Unitel Productions

Seeing is Believing: Unitel Introduces Phantom HD Camera

Unitel introduces the Phantom, the revolutionary new high-speed camera that delivers film-like depth of field and ultra-high frame rates at virtually any desired resolution.

“Our directors were clamoring for a hi-speed camera. I looked at lots of cameras but all were for industrial use and the image quality was not good enough for commercials  When I saw a demo of  the Phantom, I was impressed! What attracted me  is, quality-wise, it blends well with 35mm film and has a fast & simple workflow which is a must in TVC productions where time is of the essence. Another important consideration was the cost.  To do a regular 16mm photosonic shoot would cost 160k for the camera, filmstock, processing and TC. With the Phantom’s rates, clients will be spending less but getting a higher value with their shots. “ – Tony Gloria, Unitel President

The Phantom gives you a broad choice of acquisition formats and frame rates.  It is capable of resolutions beyond 2K, with frame rates in excess of 1000 fps at 1080p and 1500 fps at 720p.  Not merely a high-speed camera, the Phantom, combines the visual quality of high-definition imaging with the high frame rates of specialty cameras.

“The Phantom is amazing…it can go from 4 frames per second / time lapse to 1,000 fps in HD resolution. After an intensive 3-day training & testing with the trainor from Australia, the Phantom went beyond expectations. Image resolution has depth with contrast levels as good as film.  The camera was very stable considering the fact that it was ON non-stop for 8 hours and running / exposing an average of 100gb” – Jun Reyes, Director

The most exciting feature of the Phantom is its 35mm depth of field, and with 2K or HD resolution, the ability to shoot thousands of pictures-per-second, shutter control to 1/500,000 of a second, in 42-bit color, and adjustable frame rates, you can have seamless control of the duration, speed and time of a story element -  tools you need to tell your story in new and dramatic ways.

“ … the image looked like a graded film print. The blacks held up beautifully, there was no noticeable grain and the whites seemed to fall off smoothly like film, it also did not bleed easily. The useable dynamic range is quite amazing. It’s like film but it isn’t. But definitely it has a roomful of latitude and attitude… a true 35mm depth so you get  that “film” quality everyone desires. It’s not heavily tethered so you can go up the crane or go handheld. New rhymes, rhythms, and pure visual poetry will soon be seen created on this state of the art tool.” – Larry Manda, DOP

“Even more interesting than running up to 1000 frame per second at 2K is the Phantom’s 35mm sensor. If there is a data camera that can capture the subtleties of film, this could be it.” – Matthew Rosen, Director/DOP

The Phantom is unmatched in its output compared to existing solutions such as the available industrial grade cameras which are mostly used for scientific tests where resolution may not be as important.

Workflow Solutions

The camera records to an internal RAM memory that can then be downloaded to a computer.  And with the Cinemag storage module, the workflow becomes even more agile and fast without having to wait for a lengthy download time before the next shot can be taken.  The Cinestation also provides an off-camera solution for viewing, editing, and saving the cine data stored on a Cinemag without tying up the camera.

“I used the Phantom HD for a hair commercial campaign in Europe.   The great advantage of the Phantom over traditional film in ultra high speed is that you can keep on shooting at ultra high speed without worrying about film stock, and you can instantly see what you just shot at the rate it was taken. No more guessing. It’s the same kind of revolution as when video playbacks first appeared on sets. Also, because it’s very light, you have handheld freedom to design high speed shots with movement, bringing new perspectives into the world of slow motion.” – Martin Arnaldo, Director

To view the phantom reel, please call Maricel Royo at 632-8962049