Can the GH5 Capture 4K 24p and 60p Simultaneously!?
Photo Moment - April 20, 2017
Is it possible to record slow motion 60p and regular speed 24p UHD/4K footage at the same time? How about 1080p 24 and 1080p 180fps? With the GH5 and an Atomos recorder… yes :-)
6:50 — Skip to the actual show start
PRODUCTS MENTIONED IN TODAY'S PHOTO MOMENT (MANY ARE AFFILIATE LINKS… affiliate links make me a little bit of $ but cost you nothing more!):
•• Atomos Ninja Inferno ••
B&H - https://bhpho.to/2otybDV
Amazon - http://amzn.to/2opnaS8
Adorama - http://jal.bz/2o73z7M
•• Manfrotto 496RC2 Compact Ball Head w/ Quick Release ••
B&H - https://bhpho.to/2n45tJf
Amazon - http://amzn.to/2mNWycS
Adorama - http://jal.bz/2n3Z5ls
Panasonic is planning to add 400mbps ALL-I video encoding for GH5 this summer, but that does not raise the bar of image quality for the videos recorded by the camera as ALL-I has much higher requirements for the bitrate (compared to IPB) for an equivalent image quality. I've created a petition for Panasonic to add support for high bitrate IPB modes into GH5.
If you like that idea, please sign the petition: https://www.change.org/p/panasonic-introduce-4k-4-2-2-ipb-400mbps-and-fhd-4-2-2-ipb-200mbps-modes-for-panasonic-gh5?recruiter=44141647&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=copylink
--------------------
Yes, IPB handles fast movements poorly (compared to ALL-I), but we need both of the highest bitrates that can be handled by the camera within the thermal envelope. Give both and let the operator decide which one suits the subject more.
Long version
------------------
ALL-I codec compresses the bitmap of each frame separately. If we take 4K 24p 10bit 4:2:2 for example, each "I" frame would roughly be 3840 x 2160 x 24 x (10 [Y'] + 5 [Cb] + 5 [Cr]) = 3796.875 Mbps. Thats the raw stream with chroma subsampling (4:2:2) applied.
Now we have to compress it further using two methods - intraframe (ALL-I) or intra+interframe (LongGOP/ IPB).
For ALL-I case the only way to compress it is to apply DCT and entropy encoding, which requires quite a bit of bitrate for a decent quality. The higher is the compression rate here, the more prominent the macro blocks are. The two obvious benefits of this compression are the ability to capture very quick movements (those do not require any extra bandwidth/processing compared to static ones) and lower computational complexity during video editing in post (no need to recreate frames using information from the neighboring frames, like it happens for IPB encoding).
For LongGOP/IPB case, the same approach is used for "I" frames, but those are emitted only once in a while (typically - half the framerate, every 12-th frame in our case). Another approach is used for the remaining 11 frames of each 12-frame period. The encoder divides the frame into macroblocks and for each of the macroblocks tries to find its previous location in the preceding frame. If it succeeds, it records only the information about how the macroblock has moved (plus some bitmap error correction data as moving objects ca slightly change their shape/color/luminosity). If it fails, it encodes the macroblock as bitmap (just like for "I" frame case).
Thus, for the cases, when there is no rapid movement in the frame (that causes the encoder not to find previous locations for macroblocks and thus requiring more bandwidth due to the emitted bitmaps), IPB encoding gives better image quality for the same bitrate. It has much higher computational complexity in both - encoding and decoding. Raising the quality for IPB encoding would mean dropping less bits in DCT (not adding much for processing) plus looking for moving macroblocks in wider areas (adds a lot and is memory bandwidth bound).
To summarize, ALL-I encoding handles fast movements much better, but requires higher bitrates for equivalent image quality (compared to IPB), while IPB encoding handles less dynamic streams much better compression rate wise, allowing higher image quality for the same bandwidth (compared to ALL-I).
What my petition is about is giving both tools to people and letting them choosing, whether they want higher IQ at the expense of inability to keep the image quality (IQ) at that level in case of rapid movements, or they want to have constant IQ that is lower, but handles rapid movements with no IQ degradation.
IPB at 150 Mbps gives IQ equvalent to 400 Mbps ALL-I (if we have no rapid movement in the frame). By implementing 400 Mbps IPB Panasonic would give us an ability to get maximum IQ out of the camera (for some subjects).
400mbps at 24p ALL-I = 16mbit per frame
In IPB GOP You're breaking down the 400mbps to where every 3 frames the compression ratio of each frame roughly translates to:
I = 30mbits per frame
P = 15mbits per frame
B = 5 mbits per frame
multiply by 8 to get 24p IPB 400mbit. So you're resolving 8 I frames at 30mbit each but the rest are diluted to 8 P frames at 15 mbit each and 8 B frames at 5mbits each if my calculation and ratios are correct. (Even if it isnt, the breakdown for each I P B frame bitrate would be similar)
Wouldnt an equal spread of 16mbit frames throughout the entire 1 second be better than that compression ratio?
ALL-I is better for motion anyways as IPB Long GOP is preferred for less motion sequences due to the compression and calculation for each P and B frame.
Just got my GH5 and I love it.... wanted to ask you what SD card will I need when they 400Mbps firmware update will come?
Will this card be enough?
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1275616-REG/sandisk_sdsdxxg_128g_ancin_extremepro_sdhc_128gb.html?sts=pi
Or will I need a faster one?
Max Read Speed: 95 MB/s
Max Write Speed: 90 MB/s
From what I understand it is the write speed that is important. I'm asking because most UHS-II (2 rows of pins) actually have slower writing speed than 90 MB/s. Lexar UHS-II card has for example only 80 MB/S write speed (and 150 MB/s read speed - which actually does not matter as much)
Basically what I would like to know, what write speed is required after the firmare update for 400 mbps 4K modes? Would appreciate if you could check it up if possible.... I don't want to buy wrong cards.... Thanks
That aside, going Live and providing interesting content in an easy to understand way is very much appreciated.
Easiest way to test this would be to film something dropping in front of a ruler. Normal 24p should show the object moving the same distance in each frame. Alas, I do not have a GH5 (yet?) to test this on. :)
Comments from YouTube