Photron FASTCAM SA8 User manual

F
FA AS ST TC CA AM M S SA A8 8

The copyright of this manual is held by PHOTRON LIMITED.
Product specifications and manual contents are subject to change without notice.
PHOTRON LIMITED bears no responsibility for any results by using our products nor by applying this manual to any operations.
WARNING
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class A digital
device, pursuant to part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide
reasonable protection against harmful interference when the equipment is operated in a
commercial environment. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency
energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instruction manual, may cause
harmful interference to radio communications. Operation of this equipment in a residential
area is likely to cause harmful interference in which case the user will be required to correct
the interference at his own expense.
CAUTION:
Any changes or modifications not expressly approved by the party
responsible for compliance could void the user's authority to operate
the equipment.

Introduction
Thank you for your purchase of Photron’s high-speed camera system, the “FASTCAM SA8” (referred to
below as the system). This manual contains the operating instructions and warnings necessary for using
the system.
Before using the system, please read the entire manual. If any part of this manual is unclear, contact
Photron using the contact information printed at the back of the manual.
After you finish reading the manual, store it in a safe place along with the warranty card and refer back to it
when necessary.
Manual Notation
The following icons and symbols are used in the explanations in this manual.
Icon/Symbol
Description
This symbol indicates supplementary items to be aware of
when using the software.
This symbol indicates the location of a reference.
This symbol indicates content that should always be read.
This symbol indicates instructions that should always be
followed when using the software, or things to be careful of
when using the system.
This symbol indicates a space for you to make notes.
""
This symbol is used to indicate the names of items on a
screen, references, dialog names, and connectors.

Using the Manual
This section explains the layout of the manual.
Introduction
The introduction explains the manual and safety precautions.
Chapter. 1 Overview
This chapter gives an overview of the system and an explanation of its features.
Chapter. 2 Setup
This chapter gives an overview of the components that make up the system. It also explains basic keypad
operation and a list of items that should be checked before using the system.
Chapter. 3 Recording
This chapter explains operations related to recording.
Chapter. 4 Connecting a PC
This chapter explains the procedure for connecting the system to a PC. Refer to the “Photron FASTCAM
Viewer User’s Manual” for additional details on using a PC to control the system.
Chapter. 5 Product Specifications
This chapter explains the system’s specifications.
Chapter. 6 Warranty
This chapter explains about the warranty.
Chapter. 7 Contacting Photron
This chapter lists the contact information to use when contacting Photron if the system malfunctions or if
a portion of the manual is unclear.

Using the System Safely and Correctly
In order to prevent injury to yourself and others, and to prevent damage to property, carefully observe the
following safety precautions.
Photron has given its full attention to the safety of this system. However, the extent of damage and injury
potentially caused by ignoring the content of the safety precautions and using the system incorrectly is
explained next. Please pay careful attention to the content of the safety precautions when using the
system.
This symbol indicates actions that carry the risk that a person could receive a
serious injury.
This symbol indicates actions that carry the risk that a person could receive a
moderate injury, or that damage to physical property might occur.
The safety precautions to be observed are explained with the following symbols.
This symbol indicates actions that require caution.
This symbol indicates actions that are prohibited and must be avoided.
This symbol indicates actions that must always be performed.
Caution
Warning

■Do not perform actions that will damage the AC cable or plug.
(Do not damage the cable, modify it, use it near a heater, excessively bend, twist
or pull on it, place heavy objects on it, or bundle it.)
Using the cable when damaged can cause fire, electric shock, or a short circuit.
■Do not use the system in a manner which will exceed the rating of the power
outlet or wiring equipment used.
Exceeding the power rating might cause a fire from excessive heat.
■ Do not insert metallic objects inside, or pour liquids such as water on, the system.
Doing so can cause fire, electric shock, or malfunction from short circuit or heat.
■ Do not disassemble or modify the system.
There are high voltages inside the system that can cause electric shock.
■ Do not plug in or unplug the power cord with wet hands.
Doing so can cause electric shock.
■ This chapter lists the contact information to use when contacting Photron if the
system malfunctions or if a portion of the manual is unclear.
Not fully plugging in the power cable can cause fire from electric shock or heat.
■When something is wrong with the system, unplug the power cable immediately.
- When a foreign substance or liquid, such as metal or water, gets inside.
- When the outer case is broken or damaged, such as from a fall.
- When the system produces smoke, a strange smell, or strange sound.
Using the system in these conditions might cause a fire or electric shock.
Warning

