In brief
Three announcements from the past month push high-speed imaging further into 4K. Photron's upcoming FASTCAM Polaris F5 records 4,096 × 2,208 pixels at 5,000 fps. PCO's new pco.dimax cs8 records 3840 × 2160 at more than 1,100 fps and withstands shocks up to 150 g. PCO also added 50, 68 and 105 MP models to its pco.pixelfly CLHS family for inspection and metrology.
Photron previews the FASTCAM Polaris F5: 4K at 5,000 fps
Photron has published preliminary specifications for the FASTCAM Polaris F5, a 4K high-speed camera built around a 12-bit backside-illuminated (BSI) sensor. At its full 4,096 × 2,208 resolution it records 5,000 frames per second, and it trades resolution for speed down to 25,000 fps at 1,024 × 1,024.
| 4,096 × 2,208 (full resolution) | 5,000 fps |
|---|---|
| 2,560 × 1,664 (4 MP) | 10,000 fps |
| 1,920 × 1,080 (Full HD) | 15,000 fps |
| 1,024 × 1,024 (1 MP) | 25,000 fps |
| Sensor | 12-bit BSI CMOS, 7.2 µm pixels |
| Memory | 216 GB or 432 GB, optional 1.6 TB NVMe SSD |
What it means: with most 4K-capable high-speed cameras, you have to choose between pixel count and frame rate. Holding 5,000 fps at full 4K lets one camera cover a wide field of view, such as a full test specimen, a combustion chamber or a spray plume, and still resolve fast events. That matters for impact, materials, combustion and flow research, and for digital image correlation (DIC), where more pixels across the specimen give finer strain maps.
Status: coming soon. Photron says the specifications reflect development information as of September 29, 2026 and may change. See the FASTCAM Polaris F5 for Canadian availability.
PCO launches the pco.dimax cs8 for crash testing
Excelitas announced the pco.dimax cs8 on September 28, 2026. The 8 MP camera records more than 1,100 fps at full 4K (3840 × 2160) and over 5,000 fps at Full HD, using a back-illuminated CMOS sensor with a global shutter.
| 3840 × 2160 (4K UHD) | more than 1,100 fps |
|---|---|
| 1,920 × 1,080 (Full HD) | more than 5,000 fps |
| Shock resistance | up to 150 g |
| Internal memory | 25 GB |
| Lens mounts | C-mount, F-mount, EF-mount |
| Software | Native FALCON integration |
What it means: on-board crash cameras ride on the sled or vehicle and have to survive the impact they record. A camera that combines 150 g shock resistance with 4K resolution and onboard recording gets more detail per frame from in-vehicle positions, where cameras are hardest to reposition between tests. Excelitas also lists industrial R&D, aerospace and defence testing, and motion analysis as target uses. See the pco.dimax cs8 for full specifications, and automotive and combustion imaging.
Also announced: 50, 68 and 105 MP pco.pixelfly CLHS cameras
On October 1, 2026, Excelitas added the pco.pixelfly 50 bi CLHS, 68 bi CLHS and 105 bi CLHS to its pixelfly family. Based on Sony's IMX927 sensor series, they pair global-shutter imaging with high-bandwidth CLHS data transfer for semiconductor and wafer inspection, metrology, flat-panel display inspection and large-area machine vision.
What it means: these are not high-speed cameras in the Photron sense, but they serve the same labs and production lines on the measurement side. More pixels per frame means a larger area per image, or finer detail across the same field of view. See the pco.pixelfly bi CLHS specifications for all three models, and process monitoring and inspection.
Have an imaging challenge?
HSI is the Canadian distributor for Photron and PCO. If you are planning a 4K high-speed setup, including the camera, lenses, lighting and analysis software, talk to our team about which camera fits your test.
Frequently asked questions
How fast is the Photron FASTCAM Polaris F5 at 4K?
Photron's preliminary specifications list 5,000 fps at the full 4,096 × 2,208 resolution, rising to 10,000 fps at 2,560 × 1,664, 15,000 fps at 1,920 × 1,080 and 25,000 fps at 1,024 × 1,024.
Is the FASTCAM Polaris F5 available in Canada?
Not yet. Photron lists the camera as coming soon, with availability to be announced. HSI, Photron's Canadian distributor, can register your interest and share pricing and delivery details as they are released.
What is the pco.dimax cs8 used for?
It is designed for automotive safety and crash testing, as well as aerospace and defence testing, industrial R&D and motion analysis. It records more than 1,100 fps at 3840 × 2160, withstands shocks up to 150 g and has 25 GB of internal memory.
Is 4,096 × 2,208 the same as 4K?
Both 4,096 × 2,208 and 3840 × 2160 are marketed as 4K. 3840 × 2160 is the UHD video standard, at about 8.3 megapixels. The Polaris F5's 4,096 × 2,208 sensor is slightly wider and taller, at about 9.0 megapixels, so it captures roughly 9% more pixels per frame.
Sources
Randeep Sood
President & Managing Director, High Speed Imaging Inc.
Randeep leads High Speed Imaging Inc., the Canadian distributor for Photron, PCO, Telops, Shimadzu and other high-speed and scientific imaging manufacturers. He follows new camera, sensor and lighting releases and what they mean for Canadian research labs and test facilities.
