Tag Archives: Phantom Flex

Phantom TMX 7510 does 76000 fps in HD!

Phantom TMX 7510

The scientists at Vision Research are at it again at their favorite pastime of hyper slow motion gear creation.  The new TMX 7510 Phantom camera is the fastest ever in their arsenal with a mind-bending spec of 75 Gigapixels throughput which is capable of delivering 76,000fps  1 Megapixel resolution or slightly higher than HD at 1280 x 800px.

The camera features the first BSI or Back-side illuminated sensor ever used in a Phantom camera. This allows for much better low-light performance which is crucial for slow motion applications.  The camera tops out at a ridiculous 1.75 million fps frame rate at 1280 x 32px in standard width mode or 640 x 64px in Binned mode.  One second recorded at that speed creates a file that plays back for 972min or just over 16hrs in a 30fps timeline.  Yikes! → Continue Reading Full Post ←

Multiply Your Video Frame Rate with Dain-App !

Multiply Your Video Frame Rate

We got over 20 messages with essentially the same video sample in our inbox this week. They all touted the new interpolation from the DAIN experimental App or (Depth Aware Video Interpolation App)  which now analyses footage with a Neural network AI algorithm that crunches motion vectors and even what seemed impossible before “Object Occlusion” to generate higher frame rates from lower fps sources.  The technology is pretty fascinating and should be further improved by more training and samples over the coming years.

For stop motion animators, this is a complete game-changer as now you could animate with as little as 8fps and then interpolate to 30fps or 60fps with very little in the way of tearing and artifacting as long as the footage is well lit and objects clearly defined.  To make matters more interesting, it also analyses footage with shallow depth of field yielding impressive results.

Multiply Your Video Frame Rate with Interpolation or the “I” Word for Slow Motion Enthusiasts:

We visited the Interpolation topic in the past on our Fake Slow Motion article and concluded that then, the quality of interpolation while good was far from usable and you really could not compromise real high fps footage from interpolated versions except in very simple cases.

Now with DAIN technology, we have no choice but to re-visit the cases and analyze what it is capable of.  We looked at a few dozen examples and it is clear the technology has progressed forward so much that now stop motion animation, 2D Cell-based cartoon animation, and even 3D animated sequences rendered at 30p can easily be turned in higher fps increments yielding impressive and in some cases miraculous results.

We would like you to first watch the video below to understand what a depth map is and how the software in DAIN can create frames from nothing that look just like real ones.  A depth map will generate an approximated view of the world in a Lidar-Like vision representation to figure out to the best of the AI estimation where objects are in a scene according to their location close or far to the camera.

Depth-Aware Video Frame Interpolation by Wenbo Bao:

Even at 48fps from  12fps source, it is clear the technology in DAIN can yield impressive results even with heavy organic detail in the background including foliage. The software does an admirable job of estimating the relative position of objects in the video scenes.

AI使用フレーム補間アプリ DAIN APP byTALBOの実験室 Ch.: → Continue Reading Full Post ←

Fighter Jets captured in 4K Slow Motion with 600mm Lens!

The great slow motion YouTube channel Warped Perception has created what will probably be the best new high-speed video of the decade.  By marrying what looks to be a Vision Research Phantom Flex 4k with a Canon 600mm F4 L lens for a killer and expensive combination, they have been able to show things rarely seen in regular footage like stress on the fuselage and air dynamics impacting the aircraft as they cross paths.  Congratulations to WP for creating such an awe-inspiring video!

Fighter Jets and Airshow in 4K Slow Motion (Super-zoom) by Warped Perception:

fps4000 Camera Available for Rent in the UK!

fps4000 Camera

Warning: The parent company of FPS cameras “The Slow Motion Camera Company Ltd.” went out of business and entered liquidation proceedings. No further development of cameras is expected. More information here on Google Search

The fps1000, fps2000 and fps4000 projects are alive and well and are progressing forward with a unified hardware base. We are not able to share information the current state of the project other than it is advancing to a ready to ship point in the future to all outstanding backers. The fps4000 camera is able to be rented now in the United Kingdom at this website for £150.00 pounds a day plus VAT & Insurance.

We are awaiting a 4k version of this camera in the future and the current fps4000 looks to be evolving to include a Sony Infolithium standard battery which also looks like a grip of sorts.   You are able to rent it with a micro 4/3 mount or a Canon EF if needed. Some may point out that if its available for rent it should be ready to ship but these cameras are engineering non-mass production samples that are still evolving. The rental house also helps the project by testing and finding issues with the camera with the help of production users, that can be corrected before final production.

fps4000 camera & what about the other models?

