Frequently Asked Questions on How to shoot a Slow motion Video

In the realm of video production, slow motion video entails capturing and playing back footage at a pace slower than the standard 25fps, contrary to the real-time recording.

While a regular video camera adheres to the 25fps standard, specialized slow motion cameras operate at frame rates starting from 500fps. Any frame rate surpassing 25fps up to 300fps is deemed as slow motion, with anything above 500fps classified as super slow motion. 

The distinction between super slow motion and slow motion lies in the frame rates. Super slow motion involves shooting above 500fps.

The human can only see a difference in frame rates when its doubled. Thus consider doubling your frame rates, such as from 50 to 1 00fps, 1 00fps to 200fps, 200fps to 400fps, 400 to 800fps and so forth. In-between frame rates have little effect on visual impression.

In PAL countries, 25fps is the standard frame rate used for most videos and 24fps in NTSC countries. It shows motion the way we normally see it naturally, real-time movement. Shooting in 25fps, fast actions happen quickly and are often gone before you can really notice the details.

This is when we need to use a higher frame rates.i.e 800 or 1,000fps using a dedicated high speed camera.

A high speed camera captures 1,000 frames every second, allowing us to slow the footage down dramatically in post-production. When played back at 25fps, this creates up to 40× slow motion, revealing fine details the human eye can’t see in real time.

This is especially useful for food, product, nature, sports, and technical shoots, where timing, texture, impact, or movement happens too fast for us to take notice. 

Here's a video which showcases the different frame rates.

Slow motion enhances the visual impact of a scene, allowing viewers to delve into the unique features and subtleties of the subject being recorded. Even an ordinary object, like a tomato, can be transformed into something extraordinary when viewed in slow motion.

Slow motion is a film making technique to keep audiences engaged in the storytelling.  Slow motion shots serves the purpose of highlighting intricate details and, to direct the audience attention to focus on certain elements in the shot the director wants to convey. Just like how icing enhances a cake flavour, slow motion should be used selectively to ensure it maintains its allure and enchantment for the audience. Too much of it, it will have a reverse effect.

While a standard video camera records 25 frames per second, slowmo/high speed cameras like the flex 4k or Pixboom Spark have the capability to capture 1 000 frames per second. This represents a 40x increase in the number of frames within the same time period. The essence of super slow motion lies in the extra details captured, ensuring that nothing escapes the camera lens as compared to conventional video cameras.

Developed by Vision Research, widely know as VRI, the Phantom Flex 4K represents a cutting-edge slow motion camera tailored for the film and video production industries. Renowned for its exceptional capabilities in capturing slow-motion footage, the Phantom Flex 4K features a proprietary S35 CMOS sensor combined with a distinctive color science crafted by VRI, resulting in a unique visual aesthetic that sets it apart from its competitors. It is still widely used all of the world.

We currently offer both hourly rentals (minimum of 3 hours) and daily rentals for the Flex 4K camera, inclusive of Phantom Tech support services. Reach out to us for further details on our current rental options, as we also provide customized rental solutions tailored to suit your specific video production requirements. Contact us now.

It has a dynamic range 1 1 .5 stops and effectively maintains the black levels, all while keeping noise to a minimum. You can also set it up to shoot 25fps. While shooting at 25fps is feasible with the Flex 4k, it is advisable to avoid it due to the creation of large raw (.cine) files.

The Flex 4k has the capability to shoot at 1,000 fps in 4k DCI 1.90:1 (4096x2160), approximately 2,000 fps in 2k (1920x1080), around 3,000 fps in HD (1280x720), and even faster at lower resolutions.

While modern cameras can capture high frame rates, achieving consistent lighting, motion control, and image quality often requires specialised planning and equipment.

We provide expert tech support on set to help you find the right frame rate and resolution for the shot needed.

There are various approaches to achieve this:

Through a 1G ethernet cable connecting the camera to a PC laptop running VRI’s Phantom Camera Control (PCC) software.
Using the onboard camera controls which provide quick access to adjust key settings such as Resolution, ISO, White Balance, Frame Rates, and navigation to sub-menus.
Utilizing wireless controls via Bluetooth or WiFi (Our Preferred method!)

Through the integration of 3rd party Bluetooth wireless controllers like SEMOTE or a basic WiFi router linked to the camera via a Fischer ethernet cable and employing the iOS app, IPHANTOM. This setup enables remote camera operation, granting the Director of Photography and camera crew flexibility to work and maneuver the camera without being restricted to a laptop.

Such functionality defines the unique capabilities of the Phantom Flex 4k compared to other phantom cameras.

