Phantom v2640

phantom phantom flex4k phantom tmx photron weisscam

Vision Research's science and industry flagship (2017) – up to 25,030 fps at HD resolution. The fastest high-speed camera for serious research, ballistics, and industrial analysis.

What is the Phantom v2640?

The Phantom v2640 (2017) is Vision Research's scientific and industrial flagship for extreme high-speed applications. With up to 25,030 fps at HD resolution and 6,600 fps at full 4-megapixel resolution, it is designed for applications where even the Flex4K is too slow – ballistics, crash tests, explosions, and scientific research.

Technical Specifications

Feature	Value
Sensor	4 Megapixel CMOS
Resolution	2048 × 1952 (max)
Max fps @ 4MP	6,600 fps
Max fps @ 1080p	11,750 fps
Max fps @ 720p	17,540 fps
Max fps (minimum)	25,030 fps @ 128 lines
ISO	6,400 (Color), 16,000 (Mono)
Dynamic Range	12 Stops
Internal RAM	Up to 288 GB

Key Features

25,030 fps – Extreme slow motion
6,600 fps @ 4MP – High resolution + speed
288 GB RAM – Long recording duration
High ISO – Better light sensitivity than Flex4K
Mono version – Even more sensitive
Binning modes – Flexible resolution/fps trade-offs

Resolution vs. Speed

Resolution	Max fps	Slow Motion (@ 24 fps)
2048 × 1952 (4MP)	6,600	275x
1920 × 1080 (HD)	11,750	489x
1280 × 720	17,540	731x
768 × 576	23,080	962x
640 × 128	25,030	1,043x

v2640 vs. Flex4K

Feature	v2640	Flex4K
Target Audience	Science/Industry	Film/Commercials
Max fps @ HD	11,750	2,564
Max Resolution	2048 × 1952	4096 × 2304
ISO	6,400 (Color)	800
Sensor Size	APS-C similar	35mm
Price	~$150,000	~$150,000

Conclusion: Flex4K for cinematic quality, v2640 for extreme speed.

Typical Applications

Ballistics & Military

Projectile trajectories
Impact analysis
Explosion documentation
Body armor testing

Automotive Industry

Crash tests
Airbag deployment
Suspension analysis
Engine testing

Science

Biology (insect flight, etc.)
Physics experiments
Material research
Fluid dynamics

Entertainment

YouTube High-Speed Channels
Science TV ("MythBusters")
Commercials for extreme shots
Sports analysis

The Mathematics of Extreme Slow Motion

At 25,000 fps

Real Time	Playback @ 24 fps
1 Second	17.4 Minutes
100 ms	1.7 Minutes
10 ms	10.4 Seconds
1 ms	1 Second

What Can Be Seen

Event	Duration	Frames @ 25,000 fps
Bullet impact	~1 ms	~25 Frames
Lightning strike	~100 µs	~2.5 Frames
Airbag deployment	~30 ms	~750 Frames
Droplet splash	~50 ms	~1,250 Frames

Lighting Requirements

Extreme fps require extreme amounts of light:

fps	Exposure Time	Light Requirement vs. 24 fps
6,600	1/13,200 s	275x
11,750	1/23,500 s	490x
25,000	1/50,000 s	1,040x

Practical Solutions

Daylight – Best option for extreme fps
High-power Xenon – For indoor use
Laser illumination – For specialized applications
Monochrome version – 2–4x more sensitive

The Monochrome Version

Phantom offers a monochrome version (v2640-M):

Feature	Color	Monochrome
ISO	6,400	16,000+
Resolution	Bayer interpolated	True pixels
Application	General	Scientific
Sensitivity	Normal	2–4x better

Advantage: No Bayer filter = more light per pixel.

Internal Memory (RAM)

The v2640 offers up to 288 GB of internal RAM:

RAM	Recording Duration @ HD/11,750 fps
72 GB	~3 seconds
144 GB	~6 seconds
288 GB	~12 seconds

Why RAM instead of SSD?

Write Speed: RAM: ~300 GB/s, SSD: ~3 GB/s
At 11,750 fps: Requires ~25 GB/s
No SSD can handle this – only RAM is fast enough

Workflow

Record to RAM
After recording: Transfer to CineMag/SSD
Transfer takes significantly longer than recording

The Slow Mo Guys and YouTube

The v2640 gained fame through YouTube channels:

The Slow Mo Guys

Gavin Free and Daniel Gruchy
Millions of views on YouTube
v2640 for extreme shots
"How Stuff Actually Works"

Typical Content

Water droplet splash
Glass breaking
Explosions (controlled)
Sports movements
Everyday phenomena

Scientific Significance

Research Areas

Field	Application
Ballistics	Projectile analysis
Biomechanics	Insect/animal movement
Fluid dynamics	PIV measurements
Materials science	Crack propagation
Medicine	Surgical analysis

Publications

The v-series appears regularly in scientific publications for visualizing fast phenomena.

Cost and Availability

Aspect	Details
Purchase Price	~$110,000–$180,000
Rental/Day	€2,500–4,000
Availability	Specialty rental houses
Typical User	Science, industry, special content

Limitations

For Film Production

Sensor smaller than 35mm
Not intended for normal cinematography
Less dynamic range than cinema cameras
Workflow is more complex

Practical

Extreme lighting requirements
Short recording duration (RAM-limited)
Specialized expertise required
High data volumes

Today

Aspect	Details
Status	Current production
Successor	v2640 Onyx (improved)
Market Position	Leading for >10,000 fps
Competition	Photron FASTCAM SA-Z

From the crafts

Perspectives

Cinematographer

Die v2640 ist nicht wirklich eine Filmkamera – sie ist für Wissenschaft und Industrie gebaut. Aber wenn du mal 25.000 fps brauchst, um eine Explosion zu analysieren oder einen Kugeleinschlag zu filmen, ist sie unschlagbar. Für YouTube-Channels wie 'Slow Mo Guys' ist sie perfekt.

Director

Die v2640 zeigt mir Dinge, die kein menschliches Auge je gesehen hat. 25.000 fps bedeutet, dass eine Sekunde zu über 17 Minuten wird. Das ist keine Zeitlupe mehr – das ist praktisch Stillstand.

Producer

Die v2640 ist ein Spezialwerkzeug. Für Wissenschaftssendungen wie 'MythBusters' oder YouTube-Content ist sie perfekt. Für normalen Film nutzt man eher die Flex4K oder TMX – die v2640 ist für extreme Anwendungen.