Shimadzu's million-frame-per-second video camera  Shimadzu's
100mn fps camera It may only shoot in monochrome at a size of
312 x 260 pixels and take up to 100 frames at a time, but
Shimadzu's HyperVision HPV-1 camera can record at a million
frames a second (you can step down through a range of slower
rates to a crawling 30 fps should you wish), enabling you to
capture those precious split seconds of blindingly fast motion
in all the loving detail you need.  The rest of the package
consists of a Windows-XP powered control unit with a 20GB hard
drive and Ethernet/USB2.0 connections; images are stored as
either AVI, TIFF or BMP. The whole thing will set you back a
stinging Y22 mn ($205,000). We hear the Wachowski brothers will
be using this in their next film to capture up close the subtle
vibration of Agent Smith's nostril hair as he takes a punch to
the head.  [Via Slashdot Japan] [UPDATE: A reader kindly points
out the video samples on Shimadzu's site; check out a chunk of
concrete being mashed, a water jet,