Term of the Moment

Galaxy Flip


Look Up Another Term


Redirected from: 4K video

Definition: 4K resolution


Approximately 4,000 (4K) pixels of horizontal resolution in several digital formats for shooting motion pictures as well as scanning 35mm film into digital. 4K movies are used intact for cinema theater projection as well as 4K TVs. For Blu-ray discs and the bulk of cable/satellite TV distribution, 4K resolution is scaled down to 2K (1080p). Blu-ray discs "Mastered in 4K" means the source material was originally in a 4K format. See 4K TV, 4K 3D TV, 5K monitor, Ultra HDTV, DTV, aspect ratio and digital cinema.

 4K TV       H/V Res     For comparison:
 Quad HD    3840x2160     2K 1920x1080
 Full 4K    4096x2160     8K 7680x4320

 4K CINEMA ACADEMY FORMATS     MP/Frame
 Standard   3626x2664   1.37:1   9.7
 Flat       3996x2160   1.85:1   8.6

 4K CINEMA ANAMORPHIC
 Scope      4096X1714   2.39:1   7.0

 2K CINEMA ACADEMY FORMATS
 Standard   1828x1332   1.37:1   2.4
 Flat       1998x1080   1.85:1   2.2

 2K CINEMA ANAMORPHIC
 Scope      2048x858    2.39:1   1.8








A 4K Camera
Introduced in 2004 with an image sensor the size of a 35mm frame, the DALSA Origin was the first digital video camera to capture 4K images and use standard 35mm cinematography lenses. In 2011, the company was acquired by Teledyne. (Image courtesy of DALSA Digital Cinema.)