You recently purchased a high def video camera. It offers different frame rates (like 24p, 60i, etc). What do they all mean and how can they create better video?
When to use these frame rates for video:
- 60i will give you fluid motion. Shooting fast motion like sports, racing cars, trains automobiles and runners for example. 60i is best for shooting fast movement- the video will be more fluid and you can move the camera about more easily.
- 24p will give you a full frame rather than the odd and even lines so the picture could be considered as better quality, in reality you will see little difference in standard video. The real difference is the ‘effect’ of 24p which is more like film.
- The upside is you can make something which is more filmic, but you need to do more than just switch to 24p as that is only part of what makes the film camera magic.
- The downside is you have to be very careful with fast movement in the viewfinder and panning etc must be done at a slower rate
- 24p is arguably “best” for shooting narrative “film-style” projects since it tries to simulate the 24fps frame rate of film. I also know that it is accomplished through digital pull-down which is sort of a trick to simulate 24fps.
- 30p is at the standard video 30 fps, but has the advantage of being progressive scan. I assume that 30p is the optimal shooting option for making web based video as well as tv commercials. But I also know that some television shows like “Everyday Italian” for example, on the Food Network shoots in 24p and it looks great!
- To sum it all up
Use 60i for stuff that you want to look like TV/news or where motion/camera movement is fast.
24p for film output or creative effect.
30p for more filmic effect.