Have you started to implement video into your marketing efforts yet? Whether it’s your first or thousandth video, there’s always more to learn when it comes to producing, filming and editing a video. One element we want to shed some light on is FPS, or in layman’s terms, frames per second.
FPS is the number of images a video displays in one second. That’s right, video is just a lot of images played in succession at a very fast speed! The most common FPS formats are 24FPS, 30FPS, and 60FPS. If you’re new to video, you may wonder which is the best FPS format to use. Here’s the golden rule: The more frames per second, the smoother the video will look. But with more frames comes a larger file size.
Consider this example: If you’re recording a car speeding across your camera for 5 seconds at 24FPS, the video is comprised of 120 images. At 30FPS it’s 150 images and at 60FPS it’s 300 images. So, while the image quality is much higher at 60FPS, you’re more than doubling the file size of the video. If file size and storage are important for your particular project and how you’re distributing it, FPS is something to keep in mind as you prepare to record.
Which format should I use?
24FPS is the absolute lowest frames per second we can see without the video looking too choppy. Most movies are still shot at 24FPS, as they have been for decades, to give it a cinematic feel. It’s a fairly standard format, so most video recording devices like smartphones, GoPros, and DSLR cameras can shoot at this speed. Remember that you may have to go into the device’s settings to change the format to 24FPS.
30FPS is the sweet spot and ideal format because the file size is low, but the video quality is above average. 30FPS is usually the default format for recording devices, and it’s what most sitcom TV shows and news channels use. This format is perfect for recording interviews or demonstration videos. It should serve your everyday video marketing needs perfectly.
60FPS looks very smooth, even if there’s a lot of movement in each frame. If you’re recording a more in-depth product video or video in which there is a lot of movement, this is the format you should use. Your viewers will end up with the clearest image, which is worth the larger file size. Most of the latest smartphones, GoPros, and DSLR cameras can all record in 60FPS, just remember to go into your device’s settings to change the format. Another benefit of 60FPS is that with editing software, you can usually downgrade the video to 30FPS if ever needed (but it cannot be downgraded to 24FPS).
Consider this one more step in empowering yourself to take on video marketing projects with confidence! If you have any questions about FPS or other video settings and formats, please feel free to reach out via [email protected]. Happy filming!