Can you make a High Speed Camera More Rugged?

Posted on June 5, 2013 by Vision Research Team

Vision Research continually listens to our customers’ recommendations and if possible we incorporate the recommendation into an upgrade or a new camera model. For instance, in the v641 broadcast camera, customers requested a more advanced color-matching technology. Last year we introduced the v642, with advanced Multi-Matrix Color Correction Technology, which is an essential tool to color-match regular speed cameras used in Live Sports Broadcast. So when we received a request asking if we could make a high speed camera that could survive in really harsh conditions, we took it as a challenge.

Miro R-Series High Speed Cameras

A challenge we have completed, introducing the Miro R-Series. We took the highly popular Phantom Miro Family and expanded it to include a more rugged body style in all the regular performance levels- 110, 310, 120 and 320S.

Why the Miro Family? We chose to ruggedize the Miro Family because it is more compact and self-contained and has controls available on the camera, making this a fully portable option. These are all key assets for these more rugged applications. In addition, the camera has precise timing, camera synchronization, flexible triggering, excellent light sensitivity, and many other advanced features.

The Miro R-Series is targeted at applications in harsh environments where the high speed digital camera must survive high shock and vibration as well as a broad range of operating temperatures, applications such as automotive crash tests, high-speed sleds and explosives research. As with the other Miro models, the R-Series has an external rechargeable battery (BP-U30 only) and the popular CineFlash non-volatile data storage system. It includes flexible tools for both qualitative and quantitative analysis and is Phantom RCU compatible.

To find out more about the new Miro R-Series, contact your local sales representative, or drop us a line on our Contact Us Form.

v4 Series and v5 Camera Repair

Posted on May 28, 2013 by randyfeldman

Dear valued customer,

Unfortunately we have reached an end of an era with our v4 series and v5.0 cameras. Effective immediately we can no longer offer any repair support for these units. Currently these cameras have been obsolete for 2 years or more – and as such, we have been repairing them on a “best effort” scenario. However, because of their aging technology, we no longer have a supply of, or access to spare parts making it impossible to effectively return the camera to working condition if it fails.

We apologize for this inconvenience. To help you through the transition, Vision Research is able to offer trade-in or recycling program credits for these cameras. If you would like to explore a replacement product, such as our Phantom Miro cameras, please contact your Vision Research sales representative.

Best regards,
Bob Boggs
Global Director, Service and Support

Vision Research Offers Easy Access to Tons of High Speed Camera Accessories

Posted on May 24, 2013 by Vision Research Team

At Vision Research, it is our job to make sure that our customers are completely and 100% satisfied with not only their camera purchases but also the overall customer service experience. That is why we took the time to completely revamp the accessories page on our website, providing easy access for customers to view and purchase tons of high speed camera accessories.

With offerings across the board, it’s nearly impossible not to find the accessory you’re looking for the on the Vision Research store website. Accessories include everything from digital cinema accessories, Phantom camera cases, high speed camera lenses, digital high speed lighting accessories, high speed video camera mounting, adapters and tripods, Phantom camera lens adapters and even miscellaneous products for different camera brands. In addition, Vision Research customers who already own a specific camera can filter through the accessory offerings for that camera or camera line by clicking on the side “Camera” drop-down menu that lists all Vision Research’s products.

So, whether you are seeking high-speed video camera accessories for your Phantom camera, or another brand, we hope you find what you need here! However, if you don’t see the video camera accessory you are looking for, contact us to let us know. We’ll do whatever we can to make it readily available for you!

Warm-Up Period for the Phantom v1210 and v1610

Posted on May 20, 2013 by randyfeldman

As with any high performance piece of equipment, there are operating conditions that must be met before peak performance can be achieved. The v1210 and v1610 cameras are no different. In order to achieve the best image quality possible, it is important and required to let the camera “warm up” before capturing your images. This warm-up period is approximately 3-5 minutes but could vary based on your ambient air temperature. If the unit has not sufficiently warmed up, one may see rectangular blocks shuffling throughout the image. This is considered normal and will disappear as the unit warms up.

