Should I shoot a video at FullHD or 4K?

Despite having four times more resolution pixels than 1080p video, 4K still raises concerns when shooting videos. The matter here is that you know which resolution is suitable for your filming purposes.

Below are some advantages and disadvantages of FullHD and 4k resolution, to help you make the right choice of which one you should choose.

1. FullHD Video

1080p, also known as FullHD (FHD for short) – this is a parameter that represents 1920 x 1080 video resolution with a high pixel density and sharpness. The recording standard is integrated on many mid-range smartphones such as iPhone 7, Mi 8 SE.

FullHD 1080p video has high sharpness, giving clearer and killer details than the 720p HD resolution.

FullHD or 4K video?

Currently, YouTubers almost focus on resolution rather than content frame rate (fps), and they usually choose 24fps or 30fps. However, scientists have shown that the human eye and brain prefer content displayed at 60fps over 24fps and 30fps.

For realistic and sharp motion videos, don’t miss this frame rate. With 60fps, we can easily switch to the slow-motion effect or reduce the speed to 30fps in the next video editing steps.

The 60fps frame rate is also applied to high-speed video games.

Pros:

• High sharpness.
• Video file size is big enough to share on the Internet or to store.
• Many phones now support 1080p recording at 60fps, allowing for better video recording quality.

Cons:

Lower resolution than 4K

2. 4K video

4K resolution helps smartphones record movies with 3840 x 2160 pixels or 4096 x 2160 pixels, with super sharp colors, movements, and realistic pictures.

In addition, sensors integrated on the camera combined with the image processing chip help the phone adjust lightness and stabilization flexibly.

Note: To view the actual sharpness of 4K videos, you need a device that can play 4K video (usually a 4K resolution TV)

Pros:

• High sharpness and definition thanks to 4 times pixels.
• Better post-production.

Cons:

• The video file size is big to store in smartphone memory and takes time to share on the Internet.
• Popular social networks don’t yet support 4K, for example, Facebook.
• Your device processes more data, and it consumes more battery.

So, when should I record a 4K video or a Full HD video?

Applying FullHD if you:

• Want to save your device’s internal memory.
• Reduce waiting time when uploading videos to social networks.
• Recording 60fps video with fast-moving scenes.

Applying 4K if you:

• Capture outstanding moments that require high resolution.
• Need post-production, high-quality video editing.
• Record relatively static scenes.

So, it all depends on your needs and purposes to shoot in Full HD or 4K resolution. If you only upload a video to Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, or any social network platforms, then FullHD and a good subtitling tool are good enough.

As for Youtubers, recording videos in 4K mode will be the better choice to have a sharper and clearer video.

Read more:

• Should we embed videos in emails?
• Subtitles vs Closed Captions vs SDH Subtitles: Which is best for you?
• Thousands already know these 8 tips to build engaging subtitle video, and so should you