtest from December 25, 2013, accessed June 18, 2018
  10. ↑ Alice Truong: 4K is already playing at a theater near you, but you probably didn't even notice , Digital trends, June 8, 2013, accessed June 18, 2018
  11. ↑ Darren Quick: Sony releases world's first 4K home theater projector , Gizmag on May 31, 2012, accessed June 18, 2018
  12. ↑ Andreas Donath: Gopro Hero 3 films in 4K , golem.de from October 17, 2012, accessed on June 18, 2018
  13. ↑ 4K special cameras: GoPro Hero 3+ Black Edition. In: film-tv-video.de. February 14, 2016, accessed November 27, 2018 .
  14. ↑ David Katzmaier: Netflix begins 4K streams , c | net of April 8, 2014, accessed on June 18, 2018
  15. ↑ Adam Clark Estes: Breaking Bad Is Now Streaming in 4K on Netflix , Gizmodo June 16, 2014, accessed June 18, 2018
  16. ↑ Dara Kerr: Amazon Studios to begin shooting original series in 4K , c | net of December 17, 2013, accessed on June 18, 2018
  17. ↑ Test: Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH4 (DSLM) - A DSLM for Hollywood , chip.de from April 8, 2014, accessed on June 18, 2018
  18. ↑ Digital camera Sony Alpha 7S: Better pictures with fewer pixels , test.de from October 2, 2014, accessed on June 18, 2018
  19. ↑ Blu-ray player with UHD: Completely new viewing pleasure thanks to UHD and HDR , test.de from May 27, 2016, accessed on June 18, 2018
  20. ↑ a b UHD television: What does the "crisp" technology bring? , test.de from August 31, 2016, accessed on June 19, 2018