Originally posted by mrmentera Could a cropped videomode in new firmware make it possible to get at least 1080/60p?
Use, for example, an aps-c sized part of the sensor, which when it comes to filming is big enough for most purposes.
Is it the process to count down pixelinfo from every pixel in the full format to HD that steals processorpower and limits it to 1080/30p?
And same question for 4K. Could it be possible to get it if you just use that size of the sensor that gives exact amount of pixels for 4K? That will actually be a little smaller than aps-c. But Panasonic GH4 uses a much smaller sensorarea.
The image is already cropped because of that dreadful movie SR.
I think it is more likely that the encoder in that old Milbeaut processor is simply not capable of more.
About the Milbeaut M-7M series processor:
Quote: In terms of video processing, proprietary algorithms make it possible for H.264/AVC compression and decompression on full.HD 30p and 60i video.
Btw., the Nikon D5100 is capable of recording raw video. Not quite 1080p, but still. The interesting bit is that it is capable of doing so by grabbing the live view, AND that Nikon more or less uses the same processors that Pentax does. Now, Pentax does have SR during live view. The good kind of SR, not movie SR. So with a hacked firmware... Not that it is going to happen, but still. If only Pentax would give developers like those guys from Magic Lantern access to the firmware, so they can create one that appeals to the video folks. Having 2 SD slots at their disposal perhaps 1080p raw is possible, and that would be pretty nice.
Anyway, back to Nikon and 4K:
The D5, which should be using some Milbeaut processor, does 4K, though only for 3 minutes.
The D500, using a APS-C sensor, does 4K for 30 minutes. However it does crop the frame down to 8 MP for 4K (which is 8 MP). So for some reason it can't do pixel binning to the extent that is necessary. Why... who knows. It's possible that the sensor readout speed just isn't that fast... it can't read 20 MP at least 24 times a second (and if it could, rolling shutter should be massive). However it does do 1080p videos using the full sensor... but perhaps it will not read all pixels but just, say, 4 MP, and then scale down from there. If Pentax were to take a 8 MP area from the 36 MP sensor we'd end up with a massive crop, far beyond what would be useful. And offering 4K for the sake of 4K, even if it is useless in the way it is implemented, is unnecessary IMHO.
I doubt that the D500 has the same processor as the K-1 though. It supports 1080p at 60 fps. Btw., the old D810 does do 1080p at 60 fps, too!
Looking further into Socionext (who do the Milbeaut processor) the latest processor they have on their website is that Milbeaut chip from 2013 that does only do 30p and 60i. Were any improvements on that only done for Nikon? That old chip will clearly not be capable of doing 4K, crop or no crop. In that case it isn't surprising that Pentax doesn't have access to the newer features. They may have to spend quite a bit to get a custom chip too. Or perhaps Nikon has an additional encoder chip in their cameras? Or maybe Socionext just didn't update their website. Btw. they do have a chip capable of encoding 4K at 60 fps in HEVC... but it's pretty massive. Looks bigger than the older DRIMe V found in the Samsung NX1 (which maxes out at 30 fps though).