GH5 5k vs 4k

S

sgttom

Well-known member
Just some tests between 6k photo mode and 4k 10 bit video.

Both CineD -5 sharpening. Video has 8mp and the photo mode video has 18mp. Definitely a difference in detail, though its not mind bending.

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I did some tests with 6k 10bit anamorphic mode vs 4k 10bit. I didn't really see a detail difference, but the 6k was noticeably cleaner, at least when zooming in.
 
The 6k anamorphic mode has less sharpening than 4k, almost none. With very sharp lenses, this mode is fabulous.
 
I think part of that has to do with how the sensor is scaled down to 4k. Back when we shot HD to deliver to DVD over sharpness was also an issue because HD scaled down resolved way too fine of details and can add a certain level of sharpness to the image. There are different methods of scaling but the GH5 uses one kind of similar to bi-cubic which is really good but results in a much sharper image then one would normally expect from a 4k camera. That is kind of the selling point to the GH5 however is the insane detail.

6k looking less sharp makes sense because the image is not going through that scaling process in camera and you can use the video as is the way the sensor sees it. If you then crop in post to 4k you really are getting the sensor as is without any scaling process. Scaling inputs could yield somewhat softer/more pleasing results depending on the software used. Another trick with the 6k is add a very subtle blur effect before scaling. This can help mimic a softer scaling method.
 
Thomas Smet said:
I think part of that has to do with how the sensor is scaled down to 4k. Back when we shot HD to deliver to DVD over sharpness was also an issue because HD scaled down resolved way too fine of details and can add a certain level of sharpness to the image. There are different methods of scaling but the GH5 uses one kind of similar to bi-cubic which is really good but results in a much sharper image then one would normally expect from a 4k camera. That is kind of the selling point to the GH5 however is the insane detail.

6k looking less sharp makes sense because the image is not going through that scaling process in camera and you can use the video as is the way the sensor sees it. If you then crop in post to 4k you really are getting the sensor as is without any scaling process. Scaling inputs could yield somewhat softer/more pleasing results depending on the software used. Another trick with the 6k is add a very subtle blur effect before scaling. This can help mimic a softer scaling method.
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After more testing I found the 6K anamorphic to hold the same amount of detail as 6K photo mode. Both are sharper the 4k 10 bit
 
I also have read and thought that 6k anamorphic is less sharpened than 4k ,but your tests here @sgttom shows that 6k is sharper than 4k :undecided
 
soulkeeper said:
I also have read and thought that 6k anamorphic is less sharpened than 4k ,but your tests here @sgttom shows that 6k is sharper than 4k :undecided
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Could be that there is less digital sharpening in 5k anamorphic. The increased detail could just be the result of the extra resolution.
 
Hi all,
forgive the dumb question: is it possible to transform a photo burst into a mov file? And if so how?
Also I would like to know, beside using say davinci, if there is a simple program (the like of the defunct playmemories of Sony) to just take a look at the clips taken with the all intra 4k mode on PC or Mac.
Regards
Paul
 
Pauldalex said:
Also I would like to know, beside using say davinci, if there is a simple program (the like of the defunct playmemories of Sony) to just take a look at the clips taken with the all intra 4k mode on PC or Mac.
Click to expand...

Haven’t tested ALL-I recordings but VLC will play the the GH5’s UHD 10-bit Long GOP files.

EditReady is another option. It’s primarily a transcoding app for Macs, but also allows previewing the original files, with the option to apply a LUT, prior to transcoding. I haven’t tested EditReady but it’s on my To Do list.

VLC is free, & while EditReady costs $50, there is a free trial.
 
Hi Bern,
thank you so much.
I took a look at EditReady site and it definitely looks to me an interesting solution. Also because I have a good deal of 4k XAVCS files files from a RXII and a Sony action cam (something 3000) which I must transcode into ProRes files
 
so what is the conclusion? Which really has the highest "video" resolution? 4k, 5k, or the 6k??
 
Good question, I would say 6K. The higher your acquisition rate (5K, 6K or even 8K) the better the image will look, when downsized to the delivery resolution at 4K, or? At which point is the return diminished is a good question. Most new cameras are using something is the 5-6K sensor range for 4K recording. The higher the resolution, the more fine detail will be recorded. Just like shooting a movie on S35 vs 70mm, or even shooting 70mm and printing it down to S35mm for projection. Same idea here. :thumbsup:
Cheers
 
6k photo mode and 6k anamorphic mode(which are really 5k not 6k) yield the same results. They are a bit more detailed then regular 4k mode as you can see in the photos. The bigger question is, which grades better? As one is a 200mbps h265 codec and the other 150mbps H264.
 
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