Thanks to fast internet connections, video has become the most engaging content on web. Companies are picking up on this, with 76% of companies planning to increase their use of videos as part of their social media efforts this year. With the popularity of sites like YouTube and Vimeo, not to mention social video apps like SocialCam and Viddy, everyone is convinced that they can be a videographer. That is, until they pick up a camera and get confused with all the different terminology and acronyms thrown around.
In a series of blog posts, I plan on exploring the many facets of video one by one, helping clear up the confusion and bring some clarity to one of my passions: videography. This post will cover frame rate. Most cameras today give the user multiple options for frame rate, each changing the end result of the video. What does it mean, and how will it impact your video?
First, a definition. Frame rate is the frequency (rate) at which unique consecutive images (frames) appear. It is measured in frames per second (fps) and indicates the amount of frames recorded and then played back per second.
24 fps has been the standard speed that film plays at in theatres for over 100 years. This is an acceptable conceiving speed, where viewers can’t see individual frames. Instead, we perceive this as being a smooth, realistic motion. In the 1940’s, The National Television Systems Committee (NTSC) introduced 30fps as a way to standardize frame rate for television (it later became 29.97 with the introduction of color television). This is still the most common frame rate used in North America televisions and DVDs, and most cameras film at this rate.
However, more and more cameras have the option to film at 60 fps (which is actually 59.94 fps). Since it’s filming twice as many frames, it allows videographers to slow down the action 50% without looking choppy. This is advantageous when filming action sports, anything intended for slow motion or when the goal is to capture details that wouldn’t be clear or noticeable at a slower frame rate.
When working on a project, before I start shooting, I think about the appropriate frame rate to film at. If I am trying to create a softer, film-like feel, I record at 24 fps. If the video will be published to DVD, I’ll usually film at 30fps to keep with the NTSC standards. Personally, I love filming at the fastest possible frame rate; I enjoy filming actions sports and know that 60 fps will give me the smooth slow motion effect that makes every moment look amazing. When importing this footage into my editing software, I first conform the footage to 24 fps or 30 fps to match the timeline and have the video play back in slow motion.
If you are wondering what that looks like, here is a clip that I filmed at 60fps. In the first shot it plays at regular speed, then in the second, it shows what the footage looks like when I conform it to play at 24 frames per second.
Still confused? Well, it might be time to put the camera down and contact us here at bv02. From event videos, to interviews, to professional scooter promotional videos, we’ve got you covered.
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