4K Video

4K video refers to footage recorded at approximately 3840 x 2160 pixels, the format known as Ultra HD (UHD) 4K. This is four times the pixel count of 1080p Full HD (1920 x 1080). The higher resolution provides more detail in the recorded image, which is visible on large display sizes where lower resolutions appear soft. 4K also gives flexibility in post-production: footage can be cropped, stabilised digitally, or reframed without the crop becoming visible at the final 1080p delivery resolution.

4K in M43 cameras is recorded either from the full sensor area or from a cropped region, depending on the camera model and shooting mode. Full-sensor 4K reads data from the entire sensor and downsamples to 4K resolution, producing higher quality footage by averaging information across a larger area. Cropped 4K reads only a portion of the sensor at near 1:1 pixel mapping, which can introduce an additional crop on top of the standard M43 2x crop factor. Manufacturers publish crop factors for each recording mode in their full product specifications.

Frame rate is a separate specification from resolution. 4K video can be recorded at 24fps, 25fps, 30fps, or 60fps depending on the camera. 60fps doubles the temporal resolution compared to 30fps and enables smooth slow-motion playback at half speed. Some M43 cameras support 4K 60fps without a recording time limit; others apply a crop or restrict recording duration due to processor heat. The availability of 4K 60fps and any associated crop factor should be verified in the camera's specifications before purchase.

4K video files are significantly larger than 1080p files at equivalent quality, requiring faster memory cards and more storage. High-bitrate 4K recording modes in M43 cameras typically require UHS-II cards to sustain the data rate without dropped frames or recording stops. Some M43 cameras support more efficient codecs such as H.265 or Apple ProRes, which reduce file size at comparable quality compared to H.264, reducing storage and transfer time demands.