■Do not use the accessories by the usage that a manufacturer does not specify. It may
cause damage of protection.
■When throwing away this product, it can’t throw away as waste.
Please contact PHOTRON EUROPE LIMITED.
Warning

■Always unplug the system when cleaning it or when it is unused for a long period
of time. Leaving or storing the system connected to the power source might cause
fire from insulation deterioration or electrical discharge.
■Please consult us in advance when you perform an event by which laser light or direct rays
fall on the image sensor surface.
■ Do not set the system in a location where the temperature gets unusually hot.
The trunk and inside of a car can get especially hot in summer.
Doing so can cause the outer case and internal components to deteriorate or cause a fire.
■Do not place the system in a location prone to oily smoke or steam, or in a location with
a lot of humidity or dust.
Oil, moisture, and dust conduct electricity, which can cause a fire or electric shock.
■ Ambient temperature 0-40° C, humidity 85% RH or lower, maximum altitude 2000m
or lower.
In addition, if exceeding these limits, use in a condensation-free environment.
Doing so can cause malfunction.
■ Do not store the equipment in a location where the temperature goes below -20°C
or higher than 60°C. Also, prevent condensation from forming during shipment
■ This device is for indoor use, do not use it outdoors.
Do not use in a location that has dust.
Doing so can cause malfunction.
■ When shipping, remove the connecting cable and use the original packaging or a
dedicated carrying case.
Do not ship the equipment in an environment where the temperature goes below
-20°C or higher than 60°C. Also, prevent condensation from forming during shipment
Caution

“CE” mark indicates that this product complies with the European requirements for safety,
health, environment and customer protection. “CE” mark equipments are intended for sales in
Europe.
These symbols indicate that this product is not to be disposed of with your household waste,
according to the WEEE Directive (2002/96/EC), the Battery Directive (2006/66/EC) and/or your
national laws implementing those Directives.
This product should be handed over to a designated collection point, e.g., on an authorized
one-for-one basis when you buy a new similar product or to an authorized collection site for
recycling waste electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) and batteries and accumulators.
Improper handling of this type of waste could have a possible impact on the environment and
human health due to potentially hazardous substances that are generally associated with EEE.
Your cooperation in the correct disposal of this product will contribute to the effective usage of
natural resources.
For more information about the recycling of this product, please contact your local city office,
waste authority, approved scheme or your household waste disposal service or visit
www.photron.com.
(EEA: Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein)
This product is in conformity with the protection requirements of EU Council Directive
2014/30/EU (Class A) on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to
electromagnetic compatibility.
Warning: This is a Class Aproduct. In a domestic environment, this product may cause radio
interference, in which case the user may be required to take adequate measures.
European Union (and EEA) only

Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) events may cause immediate and unrecoverable damage to the
image sensor. Please read the following instructions and take EXTREME CARE when cleaning the
image sensor surface.
■ ALWAYS take appropriate anti-static precautions when cleaning or working near the
Image sensor.
■ DO NOT use any form of cleaning equipment using electrostatic or ‘charged fiber’ technology.
■ Please discharge any electrostatic build up in your body by touching a grounded metallic
Surface before working near the camera sensor.
■ Very gently, use only clean and dry air to remove dust from surface of the image sensor.
■ To remove stubborn contamination use the highest grade (e.g. VLSI grade) pure
Isopropyl alcohol (IPA) with optical wipes of ‘clean room’ grade.
■ Extreme care must be taken! Gently wipe across the sensor in a single action.
(DO NOT rub to avoid abrasive damage to delicate optical coatings on the glass surface.)
Cleaning of the Image Sensor Surface

