Camera
Video: Recording bouncy bugs with a Phantom camera at 73,000 fps to see how they move
| The correct maneuver to perform when you see someone in public you don’t want to talk to. |
Springtails are small organisms that move so quickly that the human eye can’t perceive their motion. They’re very common and easy to find but challenging to observe and even harder to understand. Cameras, at least typical ones, are unable to keep up with the small, speedy hexapods. Dr. Adrian Smith, head of the Evolutionary Biology and Behavior Research Lab at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences and North Carolina State University, recorded springtails at 73,000 frames per second to better understand springtail locomotion, which has previously been shrouded in mystery.
Before digging into how Dr. Smith captured the video, it’s worth discussing springtails as their nature. Springtails are hexapods, meaning they have six legs, but they’re not insects. Springtails are wingless arthropods with internal mouthparts. The organism is in the collembola order, one of three in the class ‘entognatha.’ It’s not clear how closely related springtails are to the other two species in the same order, the Dirplura and Protura. Despite DNA sequencing, there remains some debate on the evolutionary history of springtails and how related the species’ history is to other arthropods.
 |
| Image courtesy of Dr. Adrian Smith |
To keep things simple, Dr. Smith refers to springtails as ‘bugs.’ That said, there’s not much that’s simple about understanding springtails. Limited research of the organism has turned up little concerning understanding how springtails get around. The organism is so small that it’s hard to see and so incredibly fast that it’s impossible to observe without the aid of very high-speed cameras.
Last year, Dr. Smith attempted to learn more about springtails by recording them at 6,000 frames per second. Even this high speed was too slow to deliver a full picture of the bugs in motion. He upped the frame rate to 10,000 fps, but even this wasn’t quite enough.
 |
| Image courtesy of Dr. Adrian Smith |
Using a newer Phantom camera, the VEO1310s, Dr. Smith recorded springtails at 73,000 fps. At this speed, the camera records black and white video that is 240 pixels high, but it’s enough to see the organism in a way nobody else ever has.
Smith says ‘I don’t think it’s hyperbole to say no one has seen a springtail like this before […] I feel like it’s not exactly right to say I’m filming these animals in slow motion. I’m not using the camera to exaggerate or prolong what they’re doing: I’m just trying to see it. I’m trying to meet these animals at the timescale at which they’re behaving, and that turns out to be really, really hard.’ As Dr. Smith says in the video below, ‘Pretty much any recording that captures a springtail jump in detail is capturing something new.’
As you can see in the video, springtails propel themselves forward from the surface of the water and perform ‘astonishingly fast’ backflips. In one example, a springtail rotates at a speed approaching 300 backflips per second.
 |
| This composite image shows a springtail jumping forward at about a 45° angle on the surface of water. Image courtesy of Dr. Adrian Smith. |
The semi-aquatic bug can walk on water and propel themselves forward at roughly a 45° angle using a water-resistant appendage tucked underneath their bodies called the furcula. The tail doesn’t break the surface tension, allowing springtails to use the indentation in the water as a sort of springboard. Springtails have hydrophilic appendages, meaning that their claws stick to the water, which provides traction. On dry land, however, their movement is less regular. Nonetheless, even at 10,000 fps, it’s impossible to get the full picture of the bug.
At 73,000 fps, Dr. Smith captured video of a springtail stuck on its back. What was unfortunate for the creature resulted in what Dr. Smith refers to as possibly the luckiest thing he’s caught on camera. The incident sheds new light on the furcula’s role in the springtail’s locomotion, and you can check it out near the end of the video above.
 |
| Springtails may be abundant, but there has been little research done to better understand them. A big reason for the lack of research is likely how difficult the organism is to observe. |
We had the chance to speak with Dr. Smith and ask him a bit more about his research and how he captures his amazing videos. He uses a Venus Optics Laowa 60mm f/2.8 Ultra-Macro lens to capture most of his slow-motion video. He also sometimes pairs the lens with extension tubes for even closer shots.
 |
| Dr. Smith has multiple macro lenses, but his go-to lens is the Laowa 60mm f/2.8 Ultra-Macro |
He tells us that of all the gear he uses, the most important is lighting. The shots in the video above are shot against an illuminated background, which is an LED shot through diffusion material. For the front lighting, an ultra-powerful LED array specially built for high-speed video is required. In this case, Dr. Smith uses lights from Visual Instrumentation Corporation.
There’s a lot of preparation and post-production work that goes into producing his videos. Smith locks down the camera, lights and set, and records as much as possible. The footage is then composited in post. During post-production, he also spends a lot of time removing noise grain from the high-speed footage. He adds, ‘And of course, bug wrangling. Endless hours of bug wrangling. These springtails are so tiny and fragile that the best thing to use is a small fine paintbrush to move them around onto the filming set.’ The set itself is a clear plastic party cup filled to the brim with water.
