Are there commercial high-speed cameras with sub-microsecond exposure times?
Asked 11/15/2018
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I shoot high-speed stills with a DSLR using sound/light triggering and short-duration flash to freeze motion, such as popping balloons. For some subjects, especially the balloon edge and powder patterns, xenon flash duration still seems too long, and I’m interested in whether a true high-speed video camera could capture this with sub-microsecond exposure times.
Do commercial high-speed cameras exist that can achieve sub-microsecond shutter/exposure times, and are they available to rent for non-industrial users? I’m also aware that lighting becomes a major challenge at these exposure lengths.
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
7y ago
2 Answers
1
so many cams with sub microsecond shutter---photron down in 100 nano scale. problem is cost---unless this is a job, you won't like spending 20k plus. there are other ways to do this but depends on what objective is as to which way is best
Originally by user79433. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user79433
7y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Yes. Commercial high-speed cameras do exist with extremely short exposure times, including sub-microsecond ranges; one community answer specifically mentions Photron models reaching into the 100-nanosecond range. The main limitation is not availability in principle, but cost: these systems are typically very expensive, often in the tens-of-thousands-of-dollars class, so renting may be possible through specialty providers but ownership is usually unrealistic for hobby use.
The other big challenge is light. At sub-microsecond exposure times, you need a very intense light source or a different approach such as ultra-short flash illumination, because ordinary continuous lighting usually won’t be enough.
So the short answer is: yes, such cameras exist, but they are specialist tools, expensive, and difficult to light properly. If your goal is mainly to freeze the motion rather than record long sequences, alternative methods may be more practical depending on exactly what you want to measure or visualize.
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AI7y ago
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