Tag Archives: Google Pixel

Alice Camera and why the Future is Bright!

Alice Camera

The Alice Camera, launched to great success this month has to be the most hopeful product for the future of cameras that we have seen lately. It marries the Sony IMX294, a 10.7 megapixel 4/3 sensor with a custom chipset including the Edge TPU chip from Google for AI and an FPGA for calculations.  The result is a camera body with the same sensor as the GH5s which is a killer low light camera capable of excellent 4k footage and images with super low noise.

Then the camera back is attached to your Android or Apple smartphone to gain an interface and software to control it. The camera is capable of using the latest research for computational photography including HDR with multiple exposures merging, tracking, night mode, averaging of pixels, and as an open-source architecture, you can add features by other coders or your own to make the camera increase the feature set. → Continue Reading Full Post ←

CNET Makes Basic Phone Slow Motion How-To Video!

 We find that while the video is simple, it does a good job in explaining the methods on Apple’s iOS and Android to get slow motion footage ready for posting on the web or social media.   There is some basic editing and trimming for cutting the nonaction parts.

You can find the official video link here if needed: https://www.cnet.com/videos/make-slow-motion-videos-on-a-phone/

HTC U Ultra & New Slow Motion Videos!

HTC U Ultra

We have five recent slow motion videos that may peak your interest plus a new HTC Phone released with a slow motion function.  While there has been a quiet front in the phone space slow motion since the introduction of the Google Pixel last year; we expect great things in 2017 like the announcement of the Galaxy S8 and iPhone 7s among others.

The HTC U Ultra is not a high performance phone when it comes to video recording but it does provide a slow motion function that is a little subdued due to the 720p 120fps limitation. The HTC U Ultra Phone  has no headphone Jack as will be the trend going forward since the iPhone 7 started making it more mainstream “though not the first”.

HTC U Ultra Specs for Camera:

CAMERA Primary 12 MP, f/1.8, 26mm, OIS, laser & phase detection autofocus, dual-LED (dual tone) flash
Features 1/2.3” sensor size, 1.55µm pixel size, geo-tagging, touch focus, face detection, Auto-HDR, panorama
Video 2160p@30fps (24-bit/192kHz audio), 720p@120fps
Secondary 16 MP, 1080p, Auto-HDR

Looks to be a competitive phone but we simply can’t feel really excited about the 120fps 720p top spec which is so 2013. The audio and 4k recording are respectable however and the  Optical Image Stabilization or OIS on the lens is current. Laser & phase detection autofocus is also present which makes it a very worthy stills shooter.

We however cannot recommend the HTC U Ultra as a slow motion option since it lacks 240fps and 120fps 1080p as a competitive spec on the high end.  Check our 2016 best slow motion cameras article for our phone selection.

HTC U Ultra + U Play hands-on first look! by Android Central:

HTC U Ultra Product page and more info Here! Should start shipping in March 2017!

Slow Mo Videos on the Web!

We also found five cool slow motion videos to watch over the weekend. The Stones lake video is shot by the Chronos 1.4 camera. Enjoy!

See Through Engine – 4K Slow Motion Visible Combustion by Warped Perception:

Throwing stones against frozen lake filmed in slow motion by Beyond the press with Chronos 1.4 high speed camera:

Amazing Slow Motion CGI Videos With Optical Flow | Two Minute Papers Two Minute Papers:

German Shepherd jumps for toy (extreme closeup) in slow motion by The Oregonian:

12 gauge SLUG vs MEAT in Slow Motion by GY6 Slow Mo:

BEST SLOW MOTION CAMERAS OF 2016!

BEST SLOW MOTION CAMERAS

The end of 2016 is upon us and now it is time to look back across the year and see what delivered in affordable slow motion gear.  While many cameras had higher frame rates, only a few really shined and delivered on the promise of offering HD quality and higher than normal frames per second “fps” at an attractive price point.

Many promised lots of performance and didn’t deliver and some have yet to ship which means they will not be counted in the running. Only cameras that are shipping and fully available are being considered for this list. However we will mention upcoming promised cameras as a side note for future consideration.

BEST SLOW MOTION CAMERAS of 2016:

Without further ado here are what may be the best value slow motion cameras that are leading their respective categories for the year 2016:

Best Slow Motion Phones: iPhone 7, 7 Plus & Google Pixel, Pixel XL!

The best slow motion phones of 2016 are the iPhone 7, 7 Plus and the Google Pixel and or Pixel XL  which offer 120fps at 1080p and 240fps at 720p with pretty great quality considering they are portable handsets.

Congratulations to Google venturing into their own branded hardware this year without attaching a  3rd party manufacturer brand name in the case and to keep including higher frame rates at quality bit rates on their phones. The Apple iPhone continues to be the benchmark for slow motion quality recording on smartphones but with no real change or innovation in over 2 years.

