Abstract: A high-speed digital camera system and method for processing high-speed image data is claimed. The method comprises generating images with at least 3×105 pixels at greater than 200 frames-per-second with an image sensor, downloading an image from the image sensor; defining an area of interest in the downloaded image comprising a plurality of adjacent pixels in the image in which an event of interest is expected to occur, defining at least one threshold level for all pixels in the plurality; uploading the defined threshold level to a processor in the camera, retrieving pixel data in real time from the image sensor, and comparing within the camera the pixel data retrieved in real time from the image sensor to the defined threshold levels. A trigger is set when the threshold levels are exceeded and the camera records the event of interest and stores it in camera memory for outputting to a remote computer.