“Let Me Know When You See Fire”- The First Ever Short Length Film Shot on the Phantom Flex4K Digital High-Speed Camera

Posted on May 14, 2013 by Vision Research Team

Director, Brendan Bellomo, and cinematographer, Greg Wilson, were thrilled when we at Vision Research tasked them with filming the first test footage with the new Phantom Flex4K Digital Cinema Camera. With less than 3 weeks to shoot, edit and assemble all of the footage, according to both Bellomo and Wilson, “there were not many hours of sleep during that crucial time.” However, even with the lack of sleep, they were able to pull together an amazing piece of cinematic work that really demonstrates the vast capabilities of this groundbreaking camera.

phanton flex4k high speed camera The digital high-speed camera was a little more than a week old and still in its alpha prototype stage when Bellomo and Wilson got their hands on it. With the help of the Hebron and Glastonbury Fire Departments in Connecticut, they were able to simulate a burning house in the middle of the woods, and incorporate both regular speed and high speed into the film.

The Phantom Flex4K is a true 4K RAW camera capable of at 1000fps at 4K resolution. While they did some compositing in NukeX, the majority of the shots are done in camera. There were absolutely no particle simulation effects at all. The fire, water and smoke are all real elements that were captured with this slow motion camera.

In order to truly understand the methodology, commitment and raw talent that went into producing a film with this camera for the first time, you really have to watch the film. Watch the video in its entirety here:

Also, make sure to follow the progress of the Phantom Flex4K all summer long by “liking” the Phantom Flex4K on Facebook and “following” @PhantomFlex4K on Twitter.

Shattering Shot Glasses at High Speed

Posted on May 3, 2013 by Vision Research Team

One of the highlights each year during the International Conference and Expo on Advanced Ceramics and Composites (ICACC) is the annual Shot Glass Drop Competition sponsored by the Schott North America. The competition—mainly for fun and bragging rights— always draws a huge crowd interested in seeing who’s contraption will beat out all the others. The contest involves engineering a container composed only of plastic straws that is designed to protect a shot glass as it is dropped from increasing heights.

This year, Vision Research was able to contribute to the competition by providing super-slow motion footage of the drops, filmed with one of our Phantom high speed video cameras, right on site for viewers to watch.

The 2013 Shot Glass Drop Competition reached new heights, literally. In previous years, the designs were so intricate and durable that many shot glasses survived drops from the tallest ladder available, a 15-footer. This year, organizers arranged for a motorized lift to be available—and it was much needed. Two shot glasses survived drops from 18 feet high, forcing the competition organizers to heighten the drop length to a record breaking 21 feet. The final drop put Sylvia Johnson, an ACerS Member and chief materials technologist for entry systems and technology at NASA Ames Research Center, against a design by Christian Espinoza-Santos and Daniel Ribero Rodriquez, graduate students at the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign. And the winners, by only a small crack, were Christian Espinoza-Santos and Daniel Ribero Rodriquez.

To check out footage of the actual competition as well as the slow motion camera footage obtained by a Vision Research Phantom camera, click here.

v1610 High-Speed Camera Case Study: How Do They Make Engines More Fuel Efficient?

Posted on April 25, 2013 by Vision Research Team

With gas prices constantly rising, everyone is looking for car engines to be more fuel efficient with low emissions, great gas mileage and high performance all at the same time. How are engineers able to accomplish this seemingly impossible feat?

Professor Christoph Brücker, an engineer and head of the Fluid Mechanics & Machines Department at the nearly 250-year old University of Freiberg at the Institute for Mechanics and Fluid Dynamics in Freiberg, Germany, embarked on an aggressive project to test the efficiency of internal combustion engines. To further help him understand the dynamics of what was happening inside the engine, he enlisted the help of Vision Research’s Phantom v1610 high-speed camera.

The v1610 is the leader in the world of high-speed imaging with its ability to capture more than 16,000 frames-per-second (fps) at full resolution and up to 1,000,000 fps at reduced resolution. “Frame rate is very important when studying the flow of fluids. There’s no other way we would have been able to record this type of data, because it’s impossible to actually ‘see’ the flow inside of an engine at such a high temporal and spatial resolution. The v1610 enabled us to map the 3D velocity within one complete cylinder of a car engine. With the camera, we discovered the 3D nature of the flow structures and vortices.” Brücker explained.

For more information on this fascinating fluid mechanics case study and how Brücker and his colleagues used the v1610, please take a look at our detailed case study, here: http://www.visionresearch.com/uploads/docs/casestudies/CS_WEB-v1610-Auto%20Fuel%20Effic.pdf

If you are using a Phantom camera for scientific or medical research and you would like to share your experiment, please email us at vision@randjpr.com today! Also feel free to post a comment below telling us how you use your high-speed camera!

