Wednesday, April 07, 2010

Fast Sensors Standoff

Photron and Vision Research announced new fast cameras toward 2010 NAB Show in Las Vegas. Both use custom designed sensors

Business Wire: Photron Fastcam BC2 delivers 1000fps at its native 4MP resolution 2048x2048 or up to 2000fps at 1920x1080 HD resolution (no word "progressive" though). The camera appears to be a broadcaster's version of Fastcam SA2 announced a year ago, I believe.

Marketwire: Vision Research announced Phantom Flex featuring 4MP CMOS sensor with resolution of 2560x1600. When set to Standard Mode the maximum recording speed of 1,560fps at 4MP resolution. In full-HD resolution (1920x1080), the Phantom Flex offers a maximum recording speed of 2,800fps. When reduced to 720p HD resolution (1280x720), the Phantom Flex offers a maximum recording speed of 6,100fps. The camera can go even faster, recording at 13,000 fps at 640x480, also in Standard Mode.

Other than Standard, there is also HQ Mode, where the Vision Research's Flex trades speed for enhanced image quality; the camera still offers impressive maximum recording speeds of 780 fps at 2560x1600, 1,390 fps at 1920x1080, and 3,000 fps at 1280x720 resolutions. HQ Mode is said to employ a proprietary multi-sampling image enhancement technology to deliver stable blacks, low noise, higher dynamic range and repeatable shots over the full range of supported resolutions, frame rates, and temperatures.

11 comments:

  1. Who designed these sensors ??

    thanks !

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  2. how about Cypress' Fill Factory?

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  3. cypress and forza both presented papers at iisw2009, compare them to the camera's discussed above and make up your own mind...

    Cypress: http://www.imagesensors.org/Past%20Workshops/2009%20Workshop/2009%20Papers/030_paper_cremers_cypress_gs.pdf

    Forza:
    http://www.imagesensors.org/Past%20Workshops/2009%20Workshop/2009%20Papers/072_paper_huang_forza_33mp.pdf

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  4. Neither paper spec fits either camera spec, not even close...

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  5. Thanks for these links !
    Totally different philosophies ...

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  6. "Neither paper spec fits either camera spec, not even close..."

    I believe you should read again...

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  7. Maybe Alex Krymski has some idea?

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  8. Two years ago he denied that Photron uses his sensors:

    http://image-sensors-world.blogspot.com/2008/04/1000fps-4mp-sensor-from-photron.html

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  9. "I believe you should read again..."

    I did, just to be sure and stand by my statement:

    Vision and Photron sensors are 4Mp; Cremers' paper is about a 1Mp sensor, Huang paper about a 33Mp rolling shutter sensor...

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  10. "Vision and Photron sensors are 4Mp; Cremers' paper is about a 1Mp sensor, Huang paper about a 33Mp rolling shutter sensor..."

    Yes, and who says anyone has published the exact sensor discussed here? Claiming neither of the publications comes even close implies you don't seem to understand how one sensor can be easily derived from another. Just look at pixelrates

    Alex didn't make those sensors...but he knows who did :)

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