Pixboom Spark

Unleashing the Power of Slo-Mo

PIXBOOM takes a continuous-recording approach to high-speed imaging for creative, technical and commercial production.

Available frame rates depend on resolution, crop, recording mode and installed firmware. Robotface will confirm the appropriate configuration for the required delivery resolution before production.

Rather than capturing to a fixed RAM buffer, PIXBOOM writes continuously to removable media. The useful recording duration is still governed by media capacity, data rate, power, thermal conditions and the active firmware, but the longer capture window can suit action that is difficult to predict or repeat.

Its global shutter is designed to avoid the geometric skew associated with a rolling shutter. Lens coverage, lighting, noise, media and the RAW-to-post workflow should still be tested against the requirements of each job.

What we supply

Our PIXBOOM Spark runs firmware V1.1.0 with 10-bit PXBC recording, PL and EF lens mounts, a cage and monitor, and a 2.5 TB Pro Card. Twelve-bit recording and ProRes RAW are not part of this configuration. Lenses are quoted separately.

Frame rates

In our own testing the Spark records 4K (4096 × 2160) at about 937 fps and 2K at roughly 2,180 fps, with cropped modes reaching higher again. The workable ceiling depends on resolution, crop and configuration, which we confirm for your delivery format before the shoot.

Recording time and pre-cache

Because it writes continuously to the card instead of a RAM buffer, the Spark suits action that is hard to time or repeat. It is storage-limited rather than unlimited: we filled a 2.5 TB card at 4K and 937 fps in just under nine minutes, with the camera and media staying cool. Plan for roughly five to eight minutes of record time per card depending on settings. The camera also holds a short pre-cache – about three seconds at 4K, 937 fps – so a slightly late trigger still catches the moment.

Post-production workflow

PXBC media copies off the card at around 800 MB/s, then converts through PIXBOOM Cine to CinemaDNG for RAW grading in DaVinci Resolve before export to ProRes or your delivery codec. Allow time for that conversion: in one test about 35 GB of PXBC took roughly 25 minutes on a 2019 MacBook Pro. Media is currently erased a whole card at a time rather than clip by clip, so bring enough cards or plan to offload between setups.

Power, handling and crew

The Spark draws about 40 W idle and just under 50 W recording at full rate, boots in around 20 seconds, and offers in-camera playback at 25 fps with 2× and 4× review. It is comparatively easy to freight, so a suitable independent camera crew can receive and operate it without a dedicated operator from us.

When to choose the Spark

Reach for PIXBOOM when the action is unpredictable or extended – sport, wildlife, stunts, impacts and explosions – where a continuous record window matters more than a precisely timed one. For controlled tabletop, drama, motion-control and instant on-set playback, the Phantom VEO 4K is usually the better fit.

See our Phantom VEO 4K and PIXBOOM Spark comparison for a practical guide to choosing between the two workflows.

Our full measured notes on both cameras are in the high-speed camera FAQs.

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