What is the Phantom Flex4K?
The Phantom Flex4K (2013) was the first high-speed camera to achieve true 4K resolution at 1,000 fps. Developed by Vision Research, it became the industry standard for film and advertising where extreme, cinema-quality slow motion is required. With up to 1,000 fps at 4096×2304 pixels, it enables 41x slow motion in full 4K resolution.
Technical Specifications
| Feature | Value |
|---|
| Sensor | 35mm CMOS, Global Shutter |
| Resolution | 4096 × 2304 (4K) |
| Max fps @ 4K | 1,000 fps |
| Max fps @ 2K | 1,920 fps |
| Max fps @ HD | 2,564 fps |
| ISO | 800 (native), up to 6,400 |
| Dynamic Range | 12+ Stops |
| Mount | PL, Canon EF, Nikon F |
| Weight | 4.6 kg (Body) |
Key Features
- 4K @ 1,000 fps – First true 4K high-speed
- Global Shutter – No rolling shutter effect
- 12+ Stops DR – Good dynamic range
- PL Mount – Cine lenses
- On-board Cache – 8–64 GB
- Workflow Integration – Cine-RAW or ProRes
Resolution vs. Speed
The Flex4K offers flexible trade-offs:
| Resolution | Max fps | Slow Motion (@ 24 fps) |
|---|
| 4096 × 2304 (4K) | 1,000 | 41.6x |
| 2048 × 1080 (2K) | 1,920 | 80x |
| 1920 × 1080 (HD) | 2,564 | 107x |
| 1280 × 720 | 3,630 | 151x |
| 640 × 480 | 5,850 | 244x |
Notable Productions
| Production | Year | Usage |
|---|
| Planet Earth II | 2016 | Animal movements |
| Mad Max: Fury Road | 2015 | Action details |
| Game of Thrones | 2017 | Battle sequences |
| Westworld | 2016 | Emotional slow motion |
| Apple Commercials | Various | Product shots |
Lighting Requirements
High-speed shooting requires massive amounts of light:
Example Calculation @ 1,000 fps
| Factor | Calculation |
|---|
| Exposure Time | 1/2,000 second |
| vs. 24 fps (1/48s) | 41.6x shorter |
| Light Requirement | 41.6x more than normal |
Typical Setups
| fps | Light Requirement | Practicality |
|---|
| 500 | 20x Normal | Studio strobes possible |
| 1,000 | 40x Normal | Massive HMIs |
| 2,000 | 80x Normal | Daylight or extreme setup |
Light Sources for High-Speed
- ARRI M90 – 9,000 W HMI
- ARRI Orbiter – Flicker-free at all fps
- LED Panels – High-frequency PWM critical
- Daylight – Ideal, no flicker issues
Global Shutter Importance
Why Global Shutter is Important
| Shutter Type | With Fast Movement |
|---|
| Rolling Shutter | Distortions, "jello effect" |
| Global Shutter | No distortions |
At 1,000 fps, even the slightest distortions become visible – Global Shutter is essential.
Workflow
Recording Modes
| Mode | Description |
|---|
| Standard | Recording to internal cache |
| Loop | Continuous recording, trigger saves |
| Segmented | Multiple clips in one take |
Output Formats
- Cine RAW – Maximum flexibility
- ProRes 4444 – Good compromise
- ProRes 422 HQ – Efficient for long takes
Data Management
| Resolution @ fps | Data Rate |
|---|
| 4K @ 1,000 fps | ~4.5 GB/s |
| 4K @ 100 fps | ~450 MB/s |
| HD @ 2,500 fps | ~1.2 GB/s |
Phantom Flex4K vs. Competition
| Camera | Max fps @ 4K | DR | ISO |
|---|
| Phantom Flex4K | 1,000 | 12+ | 800 |
| Phantom v2640 | N/A (1080p max) | 12 | 6,400 |
| Weisscam HS-2 | 200 | 13+ | 800 |
| RED Monstro | 120 | 17 | 800 |
| ARRI Alexa 65 | 60 | 14+ | 800 |
Conclusion: For true high-speed above 120 fps, Phantom is practically unrivaled.
Typical Configurations
Commercial – Product Shot
- Flex4K Body
- Zeiss Master Prime
- Massive lighting setups (50,000+ Lux)
- 1,000 fps @ 4K
- Rental: ~€4,000/day
Film – Action Sequence
- Flex4K Body
- Leica Summilux-C
- HMIs + Daylight
- 500–1,000 fps depending on shot
- Rental: ~€3,500/day
Documentary – Wildlife/Nature
- Flex4K Body
- Long focal lengths (200mm+)
- Daylight dependent
- Various fps depending on animal
- Rental: ~€3,000/day
Limitations
Compared to Cinema Cameras
- Less dynamic range than ARRI
- Lower native ISO
- No integrated ND filter
- Thermal management critical
Compared to Newer Phantom TMX
- Less light-sensitive
- Older sensor
- Lower fps at same quality
Practical Constraints
- Massive lighting setups required
- High data volumes
- Specialized expertise needed
- Significant costs
The Upgrade to TMX
In 2019, Phantom introduced the TMX series:
| Feature | Flex4K | TMX 7510 |
|---|
| fps @ 4K | 1,000 | 1,750 |
| ISO | 800 | 5,000 |
| Sensor | Front-illuminated | Back-illuminated |
| Light Requirement | High | Significantly less |
However: The Flex4K remains widely used and proven.
Today
| Aspect | Details |
|---|
| Purchase Price | ~€150,000–180,000 |
| Rental/Day | €3,000–4,500 |
| Availability | Good (all major rental houses) |
| Support | Vision Research, global network |
| Status | Current production, but TMX as successor |
