It's always difficult to decide which camera is right for some particular job.
It's common to think that a 4K camera is better than a 2K or 1K one, just as a color camera is better than a black and white camera.
Reality is often not what we have in mind, which is why we strive to offer our clients a wide selection.
We use both Photron and Vision Research cameras. We provide the necessary software for the post image processing with the cameras, and above all, we try to ensure that the choice is tailored to the intended use of the images.
Black and white cameras have significantly higher sensitivity than their color counterparts, which means using less power, bulky, and heat-generating lights and way less noise.
It's not how many pixels my sensor has, but how many I'll actually use for the shot. To achieve truly high speeds, 4K (or 9-megapixel) cameras require a significant crop factor, resulting in a significant number of pixels on my sensor being unused. A 1K camera, on the other hand, will utilize most of the available pixels, so paradoxically, a 1K camera could have a higher resolution than a 4K camera where I'm forced to "turn off" a large number of pixels just to reach the desired fps rate.
It took years of work to understand sensors, pixels, lenses, lights, crop factors, resolutions, video formats, codecs, and an endless array of other information. Our expertise helps you avoid wasted time and effort, allowing you to focus on what matters most. Whether you choose to work with us is entirely your decision.
Regarding cameras, below is a list of their key features, those important for project creation.
Vision Research Phantom Flex 4K
| Sensor size | Super 35mm (S35) 27.6 x 15.5mm or Super 16mm in crop mode |
| Maximum resolution: | 4096x2304 |
| Standard resolutions/fps: | 4096x2160=1000fps, 2048x1080=2000fps, 1280x720=3000fps |
| Other resolutions available: | up to 6000 fps |
| Pixel count: | 9.4 Megapixels |
| Bit depth | 12 bit |
| Base ISO: | 640, 1250 log mode |
| File formats: | Cine raw (with the PCC software TIFF, AppleProRes, Motion Jpeg, BitMap…..) |
| Lens Mount: | PL |
| Weight: | 6,4 kg |
Vision research
- Veo 4K
Photron NOVA S6
| Sensor size | 20.48 x 20.48mm / 28.96mm |
| Maximum resolution: | 1024x1024 |
| Standard resolutions/fps: | 1024x1024=6400fps, 640x480=20000fps, 256x256=64000fps |
| MAX fps: | 800.000 |
| Bit depth | 12 bit |
| Base ISO: | 64000 |
| File formats: | BMP, TIFF, JPEG, PNG, RAWW, MRAW, AVI, MOV |
| Lens Mount: | Nikon, C Mount |
| Weight: | 3,3 kg |
Photron
- Nova S9
- Nova S12
- Nova S20