Despite its name, a high speed camera is used to create slow motion. A high speed camera is designed to properly capture fast moving objects and scenes, and display them at a normal or slow playback. Many near-instantaneous events cannot be properly observed in real-time; therefore special cameras have been developed to slow down things people want to observe in more detail.
How High Speed Cameras Work
What your camera can capture depends on the shutter speed and the sensor's sensitivity. The faster the shutter, the more frames per second (fps) the camera can capture. Digital cameras use a rotating prism or mirror that goes faster than any standard camera could ever dream. High speed cameras can capture up to a quarter of a million frames per second. Considering that the standard frame rate is around 30 fps for videos and movies, you can imagine how fast a high speed camera is. The downside to these cameras, however, is that you need tons of light since the exposure is extremely brief.
Uses of High Speed Cameras
High speed cameras are of great use in the science and research world. High speed cameras can capture cell division and growth, reaction speeds of animals and rockets. They are also very popular in capturing sports footage. From a connecting punch in boxing to a bat making contact with a baseball, you get to see more of what is happening with slow motion.
High Speed Film Cameras Vs. Electronic/Digital High Speed Cameras
In filmmaking, it is often more useful to slow down the shutter speed to create fast motion and stop motion scenes. For example, if you want to do a time lapse of a sunset you would slow your shutter speed to a virtual stand still and that three-hour sunset can be viewed in 10 seconds when projected. Film is still used for this technique. Many motion pictures are now shot on digital formats, however, giving the filmmaker more technical choices. Whereas analog film cameras have a definite limit on how "fast" they can capture, depending on the technology, the possibilities of a high speed digital camera are almost limitless.
Best High Speed Camera for You
The greater the speed, the more expensive the camera. If you are a novice cinematographer or visual artist, you probably don't need the same high speed cameras used by NASA. More feasible high speed cameras use CMOS image sensors or charge-coupled device image systems, which can capture 1000fps and will run you about $600.
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