The cameras share the same basic hardware platform aside from the sensor and memory configuration.  Once the platform is solid for production all cameras will be able to be shipped and supported by a unified firmware platform.

fps4000 Rail Skateboard Video sample:

Showreel by Alexis Barreyat, Media Production at GoPro & Worm fps4000:

fps4000 Showreel Jan 2018 by Graham Rowan:

The fps4000 and the fps line of cameras have been on a long road from their humble beginnings. They will be able to shoot 4k at up to 500fps, 1080p @ 2000fps and 720p at 4000fps.  After several years of snags and technical hurdles, it is now very close to becoming a solid product.  We wish we could share more information about the cameras but that will come in due time. We will be ready to share all the information as soon as we are allowed to.  It seems the affordable slow-motion market is starting to become more mainstream with cameras that are able to push the limits of performance over price.  This is good for camera enthusiasts and for advancing the adoption of higher frame rates. -HSC

More information about the fps4000, fps2000 cameras available at the official site here:  https://www.slomocamco.com

fps2000/4000 Camera available for rent here:

https://london.motiontribe.io/en/listings/1673-fps2000-1080-super-slow-motion-camera → Continue Reading Full Post ←

fps4000 Website Launch With Order Page!

fps4000 Website

Warning: The parent company of FPS cameras “The Slow Motion Camera Company Ltd.” went out of business and entered liquidation proceedings. No further development of cameras is expected. More information here on Google Search

The fps4000 is starting production of 1080p units with 4k cameras following closely behind. The Slow Motion Camera Company Ltd. has launched a new website today with specs, pricing and an easy order page which will let you finally be in the order queue for an fps1000, fps2000 and fps4000 camera.  Website here: https://www.slomocamco.com

We are expecting an fps4000 camera for our lab sometime in the 1st quarter of the year which will let us put it through its paces.   The cameras aim to change the way you record slow-motion footage by allowing up to 2 minutes continuous recording in camera solid state memory which can free up DPs from the typical few seconds in slow motion cameras. This, in theory, allows recording an entire production in slow motion which can be ramped in speed slow or faster if needed.

The cameras range in price from £1,900 British Pounds “About $2,657 USD” for an fps1000  that records 1000fps at 720p in a 2/3″ sensor and 256GB of Solid-state Memory for up to two minutes recording, to a £5,000 British Pound or about $7000USD” monster memory camera with 1,600 GB 1.6TB Solid State beast that can record at 3840*2160 4k UHD resolution at 500fps for over 2 minutes on a 4/3″ larger sensor, with a micro 4/3 mount which is very adaptable to a variety of lens mounts. 

 

There are intermediate versions of the cameras with reduced pricing and reduced frame rates so the platform caters to all sorts of buyers based on their fps speed needs.   The higher the speed you need the more memory it requires which is the way the solid-state recording system in these cameras work.

There is still no information on windowed frame rates and which resolutions are supported as they drop the frame area but Graham Rowan the company founder told us that this information will be available soon after further testing on production units. Expect the cameras to reach in the 10ths of thousands of frames/sec at reduced resolutions depending on the sensor used.

fps4000 Showreel Jan 2018 by Graham Rowan fps:

If the fps4000 4k camera at 500fps performs as expected while recording in RAW DNG format, then cameras like the Vision Research Phantom 4k which at 1,000fps 4k or double the frame rate of the fps4000, will find new competition with a price that is less than 1/10th that of their flagship camera.  That Phantom camera has a larger sensor and impressive image quality so it will be a matter of testing to see where the fps4000 falls in the spectrum of price/performance.

More information on the fps range of cameras and ordering information at: https://www.slomocamco.com

 Disclaimer: We are not affiliated with any camera company and do not receive compensation in any form. We remain an independent website with equal opportunity for all gear makers.  If you purchase gear from any manufacturer we cover it is your sole decision and HSC is not liable for delivering, troubleshooting or honoring the warranty on your order.

 

 

 

fps4000 In Production Plus New Quality Footage!

fps4000 Slow Motion

Warning: The parent company of FPS cameras “The Slow Motion Camera Company Ltd.” went out of business and entered liquidation proceedings. No further development of cameras is expected. More information here on Google Search

The fps4000 camera hinted in Q4 of 2017 as the camera to replace the fps lineup is now entering its first production batch and it will fulfill the promises to backers that expected a camera either in 1080p or 4k.  The fps4000 will reach up to 4k resolution at 500fps in it’s highest configuration. This is half the performance of the Phantom Flex 4k camera when it comes to frame-rate at that resolution.

The fps4000 also has a lower resolution configuration for 1080p at 2000fps.  Back in 2017 on the announcement, there were configurations up to 4000fps at 720p using different sensors. The hardware main design seems to be shared among the cameras which makes it possible to offer different models at accommodative costs. This should allow all Kickstarter backers to have their promised camera and continue the line for new customers who need low cost extra long recording times in camera.

