Should Your Church Shoot Video in 1080 or 4K?

Hey everyone, I'm Zach Brown, and today I want to address a common question: Should your church shoot video in 1080p or 4K? This topic is particularly important for church leaders who are new to video production. This article is based on a segment from my in-depth training course, "Church Video Made Simple," which aims to turn complete beginners into confident video creators.

Why Consider 1080p Over 4K?

Visual Difference

One of the primary considerations is the visual difference between 1080p and 4K. For most viewers, especially those watching on standard screens, the difference between 1080p and 4K is negligible. Most screens do not output in 4K, meaning the extra pixels in a 4K image aren't even displayed.

File Sizes

Another critical factor is file size. A 4K image has almost four times the pixels of a 1080p image, resulting in much larger file sizes. This means you'll need significantly more storage space if you opt for 4K. Trust me, there's nothing worse than running out of storage and having to invest in more hard drives.

Editing Speed

Larger file sizes also affect editing speed. 4K files are more demanding on your editing machine, leading to slower playback and potential frame skipping unless you have a very powerful computer. By shooting in 1080p, you can avoid these issues and ensure smoother editing.

When to Shoot in 4K

While 1080p is generally sufficient, there are situations where shooting in 4K can be advantageous:

Camera Quality

Some cameras produce subpar 1080p footage. For example, certain Sony models like the a6300 output lower quality 1080p video compared to their 4K video. If your camera falls into this category, shooting in 4K might be beneficial.

Cropping and Reframing

Shooting in 4K allows for greater flexibility in post-production. If you need to crop or reframe your footage, 4K gives you more pixels to work with, ensuring that the quality remains high even after zooming in.

Conclusion

In most cases, I recommend shooting in 1080p for church videos due to the smaller file sizes and easier editing. However, if your camera's 1080p quality is lacking or you anticipate needing to crop your footage, 4K can be a valuable option.

I hope this article has helped clarify the differences between 1080p and 4K and when to use each. If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment below. Also, check out the full training course linked in the video description for a comprehensive guide to shooting high-quality church videos.

Thank you for reading, and happy filming!