O.T. Resolution Questions

[Mars United]

Can someone explain to me what 2K and 4K resolutions actually mean. I mean, looking at size comparisons between 720 and 1080 (number of vertical pixels?) they seem to be proportionally different. However, 2K is only slightly larger than 1080, so I must assume that 2K doesn't refer to resolution in the same way.

Also, in discussions about 2K and 4K I never see 2Ki or 2Kp. Is that because 2K and 4K are assumed to be progressive?

Thanks for your patience.

Gee, I just did a search and it looks like 2K refers to horizontal lines of resolution, which sort of makes it the same as 1080.

Cheers. :huh:

 

[Arson]

4k and 2k are film resolutions and yes they are therefore only progressive. Usually from a film camera and film digitization directly to image files or 3d CGI intended fro theaters.

2k is from a time before HD and 1080p. Hell most TVs still don't support 1080p. 4k has replaced 2k to give you more resolution with the new generation of detailed fur shaders instead of phong shaded spheres over checkerboard floors.

 

[Justyn]

when you see the frame size comparissons it's a HUGE difference. I think I saw it on the Red site or somewhere... and its an impressive size!

 

[Mars United]

Arson, thanks for the response!

when you see the frame size comparissons it's a HUGE difference. I think I saw it on the Red site or somewhere... and its an impressive size!

Yeah, but the difference between 1080 and 2K isn't that great. They still have a comparison of frame sizes at red.com.

So, if I understand it correctly, 2K is simply a resolution named after film, that is just slightly better than 1080p.

Cheers. :beer:

 

[Barry_Green]

2K refers to horizontal resolution, being 2048 pixels. 1K = 1024, so 2K = 2048.

4K is the same, only 4x as much data (twice horizontal and twice vertical). 4K = 4096 pixels wide.

2K and 1080p are about the same, when expressed in 16:9 terms. In 4:3 terms 2K = 2048 x 1536, and someone might do a 2K 4:3 scan of an anamorphic full frame of film, but in widescreen you wouldn't use the full frame height normally, so you see res of 2048 x 1152 or so. Which isn't much more than 1920 x 1080.

 

[Mars United]

OK, thanks Barry. Hmm. The HVX does 1080/720 for $5600 CAD plus 35mm DOF for the price of a cheap adaptor, versus an SI-2K which does 2K, albeit with a 2/3" sensor, and ...

Oh, damn. I wish I never stumbled across the SI cam. I was so set on the HVX.

cheers. :beer: Just a little worried about the HVX's low light issues. Guess I'll have to rent one and see. Thanks!

 

[Arson]

2k was named 2k and a format long before 1080 existed
also back in the early 90s with things like the targa card etc. alot of video resolutions had similar vertical resolutions and it was often the horizontal that was higher. So more resolutons were referred to by width rather than height.
just like on a computer people refer to 320 mode or 640 or 1024 or 1280 etc and that is the horizontal resolution of the screen. Mars I'm in vancouver and maybe you can convince me to shoot something with my HVX for your test.

 

[Barry_Green]

OK, thanks Barry. Hmm. The HVX does 1080/720 for $5600 CAD plus 35mm DOF for the price of a cheap adaptor, versus an SI-2K which does 2K, albeit with a 2/3" sensor, and ...

Oh, damn. I wish I never stumbled across the SI cam. I was so set on the HVX.

The SI does look interesting, and 2/3" trumps 1/3" every time. But in that intermediate price bracket ($12,000 to $20,000) there's so much activity -- there's a 2/3" HVX coming (the HPX500), there's the Red, there's the Infinity (if it ever comes out; the current joke is that the reason it's named "Infinity" is that's how long it'll be before it's released!) and there's XDCAM-HD... there's a lot of things to look at in that price bracket.

cheers. :beer: Just a little worried about the HVX's low light issues. Guess I'll have to rent one and see. Thanks!

HVX, XHA1, HD100, they all have similar low light performance. If you put a 35mm adapter on them, it's going to be incredibly dark in low light. A 2/3" camera is going to be much better, no doubt.

 

[Mars United]

Mars I'm in vancouver and maybe you can convince me to shoot something with my HVX for your test.

Arson, that would be cool! I don't need to shoot it myself, or even touch the cam. Used to have a DVX. I just need to witness the lighting, preferably natural light and indoor low light, and see the results. It would be nice to have something that can do narrative as well as run and gun stuff, but hopefully both with a 35mm adaptor. I'll PM you in a few days and maybe we can work something out.

 

[Mars United]

The SI does look interesting, and 2/3" trumps 1/3" every time. But in that intermediate price bracket ($12,000 to $20,000) there's so much activity -- there's a 2/3" HVX coming (the HPX500), there's the Red, there's the Infinity (if it ever comes out; the current joke is that the reason it's named "Infinity" is that's how long it'll be before it's released!) and there's XDCAM-HD... there's a lot of things to look at in that price bracket.

I need to do some research! The SI looks great, but I'm worried about the price of glass and I'm presently trying to find out from them if it takes 35mm still lenses (I read ONCE somewhere that they do, but nothing since).

The problem I have is that I've waited so long to be in a position to be able to purchase the HVX and all the accessories including P2, laptop, Mac Pro, software, FF, lights etc., and now I've just discovered the SI. See, I want to get going NOW. If I could wait, I would see how the Red panned out, definitely. But I want to get something in December, and the SI is shipping the 2K Mini, supposedly, in December.

The other option is to get the cheaper HVX like I had planned, and hopefully have the budget later to upgrade to whatever. In fact, that seems the wisest thing except for the fact that I want a very flexible camera. I want to be able to set up a quick interview without having to bring a ton of lighting, but also the filmic look too.

Barry, do you, or does anyone else, know of anything that is out now, or in December that I should look at? Right now my only options that I'm aware of are the HVX and SI (great options, both!). I don't want to go much over what it would cost to set up the SI. - actually, that is my extreme upper limit.

Cheers! :beer: