The very first step toward a crisp image is delivering a video signal that every device in the chain can read—switchers, scalers, recorders, streaming encoders, projectors and flat‑panel displays. A mismatch here can result in black screens, stuttering motion, unexpected letter‑boxing or “out‑of‑range” errors. This section explains where you change the format, how each menu relates to the physical outputs, and why certain frame‑rates work better than others.
1 – Where to set the resolution and frame‑rate
| Interface | Menu Path | Outputs it controls |
|---|---|---|
| OSD menu (on‑screen via IR remote) | MENU ▶ VIDEO FORMAT | HDMI, SDI (and USB on CM4‑series) |
| Web GUI – Output Format | VIDEO tab ▶ Output Format | HDMI, SDI — this page shows the same list as the OSD and writes to the same registers. |
| Web GUI – IP Encoder | VIDEO tab ▶ Video Encoder ▶ Resolution & Frame Rate | RTSP, SRT, NDI, HLS network streams. Has no effect on HDMI/SDI. |
Best practice: set HDMI/SDI first (the “baseband” signal), verify your hardware sees it, then match the IP encoder to that same resolution and frame‑rate for one‑to‑one monitoring.
2 – Step‑by‑step
OSD method (requires a monitor)
- Connect the camera’s HDMI or SDI to a screen.
- Press MENU on the IR remote.
- Navigate to VIDEO FORMAT.
- Highlight the desired setting (e.g. 1080p60 or 1080p50).
- Press HOME/ENTER. The camera stores the choice in flash.
- Power‑cycle or System ▶ Reboot so every output port refreshes with the new format.
Web GUI method (headless configuration)
- Browse to
http://<camera‑ip>; default credentials admin / admin. - Open the VIDEO tab.
- In Output Format pick the same resolution / fps pair you need on the hardware outputs.
- Click Apply. The picture will blink; if it disappears entirely your monitor may not support the selection—wait 15 s, the camera rolls back to the last working format.
3 – Why 50 / 60 fps beats 30 / 25 fps
The human eye is sensitive to motion cadence. At 30 fps (or 25 fps in 50 Hz territories) horizontal pans and scrolling text can appear to “jump” from frame to frame. Doubling the rate to 50 or 60 fps halves the time between images, producing fluid motion comparable to modern TVs and mobile devices. The trade‑off is:
- Slightly higher bandwidth on SDI links (3G‑SDI) and network streams.
- 20 % less light per frame when moving from 50 fps to 60 fps, so you may need to open the iris or add gain.
4 – Match Shutter to Frame‑Rate
The shutter time you choose must be no longer than the frame period; otherwise frames are cut off or dropped. The first table shows the technical limits and the “180‑degree” cinematic midpoint. The second table explains the visual trade‑offs so you can pick the right value for your venue.
| Frame‑Rate | Frame Period | Safe shutter range | 180‑degree shutter |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60 fps | 16.67 ms | 1/60 s – 1/10000 s | 1/120 s |
| 50 fps | 20.00 ms | 1/50 s – 1/10000 s | 1/100 s |
| 30 fps | 33.33 ms | 1/30 s – 1/10000 s | 1/60 s |
| 25 fps | 40.00 ms | 1/25 s – 1/10000 s | 1/50 s |
| Shutter region | Effect on picture | Typical use‑case |
|---|---|---|
| Near the frame limit (e.g. 1/30 s at 30 fps) | • Brightest exposure per frame • Pronounced motion blur • Low electronic gain → minimal noise | Dim churches, theatre audience, slow interviews |
| 180‑degree rule (½ frame: 1/60 s @ 30 fps, 1/100 s @ 50 fps) | • Natural, “film‑like” motion blur • Balanced brightness • Works with standard anti‑flicker values (1/60 s, 1/100 s) | Conference rooms, classroom capture, talk‑shows |
| Fast shutter (1/250 s – 1/1000 s) | • Freezes fast action, crisp frames • Image darkens; camera may add gain • Can reveal LED flicker if not matched | Sports, dance, IMAG screens, brightly lit stages |
How to choose quickly
- Start with the 180‑degree shutter for natural motion and solid flicker protection.
- If the scene is too dark and you can’t add light, slow the shutter toward the frame limit but never exceed it.
- If fast movement looks blurry, shorten the shutter (e.g. 1/250 s) and compensate with extra lighting or moderate gain.
- After any shutter change, check for flicker bands—LED fixtures often require exactly 1/60 s (60 Hz) or 1/100 s (50 Hz) to remain clean.
5 – Prevent light flicker
Many LED and fluorescent fixtures pulse with mains power. Pair the camera’s Flicker setting and shutter with your region’s power frequency:
- 50 Hz region (EU, AU, parts of Asia): Flicker = 50 Hz, Shutter 1/100 s.
- 60 Hz region (US, JP): Flicker = 60 Hz, Shutter 1/60 s.
- If bands remain, switch to Manual or SAE, then adjust shutter incrementally (e.g. 1/120 s, 1/80 s) until the bars disappear.
6 – Reboot and verify
- A resolution change rewrites hardware registers; some monitors buffer the old format until power‑cycle. Always reboot or disconnect/re‑connect HDMI / SDI to force fresh EDID negotiation.
- Open your video switcher, recorder or streaming software and confirm it locks to the new resolution and frame‑rate (no red “Unsupported” labels).
- If using SRT/RTSP, refresh the player URL or restart the decoder so the SDP includes the new parameters.