The Google Pixel has some problems when it comes to waterproofing and full weather-sealing that the iPhone 7 does not suffer from.  So if you want the best waterproof experience the Apple is the way to go. If you plan however to keep your phone dry then the Pixel and or Pixel XL are on par as slow motion phones.

amzn_assoc_placement = "adunit0";
amzn_assoc_search_bar = "true";
amzn_assoc_tracking_id = "hispeedcams-20";
amzn_assoc_ad_mode = "manual";
amzn_assoc_ad_type = "smart";
amzn_assoc_marketplace = "amazon";
amzn_assoc_region = "US";
amzn_assoc_title = "Slowmo Smartphone Deals!";
amzn_assoc_linkid = "0e3fcc2ac108d93e4efb149e10ea65f5";
amzn_assoc_asins = "B01LYT95XR,B01M1EXQY4,B01M0DMG3W,B01M01ZZAC";

Mid Range Professional: Panasonic HC-X1!

The Panasonic HC-X1 $3,199.00 is kind of an odd product in the fact that the Panasonic DVX200 $3,849.00 it’s slightly higher quality in the spec department but identical when it comes to the Slow Motion quality.  For $600 less you get most of the DVX200 features but will have to do with a smaller 1″ sensor instead of the 4/3rds on the DVX200.

The Slow Mo Specs of 60fps at full 4k UHD and 120/100fps at 1080p full HD are in line with what we expect from a professional 4k camera today.   However the Panasonic HC-X1 is using a very good low light sensor and the smaller footprint let it be more stealthy than the larger cameras.   If you need an event camcorder with higher frame rates this year the HC-X1 and or the DVX200 should be at the top of your list.

amzn_assoc_placement = "adunit0";
amzn_assoc_search_bar = "true";
amzn_assoc_tracking_id = "hispeedcams-20";
amzn_assoc_ad_mode = "manual";
amzn_assoc_ad_type = "smart";
amzn_assoc_marketplace = "amazon";
amzn_assoc_region = "US";
amzn_assoc_title = "Panasonic Pro Camcorder Deals";
amzn_assoc_linkid = "a8e0234c815524e34e1a77ed93f5535d";
amzn_assoc_asins = "B01LANDWE6,B016043JWA,B01D0CY6T0,B01J4CJOE2";

Action Cameras: Sony FDR-X3000 & GoPro Hero 5 Black!

The action cameras that shined this year are plenty but there are no better two examples than the Sony FDR-X3000 and the GoPro Hero 5 Black when it comes to the best higher frame rate capable action cams that also do 4k 30fps. Both do 240fps at 720p and 120fps at full HD 1080p.

We are partial to the Sony FDR-X3000 due to the slightly less wide angle distortion, true SteadyShot™ in lens stabilization and what may be the best quality video per picel on action cameras. However the GoPro Hero 5 Black is no slouch with better looking 240fps 720p slow motion by a smidge and the compatibility with many Drones and Handheld Gimbal stabilizers that the Sony’s shape is simply not optimized for.  The Video quality is very close between the two and you really cannot go wrong with any of them.

If you have been in the GoPro ecosystem for a while the Hero 5 Black is the way to go if you want to replace a Hero 3+ or older camera but not a Hero 4 Black which is very comparable in features and quality.  If you are buying your first action camera the Sony FDR-X3000 deserves your full attention.

amzn_assoc_placement = "adunit0";
amzn_assoc_search_bar = "true";
amzn_assoc_tracking_id = "hispeedcams-20";
amzn_assoc_ad_mode = "manual";
amzn_assoc_ad_type = "smart";
amzn_assoc_marketplace = "amazon";
amzn_assoc_region = "US";
amzn_assoc_title = "Action Camera Deals!";
amzn_assoc_linkid = "d2a7e3d42d9adb77dee08ebadf38dbce";
amzn_assoc_asins = "B01LYSJB8A,B01M12ANS6,B01M14ATO0,B01ENJZYWC";

Professional but Affordable Slow Motion: edgertronic SC2 and SC2+!

For really serious slow motion needs with interchangeable lens support there was no higher spec camera that is really affordable; than the edgertronic SC2 and SC2+. With a top speed at HD 720p of 4,456fps it is a real monster when it comes to performance and image quality. For scientists, industrial uses and some high end visual FX houses needing some ultra slow motion power the edgertronic SC2 and SC2+ deserve your full attention before looking for other options.

With a price range of $9,990 USD 3,350fps 720p for the edgertronic SC2 to $12,990 USD  4,456fps 720p for the SC2+ or fastest model in the series in either color or monochrome; it may not seem cheap at first glance but these cameras are 1/5th to 1/10th the price of comparable options with very similar performance and dependability.  A rental for such a camera would cost you a quarter of the price of the camera every week or two so owning your own makes it sound financially.

