Tag Archives: 2k

Chronos 4k12 and Q12 Hi-Speed Announced!

Krontech the Canadian Hi-speed camera company has released press information for two new global shutter camera releases due to ship in 2024.  While they did excellent work with the Chronos 1.4 720p and Chronos 2.1 HD 1080p slow motion cameras, many users of the platform clamored for more resolution and better image quality.  Enter the new Chronos 4k12 a full 4k Camera capable of 1,397 FPS at 8 bit 4096 x 2160 resolution or at 3840 x 2160
UHD 1,491 FPS.  

To put this in perspective, the Phantom 4k camera does 4k at 1k fps and costs around $80k USD for a starter kit.  This new Chronos camera has some serious punch for the TV, Web, and Film industries that need the extra resolution. We can see many production houses adopting this camera for production without breaking the bank in a compact and fully contained package.  → Continue Reading Full Post ←

i-SPEED 726 Becomes Fastest HD Slow Motion Camera Today!

i-SPEED 726

Not too long ago the Vision Research Phantom v2640 was amazing us with 4MP capture at 6,600fps with incredible quality. Now iX Cameras with offices in the UK, USA and Shanghai China is turning heads with an extreme spec sheet of 3 Megapixels 2048×1536 at 8,512fps and a Full HD 1080p frame rate of 12,742fps which is just 242fps higher than the Phantom v2640 at 12,500fps.

The relative camera memory speed and pixel capture rate is very similar between these two behemoths but you have to give the crown to the i-SPEED 726 for the 3 megapixel 8,512fps which brings in a whole new level of temporal detail at above Full HD resolution.  Of course, these cameras do not share their pricing unless you request a quote which you cannot share publicly. However, expect to pay high 5 figures for the best the technology has to offer.

i-SPEED 726 Main Specs:

  • High-resolution 2048×1536 pixel sensor
  • Full resolution to 8,512 frames/second
  • 1080p resolution at 12,742 frames/second
  • Up to 288 GB of on-board memory for long recordings
  • Internal or external SSD drive for fast data transfer
  • Class leading 26 GP/sec throughput
  • Microlens sensor for exceptional light sensitivity
  • Wide Dynamic Range recording
  • Global electronic shutter to 1 µs
  • 1 hour battery life
  • Compatible with all Nikon F and Canon EF mount lenses
  • Maximum frame rate – 1,000,000 fps
  • Flexible frame synchronization from 10 Hz to 200 kHz
  • Environmentally rugged package available
  • 32 point integrated real-time health monitoring system
  • 96 / 144 / 192 / 288GB RAM Memory
  • Mono ISO 5,000D(sat) / 40,000D(sat)
  • Color ISO 1,800D(sat) / 14,400D(sat)

IMAGER Specs:
Sensor type Custom CMOS
Sensor resolution 2048 x 1536 pixel
Sensor size 27.972 mm x 20.736 mm
Sensor diagonal 34.82 mm
Pixel size 13.5 μm
Bit depth 12 bit (36 bit color)
ISO (12232-2:2006, D, sat) Mono 5,000 / 40,000 (max)
Color 1,800 / 14,400 (max)
Maximum frame rate 1,000,000 fps
Shutter type Global exposure
Shutter time, standard 1 μs minimum
Shutter time, fast mode 277 ns
WDR Wide Dynamic Range

Lens mounts available:

F mount (Nikkor D) / F mount (Nikkor G)
C mount / EF mount

With a large sensor at 13.5 μm pixels and near 35mm diagonal it becomes a very good low light performer which is essential for high-resolution cameras that shoot high frame rates but don’t want to sacrifice image quality due to the artifacts caused by smaller pixel sizes.  The mounting support is very good with both Canon and Nikon F+G mounts supported and the C mount option if needed.

This is an ideal camera for wildlife documentarians and filmmakers who need the next level of frame rate performance for their productions.

Video Samples:

Bloodhound SSC rocket test 2,000 fps and 4,000 fps mono and color by iX Cameras:

High-Speed Liquid Atomization, Particle Image Velocimetry and Spray System Compilation by iX Cameras: → Continue Reading Full Post ←

Sony FS5 240fps Full HD Camera Gets $750 Price drop!

