Hire Queries

 Do you offer dry hire of the cameras?

We would generally insist that a camera operator accompanies the camera. The Phantom cameras require quite specific handling and we have found from experience that shoots run much more efficiently with one person dedicated solely to the operation of the Phantom camera. This means Directors of Photography can focus on the creative aspects of the shoot, while our operator is entirely responsible for the camera, its operation and can also handle the Phantom rushes (.cine rawdigital files) as required.

Can you handle the Phantom workflow?

Yes, depending on the scope of your shoot our camera operator can also handle the raw data shot on the Phantom. If it is a larger or more complicated shoot we can provide a second camera technician / data wrangler who will look after the rushes material. In either case, we can supply the rushes in raw .cine format or can transcode the files and supply to you or your post house directly following your shoot. This is charged at between €1 and €2 per GB rate depending on how quickly you need your footage for edit following your shoot. We ask that you supply a ExFAT formatted drive for your rushes. The size of drive required will depend of the amount of footage being shot.

Technical Queries

What frame rates can each camera film up to?

In standard mode the Phantom Flex 2K can film up to 2570 fps at 1920 x 1080 resolution and 5350 at 1280 x 720

In high quality mode the Phantom Flex 2K can film up to 1275 fps at 1920 x 1080 and 2640 fps at 1280 x 720

The Phantom Flex 4K can film up to 1000 fps at 4096 x 2160 and 938 fps at 4096 x 2304, as well as 1977 fps at 2048 x 1080

When can I see and receive my rushes?

You can view a shot immediately after a take and then choose what material to save. The shot is then saved to a Cinemag. Once the Cinemag(s) are full the .cine raw files must then be downloaded to a drive. Saving to the Cinemag takes only seconds per shot but transferring to a drive can take considerably longer depending on how much material has been filmed.

Generally speaking, all Phantom rushes must be transcoded from the .cine raw format before they are usable in an edit. If your post house can handle the rushes in the .cine format (i.e. they have Da Vinci Resolve software or similar) then you can take the rushes away on your drive once they are finished transferring from the Cinemag(s). If they need to be transcoded, then this process can take a number of hours, again depending on how much has been shot. We can handle the transcoding process and rates are charged at between €1 and €2 per GB depending on how quickly the material is needed for your edit.

What lighting should I use when filming with Phantom cameras?

All high speed filming requires a considerable amount of light; shooting with Phantom cameras is no different. There can also be issues with flicker. We would recommend using large tungsten lights, 5K and over, to be safe but we also have lots of experience in this area and can work with your team to advise on the best lighting options for your shoot as well as offering the option of camera and lighting tests in advance. 

What lenses can be used with the Phantom cameras?

35mm PL lenses are the most commonly used with the Phantom cameras. As well as a PL mount we can also supply a Nikon F-mount.