It's an unwritten rule that everything is better in slow-motion. But there's a good chance your eyes aren't ready for the next level of awesomeness from Phantom's new Flex4K camera that can capture an astounding 1,000 frames per second at a resolution of 4096 x 2160. In other words? Every last detail captured in super, super, super slow-motion.
Two years ago, 3D televisions and computer displays were going to be the technological advancement that changed the game. It didn’t. If flopped. It went from being a huge part of CES 2011 to a no-show at CES 2013.
The “next big thing” that did make a stout appearance at CES 2013 was 4K Ultra HD. Several companies put their latest display technology front and center at the show, boasting of four times the visual quality of 1080P HD. If the video below and article by Matt Buchanan at Buzzfeed are true, this game changer might actually change the game… for real this time.
Every CES has an unofficial theme. These themes are born from companies that want to prove their cutting edge products are better than the competition. This year, 4K televisions were a central part of the show. Sony couldn’t stop gloating about its 4K TVs during its press conference, and Samsung took much pride in unveiling its 110-inch Ultra HD television. While seeing these televisions in person is a sight to behold, I can’t help but feel televisions like these are dead on arrival.
The Panasonic liveblog was barely finished when we saw this beauty calling out to us from the show floor. This is Panasonic's 20" 4K tablet, running Windows 8. It's a prototype design right now, but seemed to be pretty well put together, and not something quickly knocked up for the show. Given that it's not a full release model, details on specifications are sparse, but we can tell you that as well as that truly jaw dropping display, there is a front facing camera (no details on resolution, but possibly 2-megapixel), and an Intel Core i5 running the show. Input / output wise there wasn't a lot going on, but there was micro-USB, microSD and at least WiFi. If you're thinking that that display is going to pretty much keep you tethered to a wall to keep it powered, then we were told that it will at least give you two hours of use on the go.
Imagine 80-inch screens with quadruple the image quality of Full HD, plus passive 3D content that you'd consider actually watchable. That's 4K TV technology. It could deliver a stunning home theater experience—just as soon as 4K-enabled TV's like Sony's latest begin to cost less than a Kia.
But what exactly is 4K, and why should you care? Here's a brief history of the future of television.
After proving that a 1080p webcam on USB 3.0 was possible, to the surprise of none, Point Grey's latest addition is a little more impressive, This "ice-cube sized" camera can pipe 4,096 x 2,160 images through that capacious USB 3.0 port, using Sony's new IMX1221 Exmor R sensor. Thanks to its size, the camera is geared toward business-centric applications, including broadcasting and high-resolution optical inspection -- which goes some way to explaining the $945 retail price. The full technical spec sheet waits in the press release, right after the break.
I've been waiting for this moment for a long time and, at last, it's here: Tom Lowe has released his stunning documentary TimeScapes, a silent portrait of our planet captured with exquisite 4K cinematography.
It's available in iTunes up to 1080p and also from his site at 1440p. That's 2560 x 1440 pixels, the first 1440p film ever sold, which looks breathtakingly perfect in my 2560 x 1440-pixel iMac display.
The Canon EOS-1D C is the 4K DSLR that many filmmakers have been clamoring for. It costs $15,000, which means you can't afford it. Bummer? Hardly. Canon's paving the road to a beautiful super-high-resolution future. Get excited.
When we first got a look at Canon's 4K DSLR concept in the fall, we were cautiously excited. It's undeniably neat technology, but we knew it would be outrageously expensive, and it's not tech that's meant for your average consumer. Make no mistake: the 1D C is targeted squarely at pro filmmakers. While most DSLRs only shoot Full HD 1920 x 1080-pixel footage, the 1D C can shoot at up to a whopping 4096 x 2160 resolution. That's currently really only useful for high-end productions that are going to be screened using expensive 4K projectors. Films like The Social Network were shot in 4K. Your friend's indie flick? Probably not.
