Today, we’ll take a look at what a video frame rate actually means—and why you should change it according to the type of video you’re shooting.
What Does Video Frame Rate Mean?
Knowing what video frame rates are is an excellent way to improve your video production quality. To understand what a video frame rate is, you first need to know that a video isn’t just one continuous recording. Instead, it is individual images stitched together and flashed together on a screen in quick succession to make a moving image. The technical term for a video frame rate is frames per second (fps).
So, a video frame rate basically refers to the number of times images are flashed on a screen during a given second. This gives the illusion of movement.
What Is the Standard Video Frame Rate?
The standard video frame rate for the film industry has been 24fps since 1920. However, the standard rate for television has been 30fps in North America, Japan, and most other parts of the world.
In recent times, producers have used a combination of different frame rates to get the optimal result depending on what type of scene needs to be shot.
Which Video Frame Rate Should You Use?
Modern cameras have options for multiple frame rates—ranging from 24fps to a whopping 240fps on some cameras. The way each frame rate is perceived on-screen is significantly different. Hence, you should choose a suitable frame rate that is optimal for your project.
24fps—Cinematic Shots and Movies
The standard 24fps gives you a truly cinematic look, which we’ve all come to expect from movies. This is because 24fps looks the most natural to the human eye, which is why we’ve become accustomed to it. So if you want to shoot a general movie or scene, we’d recommend shooting at 24fps.
30fps—Live TV or Sports
The second option—30fps—is slightly faster than 24fps. This is commonly used in live TV, sports, or soap operas. It only has six more frames per second, which gives it a smoother (but less cinematic) feel that works well for live TV.
For a general video, you can’t go wrong with either 24fps or 30fps. But if you want more of a “cinematic” film look, go for 24fps. For interviews or documentaries, 30fps should look better.
60fps—Action Movies and Fast-Moving Sports
Some movies are now produced at 60 frames per second. This gives the movie an incredibly smooth experience, but it takes up a lot of storage size. The faster frame rate is mainly used for action movies and fast-moving sports since there’s less motion blur.
Motion blur occurs when there is movement in the frame, but it is moving too fast in-between frames, so it looks blurred. This is common at low frame rates such as 24fps. A simple solution is to increase the frame rate, which reduces blur and gives off a crisp, clean look. This is really helpful in some sports, such as NASCAR or baseball.
120fps or Greater—Slow Motion Effects
You might be a fan of slow-motion videos, especially those which slow down all actions for you to watch. These kinds of videos are achieved by a simple method—they’re shot at a very high fps and then slowed down to give the slow-motion effect. Since more frames have been captured in a single second, all of the action is recorded and looks great when slowed down. However, if you ever playback a 120fps or 240fps video as recorded, you’ll definitely notice a strange-looking effect.
If you’re looking to record any slow-motion effects, for example, a football kick, it’d be a good idea to record it at a higher frame rate. However, keep in mind that you’ll need to use a video editor such as Adobe Premiere Pro to slow the clip down and obtain your desired effect.
If you’re using a smartphone with a slow-motion shooting mode such as the iPhone, it records the clip at 120fps or 240fps and automatically slows it down for you. That’s why the slow-motion footage from an iPhone looks so good—it’s been captured at a very high fps and has been slowed down.
Does the Frame Rate Affect the File Size of a Video?
The frame rate you shoot your video in affects your file size significantly. Think of it this way—if you shoot a one-minute video at 30fps, you actually have 1,800 individual pictures stitched together to make a video. Now, if you were to capture the same one-minute video at 60fps, you have 3,600 instead. That’s essentially double the number of images, which usually ends up in the final file being twice the file size.
Another factor that affects the video size is the resolution you shoot it in. A 1080p 120fps might have a larger size than a 4K 24fps video. It depends on your camera settings. Cameras usually tell you the amount of footage you can shoot in a specific resolution/fps (depending on how much empty storage you have.) You can use this to plan out how long you can shoot for.
Does Frame Rate Affect the Quality of your Video?
The quality of your video only depends on the resolution you shoot it in. In general, the higher the picture resolution, the higher the quality. However, a higher picture resolution (such as 4K) also leads to massive file sizes. The frame rate will only affect how smooth the video is, but it won’t impact the clarity of the video.
Experiment With All Frame Rates
All the frame rates seem a bit confusing at first. In our opinion, the best way to get the hang of them is to experiment with all frame rates. Choose a scene and shoot the same one at 24fps, 30fps, 60fps, and 120fps. Watch all of the clips, and you should get an idea of how a higher fps affects the video.
The 24fps video will look more cinematic and filmy, and the 30fps will look like a natural scene—but 60fps and 120fps might look a bit weird and unnatural (due to the higher frames). Once you understand how all frame rates work, you’ll be able to integrate them properly into your workflow and get the best out of each clip.