Table of Contents
Chapter. 1 Overview 1
1.1. Product Overview and Features ..............................................................................2
Chapter. 2 Setup 3
2.1. System Components and Accessories....................................................................4
2.1.1. Components................................................................................................4
2.1.2. Accessories/Options ...................................................................................4
2.1.3. Type ............................................................................................................5
2.2. Part Names..............................................................................................................6
2.2.1. Camera Body..............................................................................................6
2.2.2. Camera Body Part Names..........................................................................7
2.2.3. Status Display LEDs on the Rear of the Camera Body..............................8
2.2.4. Interchangeable Lens Mounts...................................................................10
2.2.5. Remote Controller (Optional)....................................................................11
2.2.6. RS-422 Serial Control...............................................................................12
2.2.7. I/O Port Connector....................................................................................13
2.2.8. Power Supply Connector ..........................................................................15
2.3. Device Connections...............................................................................................16
2.3.1. Connecting a Video Monitor......................................................................16
2.3.2. Connecting the Power Supply...................................................................17
2.3.3. Connecting the Keypad (Optional)............................................................18
2.3.4. Connecting a PC.......................................................................................19
2.3.5. Factory Default Setting .............................................................................19
2.3.6. Memory Backup Battery (Option)............................................................20
Chapter. 3 Recording 21
3.1. Selecting the Frame Rate......................................................................................22
3.2. Selecting the Resolution........................................................................................22
3.3. Selecting the Shutter Speed..................................................................................22
3.4. Selecting the Trigger Mode....................................................................................23
3.4.1. START Mode.............................................................................................23
3.4.2. CENTER Mode .........................................................................................23
3.4.3. END Mode.................................................................................................24
3.4.4. MANUAL Mode .........................................................................................24
3.4.5. RANDOM Mode........................................................................................24
3.5. LOW LIGHT Mode.................................................................................................25
3.6. White Balance Adjustment (Color Types Only)......................................................25
3.6.1. Using Preset White Balance (Color Types Only)......................................25
3.6.2. Using User White Balance (Color Types Only).........................................25
3.7. Color Enhancement Function (Color Types Only).................................................26
3.8. LUT (Look-Up Table) Operations...........................................................................26
3.8.1. Using Preset LUT Patterns .......................................................................26

3.8.2. Using a Custom LUT.................................................................................29
3.9. Edge Enhancement Function ................................................................................29
3.10. Input / Output Signal Types ...................................................................................30
3.10.1. TRIG TTL IN Connector............................................................................30
3.10.2. TRIG TTL OUT Connector........................................................................30
3.10.3. TRIG SW IN Connector ............................................................................30
3.10.4. SYNC IN Connector..................................................................................30
3.10.5. GENERAL IN Connector...........................................................................31
3.10.6. GENERAL OUT (1, 2) Connector .............................................................31
3.11. Using External Triggers .........................................................................................32
3.11.1. Inputting an External Trigger Signal..........................................................32
3.11.2. Outputting External Trigger Signals..........................................................34
3.12. Using External Synchronization Signals................................................................35
3.12.1. Inputting an External Synchronization Signal...........................................35
3.12.2. Outputting an External Synchronization Signal ........................................35
3.12.3. Synchronizing Multiple FASTCAM SA8 Systems
(Multiple Unit Synchronized Recording) ...................................................36
3.12.4. Synchronizing the System with Other Cameras
(Mixed Device Synchronized Recording).................................................38
3.13. GENERAL Signal Settings.....................................................................................39
3.13.1. GENERAL IN Signal Settings ...................................................................39
3.13.2. GENERAL OUT Signal Settings ...............................................................40
3.14. Signal Delay...........................................................................................................41
3.15. Using USER SW (Programmable Switch).............................................................42
3.16. IRIG Time Code (External Time Synchronization).................................................43
3.17. IRIG-sync Operation..............................................................................................44
3.18. 8bit Recording Mode..............................................................................................45
Chapter. 4 Connecting a PC 47
4.1. Connecting the Gigabit Ethernet Interface to a PC ...............................................48
4.1.1. Connecting the System and a PC.............................................................49
4.1.2. Setting the IP Address ..............................................................................49
4.1.3. Using DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol)...............................49
4.1.4. Connecting Multiple Systems and a PC ...................................................50
4.1.5. Gigabit Ethernet Interface Initialization.....................................................50
4.1.6. Camera IP Address Initialization...............................................................50
Chapter. 5 Product Specifications 51
5.1. Specifications.........................................................................................................52
5.1.1. Product Specifications ..............................................................................52
5.1.2. General Specifications..............................................................................53
5.1.3. AC / DC Adaptor .......................................................................................53
5.1.4. Options......................................................................................................54
5.1.5. Frame Rate and Resolution......................................................................56
5.1.6. Recordable Image Count/Resolution(12bit)..............................................60
5.1.7. Recordable Image Count/Resolution(8bit)................................................61