To see more incredible high-speed videos from Dr. Smith and his team, visit the Ant Lab YouTube channel. You can also follow Dr. Adrian Smith on Twitter and Instagram
Leave a Reply
| Image: GoPro |
While the word “Black” in GoPro camera names signifies it is the top-of-the-line model, it has, for some time, also referenced the color of the action cams. While there were silver and white GoPros at one point, the last six generations have all exclusively featured an all-black design. Now, the white color is back for a time, since the action camera giant has announced a limited edition white version of the GoPro Hero13 Black.
While some may simply prefer white for aesthetic reasons, it also has some practical use. If your GoPro falls somewhere, white is generally more noticeable than black, making it easier to locate. Of course, the opposite is true for snow sports, but against grass, rock and other surfaces, white will stand out.
The GoPro Hero13 Black in Polar White is exactly the same as the black version but with a white exterior. The durable action camera offers 5.3K60 video, HyperSmooth 6.0 stabilization and a Type 1/1.9 (6.3 x 5.5mm) CMOS sensor. It uses GoPro’s long-lasting Enduro battery, providing 1.5 hours of continuous recording in 5K 30p or 4K 30p.
 |
| Photo: GoPro |
Like the black color, the Hero13 Black in Polar White is compatible with the new interchangeable HB-Series Lenses. These lens mods use auto detection, so you don’t have to change settings when attaching a new lens. Options include an Ultra Wide Lens Mod, Macro Lens Mod and a set of four ND filters. Additionally, the Anamorphic Lens Mod, which results in cinematic-looking 21:9 ultra-wide footage, is also available for purchase as of today. It’s been a bit of a wait for that lens, as it was initially announced in September last year.
The limited edition Polar White model is available for purchase today on GoPro’s website for $400, the same price as the original version of the GoPro Hero13 Black. If you already own the Hero13 Black but like the idea of having a white camera, you can purchase a white silicon sleeve with a lanyard to reskin your camera. That sleeve is also available in blue and black.
Buy now:
Press release:
Introducing the Limited Edition Polar White Color of the Award-Winning GoPro HERO13 Black
Best-In-Class 5.3K Video, HyperSmooth 6.0 Video Stabilization and Interchangeable HB-
Series Lenses Compatibility in a Crisp New Color
SAN MATEO, Calif., March 24, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Today, GoPro (NASDAQ: GPRO) announced its flagship HERO13 Black camera is available in a limited edition Polar White colorway. Available today for $399.99.
Now customers can elevate their adventures and capture every moment in style. The striking new color brings a fresh look to GoPro’s flagship camera, which features best-in-class 5.3K60 video, HyperSmooth 6.0 video stabilization, legendary GoPro durability, magnetic mounting and the powerful Enduro battery.
The camera is compatible with the all-new, interchangeable HB-Series Lenses with Auto Detection. These lenses make it easy to expand the range of creative shots you can capture with HERO13 Black:
- The industry’s widest-angle, most stable, immersive POV shots with the $99.99 MSRP Ultra Wide Lens Mod
- Close-focus shots with the $129.99 MSRP Macro Lens Mod
- Easy-to-achieve motion blur using the $69.99 MSRP ND Filter 4-Pack
- Hollywood-looking cinematic 21:9 ultra wide-angle shots using the $129.99 MSRP Anamorphic Lens Mod
Combining HERO13 Black in Polar White with a GoPro Premium ($24.99 first year for new subscribers and $49.99/year thereafter) or Premium+ ($99.99/year) Subscription adds the ability to auto-upload your footage to the cloud, receive automatic highlight videos via the GoPro Quik App, save up to 30% on accessory purchases at GoPro.com, no-questions-asked damaged camera replacements and more.
HERO13 Black in Polar White is available now at retailers globally and at GoPro.com.
March Editors’ photo challenge: Water
The theme for our March Editors’ photo challenge was ‘Water’. We asked you to show us the essence of water in its many forms.
DPReview photographers rose to the occasion as usual, flooding us with stunning submissions. We were awash in incredible photos – many more than we can present here. Our top picks on the following pages are presented in random order.
Want to participate in some other photo challenges? Visit our Challenges page to see currently open or upcoming challenges or to vote in a recently closed challenge.
The underside of water
 |
Photographer: Thorgnyr
Photographer’s description: Often during winter, Lake Thingvallarvatn freezes. The view of the ice from below can be spectacular, especially during the thaw period; the ice has broken into flakes and then froze again. This was the case when this picture was taken. I started taking pictures without the diver but felt the scale was missing. So I got my buddy to pose for me.
