Apparatus for varying a coding quantization parameter across a picture, configured to determine a dispersion of a statistical sample value distribution of a high-pass filtered version of a predetermined block of a picture, and determine a coding quantization parameter for the predetermined block depending on the dispersion, characterized in that the apparatus is configured to, in determining the dispersion, use an L p norm with p≥1 to measure the dispersion, and wherein the apparatus is configured to, in determining the coding quantization parameter, subject the dispersion to logarithmization, wherein the apparatus is configured to determine a further dispersion of a statistical sample value distribution of a low-pass filtered version of the predetermined block, which is DC compensated, and perform the determining of the coding quantization parameter for the predetermined block further depending on the further dispersion by computing o b = a L P ̇ b 2 − L avg P ̇ 2 + 1 − a L P ̇ b 2 − L avg P ̇ 2 where o b is a QP index for the predetermined block b, a = 1⁄4, L (·) is a logarithmic conversion, Ṕ b is the dispersion of the statistical sample value distribution of the high-pass filtered version of the predetermined block, Ṕ b is the dispersion of the statistical sample value distribution of the low-pass filtered version of the predetermined block, avg( Ṕ 2)) is an average of the square the dispersion of the statistical sample value distribution of the high-pass filtered version across the picture in entirety, and avg( Ṕ 2)) is an average of the square the dispersion of the statistical sample value distribution of the loa-pass filtered version across the picture in entirety. determine a dispersion of a statistical sample value distribution of a high-pass filtered version of a predetermined block of a picture, and determine a coding quantization parameter for the predetermined block depending on the dispersion, characterized in that the apparatus is configured to, in determining the dispersion, use an L p norm with p≥1 to measure the dispersion, and wherein the apparatus is configured to, in determining the coding quantization parameter, subject the dispersion to logarithmization, wherein the apparatus is configured to determine a further dispersion of a statistical sample value distribution of a low-pass filtered version of the predetermined block, which is DC compensated, and perform the determining of the coding quantization parameter for the predetermined block further depending on the further dispersion by computing o b = a L P ̇ b 2 − L avg P ̇ 2 + 1 − a L P ̇ b 2 − L avg P ̇ 2 where o b is a QP index for the predetermined block b, a = 1⁄4, L (·) is a logarithmic conversion, Ṕ b is the dispersion of the statistical sample value distribution of the high-pass filtered version of the predetermined block, Ṕ b is the dispersion of the statistical sample value distribution of the low-pass filtered version of the predetermined block, avg( Ṕ 2)) is an average of the square the dispersion of the statistical sample value distribution of the high-pass filtered version across the picture in entirety, and avg( Ṕ 2)) is an average of the square the dispersion of the statistical sample value distribution of the loa-pass filtered version across the picture in entirety.