Leading-edge technology: the Phantom v640 high-speed camera

Vision Research, leaders in high-speed camera imaging technology, introduce the Phantom v640 CineMag camera

Versatility abounds with the new Phantom v640
Targeted at industrial, military and R&D applications that demand ultra high-speed imagery with maximum detail, the v640 offers a recording speed of >1400 fps at its full resolution of 2560 x 1600 pixels. For higher frame rates, users can reduce the camera's resolution resulting in an increase in speed to meet the needs of their current shooting scenario. At a reduced resolution, the Phantom v640 offers a maximum frame rate of 300,000 fps.

This highly-adaptable camera can also record at more traditional frame rates for normal use - as low as 10 fps. For example, when recording at 1920 x 1080, users can achieve frame rates of 10 fps increasing to over 2700. Such flexibility, especially when recording in high-definition resolution, positions the Phantom v640 as one of the most versatile, highest-performing, four-megapixel digital high-speed camera in today's market.

What special features are included in the Phantom v640?
1	At maximum resolution of 2500 x 1600, the wide aspect of the Phantom v 640's proprietary, state-of-the-art CMOS imaging sensor, allows a user to keep a moving target in the frame for a longer time than possible with traditional square imaging sensors.
2	The new four-megapixel Phantom v640 also offers users breakthrough sensitivity. Significant improvements have been incorporated increasing the camera's peak quantum efficiency (QE) to 60%. The increased QE is also paired with a significant reduction in noise-equivalent power, large pixels and Vision Research's micro-lens technology.
3	Designed to increase the efficiency of the Phantom v640's CMOS sensor, micro-lens technology utilizes a tiny lens bound to each pixel to direct incoming light more efficiently into the active areas of the photo site.
4	New to Vision Research's Phantom V-series, is an internal mechanical shutter providing the means of calibrating all of the CMOS sensor's pixels needed to ensure accurate images. To ensure optimal performance while using a digital high-speed camera, a current session reference (CSR) should be completed. Why is the Phantom's internal mechanical shutter essential? Previously, performing a CSR meant having to physically access the camera and cover the lens. With the Phantom's internal mechanical shutter, a CSR can now be conducted remotely through a software command, giving users the ability to perform a CSR automatically and remotely as often as required - a time-saving procedure. An improvement from previous technologies, the Phantom v640's internal mechanical shutter is also highly-beneficial for applications requiring more than one camera, as a user can simultaneously perform a CSR for all cameras in use.
5	8 GB of high-speed dynamic RAM is included with the new Phantom v640 with the option to upgrade to 16 or 32 GB. the internal high-speed dynamic RAM is also dividable, up to 64 segments, allowing for the recording of multiple back-to-back shots without having to offload images data to the Cinemag or from the camera.
6	The Phantom v640 is also the ideal high-speed imaging solution for particle image velocity applications. The camera features a high-resolution timing system that yields a timing resolution of better than 20 nanoseconds, 1 microsecond straddle time, as well as a frame synchronisation signal available via a dedicated BNC for easier cabling and increased signal integrity.
7	Additional security and versatility is highlighted in this camera as the Phantom v640 is fully compatible with Vision Research's CineMag system. What is CineMag? CineMag is a small and light non-volatile, hot-swappable memory cartridge with up to 512GB of memory that mounts to directly to the body of the camera thus providing added storage and data protection. The benefits of using CineMag are many and include the ability to quickly offload images from RAM and begin the next shot. You can also record full-resolution video at a maximum frame fate of 250 fps directly to the magazine, enabling very long recording sequences.
8	Several options for viewing recordings immediately are available on the Phantom v640, including a component video-out port for use with a viewfinder. Users can access four different configurations: two identical 4:2:2 outputs; independent 4:2:2 outputs where one is live and one is playback; one dual HD-SDI 4:4:4 output; or 4:4:4 playback on the dual HD-SDI while the user has a live image on the component viewfinder. Also available with the Phantom v640 and Cinemag is the Cinestaiton which accepts a Cinemag and allows download to computer via 10GigE Ethernet, or connection to recorder via dual HD-SDI.

Understanding the need for imaging technologies to be reliable, robust and versatile, Vision Research prides itself on the sensitivity, high-resolution and image quality produced by its software and hardware products.