While on set, our Phantom technicians will handle the camera setup and operations, allowing the DOP (Director of Photography) to concentrate on the creative process. Despite the user-friendly interface of the camera, the presence of a knowledgeable individual like a Phantom tech on set ensures smooth operations, freeing up creative bandwidth and eliminating concerns about camera configurations.

To download a Phantom Cinemag, one must use the Cinestation, a specialized reader designed for Cinemags.

This reader is interconnected to our computers via 1 0G ethernet to facilitate fast offloading. For optimal performance, it is essential to have a highspeed USB-C SSD due to the large size of Phantom Cine files.

When shooting slow motion videos, it is recommended to avoid fluorescent lighting and tungsten lights below 2k.

With the significant advancements in LED technology, there is now a wide array of high-quality choices available in the market. LED lighting options such as the Nanlux Evoke 2400B and the Aperture Electro Storm XT26 are getting popular with super slow motion DPs/Gaffers.

To ensure proper lighting, it is crucial to set the fixtures to 'HIGH SPEED' mode without dimming them.

Maintaining maximum power is essential, and to reduce intensity, one can use diffusions, flags, nets, or adjusting the distance of the lights from the subject.

For scenarios requiring color accuracy, like when shooting beauty products, HMI or Tungsten lights with higher wattage are recommended, although they come with their own challenges.

Checking for flicker in LED lights is vital before shooting slow motion footage, as flickering can negatively impact the quality of the video. It is advisable to address any flickering issues during the production stage rather than relying on post-production fixes. Testing all lights for flicker using a flicker meter during the shoot can prevent potential headaches during post-production.

In addition to lighting recommendations, we provide complimentary consultations before your shoots. Feel free to discuss your requirements with us, and we will offer tailored advice on lighting solutions.

In order to view and edit .Cine files, you have the following NLE (Non Linear Editing) software options:

Davinci Resolve
Adobe Premiere
Ottomatic O/Dailies with Phantom Fuse
Sliverstack with Phantom Fuse
Assimilate Scratch
Editready
Seance

For backing up .Cine footage, you can utilize PHANTOM FUSE software along with:

Hedge
Shotput Pro

Certainly! By adjusting a super slow-motion video filmed at 1 000fps to a standard 25fps speed in the post-production phase, one can effectively convert it.

Simply modify the clip's speed to 1000% and you will obtain a 25fps video. Filming in 1 000fps offers various options for editing in the post-production stage, allowing for enhanced creative flexibility in the final result.

We always shoot at higher frame rates, when possible, you get 2 options for the price of one 🙂

Absolutely, setting the sensor resolution to 2752 x 2304 on the camera will enable you to do so. The maximum frame rate will automatically default to 938 fps. Our knowledgeable Phantom technicians will be available on set to provide assistance during the shoot.

Contact us here🙂

Here’s the link

We have options for

Phantom Flex 4k -

• Nikon
• PL Mount

Pixboom Spark

• PL mount
• Sony E-mount

It initially records to the camera’s internal RAM, which must then be transferred to an onboard removable storage known as Cinemags. These proprietary storage solutions are remarkably fast, enabling image transfers in under 30 seconds from the Flex 4k's internal RAM. Efficiency is key in film and video production workflows. You don't need to worry about the slowmo camera technicalities with us being on set. 

Contact us, we can send you a small downloadable .cine file to test your workflow before your shoot.

Food Shots: Highlight the details of food manufactuers, restaurants, fast food chains and gourmet food products

Commercials : Add visual flair and captivate audiences.

Feature Films: Enhance storytelling and create memorable scenes. A memorable forest fight scene from "Sherlock" comes to mind.

Nature: Capture the beauty of birds, insects and animals in Nature

Documentaries: Convey stories with heightened emotional impact.

Lifestyle: Showcase everyday moments .

Sports: The higher frame rates allows us to see an athlete muscles contracting and tightening as the jump a hurdle.

Dance: Showcase intricate dance moves with magical elegance.

Manufacturing/Tests: Provide detailed insights to industrial designers to test and evaluate their products for quality assurance and before going to market.

The organic sweet spot for super slow motion is between 800fps to 1,000fps. 

We shoot food videos using dedicated high-speed cameras, high-wattage flicker-free lighting, and specialist macro lenses to capture every detail in slow motion. This setup allows us to create dramatic visuals, splashing liquids, textures, steam, and movement—that aren’t visible at normal frame rates.

Beyond the camera gear, food shoots are a team effort. We work closely with experienced food stylists, prop masters, and production crew to design, prepare, and execute unique food shots that look appetising, intentional, and visually striking on screen.