Frequently Asked Questions for High-Speed Cameras, Digital High-Speed Video and High-Speed Imaging Applications

General FAQ's  |  Integrated High-Speed Imaging Systems FAQ's  |  High-Speed Camera Specific FAQ's

General High-Speed Imaging Frequently Ased Questions

	How long has high-speed imaging been around?
	High-speed imaging's origins began in the 1870's. To learn more about the history of high-speed imaging, visit the high-speed camera and high-speed imaging university.
	What medium of output can I get from high-speed imaging?
	Up to the early 1960's film was the only medium available to record motion. Between the early 1960's and into the 1990's videotape was the primary choice for high-speed imaging. Since the 1990's electronic/digital motion analyzers have become the predominate medium for high-speed imaging.
	What is high-speed imaging?
	High-speed imaging is a tool that can help you understand the motion of subjects that move too fast for the human eye to see. It enables you to capture a sequence of images within a very small amount of time that you can play back at a slow rate of speed to understand what is happening with your subject. As an example, at a rate of 500 frames per second, high-speed imaging allows you to capture nearly 17 images for every one that would be captured by standard video (30 frames per second).
	What does Frame Rate mean?
	Frame rate, capture rate, imager speed, and capture speed are interchangeable terms. We use it in high-speed imaging to define the speed at which the camera will record. Measured in frames per second, the frame rate is one of the most important considerations in motion analysis.
	How long can high-speed imaging systems record?
	The recording time of a high-speed video system is dependent on the frame rate selected and the amount of storage medium available. The continuing technological advances in DRAM cards make higher storage levels affordable, but DRAM is still a limiting factor. In general, most high-speed events occur in such short duration that only a few seconds of record time are necessary. We have a .pdf brochure available for each camera we sell, and you can learn more about record time there. See our High-Speed Camera Products and Solutions section for more info.