Phantom TMX

phantom phantom flex4k phantom v2640 arri alexa 35 weisscam

Vision Research high-speed camera with backside-illuminated sensor. Shoots up to 1,450 fps at 1080p with lower lighting requirements. Standard tool for fast-moving action and effects work.

What is the Phantom TMX?

The Phantom TMX series (2019) is Vision Research's premium line for film and advertising featuring a revolutionary backside-illuminated (BSI) sensor. The BSI sensor provides dramatically improved light sensitivity – 2-3 stops more than the Flex4K – enabling extreme slow motion in situations previously unimaginable.

TMX Models

Model	Resolution	Max fps @ native	Max fps @ HD
TMX 7510	1280 × 800	76,000 fps	76,000 fps
TMX 6410	1280 × 1024	64,000 fps	74,000 fps
TMX 5010	2048 × 1952	50,000 fps	100,000+ fps

TMX 7510 Specifications (Flagship)

Feature	Value
Sensor	1 Megapixel BSI CMOS
Resolution	1280 × 800 (native)
Max fps @ native	76,000 fps
Max fps @ 4K equiv	N/A
ISO	5,000+ (Color), 16,000+ (Mono)
Dynamic Range	12+ Stops
Pixel Size	28 µm
Mount	PL, Canon EF, Nikon F

The BSI Revolution

Front-Illuminated (FSI) vs. Backside-Illuminated (BSI)

FSI (Flex4K): BSI (TMX):

Light → Light →
 ↓ ↓
[Wiring] [Sensor]
[Sensor] [Wiring]
 ↓ ↓
Photodiode Photodiode

→ Light must pass → Direct light incidence
 through wiring to sensor

Impact

Factor	FSI (Flex4K)	BSI (TMX)
Light Efficiency	~60%	~90%
ISO Advantage	Base	+2-3 Stops
Fill Factor	~40%	~90%
Practical Use	More light required	Less light required

TMX vs. Flex4K

Feature	TMX 7510	Flex4K
Sensor	BSI	FSI
ISO	5,000+	800
Light Requirement	4-8x less	Standard
Max fps (native)	76,000	1,000 (4K)
Resolution	1280 × 800	4096 × 2304
35mm Sensor	No	Yes
Price	~$200,000+	~$150,000

Trade-off: The TMX is more light-sensitive and faster but has a lower resolution than the Flex4K.

Practical Light Comparison

For 1,000 fps @ HD

Camera	Required Light
Flex4K	50,000+ Lux
TMX	10,000–15,000 Lux

For the Same Amount of Light (20,000 Lux)

Camera	Achievable fps
Flex4K	~200–300 fps
TMX	~1,000+ fps

Production Consequences

Fewer HMIs – Lower power costs
Faster Setup – Less lighting to rig
More Flexibility – Usable with available light
New Possibilities – Outdoor/nature high-speed

Notable Productions

Production	Year	Usage
House of the Dragon	2022	Dragon movements
The Crown	2022	Historical moments
Apple Events	Various	Product reveals
Porsche Commercials	Various	Car details
NFL Broadcasts	2020–	Extreme replays

Typical Configurations

Film – Emotional Slow Motion

TMX 7510
Cooke S7/i Full Frame
Moderate lighting
500–2,000 fps
Rental: ~€5,000/day

Commercial – Product Shot

TMX 6410
Zeiss Supreme Prime
Studio lighting (moderate amount)
1,000–5,000 fps
Rental: ~€4,500/day

Sports – Broadcast

TMX 7510
Long telephoto lenses
Daylight/stadium lighting
1,000–3,000 fps
Rental: ~€4,000/day

The 28µm Pixels

The TMX 7510 features unusually large pixels:

Pixel Size Comparison

Camera	Pixel Size
TMX 7510	28 µm
Flex4K	~10 µm
ARRI Alexa 35	~6 µm
iPhone 15 Pro	~1.9 µm

Significance

More light per pixel
Less noise
Higher ISO possible
Trade-off: Fewer pixels = lower resolution

High-Speed in Available Light

The TMX enables new scenarios:

Previously (Flex4K)

Indoor high-speed: Massive lighting required
Outdoor nature: Only in bright sunlight
Documentary: Practically impossible

With TMX

Indoor high-speed: Normal film lighting
Outdoor nature: Even on cloudy days
Documentary: Spontaneous high-speed possible

Global Shutter

Like all Phantom cameras, the TMX has a true global shutter:

Why Critical at High-Speed

At 76,000 fps: Each frame is < 0.02 ms
Rolling shutter would cause extreme distortion
Global shutter: All pixels simultaneously
Result: Perfect image stability

Workflow Integration

Recording Modes

Mode	Description
Standard	Direct recording
Loop	Continuous with trigger
Burst	Short sequences

Output

Cine RAW – Maximum quality
ProRes – Efficient
H.264 – For quick previews

Software

Phantom Camera Control (PCC) – Control
DaVinci Resolve – Native RAW support
Premiere/FCP – Via ProRes

Limitations

Compared to Flex4K

Lower native resolution
No true 4K
More expensive

Compared to Cinema Cameras

Optimized for high-speed, not normal filming
Less dynamic range than ARRI
Specialized tool

Practically

Very high cost
Requires a specialized operator
Not yet as widespread as Flex4K

The Future of High-Speed

Trend: BSI Standard

TMX demonstrates BSI advantages
Future models will feature BSI
Light sensitivity will continue to increase

Expected Developments

4K resolution with BSI
Even higher ISO values
More compact bodies
Lower prices

Today

Aspect	Details
Purchase Price	~$180,000–$250,000
Rental/Day	€4,500–€6,000
Availability	Premium rental houses
Status	Current flagship
Trend	Gradually replacing Flex4K

From the crafts

Perspectives

Cinematographer

Die TMX ist ein Game-Changer. Endlich High-Speed ohne diese irrsinnigen Lichtsetups. Der BSI-Sensor macht 2-3 Blenden Unterschied – das ist enorm. Für Film und Werbung ersetzt sie langsam die Flex4K als Standard.

Director

Die TMX ermöglicht mir Zeitlupen in Situationen, die vorher unmöglich waren. Available Light bei 500 fps? Mit der TMX machbar. Das eröffnet völlig neue kreative Möglichkeiten.

Producer

Die TMX kostet mehr als die Flex4K, aber wir sparen beim Licht. Wenn ich für Flex4K 10 ARRI M90s brauchte, reichen für TMX vielleicht 3-4. Das gleicht die höheren Kamerakosten oft mehr als aus.