We use essential cookies to run the site and, with your consent, analytics and marketing cookies. You can change your choice at any time. Privacy Policy
Introductory·6 min read
A high-speed camera records thousands to hundreds of thousands of frames per second to play back in slow motion events that are too fast for the eye, with sensors, memory and triggering designed for the purpose.
A high-speed camera is one that captures far above the 24 to 60 fps of ordinary video: from about 1,000 fps to more than 700,000 fps, depending on the resolution. Slow playback follows from that: 1 second recorded at 10,000 fps becomes 400 seconds played at 25 fps.
A fast-readout CMOS sensor sends the frames to internal RAM (8 GB to 512 GB in Phantom cameras). Recording is circular until the trigger, which freezes the segment of interest (with pre-trigger). The video is then offloaded to the workstation or to a CineMag.
The maximum rate depends on the resolution: the smaller the area read from the sensor, the more frames per second. That is why a model is described by two numbers: fps at maximum resolution and maximum fps at reduced resolution.
At 10,000 fps each frame lasts at most 100 microseconds; to freeze motion, the exposure is usually much shorter. High speed calls for a lot of continuous, flicker-free light, or laser illumination in welding.
Crash test, ballistics, combustion, PIV, DIC, biomechanics, machine diagnostics, welding, electronics, biomedical, broadcast and cinema. See the 18 applications on the Phantom site.
From about 1,000 fps to more than 700,000 fps, depending on the model and the resolution; the TMX 7510 reaches 76,000 fps at 1 Mpx.
A phone reaches 240 or 960 fps at reduced resolution and for a short time; a high-speed camera works at thousands of fps, with a sensor, memory, trigger and synchronization built for measurement.
Tell us what you plan to film and the DVPRO team recommends the camera, memory and lens for your test, or brings a Phantom to your lab for a demo.