Good slow-mo camera?

T

Th3RadMan

Member
What are some good choices that can get some nice slow motion shots in at least 720p, preferably 1080. The budget isn't too bad as long as it doesn't get to Phantom flex expensive :p
 
Renting a nice slow-mo camera only when needed, is always less expensive than purchasing one and having it sit around unused most of the time.
 
I'm not sure ifit is possible with anything that is a lot cheaper than a Phantom, but I want to be able to do stuff like slow down an explosion . I don't want to get the cheapest possible camera that has bad quality at that price, just not crazy expensive
 
Explosions, I'd say that you'd want at least 800 fps (960 if you live in NTSC world), which does unfortunately mean you're looking at a dedicated high speed camera.

Vision Research have a range of Phantom cameras, eye wateringly expensive for most at the top end, but take a look at the Miro range, things aren't quite so bad (relatively speaking)

Olympus have the I-speed range, still not capable of full HD last time I checked, but still well over 720

NAC have the memrecam range, I've not had much to do with them.

All stem from an machine vision/industrial back round, e.g crash tests etc, as such are designed to be used by techs in laboratory conditions. So you'd be buying something which is sod all use for anything other than filming high speed....
 
I'd rent a Sony FS-700 when you need it.

Otherwise get say a Nikon D5300 or a Panasonic G6, which are already two of the *best* DSLR/MILC for video at their price which you can get in terms of sheer incredible image quality. But they also can do 1080 60p, so together with Twixtor you can get rather good slow motion on the cheap.

Another option is the Panasonic LX7 which can be found for very little now on the second hand market, and does 120fps at 720.

Read this:
http://philipbloom.net/2011/09/13/twixtor/
http://philipbloom.net/2011/12/06/twixtor-2/
 
Oh, but like was mentioned earlier, for explosions you're probably looking at something even higher speed than these.... which then is becoming *VERY* expensive.

For slow motion explosions on a limited budget you're probably going to be best to use what I just suggested before for the actors/background, then add in the explosion afterwards using a tool such as After Effects or HitFilm (btw, for the next few days you can get HitFilm 2 Express for free: https://hitfilm.com/express/free Usually is US$149)
 
HI, I have a high speed camera for Sale. its the IDT y5 Hdiablo. Capable at shooting 1000fps in 2k and faster at reduced resolutions.
Would you be keen? please contact me off post.

thanks,
Senthil
 
The Edgertronic: cropped frame size for the money (though you get a 4:3 version of 720p).

This is really the kind of thing you should consider renting, unless you want to be a slowmo specialist.

The new GH4 will do 96FPS at 1080 - no word on how compressed the footage will be, but on-paper? The specs look very good. Very very good. For $1600.

The Red One can get up in the 200FPS range (as I recall) but with a severely cropped sensor. You will need one wide-ass lens. $5k and up to buy used, parts getting scarce, but Lens Rentals even carries 'em.

The Red Epic is in the 300 range (again, if memory serves) and most markets have cameras and operators available by the day. If you don't have a Red Rocket card, it may be worth it to hire a Red shooter and have him supply you with prores files, etc.

The Sony 700 has a variety of rates, the frame size drops as the rates increase. Pricey camera. I believe Anthony Bourdain's CNN "Parts Unknown" is using that camera. For a look at what a really creative crew can do with high frame rates, watch that show sometime. It's pretty damn amazing for "reality/travel" TV, the beauty of the shots, the shot choices, and the use of frame rates and ramping, grading, etc.
 
Michael Carter said:
This is really the kind of thing you should consider renting, unless you want to be a slowmo specialist.
Click to expand...

This is good advice. For 5 years now 60fps 720p was norm in dsrs. Now 60fps 1080, standard with 96 to 120fps 720p and the new Gopro 4 will shoot 240fps 720p. And that's for $400
Leak The GoPro HD Hero 4 will be powered by the Ambarella A9 camera SoC, which, besides being able to film in 4K resolution at 30fps, will be able to record in ultra high framerate modes for HD and fullHD, namely 1080p at 120fps, and 720p at 240fps.

You can also change the lens mount for any lens. You might think this sounds really low budget but think about it. The GoPrp 4 sensor will produce 24, 25 and 30fps in 4K and 120 fps 1080 / 240fps 720. What I'm getting at is you don't have to spend a lot of money these days to achieve amazing images.

That with twixter will be a good bang for the buck. If you need more let the client pay you and the rental. Unless you become a high speed rental you may never see your money again.
 
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ROCKMORE said:
The GoPro HD Hero 4 will be powered by the Ambarella A9 camera SoC, which, besides being able to film in 4K resolution at 30fps, will be able to record in ultra high framerate modes for HD and fullHD, namely 1080p at 120fps, and 720p at 240fps.
Click to expand...

I don't know a thing about go pro. Frame rates sound good, but are any go pro's able to be used manually? Can you choose ISO, shutter and aperture and they'll stay put? Is there at least an AE lock function? White balance? Last I checked those were all "no" but that was a couple years back.

ROCKMORE said:
You can also change the lens mount for any lens.
Click to expand...
So the next-get go pro will have a removable lens? I imagine it's one tiny sensor in there, but hey, maybe we'll get a speedbooster...
 
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