Freefly Systems Ember S2.5K Introduced – 2,900fps in 2K, Active EF Mount, and More

Camera NewsNAB 2024

by Francesco AndreolaApril 15^th, 2024

At NAB 2024, Freefly Systems has introduced a new 2.5K version of their Ember high-speed camera. The new Ember S2.5K features a lower resolution sensor compared to its 5K sibling that allows for higher frame rates up to 2,900fps in 2K.

After tipping their toes in the world of high-speed capture with their Wave camera back in 2020, at the end of 2022 Freefly introduced the Ember S5K, which features a global shutter sensor capable of capturing slow-motion footage at up to 600fps in full 5K resolution.

The new 2.5K version seems to be catered more towards scientific applications, but it can definitely be used for creative purposes, if resolution is not a major concern. Let’s take a closer look!

Freefly Systems Ember S2.5K – features

The new Freefly Systems Ember S2.5K shares exactly the same 850-gram box-style body of the S5K model, which we described in detail in this article. This means that the new camera also has the same I/O – including a single full-size HDMI output, USB-C, and RJ45 Ethernet – and retains compatibility with existing Ember accessories.

The biggest difference is, of course, the sensor. This new version still features a Super35 (23.04×18.43mm) global shutter sensor, but with a reduced resolution of 2560×2048 pixels. The lower resolution, compared to the 5K model, allows for faster capture up to 2,277fps in 2.5K and 2,900fps in 2K. And if you’re willing to sacrifice image height, then you can even access higher frame rates (up to 3,563fps with a vertical resolution of 864 pixels).

Just like with the Ember S5K, the camera can only shoot 10-bit ProRes 422 LT and you can only choose between Rec.709 or HLG (Beta) gamma curves. I think this is one of the biggest limitations of this system and, while I cannot speak for the S2.5K model yet, the S5K definitely struggles a bit with high dynamic range scenes, making it a little harder to match with other cameras. So you should be ready to accept this tradeoff.

The camera comes standard with a built-in 2.56TB pSLC NVMe SSD drive, that will also be available to purchase separately for Ember S5K owners. According to Freefly, this is a high-endurance flash storage solution that allows for both continuous recording or user-determined pre/post trigger roll times that are only limited by the size of the drive.

Unlike the S5K, the S2.5K model will come standard with an active locking Canon EF mount. This is also compatible with the S5K model, but you will need to ship your camera back to Freefly if you want to enable electronic control of EF glass. Apparently, as stated on Freefly’s website, Sony asked them to stop producing their E-mount, and they had to agree. Third-party PL and other mount options by KipperTie and C7adapters can also be used.

Finally, along with the new camera, Freefly also announced firmware update v2.0 for the Ember S5K as well as a new control App v2.0. With the new firmware, the 5K camera will get support for the new Active EF mount, 2.56TB pSLC SSD, and higher frame rate cropped (color) and binned (monochrome) modes.

Price and availability

The new Freefly Systems Ember S2.5K is now available to pre-order for $24,995 from Freefly’s website. This makes it $7,000 more expensive than the S5K model. The camera should start shipping in May.

For more information, please visit Freefly Systems’ website here.

Have you ever shot on the Freefly Systems Ember S5K? What do you think of this new 2.5K option? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below!