Ultra HD and 4KUltra HD and 4K

OutlineOutline What is 4K?What is 4K? How big is an Ultra HD TV?How big is an Ultra HD TV? Do I need an Ultra HD TV?Do I need an Ultra HD TV? Can I buy an Ultra HD home cinema Can I buy an Ultra HD home cinema

projector?projector? What is Super Hi-Vision?What is Super Hi-Vision? Will Ultra HD ever be broadcast on TV?Will Ultra HD ever be broadcast on TV? Will Blu-ray support Ultra HD discs?Will Blu-ray support Ultra HD discs? When will Ultra HD become standard?When will Ultra HD become standard? What about Ultra HD for photographers?What about Ultra HD for photographers?

What is 4K?What is 4K?

Technically speaking, 4K denotes a very Technically speaking, 4K denotes a very specific display resolution of 4096 x specific display resolution of 4096 x 2160. This is the resolution of all 4K 2160. This is the resolution of all 4K recordings, though many people use 4K recordings, though many people use 4K to refer to any display resolution that to refer to any display resolution that has roughly 4000 horizontal pixels. has roughly 4000 horizontal pixels.

ltra HD TVs have a resolution slightly ltra HD TVs have a resolution slightly lower than that - 3840 x 2160. That's lower than that - 3840 x 2160. That's exactly four times higher than the full exactly four times higher than the full HD resolution of 1920 x 1080. HD resolution of 1920 x 1080.

How big is an Ultra HD TV?How big is an Ultra HD TV?

So far it's been monster Ultra HD So far it's been monster Ultra HD TVs all the way, with TVs all the way, with Sony'sSony's 84- 84-inchinch 84X9005 84X9005 and  and LG'sLG's 84- 84-inchinch 84LM960V 84LM960V leading the way  leading the way alongside the now-a-bit-old alongside the now-a-bit-old ToshibaToshiba 55ZL2 55ZL2, a 55-inch TV whose real , a 55-inch TV whose real claim is glasses-free 3D TV (though claim is glasses-free 3D TV (though there's more where that came from, there's more where that came from, this time from this time from PhilipsPhilips). ).

Do I need an Ultra HD TV?Do I need an Ultra HD TV?

High definition comes in two flavours: 720p High definition comes in two flavours: 720p (HD ready) and 1080p (Full HD), both of (HD ready) and 1080p (Full HD), both of which offer more picture information than the which offer more picture information than the standard definition formats. The more pixels standard definition formats. The more pixels that make up an image, the more detail you that make up an image, the more detail you see - and the smoother the appearance of see - and the smoother the appearance of curved and diagonal lines. Ultra HD just takes curved and diagonal lines. Ultra HD just takes that on to the next level.that on to the next level.

A high pixel count also enables images to go A high pixel count also enables images to go larger before they break up, which suits the larger before they break up, which suits the trend to bigger TVs. Ultra HD is already trend to bigger TVs. Ultra HD is already making big inroads into the world of digital making big inroads into the world of digital cinema; almost all major Hollywood movies cinema; almost all major Hollywood movies and TV shows are filmed in 4K - or even 5K.and TV shows are filmed in 4K - or even 5K.

Can I buy an Ultra HD home Can I buy an Ultra HD home cinema projector?cinema projector?

Yes. The first genuine Ultra Yes. The first genuine Ultra HD consumer product to HD consumer product to hit the streets was thehit the streets was theSonySony VPL-VW1000ES VPL-VW1000ES in 2012, a  in 2012, a home cinema projector that home cinema projector that borrows technologies borrows technologies originally developed for the originally developed for the brand's commercial digital brand's commercial digital cinema projectors. Indeed, cinema projectors. Indeed, the VPL-VW1000ES the VPL-VW1000ES conforms to the Digital conforms to the Digital Cinema Initiative (DCI) Cinema Initiative (DCI) specification, which uses a specification, which uses a slightly different resolution slightly different resolution (4096 x 2160 pixels) than (4096 x 2160 pixels) than Ultra HD TVs. Ultra HD TVs.

What is Super Hi-Vision?What is Super Hi-Vision?

There's another spanner in the works in the There's another spanner in the works in the shape ofshape ofSuperSuper HiHi--VisionVision, an 8K format created , an 8K format created by Japan's national broadcaster NHK. It was by Japan's national broadcaster NHK. It was trialled extensively at the London 2012 trialled extensively at the London 2012 Olympics by the BBC, but doesn't appear to Olympics by the BBC, but doesn't appear to have much chance of becoming a bona fide have much chance of becoming a bona fide format just yet. It's certainly one to watch; at format just yet. It's certainly one to watch; at double the frame rate of HD (at 120fps) and double the frame rate of HD (at 120fps) and with a 7680 x 4320 pixel resolution (that's with a 7680 x 4320 pixel resolution (that's around 32 megapixels), Super Hi-Vision demos around 32 megapixels), Super Hi-Vision demos have featured stunning 22.2 surround sound, have featured stunning 22.2 surround sound, too, thanks to twin subwoofers each the size of too, thanks to twin subwoofers each the size of a small car. a small car.