The small footprint and easy portability in the field with wireless capability using an external micro router and the addition of an Apple or Android Tablet make it a breeze to use with live view.  See here for our full review of the edgertronic SC2+ to see what it’s capable of.

For More Information and ordering visit https://edgertronic.com/

P&S / Prosumer Cameras: Sony RX10 III  & Sony RX100 V!

Sony has been very involved in advancing super slow motion on their cameras since the advent of the Sony FS700 a few years back. Last year Sony surprised us with the development of a 1″ sensor package with super fast memory cache that was able to achieve 1,000fps in reduced resolution and 240fps at near full HD 1080p with great quality for a point and shoot camera.

The problem last year was that the recording time in quality priority mode in the high speed mode was limited to 2 seconds which is not ideal. However this year the Sony RX100 V doubled the camera spec to 4 seconds in quality mode and nearly 7 seconds in time priority mode.  The cameras are nearly identical in looks but offer very different performance metrics.  Another cool feature is the ability for the RX100 V to shoot up to 24fps at full 20 megapixels in RAW for 150 shots or 6.24 seconds.  Essentially offering a 6k RAW image at 24p in the palm of your hand.  No audio will be recorded but for small vignette shots it is quite remarkable.

The Sony RX10 III is a better version of last year’s RX10 II offering a better lens with larger glass elements and a zoom equivalent of 25x vs 10x on the last model.  Other than that the camera is nearly identical in function.  The RX10 IV is expected to be launched next year to have the same spec with the extra slow motion recording time of the RX100 V. However the RX10 III is no slouch and if you can live with 2 seconds  recording in super slow motion quality priority it should be in your short list.

If we had our pick for the best bang for your buck in 2016 for a slow motion camera it has to be the Sony RX100 V with its great quality and affordable price under $960 USD. It earns our HSC Top Pick for 2016!

amzn_assoc_placement = "adunit0";
amzn_assoc_search_bar = "true";
amzn_assoc_tracking_id = "hispeedcams-20";
amzn_assoc_ad_mode = "manual";
amzn_assoc_ad_type = "smart";
amzn_assoc_marketplace = "amazon";
amzn_assoc_region = "US";
amzn_assoc_title = "Sony RX Deals!";
amzn_assoc_linkid = "12c76223c83975b6559dd9a1239ec748";
amzn_assoc_asins = "B01MCRBY4X,B01DLLJ8CU,B00ZDWGR8E,B01ET3HEUM";

Limited Availability Cameras and or Shipping Next Year: The fps1000HD and Chronos 1.4!

2016 was also a year of crowdfunded cameras in the high speed sector taking shape. We cannot count these cameras in our top list due to limited availability or not shipping this year status but that may change next year.

On the one hand we have the second fps1000 iteration Kickstarter campaign with the fps1000HD capable of 1000fps at 720p HD resolution in RAW DNG Format with a 5″ touch screen, C Mount and many professional features for under $2500 USD and a 2 full minute recording time at 720p with 256GB of flash memory.

More Info and Ordering for the fps1000 Here:  http://theslowmotioncameracompany.com/

On the other we have the brain child of David Kronstein a Canadian electronics engineer the Chronos 1.4 which has surpassed all expectations with a Kickstarter campaign closing in $400k USD in funding.  The camera capable of 1500fps at HD 720p with a C Mount and 5″ touchscreen as well.

To visit and gather more information and possibly ordering a Chronos 1.4 Camera visit the Kickstarter Page: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1714585446/chronos-14-high-speed-camera/

Both of these cameras are engineered to be truly portable but are still not shipping in quantity or at all. Early next year these cameras are expected to be available to the mass public in their respective web stores.

In the mean time we encourage you to check their respective websites and do your research so you have an idea of their capabilities.  Until they are shipping in quantity we cannot fully recommend any of these options unless you are inclined to wait a few months for delivery and maybe more.  Still these cameras are fully developed hardware wise and should be pretty sure bets as long as you know the risks of investing in camera startup products.

End of Year Message:

When HSC started in early 2014 it was meant to fill a void in the camera news world when it came to slow motion cameras. Nearly 3 years in and approaching on 3.5 million visitors we are very excited about the future of the website.

We thank all of our readers and those who have supported us in one way or another with comments, information and by purchasing our recommended products to make it able to host and maintain this site. Our mission is strongly renewed to bring you coverage of the affordable high speed market in 2017.

We are humbled by your continued interest and it gives us encouragement to continue strongly with this blog next year.  

Happy Holidays and Happy New Year! -HSC  

Check out: Best Slow Motion Cameras of 2020!

Check out: Best Slow Motion Cameras of 2019!

Check out: Best Slow Motion Cameras of 2018!

Check out: Best Slow Motion Cameras of 2017!

Check out: Five Best Slow Motion Cameras of 2015!

Halloween Slow Motion Videos!