Equipment: Canon EOS 5D Mark III
Frost
 |
Photographer: JTF MKE
Photographer’s description: On a cold winter day, there was frost on a bathroom window. Taken using a tripod in the morning with angled early sunlight. Patterns were entirely random, created by lots of humidity and the hand of Mother Nature.
Equipment: Olympus E-510 (EVOLT E-510) + Olympus Zuiko Digital ED 50mm 1:2.0 Macro
Surf paddle out for life, and a good friend
 |
Photographer: sundot
Photographer’s description: Surf Paddle out as we do in Hawaii when someone passes with a connection to the ocean. Friends gather for one last shout-out to send a farewell. The skies cleared, and the ocean lit up for the sendoff.
Equipment: DJI Mavic
Throwing up walls
 |
Photographer: owenleve
Photographer’s description: Former Olympian/US Ski Team athlete Daron Rahlves waterskiing on Bocca Reservoir in Truckee, California. “Throwing Up Walls” refers to the “wall” of water produced from each turn.
Equipment: DJI Mavic
Only four drops
 |
Photographer: froggy42
Photographer’s description: This picture of a water sculpture consists of only four drops of water falling in specific fractions of a second, one after the other, onto a water surface. They generate this sculpture that exists only for a fraction of a second. Our eyes are not fast enough to see the sculpture. To take this picture, a flash had to be used to achieve a very short exposure time. To achieve the correct time intervals, I used a Miops Waterdrop Kit.
Equipment: Fujifilm X-T2 + Fujifilm XF 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR
Water fields
 |
Photographer: 75RobinH
Photographer’s description: Red seaweed cultivation on the east coast of Zanzibar. During low tide, the “seaweed women” with their multi-colored dresses (kanga) enter these water fields similar to small gardens to tend their plantations. The seaweed is fixed to sticks connected by strings. About every two weeks, they harvest it and spread it out to dry. The seaweed is used in the production of cosmetics (soaps, creams, oils etc.), partly produced locally; most is exported. This demanding work is not only a source of income but is also very important for the social life, dignity and development of the women of Zanzibar. The warming of the ocean is seriously endangering these crops.
Equipment: Sony SLT-A58 + Sony DT 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 SAM II
Steam to water to ice: In a millisecond
 |
Photographer: joemellor
Photographer’s description: I’d been thinking about this fun stunt throughout our ski holiday in Norway. It needed a low sun and a very low temperature. Most of the week was cloudy and too warm. The perfect opportunity arose, but the sunny location was a several-minute walk (run) from a source of hot water. With a single vacuum flask of boiling water, there was only one opportunity to get this right. I begged my subject to stand absolutely still in front of the sun as he threw the water as I didn’t want the sun directly on the lens. Fortunately, my camera takes 20 frames per second, and I was able to select the best from around eight shots showing the development of this arc of steam/water/ice. We then returned to our cabin’s warmth and were delighted with our first-time success!
Equipment: Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 VII
Strangers
 |
Photographer: 3rkaer
Photographer’s description: We all come from the water. We are mostly made of it, but at the same time, we are all strangers to each other in this crazy world.
Equipment: Leica SL2-S
Misty morning in Grand Teton
 |
Photographer: Stan Petersen
Photographer’s description: This was shot in Grand Teton National Park in early October 2006. The crowds were gone for the season, and this place along String Lake was quiet, except for the bugling of bull elk on both sides. Mists were moving along the lake, and Mount Moran started to show through as the pre-dawn magenta light hit the top.
Equipment: Canon EOS 350D (EOS Digital Rebel XT / EOS Kiss Digital N) + Canon EF-S 18-55mm F3.5-5.6
Under
 |
Photographer: Cliff Connell
Photographer’s description: On one of the last hot days in autumn 2011, just before our southern Australian Easter swell kicked in, I had just finished a long session of surfing some pretty big, clean waves when I decided to get back in to capture some in-water shots of the rest of the crew. Most of the shots I got that morning were pretty average, except for this one of a young guy duck diving under the closed-out section of a 5-6 foot wave. It made my day!
Equipment: Canon EOS 20D + Tamron SP AF 17-50mm F/2.8 XR Di II VC LD
Iceland highlands
 |
Photographer: GreenFirePhotography
Photographer’s description: Photographing Iceland felt like being inside a fairy tale at times. This image always draws a critical eyebrow or two. People throw around A.I. However, that’s just how amazing Iceland looks.
Equipment: Hasselblad L2D-20c
Waterbrella!
 |
Photographer: Maureeneo
Photographer’s description: I took this photograph of a moment of pure joy – one of those instances where laughter and spontaneity take over. The sun was bright, the summer air thick with warmth, and cool water was the perfect antidote. But the community swimming pool wouldn’t be open for another hour, and my granddaughter couldn’t wait that long. So, she improvised a mini water park for herself, using an umbrella exactly the opposite way an umbrella should be used! I love the contrast between the black umbrella and the cascade of sparkling water. The way the droplets catch the light. The way her hair clings to her face. Here she is, soaked but carefree, reveling in the cascade she created. I think I captured that feeling: the giddy, unstoppable energy of being a kid, where even the simplest things can bring so much joy.
