Several implementations relate, for example, to depth encoding and/or filtering for 3D video (3DV) coding formats. A sparse dyadic mode (308) for partitioning macroblocks (MBs) along edges in a depth map is provided as well as techniques for trilateral (or bilateral) filtering of depth maps that may include adaptive selection between filters sensitive to changes in video intensity and/or changes in depth. One implementation partitions a depth picture, and then refines the partitions based on a corresponding image picture. Another implementation filters a portion of a depth picture based on values for a range of pixels in the portion. For a given pixel in the portion that is being filtered, the filter weights a value of a particular pixel in the range by a weight that is based on one or more of location distance, depth difference, and image difference.