ShotOnWhat? Reveals What Films Phantom High-Speed Video Cameras Have Brought To Life

Posted on April 24, 2013 by Vision Research Team

If you’re a camera junkie like we are over here at Vision Research, then one of the first questions that you always ask yourself when watching anything on television, online or in the movie theatres is, “What camera was that shot on?” Then there’s always the supplementary questions that follow like, “What system did they use to finish that film, was that edited on FCP, Avid or something else, is that converted 3D and whose 3D rig was used?” Plus, for us, it’s always nice to see in one spot all the great pieces of work that were brought to life by our Phantom high-speed video cameras.

Luckily for us, ShotOnWhat? has created the most extensive and comprehensive framework for the collection of often-unrecorded technical information related to the creation of entertainment programming. Making its debut in 2012, ShotOnWhat? is the only production and post-production knowledgebase for the industry, developed to fill a much needed gap for the technical side of the filmmaking. It’s a reference site for in-depth recording and research of the relationship between the final delivered product and the various associated processes and products used during filming and post-production.

ShotOnWhat? collects and preserves the extensive history of film and television technical tools. It lists every aspect of a production, no matter how big or small and presents all of the information in an easy-to-use and searchable format. Users can easily locate all titles that used specific elements, hardware, codecs, formats, tools, facilities and individuals who were involved in the creation. Not only is information easily located, but information is also constantly being updated. Anyone can update information for each title, allowing people to contribute their portion of knowledge without knowing the rest of the workflow.

Take a moment to check out ShotOnWhat? to see what products helped bring your favorite films to life. Also make sure to take a look at all the films made with our very own Phantom high-speed cameras by clicking the following link: Vision Research Cameras on ShotOnWhat?

New Case Study” Digital High-Speed Cameras Work to Increase Automobile Fuel Efficiency

Posted on April 22, 2013 by randyfeldman

By using advanced digital high-speed imaging systems, engineers are able to refine their testing methods to a degree where they can inspect every last molecule of fuel running through a car engine. Such is the case for Prof. Christoph Brücker, an engineer and head of the Fluid Mechanics & Machines department at the nearly 250-year old University of Freiberg at the Institute of Mechanics and Fluid Dynamics in Freiberg, Germany. Along with a team of engineers, Prof. Brücker has embarked on an aggressive project to test the efficiency of internal combustion engines. For more information, click here

NAB 2013 Wrap-up

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NAB-BLOG1 Things are getting back to normal here at Vision Research following last week’s National Association of Broadcasters show in Las Vegas. It was a great show for us, where we did a preview of the new Phantom Flex4K Cinema camera which will be formally released later this year. We also showed the popular Miro LC320S, the original Flex and also two new sports broadcast systems that are powered by the Phantom V642.

Every year NAB proves to be an exciting show for the TV & motion picture industry. There is no better opportunity for exhibitors and attendees to get a first hand look at what’s new – from the latest cameras, lenses and lighting to the latest innovations in support and infrastructure technology – and this year was no different.

Vision Research was honored to receive two awards on the show floor. The first was Digital Video magazine’s Black Diamond award as a best-of-show recognition for the Phantom Flex4K. This was followed by TV Technology’s Mario award which recognized the Phantom Flex4K as a significant technological breakthrough for the production industry.

Most of the attention was on the Phantom Flex4K and the demo footage which was shot with the original prototype of the camera just two weeks prior to NAB! We were happy to have the cinematographers involved with the “Let me know when you see Fire” demo piece at the show, who were available to answer questions about their first-hand experience with the camera in its early development stages.

A link to this video can be found here: http://vimeo.com/63490371

There was also a lot of great media coverage at both the Vision Research and Abel Cine booths, some of the highlights can be found by following these links:

So, now its back to work here at Vision Research where we will be rolling out all the new features over the summer and thoroughly testing the Flex4K in the real world before it hits the market. Just because we might be quiet over the next few months as this is going on, it doesn’t mean you need to be the dark. You can actually follow the progress of the camera by following the camera’s twitter account (@PhantomFlex4K) and “liking’ the camera’s Facebook page!