8K resolution

Comparison chart

8K resolution or 8K UHD is the current highest ultra high definition television (UHDTV) resolution in digital television and digital cinematography. 8K refers to the horizontal resolution in the order of 8,000 pixels, forming the total image dimensions of (7680×4320).^[1]

8K UHD has two times the horizontal and vertical resolution of the 4K UHD with four times as many pixels overall, or sixteen times as many pixels as Full HD.

High-resolution displays such as 8K allows the user to have each pixel be indistinguishable to the human eye from an acceptable distance to the screen. On an 8K screen sized 52 inches (132 cm), this effect would be achieved in a distance of 50.8 cm (20 inches) from the screen, and on a 92 inch (234 cm) screen at 91.44 cm (3 feet) away. 8K resolution can also be used with the purpose of enhancing lesser resolution videos with a combination of cropping technique and/or with downsampling^[2] technique used in video and film editing. Resolutions such as 8K allows filmmakers to shoot in a high resolution with a wide lens or at a further distance in case of potential dangerous subject (such as in wildlife documentaries), by intending to zoom and crop digitally in post-production. In this, a portion of the original image is cropped to match a smaller resolution such as the current industry standard for high-definition televisions (4K, 1080p, and 720p).^[3]

8K display resolution is the successor to 4K resolution. Full HD (1080p) is the current mainstream HD standard, with TV manufacturers pushing for 4K to become a new standard by 2017.^[4] The feasibility of a fast transition to this new standard is often questionable in view of the absence of broadcasting resources.^[5]

As of 2015, few cameras have the capability to shoot video in 8K, with NHK being one of the only companies to have created a small broadcasting camera with an 8K image sensor.^[2] Sony and Red Digital Cinema Camera Company are among the others to be working on bringing a larger 8K sensor in more of their product range in coming years.^[2] Until major sources are available, 8K is unlikely to become a mainstream resolution but filmmakers are pushing for 8K cameras in its advantage to get better 4K footage.

History

Astro Design 8K camera being displayed at the 2013 NAB Show

NHK and Hitachi demonstrating their 8K camera at the 2013 NAB Show

NHK was the first to start research and development of 4320p resolution in the year 1995, later on the format was standardized by SMPTE in Oct 2007, Interface standardized by SMPTE in August 2010 and Recommended as the international standard for television by lTU-R in 2012. followed by public displays at electronics shows and screenings of Sochi Olympics Games & Public viewings on Feb 2014 and FIFA World Cup Brazil in June 2014 using HEVC with partners AstroDesign and Ikegami Electronics^[6][7][8]

On January 6, 2015, the MHL Consortium announced the release of the superMHL specification which will support 8K resolution at 120 fps, 48-bit video, the Rec. 2020 color space, high dynamic range support, a 32-pin reversible superMHL connector, and power charging of up to 40 watts.^[9][10][11]

In Feb 2015, The Video Electronics Standards Association has unveiled Embedded DisplayPort 1.4a, a new format that lets all-in-ones and laptops use 8K screens (7,680 x 4,320 to be exact) and VESA expects systems to ship with the new DisplayPort by 2016^[12]

First cameras

On April 6, 2013, Astro Design announced the AH-4800, capable of recording 8K resolution. In April 2015 it was announced by Red that their newly unveiled Red Weapon is also capable of recording 8K footage.

Productions

In 2007, the original 65 mm negative of the 1992 film Baraka was re-scanned at 8K with a film scanner built specifically for the job at FotoKem Laboratories, and used to remaster the 2008 Blu-ray release. Chicago Sun-Times critic Roger Ebert described the Blu-ray release as "the finest video disc I have ever viewed or ever imagined."^[13] A similar 8K scan/4K intermediate digital restoration of Lawrence of Arabia was made for Blu-ray and theatrical re-release during 2012 by Sony Pictures to celebrate the film's 50th anniversary.^[14][15] According to Grover Crisp, executive VP of restoration at Sony Pictures, the new 8K scan has such high resolution that when examined, showed a series of fine concentric lines in a pattern "reminiscent of a fingerprint" near the top of the frame. This was caused by the film emulsion melting and cracking in the desert heat during production. Sony had to hire a third party to minimise or eliminate the rippling artifacts in the new restored version.^[14]

