hobbit123 Loc: Brisbane, Australia

Or is anyone else wondering why people are going ga-ga over 4K video? Aside from the practical limitations (cropping, huge file sizes and limited clip duration due to file structure) what do you do with the output? I assume you have to own a 4K TV to display it. I don't and I don't know anyone who does. Why haven't people gone out and bought them in droves? Because the main use for a TV (for most people) is "watching TV", and TV (at least here where I live) is not broadcast in 4K. In fact it's even difficult to get DVDs in 4K and even if you do they've probably been "remastered" from the original resolution which means the quality will be no better. So that leads me back to the original question, what do you do with the 4K output from your 4K enabled DSLR or mirrorless?

I think it's a similar s**m to 3D TVs. I fell for that one, and the expensive 3D glasses now sit in a drawer from where they are unlikely to ever see the light of day again.

And yesterday I received an email from an electrical retailer advertising an 8K TV...

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Sales gimmick.
My old flat screen is just fine.
(Just like home theaters. Nice, but don't need it.)

BebuLamar

Was in Japan a few weeks ago and watch the 8K TV broadcast from NHK. It was great. Back in the old days with VHS VCR's and people setting up surround sound I thought the TV must be ashamed surrounded by all those great sound.

hobbit123 Loc: Brisbane, Australia

Surround sound - another sales gimmick!

Steve Perry Loc: Sylvania, Ohio

I have a 4K TV - absolutely love it and can easily see the difference between it and a 1080 display (especially with larger TVs). As for broadcast TV, who watches that anymore ? :) I stream pretty much everything now and most of it comes in 4K.

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

It is certainly not a s**m. People are buying them in droves. And more and more content is broadcast in 4K. My cable provider broadcasts in 4K. Netflix broadcasts much of its content in 4K. Its interesting that you don't know anyone that owns a 4K set. I hardly know anyone that doesn't own at least one. I have three, two 40" Samsungs and one 55" Samsung. These day's its getting more and more difficult to find TVs that aren't 4K. Most that aren't are 32" or smaller, which is on the small end of the spectrum these days. And with the prices so low almost anybody with an disposable income can afford one. A 40" 4K Samsung set can be had for less than $300. A 55" Samsung 4K TV can be had for less than $450. Some other brands are even less expensive. YThe images with a good signal are fantastic. They are pin sharp and with a lot of material there is an etched three dimensional feel like looking out at the world through an open window. 3D TV failed because of the cost and discomfort of the 3D glasses and the lack of 3D material. I never bought one because I quickly realized this limitations when I auditioned them. But 4K is a whole different thing.

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

Its obvious you have no experience with 4K TV or surround sound, or have seen and heard both but were left cold. That perhaps may be because of vision and/or hearing issues, but I can assure you that with good vision and good hearing a large 4K set with a decent quality surround sound system properly set up is absolutely spectacular. Out of curiosity what brand, type and size TV do you have now?

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

Not a gimmick although perhaps unimportant to you. Perhaps you are not a film aficionado. Even older B&W movies give me a movie theater experience at home.

hobbit123 Loc: Brisbane, Australia

Well it can't be that obvious because I have lots of experience with surround sound :-). I started off with a NAD 5.1 system at least eighteen years ago and now run a Yamaha 7.1 system. I don't dispute that it sounds great, my beef is that the media currently available doesn't utilise it. When I first installed it every DVD that came out included LFE for example but I haven't watched a DVD for at least ten years and I don't think Netflix includes surround sound (does it?).

My current TV is a Panasonic Plasma. When I bought it my purchase was based on the fact that it was the best picture 'that' amount of money could buy. This was when LCD TVs were starting to flood the market. The picture is still very good even by today's standards (though probably not yours :-).

My other comment would be that watching something on a screen is more about the story than the quality of the output (if it's within reason) "for most people". I doubt the average viewer sits in front of his/her TV all night marvelling at the quality. That would last about five minutes, if that.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Latest and greatest then?

LFingar Loc: Claverack, NY

Well, to answer your question, I don't shoot video, 4K or any other kind, with either my DSLR or my mirrorless, so, I have nothing in that regard to do anything with. I do have a Samsung QLED 4K TV and a 4K DVD player and I certainly can see the difference from my my other sets, both of which are 1080P with BlueRay DVD players.
Maybe in Australia new 4K movies are not yet widely available but they are here, plus, our cable provider is offering more and more in 4K.
As far as 3D TV's, got one of those. Not impressed with it. One of those technologies that pops up from time to time but never seems to catch on.
I'm sure that eventually there will be 8K and so on, but, for now, I am quite happy with 4K.

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

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mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

I agree that "watching something on a screen is more about the story than the quality of the output (if it's within reason) "for most people"." However watching a spectacular rendition makes it even more enjoyable. My 30 year old son and I both were recently able to see Casablanca in a theater for the first time. We both know that movie well, but the theater experience raised our level of appreciation. And watching it on a 55" 4K widescreen tv was far more enjoyable then when I watched it decades ago on a 25" lo def RCA set. Better equipment today alters and improves the experience.

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

If you are a Professional Videographer or Vlogger, 4K is crucial. The size of the files, depth of color and detail make it an absolute requirement. A lot of the B-role footage you see in film production is shot on DSLRs and Mirrorless bodies, to match the quality needed for cutting into main scenes, 4k is another absolute.

You have to remember that our portion of the digital content creation is minuscule compared to Studio/Advertising/Commercial productions.

hobbit123 Loc: Brisbane, Australia

Thanks, I wasn't aware of that.