Skip to content
ApertureAuthority

Video · codecs · Log · RAW

Video Format Decoder

Turn a camera menu string into six plain-English decisions. See what changes grading headroom, storage, editing speed, and the kind of camera or drive you should buy.

Spec Decoder

One scary string, six simple choices

A camera menu line looks like a single format. It is not. Pick a recipe and watch it come apart into the layers you actually choose.

  1. ContainerMOV

    The file box

    A QuickTime wrapper. Common on hybrid cameras; holds many codecs.

    Editor-standard
  2. CodecH.265

    How it is compressed

    Efficient compression: better quality per file size, but harder to play back.

    Compact
  3. Bit depth10-bit

    Tone and colour steps

    1,024 steps per channel. The normal floor for Log, smooth gradients, real grading.

    Grade-ready
  4. Chroma4:2:2

    Colour resolution

    Half colour resolution. Holds up for skin tones, green screen, and colour work.

    Post-friendly
  5. Colour profileF-Log2

    The colour curve

    Fujifilm's flat profile. Looks washed out on purpose to protect highlights and shadows.

    Needs a grade
  6. Bitrate200 Mbps

    Data per second

    Doubles the delivery rate. Roughly 25 MB per second to the card.

    Mid weight

Next move

Now choose the file you can finish

The most advanced recording mode is not automatically the best one. Match the format to your light, your edit, your storage, and the time you have to finish the video.

ReadFull codecs and Log guideRead the longer explanation of H.264, H.265, ProRes, RAW, D-Log, F-Log2, S-Log3, and the rest of the stack.OpenBuyCameras for videoCompare cameras by autofocus, stabilization, recording modes, and the kind of files they produce.OpenPlanBuild a video gear pathFilter the catalog by video goal, then add audio, support, and storage only when the footage needs them.Open

Gear path

Gear that changes the video workflow

A recording mode is only useful when the rest of the chain can handle it. Compare the camera, recorder, and storage options that make higher-quality files practical.

Open Gear Finder

Before you leave the calculator

Use the result to name the real limit: light, stability, focal length, or focus distance.

Fit check

Read best-for and skip-if before the retailer click, so the item has to earn its place.

Buying order

Compare similar gear and deal history first, then use the retailer button when the choice is clear.

Product links may earn a commission at no cost to you. Use the calculator first, buy only if the gear solves the actual problem.

How to use the decoder

Step 1

Pick the recording recipe

Choose the closest camera menu recipe to the one you are comparing. The decoder separates it into the individual decisions hiding in the string.

Step 2

Tap a layer

Select the container, codec, bit depth, chroma, color profile, or bitrate token to see what that layer changes and what it does not change.

Step 3

Use the verdict

Compare grading headroom with storage and editing cost. Choose the mode that fits the footage and computer you actually have.

Frequently asked questions

Is Log a codec?

No. Log is a color and tone profile. It records a flatter image for grading. The codec is the compression method, such as H.264, H.265, ProRes, or RAW. You can combine a codec with a Log profile in the same recording mode.

Should I choose H.264 or H.265?

Choose H.264 when playback compatibility and easy editing matter most. Choose H.265 when you want smaller files or 10-bit recording and your computer and editor handle the extra decoding work well.

Do I need 10-bit video?

You do not need it for every clip, but 10-bit is the sensible floor for Log, strong color correction, green screen, smooth gradients, or matching several cameras. For quick delivery in standard color, 8-bit can be enough.

Does RAW automatically look better?

No. RAW preserves more information and gives you more control later, but it creates larger files and adds a more demanding workflow. A well-exposed 10-bit file is often the better choice for a solo creator who wants to finish quickly.

Useful next tools

Gear FinderMatch the camera, audio, and storage path to the files you can actually edit.Shot-List GeneratorPlan the frames before you decide which recording mode you need.Exposure CalculatorFix exposure before asking a flatter profile to save the shot.Golden Hour CalculatorUse the light window to decide whether you need extra grading headroom.