What is 4K resolution? Many people don't understand this question. Have you ever been confused that so-called 4K resolution videos on your phone look similar to 1080P? What advantages does 4K resolution have and what is it suitable for? In this article, you will find the answer.
Now we are not talking about boring parameters. Instead, we take everyday scenarios of photography and videography to explain 4K understandably: What is 4K resolution? What is it for? What necessary and ideal equipment is there for 4K?
4K resolution: a high-performance microscope connected to the image.
Now imagine a white sheet of paper in front of you. 1080P means there are 2.07 million squares on this paper (1920×1080 pixels), while 4K has 8.3 million (3840×2160 pixels). The number of pixels has almost quadrupled!
The more squares the paper has, the more details the image gets. In portrait photography, the curl of hair or fluffy skin becomes more visible, and in landscape photography, the patterns of flower petals appear clearer.
What is 4K resolution for?
Why is 4K so important? The answer is: 4K resolution can solve the following problems, which helps you make post-processing easier.
Example 1: No problem with blurriness when cropping
You take a portrait with a 1080P camera, and during editing, you want to cut out the poles standing in the background. But suddenly you notice that the person's face has become blurry. Why? Because the 1080P camera has too few pixels, and after cropping, there aren't enough pixels left to keep the area sharp and clear. Then the image becomes blurry.
But with a 4K camera, it's completely different. 4K cameras have four times as many pixels as 1080P. Even if you crop half of the image, 2.07 million pixels remain – the same number as in the original image of a 1080P camera. The face in the photo remains sharp enough.
Summary: 4K means freedom in post-editing by cropping. When taking photos, you no longer have to worry about not having enough space in the frame. After shooting, you can crop as you like, and the details still remain.
Example 2: Less noise when recording videos
Have you ever recorded videos at night? With a 1080P phone, the image is full of noise like fog. But if you use a 4K camera, there is significantly less noise even in low light.
Why? Because 4K has more pixels and can capture more light. If the rain falls equally and you catch rainwater with 10 small cups – like with 1080P – and with 40 cups – like with 4K – the 40 cups are clearly fuller and naturally contain more water (light) than 10 cups. This makes the image brighter and there is less noise.
Summary: 4K means help with shooting in low light. Even if you want to take photos at night, you can get clear images.
Example 3: Format with the longest video longevity
Nowadays, most TVs and phones are equipped with 4K resolution. Your 1080P videos will probably no longer be sharp and clear enough five years from now. But what about 4K videos? In the next ten years, 4K resolution will remain a trend. The 4K videos recorded today can still be excellently clear five years later.
The necessary and ideal equipment for 4K
If you choose 4K, you should not miss the following equipment. For cameras and smartphones, prioritize full-frame and large sensors. 4K places higher demands on the camera sensor. The larger the sensor, the more light each individual pixel can capture. This means less noise in low light and more detailed images.
When recording 4K video, we also need a lens with a large aperture. The SIRUI Saturn anamorphic lens fits well. It offers three focal lengths (35mm, 50mm, 75mm) that cover everyday scenes. Anamorphic lenses give videos a cinematic look, which is perfect for enhancing color quality with the high resolution of 4K in post-production.
Conclusion
What is 4K resolution? You will truly understand when you try the 4K mode next time you take photos. When filming videos in low light, you will also notice that 4K makes the image appear more honest and vivid.
And if you want your 4K creation to become even easier and more relaxed, the SIRUI Saturn lens will be your best helper to create sharp photos and videos with 4K resolution.
