Industry Standards

Chinese broadcast and streaming platforms have specific technical requirements. TV broadcast (CCTV and satellite channels): 4K UHD (3840x2160) is now the standard for primetime content on CCTV-1, CCTV-4K, and major provincial satellite channels. 1080i/p HD remains acceptable for news and secondary channels. Standard codec: XAVC, ProRes 422 HQ, or H.265/HEVC for 4K delivery. Color space: BT.2020 for 4K HDR content, BT.709 for HD SDR content. Streaming platforms (iQIYI, Youku, Bilibili, Tencent Video): 4K HDR (Dolby Vision or HDR10) is preferred for premium content. Minimum 1080p delivery. H.264/H.265 with minimum 50Mbps for 4K. Frame rates: Chinese TV uses 25fps (PAL standard), which differs from NTSC markets (29.97fps). Some streaming platforms accept 24fps for cinematic content. Audio: 5.1 surround (AC-3/E-AC-3) for premium content, stereo PCM for standard delivery. At Zhanru, we ensure all equipment is configured for correct frame rate and color space before your shoot. Our DIT services include on-set quality control to verify your footage meets delivery specifications.

Quality assurance is fundamental to our operation. Every piece of equipment goes through a rigorous multi-point inspection process. Pre-rental inspection: cameras undergo sensor cleaning, firmware verification, full function test (all buttons, menus, recording modes), lens mount check, and test recording with playback verification. Lenses are inspected for element cleanliness, focus ring smoothness, aperture blade accuracy, and optical alignment using a lens projector. Lighting instruments are tested for output consistency, color accuracy (CRI/TLCI measurement), and dimmer function. Sound equipment undergoes frequency response testing and wireless range verification. Post-rental inspection: identical to pre-rental, plus wear assessment and cleaning. Scheduled maintenance: cameras are sent for factory service every 6-12 months or after 500 rental days. Lens rehousing and re-shimming performed annually. All wireless equipment undergoes frequency scanning and certification verification. Documentation: every rental comes with a detailed condition report including serial numbers, firmware versions, and any cosmetic notes. Clients receive photos of their equipment condition before dispatch. Our QC team consists of experienced camera technicians with manufacturer certification from ARRI, Sony, RED, and Canon.

Data security is a critical concern for international productions in China. Media workflow: always use a dedicated DIT station for data backup — never rely on a single media card. Our recommended workflow is: shoot to dual-slot recording (camera primary + backup), offload to two independent drives at wrap, verify checksums (MD5 or XXHash), and create a third cloud backup when bandwidth permits. Data transfer: be aware that some Western cloud services (Google Drive, Dropbox) are blocked in China. We recommend using local services like Alibaba Cloud (Aliyun) or Baidu Pan for temporary storage, or setting up a VPN-connected NAS for direct upload to your home office. For large datasets, physical drive shipping via DHL/FedEx is often faster and more reliable than internet transfer. Media cards and drives: we provide freshly formatted media with every rental — CFexpress Type B, CFast 2.0, SSD modules for RED, and SxS cards. All media is securely wiped using DoD-standard erasure methods between rentals. We recommend bringing your own media for maximum security. Legal compliance: China's Data Security Law and Personal Information Protection Law apply to certain types of footage (especially content featuring identifiable individuals or sensitive locations). Our production coordinators can advise on compliance requirements.