A high speed camera is a device used for recording fast moving objects . After recording, the images stored on the media can be played back in slow-motion.
High speed cameras can film up to a quarter of a million frames per second by running the film over a rotating prism or mirror instead of using a shutter, thus reducing the need for stopping and starting the film behind a shutter which would tear the film stock at such speeds. Using this technique one can stretch one second to more than ten minutes of playback time (super slow motion). The fastest cameras are generally in use in scientific research, military test and evaluation, and industry. .
A problem for high speed cameras is the needed exposure for the film, so one needs very bright light to be able to film at forty thousand frames per second.
All development in high speed cameras is now focused on digital video cameras which have many operational and cost benefits over film cameras.