Will Ultra HD ever be Will Ultra HD ever be broadcast on TV?broadcast on TV?

Technically it already is; Technically it already is; Eutelsat Communications Eutelsat Communications launched the first Ultra HD launched the first Ultra HD demo channel in Europe in demo channel in Europe in January 2013, on its January 2013, on its EUTELSAT 10A satellite. In EUTELSAT 10A satellite. In the UK, the BBC has plans the UK, the BBC has plans to film some documentaries to film some documentaries with 4K equipment in 2013, with 4K equipment in 2013, though it's actually trialled though it's actually trialled Super Hi-Vision - or 8K - Super Hi-Vision - or 8K - broadcasting as recently as broadcasting as recently as the the LondonLondon OlympicsOlympics..

Just as Just as Planet EarthPlanet Earth was one  was one of the first programmes to of the first programmes to be shown in HD, the be shown in HD, the BBC'sBBC's NaturalNatural HistoryHistory UnitUnit have  have been handed the task of been handed the task of filmingfilmingSurvivalSurvival in Ultra HD. in Ultra HD.

Will Blu-ray support Ultra Will Blu-ray support Ultra HD discs?HD discs?

Probably, yes, thanks to that new compression codec Probably, yes, thanks to that new compression codec called HEVC, though the Blu-ray Disc Association (BDA) called HEVC, though the Blu-ray Disc Association (BDA) has yet to ratify anything.has yet to ratify anything.

The good news is that there is Ultra HD content already The good news is that there is Ultra HD content already available in the vaults of the Hollywood majors. available in the vaults of the Hollywood majors. Increasingly movies are mastered at 4K resolution, both Increasingly movies are mastered at 4K resolution, both for commercial distribution and restoration projects. for commercial distribution and restoration projects. Hollywood has also begun shooting movies in Ultra HD Hollywood has also begun shooting movies in Ultra HD and beyond.and beyond.

Peter Jackson's Peter Jackson's The Hobbit: An Unexpected JourneyThe Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey was  was shot on RED Epic digital cameras that are capable of 5K shot on RED Epic digital cameras that are capable of 5K resolution, while Sony's 4K-capable F65 camera is resolution, while Sony's 4K-capable F65 camera is commonly used in film and TV, too. Many US TV dramas commonly used in film and TV, too. Many US TV dramas are already filmed with one of these cameras, are already filmed with one of these cameras, including including Made In Jersey, Justified, Save MeMade In Jersey, Justified, Save Me and  and Masters Masters of Sexof Sex, according to , according to TheThe Hollywood Hollywood ReporterReporter, as well , as well as as ER, Criminal MindsER, Criminal Minds and  and JustifiedJustified..

When will Ultra HD become When will Ultra HD become standard?standard?

The floors of The floors of CES 2013 CES 2013 werewere packedpacked withwith themthem, but it could be a difficult , but it could be a difficult birth. With arguments and a lack of birth. With arguments and a lack of industry standards on displays, industry standards on displays, broadcast and playback of Ultra HD broadcast and playback of Ultra HD material, the introduction of these material, the introduction of these cutting-edge TVs will prove complex cutting-edge TVs will prove complex in the extreme. in the extreme.

What about Ultra HD for What about Ultra HD for photographers?photographers?

The picture's brighter for digital The picture's brighter for digital photographers. The photographers. The PlayStation3PlayStation3 now displays  now displays digital still images at 4K digital still images at 4K resolution over HDMI (how resolution over HDMI (how about a about a PS4KPS4K, anyone?), while , anyone?), while Panasonic has been busy Panasonic has been busy prepping prototype displays prepping prototype displays aimed at image-makers. As well aimed at image-makers. As well as its 4K resolution as its 4K resolution 20-inch TV20-inch TV, , Panasonic recently presented Panasonic recently presented an identically-sized an identically-sized 4K 4K tablettablet aimed at designers,  aimed at designers, photographers and architects.photographers and architects.

So despite the excitement in the So despite the excitement in the world of TV, a lack of world of TV, a lack of agreement throughout the agreement throughout the industry means that the first industry means that the first enthusiasts to benefit from enthusiasts to benefit from Ultra HD technology could be Ultra HD technology could be photographers, and not cinema photographers, and not cinema enthusiasts.enthusiasts.

ReferencesReferences

http://www.techradar.com http://www.techradar.com http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultra_hd http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultra_hd