Random Cool Video: Hotel Room Boredom at 2,564 Frames Per Second

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Last week many sites posted images shot at 2,564 frames per second. Now we have full video, and more details about the monster camera that can shoot that fast at full 1080p resolution! The cameraman was Tom Guilmette, and here is what he had to say:

Violating the laws of nature. Playing God. Capturing stuff we are not supposed to see. Potentially opening up a wormhole in the fabric of time.

These are a few of the things I think about while shooting with a Phantom High Speed Digital Cinema camera. The above video is a bunch of test footage I shot to get familiar with the new “Flex” version. I shot inside my Las Vegas Palms Casino hotel room between the hours of 2am and 6am. If you had a Phantom in your bedroom, you would stay up too!

This past weekend, I worked in Las Vegas for FOX shooting the World Championships of Ping Pong (WCPP). Yea, Ping Pong. This is a big sport in many parts of the world and I was working one of the first big televised events. In fact, this program will air all around the world to over 80 million households in the coming months. My job was to capture this fast and mentally demanding sport in a way that was never before seen. Slowing down a celluloid ball by shooting at 2,564 frames per second using a Phantom Flex. The beast can even slow a bullet at 10,000 FPS 480p!

But of course you are here to see the video … so here goes!

Checking around to find out more about the camera, I found out that there is no easy pricing but plenty of details about just what this beast can do:

The Phantom Flex offers an unprecedented degree of flexibility in all areas of high-speed image capture, and goes beyond HD to support 4-megapixel imaging, when the highest resolution is required. Depending on the shooting mode and resolution, the Flex is capable of shooting from 5 fps to over 10,750 fps.

The Phantom Flex offers two user-selectable shooting modes, each adapted to a particular shooting environment. In Standard Mode, the Phantom Flex is just like any other Phantom digital high-speed camera. Shoot at resolutions up to 2560×1600 pixels at anywhere from 10 frames-per-second up to 1,455 frames-per-second (fps). Maximum speed increases as the resolution decreases – up to 2,570 fps at 1920×1080, 5,350 fps at 1280×720, and 10,750 fps at 640×480.

In Phantom HQ Mode, Vision Research’s proprietary image enhancement technology results in electronic image stability unprecedented in digital high-speed cameras: stable blacks, low noise, higher dynamic range, and repeatable shots over the full range of supported resolutions, frame rates and temperatures without the need for pre-shot black references. Maximum frame rates in HQ mode are about half those in Standard mode, which means that in HQ Mode Flex captures images at speeds up to 1,275 fps at 1920×1080 or 2,640 fps at 1280×720.

The Phantom Flex supports multiple workflows: a raw digital workflow, a video workflow, or combination of both for maximum control and flexibility.

With a video workflow, the Flex offers a video signal on the dual-link HD-SDI ports independent of the camera resolution. Set the resolution to 2560×1440 (16:9), and the camera will automatically scale the oversampled image when rendering the video signal. This technique increases the dynamic range in the video signal and virtually eliminates edge artifacts sometimes seen in other Bayer pattern cameras.

Phantom Flex accepts a wide range of industry standard lenses. 35mm (PL, Canon EOS, Nikon F Panavision), Super16m and 2/3″ lenses are all compatible with the Flex.

Key Features
Up to 2,570 fps at 1920×1080 in Standard Mode
12-bit pixel depth
1000 ISO (measured using ISO 12232 SAT method)
HQ Mode provides ultimate in image stability under changing shooting conditions
Phantom CineMag compatible, CineMag interface has field-replaceable pin array
2 x 4:2:2 HD-SDI video ports, can be configured as dual-link 4:4:4 video (4:4:4 not available at 60fps video formats)
Global, electronic shutter to 1 ?s (shutter angles in HQ mode dependent upon frame rate and resolution)
Multi-cine capable via segmented memory
Internal mechanical shutter for hands-free and remote Current Session References
On-camera controls for camera modes, settings, playback, edit & save
Frame synchronization to external signal, allows multiple cameras to be synchronized – essential for stereo 3D recording
12VDC, 1.5A auxiliary power outputs for powering external devices
External trigger signal on camera connector panel and both 12VDC power ports
Genlock for synchronizing video playback – essential for 3D video workflows

The Phantom Flex is sold through custom quotes with an estmate between $50-150,000 … but you can rent it from Rule Boston for $2,500 per day.

I find this technically fascinating, but honestly I am no photographer and my small point-and-shoot and smartphone meet my meager needs. What about you? What could you imagine doing with an amazing camera like this?

TomGuilmette Via Geek.com

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About the Author

Michael Anderson
I have loved technology for as long as I can remember - and have been a computer gamer since the PDP-10! Mobile Technology has played a major role in my life - I have used an electronic companion since the HP95LX more than 20 years ago, and have been a 'Laptop First' person since my Compaq LTE Lite 3/20 and Powerbook 170 back in 1991! As an avid gamer and gadget-junkie I was constantly asked for my opinions on new technology, which led to writing small blurbs ... and eventually becoming a reviewer many years ago. My family is my biggest priority in life, and they alternate between loving and tolerating my gaming and gadget hobbies ... but ultimately benefits from the addition of technology to our lives!

2 Comments on "Random Cool Video: Hotel Room Boredom at 2,564 Frames Per Second"

  1. I’m very much reminded of Dave Chappelle’s hilarious routine “Things look better in slow motion.”

  2. RT @GearDiarySite: Random Cool Video: Hotel Room Boredom at 2,564 Frames Per Second http://goo.gl/fb/Hd9Sf

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