Codec

A codec is the algorithm that compresses video data for storage and decompresses it for playback or editing. All digital video is compressed to some degree — uncompressed 4K video from a camera sensor would generate hundreds of gigabytes per minute and require impractically fast storage to write in real time. Codecs reduce this to manageable sizes using mathematical models that identify and discard data that contributes least to perceived image quality. Different codecs use different approaches to this compression, resulting in different balances of file size, image quality, and editability.

H.264 (AVC) is the most widely supported codec and is used by most M43 cameras for consumer-facing video modes. It provides good image quality at small file sizes and plays back on almost any device without additional software. H.265 (HEVC) is a more recent standard that achieves similar quality at roughly half the bitrate of H.264, but requires more processing power to decode and has narrower software compatibility. Both H.264 and H.265 are inter-frame codecs that store only the changes between frames, which reduces file size but makes individual frames dependent on surrounding frames and can slow editing performance.

ProRes, developed by Apple, is an intra-frame codec that stores every frame independently. This makes it much easier to edit — scrubbing through footage, cutting, and colour grading are all faster because each frame is self-contained. ProRes files are larger than H.265 at equivalent quality, but the editing workflow benefits are significant in professional production contexts. The Panasonic GH7 is the first M43 camera to record ProRes internally. Blackmagic RAW is Blackmagic Design's proprietary format used by the Pocket Cinema Camera series, combining partial RAW latitude with manageable file sizes and tight integration with DaVinci Resolve.