Halloween Slow Motion

It is that time of the year again where skeletons, ghouls and ghosts come out to play. And what better way than to show some slow motion footage of Halloween themes being explored or exploded. Pumpkins, ghosts, spiders and witches are ready for your undivided attention and be sure to visit their creators.

These are shot with anything from a phone to a high end Phantom camera. However it is all about technique and execution. With the advent of affordable slow motion it is easy to find diverse and quality material shot with good production and planning.  Stay Safe!

FISTROUILLE D’HALLOWEEN ! [Slow Motion] by Experimentboy:

Worlds Biggest Jumping Spider In Slow Motion by BBC Earth Unplugged:

Smashing Pumpkins in slow motion 1000 FPS  by devinsupertramp:

SLOMEO BOOTH – HALLOWEEN 2015 by SLOMEO BOOTH:

Smashing Pumpkins Halloween 2016 Slow Motion by UncleSamPatriot:

Getting Stung by a Scorpion. In Slow Motion! by Distort:

Making Of: Halloween Pumpkins in Slow Motion -by Overkranked:

BEST ZOMBIE EXPLOSION IN SLOW MOTION!!! by ZombieGoBoom:

Skeleton Comes Alive Prank by CollegeHumor:

Slow Motion Barn Owl Attack – Slo Mo by BBC Earth Unplugged:

The Haunted Palace

by Edgar Allan Poe
(published 1839)

In the greenest of our valleys
By good angels tenanted,
Once a fair and stately palace-
Radiant palace- reared its head.
In the monarch Thought’s dominion-
It stood there!
Never seraph spread a pinion
Over fabric half so fair!
Banners yellow, glorious, golden,
On its roof did float and flow,
(This- all this- was in the olden
Time long ago,)
And every gentle air that dallied,
In that sweet day,
Along the ramparts plumed and pallid,
A winged odor went away. → Continue Reading Full Post ←

Google Pixel Initial Slow Motion Samples!

google pixel Phone Slow Motion

Google Pixel and Google Pixel XL phones have started to arrive to pre order customers all over the world.  We now have a glimpse about the slow motion quality the phones can deliver and if all the hype was justified. At first glance we tend to see an improvement in both resolution and artifact control as well as better sound recording and noise suppression.

We however cannot claim this phone to be better than the iPhone 6s or iPhone 7 in slow motion quality even when they share the same 120fps 1080p and 240fps 720p spec. It will be a matter of testing them head to head and see what Google has in store for slow motion enthusiasts. What is clear with the initial samples is that the quality is improved from the Nexus 6P of last year.

We will reserve to rate both phones in our Camera Guide until we have many more samples and comparisons to judge; however take a look at the footage below and also the durability and stabilizer tests posted so that you can get a sense of the quality and build quality you can expect from the Google Pixel phones.

Google Pixel and Pixel XL Slow Motion Samples:

Slow motion is really neat by SuperFrodo95:

Google Pixel XL 120fps slomo water test by KHCloud:

Slow-mo test Parrot by arwenx7:

Google Pixel Slow Motion 120 FPS by Dlectronics:

Google Pixel XL Slow motion 240fps test by KHCloud:

Google Pixel XL Slowmotion Test with One Euro by Thorsten Conrad:

Google Pixel XL simple Slowmotion Test by Thorsten Conrad:

Pixel XL Slow motion test 120fps  by  Minniec5811:

 

Google Pixel Other Tests – Recommended watch:

Google Pixel – Scratch test, BEND test, Burn test – Durability video by JerryRigEverything:

Google Pixel Video Test: Daylight & Stabilizer by Phandroid:

Google Pixel Thoughts:

There you have it, looks to be a great phone option that now competes directly for the top Android spot and also giving a pure and updated Google experience. The Pixel phones seem to be good enough to steal many customers from Samsung and Apple and that could catapult Google “Alphabet” to an important share in the high end smartphone market.

The slow motion performance is very good on the Google Pixel phones and gives us renewed hope for better specs in upcoming phones. The feature seems here to stay and improve over time.  One other aspect is that at least in 120fps mode audio is recorded which makes it stand apart of other phones that remain quiet. We will have more on the Google Pixel as samples evolve. Thanks for reading -HSC

amzn_assoc_placement = "adunit0";
amzn_assoc_search_bar = "true";
amzn_assoc_tracking_id = "hispeedcams-20";
amzn_assoc_ad_mode = "manual";
amzn_assoc_ad_type = "smart";
amzn_assoc_marketplace = "amazon";
amzn_assoc_region = "US";
amzn_assoc_title = "My Amazon Picks";
amzn_assoc_linkid = "b613e4506e2f776bf3a05a8842c6d4c4";
amzn_assoc_asins = "B01M0DMG3W,B01M01ZZAC,B01M1CTCO0,B01M1EEXWJ";