Anyone care to hazard a guess at just what, exactly, this monster is?

Japan tunes into flying foxes | Coffs Coast News | Local News in Coffs Coast | Coffs Coast Advocate (http://www.coffscoastadvocate.com.au/story/2010/01/23/japan-tunes-into-flying-foxes/)

1000 frames a second? Surely some mistake?

Boy, would I like to add one of those to my goodies bag!

As an aside, the mentioned bat colony is in a minute patch of rain forest, all that remains of a once vast swathe.

Shooting there throws up all the usual problems of shooting into rain forest canopy - the canopy underside is like a black cat in a coal cellar, the gaps between illuminated with 20 zillion watts of daylight.

Absolutely awfull without lights.


CS

Sounds like a Phantom HD to me! Phantom HD GOLD High-Speed Digital Camera :: Digital Cinema Cameras :: Cameras :: Equipment Sales :: Abel Cine Tech (http://www.abelcine.com/store/Phantom-HD-GOLD-High-Speed-Digital-Camera/)

There are a few other models too, and I think they can even do higher speeds than that.

Not sure if this is the same one but surf film-maker Bali Stickland was using something similar to shoot footage for a BBC documentary - swimming with this massive camera in a huge housing in 10ft surf over coral reef. Apperently his biggest problem was that at 1000fps, he had to return to the boat after every few waves because he was filling up the cards so quickly.

I'd also guess a Phantom HD with a Sony Viewfinder and it looks like a Canon lens. I'm pretty sure Phantom makes mounts for either Nikon or Canon lenses. The MythBusters use Phantoms to get their high speed shots. Very cool cameras. 1000 fps at 1080p and up to 1/500,000 of a second shutter.

But at $115K for the body I don't think I'll be getting one soon.

Garrett

Having followed the link, I agree, it certainly seems to be a Phantom.

What an utterly awesome piece of kit!

Having checked out what does and does not come with the basic camera and doing a bit of math, it would appear that the entire rig being used in the article above must run out at significantly in excess of $350k US.

Think it just dropped off my Christmas Stocking list as well.

Thanks again.


CS