5.1.8. Shutter Speed List ....................................................................................62
5.2. Dimensions............................................................................................................64
5.2.1. Camera Body(G type F Mount).................................................................64
5.2.2. Camera Body(C Mount)............................................................................65
5.2.3. AC / DC Adaptor .......................................................................................66
5.2.4. Memory Backup Buttery............................................................................66
5.2.5. Remote Keypad (Option) ..........................................................................67
Chapter. 6 Warranty 69
6.1. About the Warranty................................................................................................70
Chapter. 7 Contacting Photron 71
7.1. Contact Information................................................................................................72

1 FASTCAM SA8 Hardware Manual
Chapter. 1 Overview
1.1. Product Overview and Features

Chapter. 1 Overview
2
1.1. Product Overview and Features
The FASTCAM SA8 is a powerful engineering tool for use in research and development, design,
production, and quality control, and in numerous fields such as science, medicine, biology, aviation
and space. -The system features superior basic performance with megapixel resolution, an
ultra-sensitive image sensor capable of clear recording in low-light, and an high speed frame rate of
a maximum with full frame of 3,500fps (15K type: 2,000fps) It also allows operation from the PC
software via a gigabit Ethernet connection to more easily implement analysis of dynamic bodies that
had been difficult to analyze until now.
Use the state-of-the-art technology in the FASTCAM SA8 to slow down and observe high-speed
dynamic bodies and also as an input component for a dynamic image measurement system.

3 FASTCAM SA8 Hardware Manual
Chapter. 2 Setup
2.1. System Components and Accessories
2.2. Part Names
2.3. Device Connections

Chapter. 2 Setup
4
2.1. System Components and Accessories
2.1.1. Components
Refer to the attached packing list for this product's standard components and accessories.
2.1.2. Accessories/Options
The following options are available for the system.
1. Remote Keypad
2. 4 Output Trigger Box
3. Specialized Spare Power Supply Connector (For Creating a Custom Cable)
4. Specialized Dust-Proof Cover for the LAN Connector
5. Specialized Carrying Case
6. Specialized Memory Backup Battery
The accessories use only accessories meeting the specifications of the manufacturer.

5 FASTCAM SA8 Hardware Manual
2.1.3. Type
The system is split into types according to frame rate, color/monochrome, and amount of memory.
There are a total of 8 types according to the combination of options.
The types are listed below.
Max. Frame Rate
Full Frame
Max Frame Rate
Sensor Type
Memory
Type Name
30,000fps
3,500fps
Color
4GB
FASTCAM SA8 type 30K-C1
8GB
FASTCAM SA8 type 30K-C2
Monochrome
4GB
FASTCAM SA8 type 30K-M1
8GB
FASTCAM SA8 type 30K-M2
15,000fps
2,000fps
Color
4GB
FASTCAM SA8 type 15K-C1
8GB
FASTCAM SA8 type 15K-C2
Monochrome
4GB
FASTCAM SA8 type 15K-M1
8GB
FASTCAM SA8 type 15K-M2

Chapter. 2 Setup
6
2.2. Part Names
The system is composed of components including the camera body, AC / DC Adaptor, and the
"Photron FASTCAM Viewer" control software (referred to below as PFV).
For each of the system components.
- Do not expose to shock outside of specifications.
- Do not use in an area with flammable gas or dust present.
- Do not place in an unstable location such as on an unstable platform or an incline.
- Do not disassemble or modify.
- Do not expose to liquids such as water.
- Do not use in a manner where excessive force is applied.
2.2.1. Camera Body
The camera body contains IC memory for saving images and has been designed with the capability
to save high-speed images as uncompressed digital data. The camera body has a Gigabit Ethernet
interface to connect a PC to fully control the camera or download data, and interfaces for various I/O
(input/output) connectors for external synchronization/trigger signals.
Appearance
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