Sony FS5

The original Sony FS5 not the Mark II which does 240fps and 120fps full HD recording with excellent quality as well as 4k 240fps with an external recorder has dropped in price precipitously. The -$750 price drop makes the camera only $3,498 for the body only which is now competitive with pro SLRs and higher-end mirrorless cameras.

The FS5 camera has been used in productions all over the world and it is a favorite of many videographers for its form factor and dependability. We like it here at HSC by retaining the 10th position on our guide with excellent quality 120fps and 240fps full HD 1080p and pristine quality in 4k 240fps using a recorder like the Atomos Shogun series. The camera also allows 480fps and 960fps @ 1920*270px for short bursts much like the Sony RX series but slightly behind in quality to those latest cameras in those higher modes. Is an FS5 Mark III getting ready to launch or just end of product life rebates?

Sony FS5 Slow Motion Video Samples:

Here are a few video samples from the Sony FS5 that may help you see if this camera fits your needs in higher frame rates.  There is no denying that the FS5 is a professional tool capable of greatness in the right hands. -HSC

Sony PXW-FS5 Slow Motion Comparison by KBS visuals:

Track and Field Slowed Down | Sony FS5 RAW 2K 240FPS by DIY ProFilms: → Continue Reading Full Post ←

Red Hydrogen One Might Be Best Slow Motion Phone Ever!

Red Hydrogen One

The RED Hydrogen One phone has a lot to live up to but contrary to many doubters it may be just that good when it comes to video and photo quality. How good? By some accounts, it may be unrivaled by any phone currently and possibly for the foreseeable future thanks to the special software that is running on that last year’s Snapdragon 835 chip which is now outdated but still usable to create what RED touts as an imaging phone for the connoisseur.

We expect 4k quality in better codecs than the competition, with the ability to surpass 4k 60p which is the current phone upper limit for frame rates and resolution. As far as higher frame rates go we simply cannot find a lot of information when it comes to the way video is captured but read along to see something that may get a little closer to unraveling the mystery. New phone final body images have been released here in the forums.

Red Hydrogen One Is this the phone we have been waiting for?

As you can see in the image above which was found on the RED Hydrogen forum here there seems to be an ability to move frame rates on the phone to 120 and 240fps even in UHD and 2k cinema resolutions, but it could also mean that only the green portions are available for each resolution and the greyed out ones are not selectable as indicated by a commenter below. As to the validity of this, we will have to wait and see but it is quite encouraging to see an interface devoted to professional video options which take care to establish frame rates as a prime feature.

The Youtuber Marques Brownlee has also posted a Hydrogen One Prototype unboxing which you may find interesting and will give you a sense of what the phone is like physically.

RED Hydrogen One Unboxing! (Houdini Edition) by Marques Brownlee:

We do not venture on speculation much here at HSC but we will keep a close eye on the Hydrogen One and how it develops.  You may also like to see some of the posted image samples from the still camera module on the Houdini prototype phone in this pretty cool thread here: https://h4vuser.net/t/houdini-camera-quality/2027

RED has pushed back the Hydrogen One release date to 2nd of November 2018, with pre-orders beginning October 9th.

The Hydrogen One aluminum version will be available on these carriers: AT&T, Verizon, and Telcel for $1,295.00 USD. The Titanium variant will be out in 2019 and should be $200 USD More. More to come as the release date nears. -HSC

Fran 8k Camera by Cinemartin First Manufacturing Sample!

Fran 8k Camera

The people at Cinemartin have publicly released new specs and images of the first industrial prototype of the cinema camera.  There are some killer features like 8k RAW video at 24p and up to 96fps RAW recording in both 4k DCI and1080p HD. Some other frame rates include 48p and 60p in a variety of resolutions which are needed for cinema production in either higher fps or just as a shooting necessity like 48p to get the Hobbit look.

One of the most impressive features listed is the ability to shoot in true Vista Vision format at 7920 x 6024 pixels for 8k at 24p that turns out to be 47.7MP; also the Dual ISO recording feature which will be available by August 2019 which allows dual recording capability for an extreme Dynamic Range improvement.  Other features include: Global Shutter, Internal full sensor downsampling, and in-camera electronic image stabilization.