On May 17, 2013, the Franklin Institute premiered To Space and Back, an 8K×8K, 60 fps, 3D video running approximately 25 minutes. During its first run at the Fels Planetarium it was played at 4K, 60 fps.^[16]

On January 6, 2016, director James Gunn stated that Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 will be the first (feature) film to be shot in 8K.^[17]

Broadcasting

Japanese public broadcaster NHK began research and development on 8K in 1995, having spent over $1 billion on R & D since then.^[18] Codenamed Super Hi-Vision, NHK also was simultaneously working on the development of 22.2 channel surround sound audio. The world's first 8K television was unveiled by Sharp at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in 2012.^[19] Experimental transmissions of the resolution were tested with the London 2012 Olympic Games, and at the Cannes Film Festival showcasing Beauties À La Carte, a 27 minute short showcased publicly on a 220” screen. with a three-year roadmap that entails the launch of 8K test broadcasting in 2016 with plans to roll out full 8K services by 2018, aiming to provide broadcasting and services to the world’s highest standards by the year 2020 to coincide with the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.^[20]

Resolutions

8K UHD is a resolution of 7680 × 4320 (33.2 megapixels) and is one of the two resolutions of ultra high definition television, the other being 4K UHD.^[21] In 2013, a transmission network's capability to carry HDTV resolution was limited by internet speeds and relied on satellite broadcast to transmit the high data rates. The demand is expected to drive the adoption of video compression standards and to place significant pressure on physical communication networks in the near future.^[22]

8K UHD has four times the horizontal and vertical resolution of the 1080p HDTV format, with sixteen times as many pixels overall.

8K fulldome

This chart shows the proportional scale differences from 1080p (1920×1080 pixels) to 8K×8K fulldome video.

8K fulldome is a resolution of 8192×8192 (67.1 megapixels) and is the resolution of top-end modern projection for hemispherical fulldome theatres often seen in planetaria.

Devices

TVs/Monitors

• Sharp's 85" 8K LCD TV, 7680×4320 resolution—International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2012
• Panasonic's 145" 8K Plasma Display, 7680×4320 resolution—Internationale Funkausstellung Berlin (IFA) 2012
• LG's 98" 8K LCD TV, 7680×4320 resolution—Internationale Funkausstellung Berlin (IFA) 2014
• Samsung's 110" 8K 3D LCD TV, 7680×4320 resolution—International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2015
• Canon 30" 8K reference display—September 2015
• LG's 98-inch UH9800 with ColorPrime Plus technology—International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2016 ^[23]
• Samsung 98-inch SUHD 8K curved TV—International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2016 ^[24]
• Hisense 98-inch ULED 8K TV—International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2016 ^[25]
• Changhong 98-inch 98ZHQ2R 8K "Full UHD," 7680x4320 resolution—International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2016 ^[26]

Cameras

• AH-4800, a camera capable of recording in 8K resolution. Unveiled by Astro Design on April 6, 2013.
• RED 8K Weapon Vista Vision, shooting 8K (8192×4320) at 60 fps in full-sensor mode, or up to 75 fps in a scope (2.40:1) frame format. Unveiled at NAB 2015, released end of 2015.
• Ikegami SHK-810 8K UHDTV camera. Unveiled at NAB 2015.
• Hitachi SK-UHD8060. Unveiled at NAB 2015.
• Canon Cinema EOS System 8K camera. Unveiled September, 2015.

Fulldome

• Definiti 8K theaters, 8192×8192 resolution (apu)

See also

• 4K resolution—Digital video formats with a horizontal resolution of around 4000 pixels
• UHDTV—Digital video formats with resolutions of 4K (3840×2160) and 8K (7680×4320)
• VP9 (WebM)—Video standard that supports 4K/8K UHDTV and any theoretical resolution
• High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC)—Video standard that supports 4K/8K UHDTV and resolutions up to 8192×4320
• Rec. 2020—ITU-R Recommendation for UHDTV

References