ProAV TV released a video that explains data rates of Sony a7S III video recording in all three internal video codecs: XVAC S, XVAC S-I and XVAC HS. But first let’s breakdown Sony a7S III video recording modes.
XVAC S
Sony’s traditional H.264 codec results in small file sizes but is more computing power intensive for playback because of the way it compresses data between frames.
XVAC S-I (NEW)
This new XVAC S Intra Frame H.264 codec compresses each frame individually. This results in larger file sizes making it the best choice for final image quality and fastest editing speed.
XVAC HS (NEW)
This new H.265 codec offers data rates similar to XVAC S, but much higher quality thanks to its more efficient compression. XVAC HS is the best way to get lots of high quality footage onto one card, but the trade-off is that its much harder to edit and will likely require the extra step of transcoding to ProRes before editing.
4K 3840×2160 24p Data Rates (approx)
XVAC S
8 Bit 4:2:0 24p 100Mbps
10 Bit 4:2:2 24p 100Mb/s
XVAC S-I
10 Bit 4:2:2 24p 240Mbps
XVAC HS
10 Bit 4:2:0 24p 100Mbps
10 Bit 4:2:2 24p 100Mbps
4K 3840×2160 30p Data Rates (approx)
XAVC S
8 Bit 4:2:0 30p 100Mbps / 60Mbps
10 Bit 4:2:2 30p 140Mbps
XAVC S-I
10 Bit 4:2:2 30p 300Mbps
4K 3840×2160 60p Data Rates (approx)
XVAC S
8 Bit 4:2:0 60p 150Mbps
10 Bit 4:2:2 60p 200Mbps
XVAC S-I
10 Bit 4:2:2 60p 600Mbps
XVAC HS
10 Bit 4:2:0 60p 150Mbps / 75Mbps / 45Mbps
10 Bit 4:2:2 60p 200Mbps / 100Mbps
4K 3840×2160 120p Data Rates (approx)
XVAC S
8 Bit 4:2:0 120p 200Mbps
10 Bit 4:2:2 120p 280Mbps
XVAC HS
10 Bit 4:2:0 120p 200Mbps
10 Bit 4:2:2 120p 280Mbps
HD 1920×1080 24p Data Rates (approx)
XVAC S
8 Bit 4:2:0 24p 50Mbps
10 Bit 4:2:0 24p 50Mbps
XVAC S-I
10 Bit 4:2:0 24p 89Mbps
HD 1920×1080 30p Data Rates (approx)
XVAC S
8 Bit 4:2:0 30p 50Mbps / 16Mbps
10 Bit 4:2:2 30p 50Mbps
XVAC S-I
10 Bit 4:2:2 30p 111Mbps
HD 1920×1080 60p Data Rates (approx)
XVAC S
8 Bit 4:2:0 60p 50Mbps / 25Mbps
10 Bit 4:2:2 60p 50Mbps
XAVC S-I
10 Bit 4:2:2 60p 222Mbps
HD 1920×1080 120p Data Rates (approx)
XVAC S
8 Bit 4:2:0 120p 100Mbps / 25 Mbps
via: ProAV TV
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4 thoughts on “ProAV TV Explains of Sony a7S III Video Data Rates”
I’m going to do 4K 120fps using XVAC HS. I won’t transcode but I will create proxies in premiere.
I want to see the file size of 120fps to see if I will be shooting constantly in 120fps so I always have room to slow it down in post or just shoot the scenic slow mo stuff in 120ffps and shoot the rest at 60fps.
Nice and comprehensive information. Found it really interesting. Thanks for sharing. I’ll look forward to more of such information. Thanks a lot.
4K 3840×2160 24p Data Rates (approx)
XVAC S
10 Bit 4:2:2 24p 200Mb/s
4K 3840×2160 30p Data Rates (approx)
XAVC S
10 Bit 4:2:2 30p 140Mbps
Data rates @30p is less than @24p, is that right?
wired
I re-checked the video and yes, that is what it says. HOWEVER the author issued this revision in the comments section:
“XAVC S 24p in 10 bit 4.2.2 is 100 Mbps, not 200Mbps as stated in this video.”
I’ve adjusted this post to reflect their revision. Thanks for catching that.