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The opportunity of creating 8K Super Ultra HD and HDR video now. 

The opportunity of creating 8K Super Ultra HD and HDR video at current time.

This research is intended for videographers who have been working with full HD and 4K videos. My research will give all the necessary information to start working with 8K video. It will allow to avoid the necessity to solve the problem of transition to the new format, avoiding the testing and examination.
 
In this article I am looking into the ability of creating an 8K video now. These are the aspects such as: which cameras can shoot 8K video, the ability of working with 8K videos in different programs, the ability of publishing 8K videos, which TVs are compatible with 8K.
 

8K Super UHD Standard

4K resolution has 3 standards with different resolutions. For 8K there are also a few resolution standards. However, it could be said that the main standard of 8K resolution for video is going to be 7680 x 4320 pixels. This resolution is already used by YouTube, and 8K TVs will have this resolution. That is why you don’t need to think about which particular resolution works for your 8K project. But if you are shooting for movies… you’d be set precise specifications.
 As a rule, frame frequency is 29.97fps or 59.94fps is used. Rarely 120 fps can be used as well.
 

Cameras for shooting 8K videos

1.The most beneficial solution for shooting 8K video is shooting Time Lapses by photo cameras.
The following conclusions are made by the technical specifications of cameras.
8K video can be shot now by:  
Nikon D850: Resolution 45.4 MP, 8256 x 5504
Canon EOS 5DS & 5DS R: Resolution 50.3 MP, 8688 x 5792
Sony Alpha 7R II: Resolution 42 MP, 7952 x 5304
Sony Alpha 7R III: Resolution 42 MP, 7952 x 5304
I recommend to use these Sony cameras as they have silent shooting mode. In this mode the mechanical shutter isn’t used. And so, you can shoot a large amount of photos for time lapse without worrying about shutter life expectancy.
 
2.You can also use Medium Format Digital Cameras, such as Pentax, Fujifilm, Hasselblad, Phase One. But this is an expensive solution for Time Lapses.

 
3. Now real time 8K videos can be shot by RED cameras: Epic-W and Weapon. But this is an even more expensive solution.
 
4. You can also shoot 8K videos using your 4K camera by making 9 shots as a photo panorama.
But it is a very complicated process. No softwares can create panoramas for video now.
But, you can use this program PTGui Pro if you convert video in sequence. Other programs will change the parameters of creating panorama from a frame to frame. More detailed information about creating panoramic 8K videos I will share in an upcoming article.
 

Raw converter

Shooting in RAW format allows getting the maximum quality of an image. For working with RAW photos a Raw Converter is used. The two main softwares are Adobe Lightroom and Capture One. You can use any one of them. But consider some of my remarks.
Adobe Lightroom and other software that use Adobe Camera Raw while working with video have one bug. If you suddenly experience the change in white level, for example: the sun reflection on waves, sun beams through the tree leaves, large video panel in a big city, then a medium brightness of frame will be changing. Many videographers think it’s due to a mistake made while shooting, but it’s actually a mistake of Adobe converter. And this is why I use Capture One.
As well I can recommend LRTimelapse as a software for creating Timelapse. But on the other hand, LRTimelapses uses Adobe Raw converter with its previous bug. And for example After Effects can import Raw senses. This is why I do not understand why use LRTimelapse.
Even by using Capture One sometimes, but very rarely, the flickering happens on video.
I can recommend the next flicker removal tools...
1.GBS GBDeflicker. This is a reliable tool to remove flickers for Timelapses.
2. RE:Vision DE:Flicker Time Lapse. This plug-in allows not only to remove flickers on the whole frame but also remove a flick if it’s only on a small part of the frame.
3. RE:Vision DE:Flicker High Speed. Even though this plug-in is intended for another type of flickers sometime it gives a better result than the previous one.
Overall, the result from Revision is better than the one from GBDeflicker, but 1. All plug-ins of RE:Vision demand few frames in the beginning and in the end of a video (first and last frames can be of a poor quality). 2. Rarely unclear distortions can appear on the video. This is why I advise you to use at first RE:Vision, check the outcome, and in case it bugs, use GBDeflicker.
 

Video editing software

My testing of different video-editing programs showed that all of them work with 8K video. I have tested the following programs: Adobe After Effects, Adobe Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve Studio, Final Cut Pro X, Magix Vegas Pro. You can use the program that’s more comfortable for you.
The only error that I’ve encountered is an error that comes up from time to time reading on Windows a file 8K ProRes, created on the MAC

Publishing 8K video

You can publish your video on YouTube. YouTube works correctly with 8K video.
Vimeo accepts 8K video, but allows to view 4K only.
Update: In November 2017, Vimeo accepts 8K video. It allows to download 8K video, but it doesn’t yet allow to view it online.
 

8K TVs, Monitor

The only Monitor available today with the 8K resolution is Dell UP3218K.
Examining the TV manufacturers the only real announce was Sharp AQUOS 8K TV LC-70X500.
It will be released in China in October, in Japan in December, in Taiwan in February 2018, and in Europe in March 2018. Though.. my search on Chinese online shops for this TV was unsuccessful :-(
Presentations of 8K TVs on various exhibitions were happening from 2010. And maybe even sooner. But these presentations did not lead to the 8K TVs appearing at the shops, and therefore, in my practical guide I do not look into them.
 

My workflow

Many people ask me about how I make the video step by step.
I use 8K resolution 7680 x 4320 and 29.97 fps.
My camera is Sony Alpha 7R Mark II. My favourite lens is Sony FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM. I always use a polarizing filter in order to remove the reflection from the leaves, darken the sky. As well I use ND filter 6 stops. It allows to increase the day’s shutterspeed to one second which gives the beautiful flow of water, trace of moving cars, blurred motion of walking people.
As a rule I make one shot in 1.2 seconds. My camera has shown that with this interval it doesn’t skip any frames. Please do not confuse the necessary interval while shooting timelapse 300 frames with the parameter continuous shooting.
For motion camera I use a motorized slider with a turn plate for panning. I do not use expensive systems motion control or 3-axis motorized head. When choosing a motorized slider, you should pay attention to 2 things 1. that while it shoots it makes a stop of motion. 2. Could make a delay after step before shoot to stop camera from vibrating.
For RAW processing I use Capture One for the reasons mentioned above. And make export in sequence TIF 16 bit. For editing and color correction I prefer using Adobe After Effects. This is like photoshop for video. From After Effects I also export in TIF 16 – I work on Windows and Windows isn’t supported with ProRes. The finalizing coding I make on Apple to ProRes. I use ProRes 4444 for high quality video. And I use ProRes 422 LT in order to upload it onto YouTube. I like to overcompensate, but many advice to upload onto YouTube in ProRes 422 Proxy.
 
Good luck making your amazing 8K videos!
 
 
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Analogical article about creating a High Dynamic Range Video I will write in the near future.
 

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