The fps4000 design makes it possible to record up to 120 seconds of footage in high speed which is a first for this type of camera. Graham elaborates on the point of editing long stretches of footage and action that are really impossible with other slow-motion cameras which record only mere seconds.  By being able to record 2 minutes per clip the fps4000 can free the video professional to experiment and record spontaneous motion that is not pre-planned.    In the future maybe all footage will be recorded at high frame rates with the possibility to ramp and slow an edit at any point. The fps4000 aims at that possibility.

The chart above which was shared in 2017 shows the camera lineup. As you can see the data rates and recording times are extreme.

The footage released today shows a pretty good array of shots that easily let you judge the initial power of the camera line.

fps4000 First Official Video by The Slow Motion Camera Company LTD – Graham Rowan 1920 x 1080 @1,000fps:

It is apparent that there is a real 1080p frame worth of detail recorded by the camera. There are some slight image artifacts in selective frames that can be seen on playback which should be fixed by software update.  The motion cadence is very nice and there seems to be a good amount of latitude/dynamic range in the image.

Many would point out the greenish tint on the image and we can probably point to either the color science/white balance in camera or IR contamination. Luckily the fps4000 records in DNG RAW format which allows for RAW color correction and grading.  We asked for a couple of frames to try our go at the footage and were pleased with our tweaks.  Color can be managed to look properly and accurate.  Maybe in the future, a step can be saved by applying in-camera a DNG profile to the frames. The softness in some edges of the frames are probably based on the lens used in the camera; maybe a tilt-shift and not a problem with the camera itself because some shots do not exhibit these phenomena.

Below are our graded frames from the footage provided by Graham Rowan:

We are happy with the image quality and it is a clear step up from the fps1000 footage we were able to judge last year. The fps4000 can create beautifully cinematic footage with a large sensor and if it can record up to 2min worth of it, it may change the way slow motion recording is approached.    We will receive an fps4000 camera this year in the 4k resolution which should provide us with an opportunity to bring the process of recording and working with the files to you.

See the full update by Graham Rowan from the Kickstarter project page below:

fps4000 Update by Graham Rowan Below on Kickstarter January 9th, 2018:

fps4000 and fps1000 news and a new video

I have had a lot of questions regarding why I have been developing the new fps4000 model when I have yet to deliver all fps1000 models. From the outset this project has been one of ongoing development. With hindsight, the original kickstarter prototype was clearly not ready for market. From that point I have been trying to get it to market in a form that fulfilled its original promises. At the same time, out of necessity, I have had to keep the company running so it stands a chance of success. The development of such a product for one person has been a huge task. I have tried to get help along the way but have invariably had to learn how to do most things myself. It is not surprising that it has taken so long.

However, through many revisions and sensor developments, the design has stabilized and has kept up with developments in the market in general. As well as commitments to fps1000 backers, many of you upgraded to the fps4000 in its various forms, so it made sense for me to develop these models which could satisfy that section of backers while providing the opportunity to offer cut down versions to fps1000 backers.

I have finally got to this stage now. The first fps4000 production batch is being made and I have a cut down design which I will be providing as the fps1000 solution. I expect to be able to ship these in March 2018. It will be using a new sensor which is significantly better than the original one. It shares much of the hardware with the fps4000 but will utilise lower density memory parts which were already purchased soon after the kickstarter.

I know this is extremely late but throughout the process, I have been single-mindedly moving towards a solution. I apologize once more for the delays but assure you that I will continue my efforts.

Below is a link to the first video made on the fps4000. It is not perfect but shows the potential of the product. I wanted to produce something that suited the target market for this camera and that shows the advantage of a long record time in a time-critical shoot.

Some of the sequences would not be possible on most high speed cameras as they are 10s of seconds in length. I was able to record a couple of minutes of high speed video in a time-limited shoot (the performer was hired for 1 hour) and worry about editing afterwards. The street sequences were also taken over about half an hour of elapsed time. Back in the edit room all clips were transferred to a PC using the high speed USB3 interface and the transfer program provided with the camera. During the transfer process the program produces a real time output (ie not slow motion so the entire 2 minutes lasted 2 minutes). This allowed me to quickly look through the recording to find which clips I wanted. Then I knew which detailed sections to copy over to the editing suite. Without this facility it is incredibly difficult to look through hours of slow motion playback to find interesting sections!

The images were exported from the camera in raw format and converted into jpgs in the transfer program for import into Premiere Pro which was used for editing the final sequence.

The speeded up sections were done easily in Premiere Pro using its standard functions. During the edit all frames were available – that consisted of over 200,000 frames.

The clips were edited to the sound track which I commissioned specially for the shoot. Finally the entire sequence was colour corrected in Premiere Pro to balance light and colour balance for the various different clips which were filmed on different days and at different locations.

All of this would apply equally to the reduced fps1000 versions. The fps4000 just does this at a higher resolution.

Here is the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=by3RfiW4cy8

For more information about the fps1000, fps2000 & fps4000 camera lines please visit:    http://theslowmotioncameracompany.com