In Broadcast - May 2013 - 26

I N T E R N A T I O N A L

WWW.INBROADCAST.COM | ISSUE 19 - MAY 2013

N E W S

InREPLY

Vision Research Previews
Phantom Flex4K Camera
Vision Research’s Vice President of Marketing, Rick Robinson, ﬁelds our
questions on the brand new Phantom Flex4K camera shown at NAB…
can access key controls such as
play, stop and trigger from either
side of the camera.

Rick Robinson
Vision Research

26

InBroadcast: How is your
company changing to meet client
demands?
Rick Robinson: Vision Research
continually listens to our customers’
recommendations and if possible we
incorporate the recommendation
into an upgrade or a new camera
model. This was the case with the
v642 broadcast camera introduced
last year. Customers were looking
for better colour-matching
technology and in the v642, we
introduced advanced Multi-Matrix
Colour Correction Technology,
which is an essential tool to colourmatch regular speed cameras
used in Live Sports Broadcast.
Another example is our brand new
Phantom Flex4K camera “previewed”
at April’s National Association of
Broadcasters show. While we are
still working to roll out many features
of the new camera, one of the most
recommended features includes on
camera controls. Cinematographers
wanted to be able to control the
camera quickly and easily. We
incorporated this feedback and went
one step further by adding camera
controls on both sides, so no matter
how you are using the camera you

InB: Tell us about the new camera
introduced at NAB?
RR: The Phantom Flex4K offers
exceptional image quality, new
workﬂow options, a user-friendly
camera control interface and
improved performance at standard
frame rates. At its full acquisition
resolution of 4096 x 2304 the
camera is capable of recording
from 24 to over 900 frames-persecond (fps), and up to 1,000 fps
at 4096 x 2160 resolution. When
windowed down to 1920 x 1080
the camera will record 2000 fps,
and over 3,000 fps at 1280 x 720.
The Phantom Flex4K will support
three in-camera workﬂows to meet
the needs of different production
styles. Phantom’s uncompressed
raw format ensures the fastest highspeed workﬂow on set and maximum
quality and versatility for postproduction. Alternatively, record
compressed ﬁles for a simpliﬁed
workﬂow directly out of the camera.
2x 3G-SDI video outputs are also
available and compatible with the
industry’s latest field recorders.
The camera has a full 4K super
35mm sensor and will support syncsound frame rates and time code.
In addition, the camera will come
standard with a PL mount. Since
the mounts are interchangeable, it
is also compatible with Canon EF
and Nikon F mounts. The Canon EF
mount allows for remote Aperture
and focus controls, and the new

F-mount design is
compatible with
both manual and
G-style Nikon
lenses.
InB: What is the
roll out strategy of
the new Phantom
Flex4k?
RR: While we
previewed the camera
at NAB, there are many features
to be worked out and tested over
the summer. We are tweeting
from the camera’s own Twitter
account, @PhantomFlex4k as
these features are turned on and
as more cinematographer’s are able
to test the camera. These tweets
will be in the ﬁrst person as the
camera discusses its development
process. The camera also has a
presence on Facebook (Facebook.
com/PhantomFlex4K). In addition,
we plan to continually update our
blog. Please be sure to check it
out at www.visionresearch.com/blog
We plan to formally introduce
the ﬁnished camera at IBC 2013 in
September and start shipping the
ﬁrst models in mid to late October.
InB: Has the camera been tested
by any cinematographers yet?
RR: Yes, Director Brendan Bellomo
and Cinematographer Greg Wilson
shot the first test footage with
the Phantom Flex4K when the
camera had been assembled for
just two weeks. The live action
footage was shot on March 24th,
2013 with the Hebron Fire Dept.

The Phantom Flex4K will support
three in-camera workﬂows to
meet the needs of different
production styles

and the Glastonbury Fire Dept.
in Connecticut. You can see the
first footage here: http://vimeo.
com/63490371
InB: Are you still offering preorders and bundles?
RR: At NAB, we started a pre-order
option, for $2500, customers can
reserve their place in line for when
shipping production units begins.
If anyone is interested in learning
how to pre-order one, please go
to www.visionresearch.com to
ﬁnd a sales person in your area.
In addition, we are also offering
bundles of the original Flex at
a discounted rate, which can be
delivered quickly and then traded in
for the Flex4K as soon as it becomes
available. This will help bridge the
gap for customers that want a Flex
now but don’t want to wait until later
this year to get delivery.
InB: Thank you for taking timeout
to answer our questions.

http://www.linkedin.com/pub/dir/?first=Phillip&last=Izzard&search=Go https://twitter.com/inbroadcast http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpzEatLsHdE&feature=youtube_gdata_player https://www.facebook.com/InBroadcast http://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/inbroadcast/id468652679?mt=8 https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.branded.inbroadcast&feature=search_result#?t=W251bGwsMSwyLDEsImNvbS5icmFuZGVkLmluYnJvYWRjYXN0Il0. http://WWW.INBROADCAST.COM http://www.visionresearch.com http://vimeo.com/63490371 http://vimeo.com/63490371 http://vimeo.com/63490371 http://www.visionresearch.com/blog http://www.visionresearch.com http://www.marquisbroadcast.com http://www.marquisbroadcast.com

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