Fran 8k Frame Rate Table:

As you can see from the above table, frame rates will cap on the high end at 96fps for both 4k and Full HD 1080p.  These will be activated in the Spring 2019 update after the camera launches.   The camera will probably be shown at IBC 2018 in Amsterdam this 13-17 of September. By that time pricing and pre-orders should be available.

Fran 8k More Specs List:

  • SENSOR – FRAN GS 47.7 MEGAPIXEL CMOS SENSOR
  • EFFECTIVE PIXELS – 7920 x 6024
  • SENSOR SIZE- 37 mm x 27 mm (Diagonal 46.2 mm)
  • LENS MOUNT: EF and PL by (2019)
  • DYNAMIC RANGE -15+ stops
  • MAX DATA RATE -2500 MB/s using FRAN (media) M.2 1TB -2300 MB/s using FRAN (media) M.2 2TB
  • PLAYBACK FPS 24, 25, 30, 48 frames per second
  • REC. FORMATS: RAW BAYERED / DE-BAYERED
  • POST FORMATS: LOSSLESS PNG, DNG
  • POST ENCODER: TO PRORES / TO AVID DnxHD DNxHRTO H.264TO HEVC H.265
  • HDMI Clean 4K 60p output
  • Thunderbolt 3 To connect high-speed external drives
  • mini Jack
  • Audio mic. input (mono) and output (st)
  • USB 3 To connect high-speed external drives
  • SD card
  • Load and Store LUT’s and camera settings
  • Power: Idle 25W   Max 60W

The camera will also be programmable which makes it possible to allow object recognition and automation of recording and archiving tasks.

“Fran can be reprogrammed to suit many needs. Stabilization is a featured provided by OpenCv architecture. Third parties or c++ developers can develop plugins for Fran. The programmable architecture option allows users to use their own software, or write a new one based on Fran default software.
The programmable architecture option includes the stabilization and a few examples of object detection, as well as documentation in order on how to program the camera.”

While the Fran 8k camera is overkill for many uses it may become a compelling option for production houses looking for RED and ARRI alternatives that deliver extreme image quality at a more affordable price to competitors.  We have seen this trend with the advent of cameras like the Kinefinity cameras which offer a lot of value for money while delivering superb image quality however teh Fran Camera will offer 8k images. We have high hopes for the Fran camera to go head to head with the best of them and deliver a true 8k RAW image for cinema production. 

The body is similar to modular cinema cameras and offers enough control and expansion for production users.  Large Standard battery modules ensure continuous operation and easy on-set continuous power solutions.  The LCD should provide most shooting information at a glance.

We will continue to cover the evolution of the Fran 8k camera and will share video samples of higher frame rates when available.  Expect the quality to be excellent at all frame rates.

For more information and updates on the camera visit the official site at:

Fran 8k Official Site  http://www.fran8k.com

FRAN​ Camera by CINEMARTIN Promises 8k and High Frame Rates!

FRAN Camera 8k

The newly announced CINEMARTIN FRAN 8K Camera claims some huge numbers in terms of resolution and performance.  Up to 8K (8000×6000) RAW / Uncompressed 12 Bit video capture at 24fps and up to 96fps in 2k & 1080p for high frame rates but more on that later in this post.  There is only one image of the camera we were provided with and that is the RED Brain like rendering above which sports a mounting port which in the lab is fitted with a Canon EF Mount which is preferred among cinema oriented users especially if it is an active one.

FRAN also offers in the spec sheet 15.5 stops of dynamic range at 12 bit which competes directly with the best cinema cameras out there. CINEMARTIN claims the camera will come in below the competition in price while offering a true global shutter sensor with no rolling shutter distortion.   Using a 4/3 sized sensor at 50MP with 48MP being used for 8k Capture it may seem overkill when it comes to low light performance. It may be able to deliver resolution levels never before seen on cinema cameras but low-light will surely be a hurdle for the camera to overcome.

