Optimal Bayer CFA codecs?

Biggiesized · 8th May 2013, 19:35

Given the growing abundance of digital cinema style cameras on the market, there has been a growing need to capture and record RAW sensor data onto high speed solid-state media. Compressed R'G'B' or Y'U'V' data in the form of (10-bit/8-bit) H.264 Intra or ProRes or DNxHD hasn't been a problem for some time, but 12-/14-/16-bit linear RAW can represent a lot of bandwidth.

If you want to go the mathematically lossless route, what are some the best codecs applicable today in terms of compression ratio and hardware requirements? I've done some research and here's what I've turned out:

1) JPEG-LS (HP Labs LOCO-I) - not that effective on CFA but perhaps it can be further optimized
2) JPEG2000 - popularized by RED even though they've gone the lossy route (3~12:1 compression ratio); there is a 5/3 CDF wavelet transform for lossless compression
3) Various vector prediction techniques - one example
4) Libima - experimental; not sure if it's abandonware
5) CinemaDNG - I believe it supports a HuffYUV style lossless compression mode, at least on the upcoming BMPC

Any others to consider?

8th May 2013, 19:35	#1 \| Link
Biggiesized Registered User Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 225	Optimal Bayer CFA codecs? Given the growing abundance of digital cinema style cameras on the market, there has been a growing need to capture and record RAW sensor data onto high speed solid-state media. Compressed R'G'B' or Y'U'V' data in the form of (10-bit/8-bit) H.264 Intra or ProRes or DNxHD hasn't been a problem for some time, but 12-/14-/16-bit linear RAW can represent a lot of bandwidth. If you want to go the mathematically lossless route, what are some the best codecs applicable today in terms of compression ratio and hardware requirements? I've done some research and here's what I've turned out: 1) JPEG-LS (HP Labs LOCO-I) - not that effective on CFA but perhaps it can be further optimized 2) JPEG2000 - popularized by RED even though they've gone the lossy route (3~12:1 compression ratio); there is a 5/3 CDF wavelet transform for lossless compression 3) Various vector prediction techniques - one example 4) Libima - experimental; not sure if it's abandonware 5) CinemaDNG - I believe it supports a HuffYUV style lossless compression mode, at least on the upcoming BMPC Any others to consider?