Equipment: Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 III
Calm summer evening
 |
Photographer: Lars Wara
Photographer’s description: Being on a lake when the water is dead calm, all quiet except a few birds and an occasional trout breaking the surface… Well, that’s pure therapy!
Equipment: Sony a6700 + Yonguo 11mm F1.8
Powerful wedge wave
 |
Photographer: vbuhay
Photographer’s description: The powerful waters of the “wedge” can be frightening for the average surfer. But for some of the strongest surfers, it is a challenge…
Equipment: Nikon D850 + Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II
Atlantic sunset
 |
Photographer: bravoricardo
Photographer’s description: It was a beautiful afternoon at Praia das Milícias in São Miguel, Azores, so I decided to go for a swim with my water housing. After a couple of hours on the shore break trying different water angles, I managed to position myself inside this perfectly lit barreling wave, facing the sun setting behind São Roque church.
Equipment: Canon EOS-1D X
Window frost
 |
Photographer: Bram Floria
Photographer’s description: Waiting for the defroster to kick in, Spokane, WA, on January 26, 2025. On a bright, cold morning following a night of ice storms, the water came out to play as leaves of crystal.
Equipment: Google Pixel 6a
Divining rod
 |
Photographer: morelens
Photographer’s description: This is a lovely stream in upstate NY. Believe it or not, this location is on the far end of a cemetery. I was standing in the water to take this photo, and the water and the breeze cooled me off on this hot day – one of the many advantages of photography.
Equipment: Canon EOS R + Canon EF 17-40mm F4.0L USM
A gentle touch
 |
Photographer: wfoto
Photographer’s description: High-speed pictures of moving water will amaze you with the small details we cannot see in real life: every bubble in the foam, tiny sprinklets coming out of each crest, and the contact of the water with sand.
Equipment: Canon EOS 6D Mark II
Frisco Pier
 |
Photographer: Keith Hudspeth
Photographer’s description: The goal of this photo was to show the raw, destructive power of water. Frisco Pier was built in 1962 and stood strong until Hurricanes Isabel and Earl struck the Outer Banks in the early 2000s. I took this photo in 2016 before it was finally dismantled in late 2017.
Equipment: Nikon D750 + Nikon AF-S Nikkor 24mm F1.8G ED
Shower cap
 |
Photographer: Anne25
Photographer’s description: The subject burst a balloon full of water above his head. The balloon was hung from a support and burst using a spike on a stick. I wish I had taken a later shot capturing the look on his face due to the cold shock.
Equipment: Canon EOS-1D Mark IV + Canon EF 400mm F5.6 L
|
Out-of-camera JPEG. 50mm equiv. crop.
F4 | 1/450 | ISO 80 |
This week, Fujifilm announced the GFX100RF, a 102MP medium format camera with a fixed 28mm equiv. F4 lens. The sensor will be familiar to those who’ve seen samples from the GFX100 S II or GFX100 II, but the lens is an interesting factor – the company says it put a lot of engineering work into it in order to make it as compact as it is.
You can get a feel for what kind of results it produces from the samples we took with our pre-production unit. We were lucky enough to get to test the camera out in a variety of locals; many of the pictures are from Prague, as Fujifilm flew us out for its X Summit and Fujikina event, but there are also images from London, Paris and, of course, Washington.
We’ve added some new photos taken since our initial review went up, including ones taken using a tripod to remove hand shake as a limiting factor on resolution.
Please do not reproduce any of these images on a website or any newsletter/magazine without prior permission (see our copyright page). We make the originals available for private users to download to their own machines for personal examination or printing; we do so in good faith, so please don’t abuse it.
-
Solar Energy3 years agoDLR testing the use of molten salt in a solar power plant in Portugal
-
TOP SCEINCE7 months agoSearching old stem cells that stay young forever
-
Camera1 year agoDJI Air 3 vs. Mini 4 Pro: which compact drone is best?
-
Indian Defense4 years ago
Israeli Radar Company Signs MoU To Cooperate With India’s Alpha Design Technologies
-
world news5 months ago
Sirens trigger across central Israel following rocket barrage targeting Tel Aviv Iron Dome battery
-
world news5 months ago
Hezbollah’s gold mine catches fire: Nasrallah’s bunker under hospital held half billion dollars
-
Camera1 year agoSony a9 III: what you need to know
-
world news1 year ago
Gulf, France aid Gaza, Russia evacuates citizens
Pingback: Leica releases major 2.0 firmware update for its SL2-S full-frame camera |