4k – the technical details

4k or UHD

• Ultra High Definition (UHD) is 3840x2160 pixels• 4k (digital cinema definition) is 4096x2160 pixels• UHD is often called 4k

8’

84” UHD

50” HD

26” SD

Picture improvements

• Picture specifications for HD (Rec. 709) is based on CRT TVs• Opportunity to improve picture parameters• Larger color space (Rec 2020, XYZ)• Greater dynamic range

• More details in the highlights, darker shadows• Brighter screens for better color display

• 12 bits• vs. 8 bit for Blu-ray and broadcast TV

• Higher frame rates• 48 fps or 60 fps for high frame rate movies• 100 fps or 120 fps sports broadcast

Acquiring 4k content – features and episodicCamera Type Maximum Resolution Comments In use? 4k?

35mm Film Scanned at 4k Most features and all episodic that are shot on film

Yes Yes

65mm Film Scanned at 6k “Lawrence of Arabia” No Yes

35mm CCD Digital Cinema Cameras

1920x1080 Sony F35, Genesis (2005) No No

Arri Alexa 2880x1620 or 2880×2160 depending on format

CMOS RAW or ProRes Yes No

Red Epic “5k” CMOS RAW Yes Yes

Sony F55 4096x2160 CMOS RAW or XAVC Yes Yes

Sony F65 Normally 4096x2160, 8192x2160 possible

CMOS RAW Yes Yes

Producing 4k requires an end-to-end 4k workflow including a 4k projector or display

Not all 4k is created equalSony F652048 red pixels4096 green pixels2048 blue pixels

Red Epic1280 red pixels2560 green pixels1280 blue pixels

Arri Alexa720 red pixels1440 green pixels720 blue pixels

Bayer pattern and CMOS RAW

UHD TV Panel3840 red pixels3840 green pixels3840 blue pixels

Delivering 4k to the consumer

• Compressed files are bigger than HD but not 4 times larger• 4k adds high frequency detail, affect on encoding depends on content• Files for SNE service are 2-3 times size of HD files

• 4k delivery becomes (more) practical with HEVC (H.265) codec• Perhaps 35-40% more efficient• Expect to see hardware decoders in 2014

• Sony Pictures is requiring significantly better content protection than for HD• Movielabs’ Enhanced Content Protection Specifications• HDCP 2.2 protecting the HDMI link to the TV

• Sony TVs have HDCP 2.2, other 4k TVs do not• HDCP 1.4 security is compromised

Availability of 4k in the consumer market• Sony shipped server loaded 11 4k movies with the 84” 4k TV in late 2012• Sony 4k Video Unlimited service launched 1st September

• Preload and download 4k movies and TV shows

• We expect Netflix to offer a 4k streaming service next year using HEVC• Will need a lot of bandwidth to the consumer

• Sky and Sky Deutschland are experimenting with shooting sports in 4k• “Mastered in 4k” Blu-ray discs were shot and finished in 4k and then

downscaled to HD• HD benefits from over sampling• If there is to be a 4k Blu-ray, it will likely be 2015