Epic FPS?

[Mark B.]

Is it possible for Epic to use an even smaller section of the sensor to get higher frame rates? If 250fps is possible at a 2k crop, could the firmware be configured to allow 500fps at a 1k crop?

[Harry Lipnick]

While I could see the potential use for this, there are two disadvantages. Number one, 1K RAW when debayered to RGB is gonna be right around SD video resolution. Secondly, you're talking about roughly a 5x crop factor on your lenses, making a 18mm (just about the widest in any standard cine kit) perform the same as 90mm lens would on the full Epic-X chip. So, anyway, I could see the use in some analytical and data gathering scientific uses, but I think for most storytelling, which is where RED sets their aim, this much cropping (and really, that fast a framerate) is overkill for most projects.
Peace,

-Harry

[Mark B.]

I'm not concerned with the crop factor, since I'd be pointing the lens at telephoto stuff anyway: birds, wildlife, sports, drops of water, etc. Also, lenses are available in 15mm rectilinear and 8mm fisheye configurations, enough to push the cropped focal length wider than 50mm.

1K resolution would be 1130 x 635, which is better than a standard def DVD. If you're going to an HD product, vector logic could enlarged it without much trouble (aside from the processing power required).

If the capability is there, it seems like it would be a nice feature to have. 500fps could be pretty awesome. And then later, the Monstro chip might be able to get 700fps at 1K.

[George A.]

This would be amazing - if possible.

George

[Jeff Kilgroe]

I suppose we'll have to wait for final specs when the cameras are ready. But it depends on the maximum cycle rate of the sensor. For example, the Mysterium sensor in the RED One has a max cycle rate of 120Hz, which translates to a maximum FPS of 120. Due to limitations on internal bandwidth and processing, the camera has to crop to 2K 2:1 to record anything at that rate.

Mysterium-X, or at least the 5K variation for EPIC/Scarlet S35, was said to have a max cycle rate of 250Hz. But this was way back with the announcement last December. So all things subject to change, etc... The Monstro, at that time, was said to boost itself to 350Hz. Once again, all things subject to change...

[Michael Brennan]

Numerous super high speed cameras crop the hell out of the sensor to achieve ridiculous frame rates.

But presenting these cropped images to an audience in full frame is tricky.

However in respect to SFX work, using these cropped images as elements composited within a frame is a sound technique.

Mike Brennan