WAYNE, NJ -- (Marketwire) -- 11/05/09 -- Throughout its six-game long, 2009 World Series broadcast, Fox Sports provided its viewers with an extraordinary look from behind home plate and down the first base line thanks to the Vision Research Phantom® v640 digital high-speed camera. At Yankee Stadium in New York, the Phantom v640 was positioned at low-first, capturing the powerful swings of right-handed batters as well as ensuing sprints to first base in incredible ultra-slow motion. The camera's vantage point from behind home plate at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia also supplied a number of ultra-slow motion replays during games three, four and five of the 2009 World Series.

One of approximately 20 cameras utilized by Fox Sports during its broadcast of the 2009 World Series, the Phantom v640 was provided by Inertia Unlimited, which incorporated the camera into its distinguished X-Mo slow-motion replay system. A leader in the professional broadcast industry, Inertia Unlimited's X-Mo system has appeared at some of the most prestigious sporting events in the world, helping capture ultra-slow motion footage of athletes performing at the highest level. For the 2009 World Series, Inertia Unlimited utilized the Phantom v640 at speeds of up to 540 frames-per-second (fps) and recorded every play in 1280 x 720 high-definition. In addition to the 2009 World Series, the Phantom v640 was also used by Fox Sports for ultra-slow motion replay at the American League Championship Series, and by Turner Sports during the National League Championship Series.

Recording in ultra-slow motion under normal stadium lighting conditions can typically pose a challenge for camera operators, as higher frame rates require a wider aperture and increased gain for proper exposure. Unfortunately, both options lead to reduced image quality and noticeable differences between the various video feeds used for the broadcast. To avoid resorting to these measures, Inertia Unlimited's team of engineers leveraged the impressive low-light performance of the Phantom v640's CMOS sensor and applied a custom color matrix, fine-tuned to match the high-definition footage from other cameras throughout the stadium. This custom calibration allowed the X-Mo system to shoot at negative gain and with a nominal aperture to provide Fox Sports with the cleanest, lowest-noise image possible for seamless integration with all of its camera feeds. This allowed X-Mo to be used for both live on-air shots as well as for ultra-slow motion replays in both the behind home plate and low-first position.

The Phantom v640 is one of the most versatile, highest-performing digital high-speed cameras on the market today. A four mega-pixel camera offering a maximum resolution of 2560 x 1600, the Phantom v640 provides high-resolution imagery for maximum detail. The Phantom v640 can record at speeds greater than 1,400 fps at its full, four mega-pixel resolution, and offers a maximum recording speed of 300,000 fps at a reduced resolution. The Phantom v640's versatility continues as it can also be used as a standard camera with the ability to record at more traditional frame rates. In the full-HD resolution used during the 2009 World Series, the Phantom v640 offers frame rates which range from 10 fps to over 2,700 fps. Such flexibility made the camera a stand-out addition to Fox Sports' arsenal of broadcast tools, helping to further enhance its 2009 World Series event coverage.

Additional information and detailed specifications for the Vision Research Phantom v640 can be found here, http://www.visionresearch.com.

About Vision Research

Vision Research designs and manufactures high-speed digital imaging systems used in applications including defense, automotive, engineering, science, medical research, industrial manufacturing and packaging, sports and entertainment, and digital cinematography for television and movie production.

The Wayne, N.J.-based company prides itself on the sensitivity, high-resolution and image quality produced by its systems, robust software interfaces, and reliability and versatility of its camera family -- all which continue to stand as benchmarks for the high-speed digital imaging industry.

Vision Research digital high-speed cameras add a new dimension to the sense of sight, allowing the user to see details of an event when it's too fast to see, and too important not to(TM). For additional information regarding Vision Research, please visit www.visionresearch.com.

Vision Research is a business unit of the Materials Analysis Division of AMETEK Inc., a leading global manufacturer of electronic instruments and electromechanical devices.

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