Pixboom Spark High Speed Camera

Disclaimer: The camera records in PXBC format, which is currently not supported by any NLE (e.g. DaVinci Resolve, Adobe Premiere Pro or Final Cut Pro). Files must first be converted to CinemaDNG, ProRes or H.264 using PIXBOOM Cine software, available for download from the manufacturer's website.

The PIXBOOM Spark High Speed Camera features a 14.2 MP Super 35mm BSI CMOS sensor with a global shutter and a resolution of 4608 × 3072 pixels. The global shutter captures fast-moving subjects without rolling shutter distortion. The camera features a Sony E-mount and offers 13 stops of dynamic range.

The Spark currently records 10-bit RAW and writes footage continuously to a removable PIXBOOM Pro Card. Recording time is therefore not limited by a small internal RAM buffer, but by the available storage capacity. The camera also features a 2.7-second pre-record function, which retains footage captured immediately before the record button is pressed. The built-in 3.5-inch touchscreen has a resolution of 6.22 million dots.

The camera supports high frame rates at different resolutions and aspect ratios. In 4K 16:9, the Spark records at up to 887 fps, while 4K 2.37:1 allows frame rates of up to 1171 fps. In 2K, this increases to 1724 fps in 16:9 and 2182 fps in 2.37:1. The 4.6K Open Gate mode (3:2) supports frame rates of up to 670 fps. Its dual-native-ISO architecture offers five ISO settings: 400, 640, 800, 1250 and 1600.

The aluminium body features an integrated V-Lock power interface for powering the camera with V-Mount batteries. For external monitoring, the camera provides a 12G-SDI output and an HDMI 2.0 output. Its compact design and combination of high resolution and extreme frame rates make the Spark suitable for high-speed cinematography, slow-motion recording and VFX production.