Frame rate in film: what does fps mean?

In short: The frame rate states how many individual images are recorded or shown per second, abbreviated fps (frames per second). It determines how smooth movement looks and what look a film has.

In more detail: Our eyes perceive a rapid sequence of still images as flowing movement. In cinema 24 frames per second became established, while on television and online 25, 30, 50 or 60 are also common depending on region and purpose.

In detail

• 24 fps: This rate became the cinema standard with sound film and still stands for the typical “film look”.
• 25 and 50 fps: In Europe television has traditionally followed the 50-hertz mains supply and therefore uses 25 or 50 frames per second.
• 30 and 60 fps: In North America, rates around 30 and 60 are common because of the 60-hertz grid.
• High frame rates: 50 or 60 fps look very smooth and suit sport, games and fast movement, but some viewers find them too “video-like” for feature films.
• Slow motion: You record at a high frame rate, for example 100 or 120 fps, and play back at the normal rate, so the movement runs more slowly.
• Time-lapse: Conversely, sped-up movement results when you record very few frames and play them back normally.
• 180-degree rule: As a rule of thumb you choose a shutter speed of about 1 divided by twice the frame rate, so 1/50 second at 25 fps, for natural-looking motion blur.
• Avoiding flicker: If frame rate and shutter speed do not match the mains frequency, some lamps can flicker on video.
• Stay consistent: Within one project all footage should share the same base frame rate, otherwise the result will judder in the edit (verschlusszeit-und-bewegung, zeitraffer-und-timelapse-fotografie, kamera-einstellungen-und-schnitt-im-film).