Continuous Flash Lighting—An Improved High-Intensity Light Source for High-Speed Motion Picture Photography

High-speed motion picture cameras capable of taking pictures on continuously moving film at the rate of upward of 3000 frames per sec produce individual exposures on the order of ¹15,/000 sec or less. Exposures of such brevity, however, call for continuous illumination of great intensity, and incandescent lamps, which are adequate, have many disadvantages. Among these are: excessive consumption of electric power, heavy conductors and connectors, emission of considerable heat, and appliances and reflectors of great bulk and weight. — Since the actual time during which such high-intensity illumination is required seldom exceeds one second, certain flash lamps will provide satisfactory illumination when operated in suitably designed equipment. Flashing successively on the current of a 6-v dry-cell battery, one or more flash lamps will yield light of high actinic value and of easily controlled direction and duration. — Special equipment, known as the Continuous Flash Lighting Unit, accomplishes such purposes effectively, providing adequate illumination both for black-and-white and natural color high-speed motion pictures. This paper reviews the development of the Continuous Flash Lighting Unit, and describes its operation and advantages.

Print ISSN

0097-5834

Published

1945-11

Content type

Original Research

DOI

10.5594/J12818