Preparation is key in high-speed imaging. Understanding what you want to image, the environment it will take place in, and whether or not you will have access to basic requirements like electricity before you begin attempting to record will make your shot a success.
For a more in-depth understanding of the factors that go into planning a successful workflow in high-speed imaging download our free whitepaper, “Optimizing Workflow for High-Speed Imaging Applications.”
The first consideration is the volume of data that must be processed to get your shot. Higher frame rates and resolutions result in larger file sizes. Are remote on-camera memory options available or will a computer be directly connected for downloading? Raw image data (Phantom Cine Files) are the most efficient and the best format for measurements in scientific applications but file sizes can be quite large.
Quickly moving large amounts of data out of the RAM and onto a secure location between shots is critical. An example of this is, a 2-second video of 1 Mpx imaging at 10,000 fps equals a 30 GB raw file. The average transfer times are:
Each option has advantages and disadvantages that a trained Phantom expert can explain to you in detail if you like.
Physical environments become a factor in determining which type of connections and options will be available during operation. Many indoor laboratories and test environments rely on software and a physical Ethernet connection to operate the camera and transfer data. This is a straight-forward option with simple connections and interface that make using a Phantom camera very easy.
Outdoor and remote environments the camera should be able to operate on its own without a software connection for optimal success. Choosing cameras that have on-camera or remote controls, that run on battery power, and use removable non-volatile media (like CFast or CineMag) for downloading and safely storing video.
How long do you want to record? Consideration must be taken to factor in record time of not just the event itself but the amount of time before and after the event also. The higher the amount of RAM on a Phantom camera the more seconds of top fps speed the camera is capable of capturing.
Some applications may require several minutes of recording at lower frame rates to capture and entire event. Recording direct-to-CineMag is one way to achieve this. If even more record time is required it may be beneficial to consider a streaming camera. These cameras, through CXP protocol, capture to an off-board recorder and are limited only by the memory capacity of the system they are attached to.
