If you thought you had a pretty good high-speed photography set-up, the new Phantom v2640 from Vision Research might make you think again. Using a 4-million-pixel sensor and a shortest ‘shutter speed’ of 142 nanoseconds, this new model from the scientific and industrial manufacturer can reach speeds of up to 6,600fps at full resolution, and can go even faster when the pixel-count is reduced.
The latest in a line of high-speed cameras aimed at researchers and engineers, the v2640 comes in color and monochrome versions, and with internal memory of up to 288GB to store the data collected. Vision Research claims the camera has a dynamic range of 64dB (over 10 stops) and that the monochrome model has ISO settings of 16,000, so it can work in very low light.
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The black and white model can be switched to 1-million-pixel mode and will then record at up to 25,030fps, while the color model can ‘only’ manage a best of 11,750fps when dropped to 1920×1080 2MP quality. We’ve reached out to the company for a price, and are waiting for a reply, but don’t expect this puppy to come cheap.
In the meantime, if you fancy one yourself you’ll find more information and instructions for ordering on the Vision Research website.
Press Release
New Phantom v2640 Ultrahigh-Speed Camera Achieves Unmatched 4-Mpx Resolution
Vision Research, a leading manufacturer of digital high-speed imaging systems, has introduced the Phantom® v2640, the fastest 4-Megapixel (MPx) camera available. It features a new proprietary 4-Megapixel (Mpx) CMOS image sensor (2048 x 1952) that delivers unprecedented image quality at up to 26 Gpx/sec, while reaching 6,600 frames per second (fps) at full 2048 x 1952 resolution, and 11,750 fps at 1920 x 1080.
The v2640 features very high dynamic range (64 dB) and the lowest noise floor of any Phantom camera (7.2 e-)—making it an excellent tool for researchers, scientists and engineers who need to capture clean, high-resolution images at ultra-high speeds. The high dynamic range shows significant detail, especially in high-contrast environments, while the low noise is particularly beneficial when analyzing the dark regions of an image. It also has exceptional light sensitivity, with an ISO measurement of 16,000D for monochrome cameras and 3,200D for color cameras.
“We’re excited to bring this extremely high image quality to the high-speed camera market,” says Jay Stepleton, Vice President and General Manager of Vision Research. “In designing this new, cutting-edge sensor, we focused on capturing the best image in addition to meeting the speed and sensitivity requirements of the market. The 4-Mpx design significantly increases the information contained in an image allowing researchers to better understand and quantify the phenomena they are observing.”
The v2640 has multiple operating modes for increased flexibility. Standard mode uses correlated double sampling for the clearest image, while high-speed (HS) mode provides 34% higher throughput to achieve 6,600 fps. Monochrome cameras can incorporate “binning,” which converts the v2640 into a 1-Mpx camera that can reach 25,030 fps at full resolution, with very high sensitivity. “The various operating modes also allow users to have just one camera to cover multiple applications,” adds Doreen Clark, Product Manager for the Phantom Ultrahigh-Speed family.
To help users manage the amount of data inherent in high-speed imaging, the v2640 is available with up to 288GB of memory, and is compatible with Phantom 1TB and 2TB CineMags® for fast data saves. Alternatively, 10Gb Ethernet is standard, saving significant download time.
Key Specifications of the Phantom v2640
- 4-Mpx sensor (2048 x 1952), 26Gpx/sec throughput
- Dynamic range: 64 dB
- Noise level: 7.2 e-
- ISO measurement: 16,000D (Mono), 3,200D (Color)
- 1 µs minimum exposure standard, 499ns / 142ns minimum exposure with export-controlled FAST option
- 4 available modes: Standard, HS and Binning (in Standard and HS)
- Standard modes feature Correlated Double Sampling (CDS) performed directly on the sensor to provide the lowest noise possible
- Up to 288 GB of memory
- 10-Gb Ethernet standard
- Compatible with CineMag® IV (up to 2 TB)
Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)