Ask Us Anything: From high-peed cameras to epic slo-mo shots!

I shoot slow motion waves in the ocean…

What would be a perfect system for me is:

-at least 5sec looping end trigger 

-a way to turn off the screen but the camera still functions after the all is set and locked.  Maybe 3 tiny lights on the side so I can know what state the camera is in (green) armed ready to shoot, (yellow) writing to media, (red) can’t shoot, media filled etc…  The idea that screens consume lots of battery and heat which can make water housings fog.  I shoot fisheye never needing to see what the camera see.  The surfers go by in a 1 sec.  A run and gun kind of set up

Hi Mark,

Thank you for your interest and kind words about our camera! We’re excited to share that we’re planning to launch our first model on Kickstarter in mid-September. The super early bird price will be very attractive (and under five figures), and we’ll definitely be shipping to Australia.

Regarding the detachable lens mount system, yes, we’ve carefully considered this, and we’re happy to say that the camera will support multiple lens types and various mount systems to provide maximum flexibility for photographers.

We’ll keep updating our community with the latest news, and we highly recommend subscribing to our newsletter to stay informed in real-time.:heart_hands:

Hi Scott,

How about continuous recording, just like a traditional camera? :smirking_face: (Would an unlimited recording time feature impress you? Excited to tell you that we have it!)

Regarding the screen-off functionality:
That’s a great suggestion! We have indicator lights! Rest assured! :heart_hands:

1 Like

How many models are you planning to release if the first model will launch on Kickstarter in September? Also, will the cameras be shipping from a USA warehouse for American customers so that there are no tariffs or import duties taxes? 

That sounds fantastic!  Will there be a lag from when the shutter button is triggered to when frame will be captured? Can you instantly shoot the next sequence?  No buffer time? How large will the media be?  How many minutes of record time at 5k/4k? And,  bit depth 10 or 12?  Oh and you know what would be a dream is from a “sleep” to “quick wake up mode” to “armed” (with all of the previous settings remaining the same)  In the ocean there are many times there there is no action to shoot.  We load the camera into the housing swim out and wait 30min or more for something to shoot.  We could use a much smaller battery and reduce heat and overall weight of the camera and housing… :call_me_hand:t2::heart::fire:


1 Like

I really hope when you say under five digit for early bird price, it doesn’t mean just $9999. Really hoping for $6000! That’s a price most content creators can afford. 

Of course,Scott! :smiling_face_with_sunglasses:You can press the shoot button immediately to start the next recording without enduring the long process of exporting footage from the buffer. The recording duration can meet your needs, depending on the storage card you choose and the image quality you require.

Regarding the process you mentioned, from “sleep” to “quick wake up mode” to “armed,” is the camera intended to record continuously during this process, or will it be triggered to start recording via remote control?

Thanks for your response this is very exciting! 

I would physically trigger the camera though a customized waterhousing.  I am thinking a power save / sleep mode would be very beneficial… The camera could enter a sleep state after a defined amount of time 1, 3, 5, or 10mins of non use.

And, what bit depth is the sensor 10 or 12😁

Thank you for your suggestion, got it! :blush: As for the sensor, we’re offering 4K 1000fps at 10-bit. :tada:

什么时候可以上市?哪里可以购买?如果在中国怎么可以买到?

Thank you for your questions! I kindly suggest using English to help everyone participate more easily.

Currently, we do not have plans for a release in China. However, we will be launching a crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter in mid-September. You can subscribe to our emails for further updates.:heart_hands:

I know that some technical details are still not finalized but I think now that reservations are going up, it would be really good to have a comprehensive spec sheet that lists all of the basic technical data. Things I would want to see:

Sensor format: S35 vs FF
Native Resolution:
Pixel Pitch/size:
Active area:
Shutter Type: Global Electronic?
Sensitivity/ISO: Dual Native 400/1600
Dynamic Range: 13 Stops
Lens Mount Options: Active E Mount, Active PL
Media Detail: Card size and connectivity (USB-C usb 3.2?)
Record Details:
Codec(s): Prores 422 LT, Pixboom RAW? Whitepaper on this raw format?
Bit Depth: 10 bit (I think is was I saw)
Resolutions and frame rates: I think this is still being determined in detail
Record times: 
Power input: voltage range
Power Connector: Type and pinout
Battery plate: Integrated v-lock
Video output: SDI/HMDI?
Pro I/O: What connector and options are controllable?
WiFi: 
Ethernet:
Physical Specs:
Dimensions:
Weight: 
Operating Temp
IP rating: 

Lastly, if you had a CAD model for those that are interested in building accessories I think that could be helpful for them to start the design process so there are readily available accessories at the time of delivery. 

Hi, thanks for your interest. I think you can find comprehensive answers on our deposit page: https://www.pixboom.com/product/spark-kickstarter-100-deposit/
If anything is still unclear, just reply and let me know.

So just to clarify the 2.5TB Pixel Boom card will only record 7 minutes of total footage shooting RAW? Anyway to increase the record time by shooting in another format like H.265 or ProRes?

Hi bro, 7 minutes is at the very highest recording spec with the best image quality. As you know, many high‑speed cameras only give you a few seconds. I understand what you mean though—we do plan to support ProRes in the future, but it will take some time😄

1 Like

Thanks for the heads up bro! Will there be a way to transfer the footage from the Pixel Boom card to an external SSD through usb-c or wirelessly through a smartphone app when we are out in the field with no computer/laptop to free up space?

Also, for USA customers, in case our camera breaks and needs repairs, do we need to ship back it to China, or will you have a repair shop warehouse in the United States that we can send to for repairs/upgrades? Sorry for the many question! I just want to cover all the bases before I commit. 

  1. The most convenient method: you can directly connect the Pixel Boom card to a phone (with a Type-C port) and use the app to transfer the footage; it’s much faster than Wi-Fi.
  2. Good news: we will have a repair center in the United States, so you won’t need to ship Spark back to China. However, if the sensor suffers a serious failure, it will need to return to China for repair. Other minor issues can all be handled in the US.
1 Like

Great news about having a repair center in the USA! :)  So if a major sensor repair is required, would we be able to ship it out first to the USA repair shop, and then they send it to China? Don’t mind the wait. 

Also, you are right about using the USB port for Apple Iphone transfer. Much faster. Thanks!