video capture w/Red One (and Epic)?

[Fritz M.]

This is more of a scientific than cinematographic application.

I am considering adding a visible camera to a telescope mount that we have. Currently, we have a couple of Mid-Wave InfraRed (mwir) camera on it that are 512x512 running at 100 to 150 Hz. I'm reading the data from those cameras into my computer via CameraLink.

Is there some way of getting the images from a Red camera (One or Epic) into my computer (windows based with PCI Express slots available) in a real time fashion (real time as in < 30-40 milliseconds after integration)? Even if it's decimated (every third or fourth frame would be ok) as long as all the frames are recorded on the camera's local storage (compact flash or raid).

When the camera lists it can do up to 180Hz burst, how long is that burst? Optimally what we're looking for is something that can collect as much data over the span of 1 minute (5k X 3k X 180Hz really sounds nice), then can cool down (swap CF, cards/raid disks, etc) for three to five minutes, then repeat the process all over again. How long is the camera able to burst? How long does it take before it can burst again?

Also, color isn't really important to me. If fact, having a color mask in front of the sensor only acts to reduce the camera's sensitivity. While I know you can strip the color out after the fact, is it possible to get a version of the camera that doesn't have the color mask put on the sensor to begin with?

 

[Ryan Gibb]

It sounds like your looking for a digital highspeed camera and Reds not the camera for your application. I would go with a Redlake/IDT or Phantom, hook directly into your computer like you want and you can go much high then 180hz and they're available now.

 

[Fritz M.]

We've looked at the redlake and it does have some impressive frame rate. I've not seen the phantom yet (only read what they've got on their webpage). What both of those lack though and what really interests me in the red camera is the resolution. Most of the redlake's are around 1 MPixel while the phantom's are 2-3 MPixel (depending on lens).