In article
>I am a licensed pyrotechnician and high energy materials researcher, who is
>interested in photographing the first few milliseconds of a aerial shell
>burst. I have found a surplus HY CAM Model 400, 16 mm rotating prism
>camera, 11000 frams per second, for a reasonable price. However, it
>doesn't have lenses (takes a standard C-mount lens, whatever that is).
>
>My plan would be to mount the aerial shell on a wire 20' above the ground,
>and use an electric signal to ignite the shell and start the camera.
>Suitable delays can be provided. The shell-event should be about 50 to 100
>milliseconds
>long. The camera would be mounted on the other side of a thick wall. The
>shell would be visualized in a mirror, which could be sacificed for each
>attempt.
>
>I have done extensive photography using "normal" equipment, but have never
>used high speed cameras. Thus, terms such as speed, f-stop, gamma, etc.,
>don't frighten me. The concept of wasting larges amount of time and money
>buying the wrong camera, etc., does frighten me *grin*
>
>My questions:
>1) does this manufacturer still exist for parts, repairs, manuals, etc?
>2) is this a decent camera?
>3) can I buy the film required (would normal 16 mm film be too slow?)
>4) what is a C-mount lens, and would a new one cost an arm and leg?
>5) at 11000 frams/sec, can I reasoanbly expect to get 100 milliseconds of
>filming?
>6) is this an unreasonable goal for somebody who has never used high speed
>equip?
>7) what other questions should I be asking?
Never fearing to jump into answering posts such as this ;-), here goes....
1) Dunno, sorry. Sounds like a very pro-type camera. If it is working
properly, and is reasonably cheap, there are few alternatives for this
project, I would guess.
2) See 1).
3) You will probably need very fast film stock, though the availability
of cheap, excellent, fast "C" mount (normal 16mm format lenses), and the
brightness of the subject are in your favor, and normal speed film
MAY work well.
4) See 3).
5) 16mm sound speed is 24 frames per second, and your film load is 100 feet?
I can't remember how many frames in a foot, but probably a few more than 24
per foot. Assuming 24 frames per foot, this gives at least 2400 frames per
100 feet (probably almost twice that, actually), or at least 2/10ths second filming time at 11000 fps with 100 feet of film (several times what you need,
but precise starting time of the camera could be critical).
6) Probably not, depending on whether or not you can absorb the start-up
and potential costs involved (16mm film is expensive these days, and you will
use a lot of it at 11000 fps!).
7) Do you need a front-silvered mirror, to avoid a slight double image?
(A simple check can answer that question, shooting conventional subjects with
a conventional camera, in a similar set-up - which you have probably done, already.)
Hope This Helps