Aja Hi5 4k Plus Converter - capable of dual link 444 - 4k HDMI conversion

yachacha

Well-known member
https://www.aja.com/products/mini-converters/hi5-4k-plus

I am not trying to start a conversation that the Sony F35 is capable or ever will be capable of a 4k uncompressed image. That being said, i think several others would agree there is value to being able to record on the fly 4k or UHD from F35 signal where the 12-bit HD 444 has plenty of space to shine and can be mixed into 4k project like any other 4k camera.

Why is this new information? Previously trying to uprez F35 on the fly actually meant degrading the signal. Nearly all boxes made to input a HD signal and output 4k via HDMI or SDI have operated at 10-bit 422 level so the benefit of the dual-link 444 of F35 would be lost even before it was stretched onto the 4k canvas. This new AJA Hi5 seems capable of 12-bit 444 input via dual-link SDI. (of course I stress the word seems as no testing has occured)

Aja LUT box was previously the only way to get dual link 12-bit signal converted to a single 3g SDI output. Lover of F35 have no doubt seen this information:

http://www.filmscientist.com/blog/2014/11/18/12bit/

Then convergent design stepped in with the 7Q with native support for the signal and took LUT box out of the equation. However the importance of this discovery is that AJA knew how to take F35 Dual Link 12-bit and pass it into another format. Black magic converters from everything I can find, all operate at 10-bit 422 level.

This new Hi5 is capable of inputting Dual link 1.5 SDI as two cables, putting through processing and outputting at HDMI 2.0 4k.

Lots of question, who wants to spend the money to find out. From what I can see there are a few 4k HDMI recorders on the market also, including the 7Q+. Black magic 4k interesting recorder also because of price.

I know this will ultimately become a question of why do I need this if my 7Q can do 12-bit 444 HD which is the top resolution the F35 will output. You don't. But the future of workflow is 4k so it would be interesting if it's possible to get great 4k footage out of the F35 at the acquisition.
 
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Based on the documentation, it seems like it will definitely input the F35 signal in 10bit.
But I wonder how much of an improvement you would really see and whether it would recognize/clock the 12bit signal?

Hi5 is primarily designed for monitors and the documentation indicates 'High frame rate (HFR) 4K/UltraHD 4:4:4 limited to 8 bits'.
I'm curious to know if the 8 bit limitation applies to 30fps or less.
 
This could be cool but not sure it supports 24p over dual link - from the supported inputs page:

2 x 1.5 Gb SDI
• (HD) 1920 x 1080p 50, 59.94, 60
 
Anyone have a 4k camera they can shoot a test along side the f35, f65 would be awesome? I would like to test out some upscaling techniques and need a 4k comparison.
 
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