When the bullet-time effect was first introduced with the original Matrix movie in 1999 it was somewhat of a movie-making sensation. Fast forward twenty years and similar results can be achieved with affordable consumer imaging products, for example, the Insta360 One X 360-degree action cam we reviewed last year with a specific bullet-time accessory.
If you are the owner of a more conventional action cam and would like to experiment with some bullet-time shooting the Wingo Pro, whose makers are currently looking for funding on Kickstarter, might be worth a close look. The Wingo Pro is essentially a polycarbonate wing on a 2-meter string that allows you to control the camera's flight and keeps the subject right at the center. You can adjust the angle the camera which allows you to cut the string and the hand holding it from the footage.
The Wingo Pro was developed by filmmaker and inventor, Artem Gavr, who says the device folds up small enough to fit it in a backpack, making it an ideal travel companion. It also comes with a standard GoPro mount and an adjustable counterweight.
For a real bullet-time effect footage should be captured at the highest frame rate possible and then played back at a standard 24 or 30 frames per second for a slow-motion effect, slowing down both subject and camera movement.
Sample clips posted on the Kickstarter page look promising but if you want to try the Wingo out yourself, you can do so by pledging $45 on Kickstarter. The funding goal has already been reached, so the project will likely go ahead.
Disclaimer: Remember to do your research with any crowdfunding project. DPReview does its best to share only the projects that look legitimate and come from reliable creators, but as with any crowdfunded campaign, there's always the risk of the product or service never coming to fruition.
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