FRAN Camera 8k main specs:

  • 8K sensor 4:3 with a resolution of 7920 x 6024
  • 24 fps at 47.7 MP
  • Supports VistaVision 1:47 aspect ratio 7920 x 5388
  • Global Shutter
  • 15.5 Stops of Dynamic Range
  • 12-bit color capture in RAW
  • Fran records in uncompressed stills (dng or dib)
  • 1080p/2k 96fps & 60fps
  • 4k @ 24 & 60fps
  • 8k 30MP 25/30fps
  • Modular body
  • Tentatinve Native ISO 800, may be higher or lower.
  • HDMI output up to 4K
  • Fran by default can record in color up to 6K, 8K is done at monochrome until 2019 when a
    planned firmware / hardware update will bring color to the 50 MP 8K
  • SSD 1TB & 2TB Media Mags
  • False color, Histogram (color and mono) as well as LUT monitoring support + Focus Assist.
  • Limited Availability : Fall 2018
 List of Camera Shooting modes: (*) refers to upcoming functionality to shoot in color at a later date.

color

gray

8K 4:3 (48 MP)

24*

24

8K 1.47:1 (42.9 MP)

24*

24

8K (32.7 MP)

25*

25

8K WS (30 MP)

30*

25, 30*

6K

20, 24*

30

4K

24, 60*

30, 60*

4K WS

25, 60*

30, 60*

2K & 1080p

60, 96*

60, 96*

Notes on the 50MP Sensor & Camera:

Many people think that the camera uses a CMOSIS 48MP – 7920 (H) x 6004 (V) capture sensor but that CMV50000 part is a full 35mm full-frame sensor and not a 4/3ds sensor area like the FRAN camera specs show.  Maybe it is a new sensor in their line that will be released at a later date.

8k will initially be recording in monochrome B&W at launch with patches and software updates in 2019 to shoot in color at that resolution.   We would be shouted at for not mentioning that this camera as it stands right now is a prototype of sorts and not a finished product.  Specs may change or be altered before launch completely.

Big claims are made on this camera and as some already have pointed at we have no real image samples or real images from a finished camera. As it stands now it is not a ready product but at least CINEMARTIN is not asking for deposits on the camera now but only when it is ready to be built and shipped which is comforting.

CINEMARTIN is not a vaporware company as it manufactures and sells several monitoring devices for filmmakers which compete with other high-end monitor companies. See here: http://www.cinemartin.com/monitors/7inch/eclipse/

What about the high frame rates?

We asked Alejandro Barrada Martin, product manager for the FRAN camera about the possibility of higher frame rates  in windowed mode and he had this to say:

Yes, it will be possible. 
Press Release lists some res and framerates available
The user will be able, via setting ROI (region of Interest) to use custom res.  As lower the res, higher the framerate.
Line skipping and binning Will be also possible to increment fps.”

As with many cameras line skipping and windowed mode can yield frame rates well in excess of initial specs. We wished more cameras took advantage of this to record higher fps.   We will have to wait and see if this camera will be able to be at least a 720p 200fps RAW option. As of now, the 96fps 1080p limit seems to be a cut off at that resolution.

We wish CINEMARTIN good luck with the FRAN Camera which is an homage to  (Francisco Martin Ibañez)  which is the Uncle of Alejandro and the dedication comes after Francisco passed away from Cancer at the age of 58.  It is not often that a camera company stems from Spain which may seem odd, but Spain has been expanding its technological and manufacturing base for a couple of decades and is now manufacturing several products like high-speed rail, renewable energy systems with intelligent solar panels, aerospace industrial parts and assembly of aircraft.

Spain is credited after all with the invention of the stapler, mop, the first Helicopter (Autogiro), the first Space Suit in 1935 which the Russians first used and modified for their  first human flights, and the first electric submarine; also for some not so productive inventions like the cigarette, the pocket retractable knife & the first use of Molotov cocktails during the Spanish civil war. If you visit Spain today, cities like Madrid and Barcelona look like first world capitals with booming economies in financial and manufacturing industries. We are not fully sold on the FRAN camera but we are willing to be surprised and excited to see if it makes it to market. We’ll keep you informed about its progress. -HSC

More info on the camera here with the official PDF of the pre-production specs: PDF Guide File Here for FRAN 8k

And the official Product Page here: https://www.cinemartin.com/cameras/fran/