Frame Rates, Shutter Speeds and Slow Motion

In this filmmaking class, Karl explains frame rates and shutter speeds. He demonstrates how adjusting these settings alters the appearance of motion in your videos, and how you can use them to create slow-motion and time-lapse footage.

This class includes some fun demonstrations, including fruit splashing into a drop tank, a model walking across the set, and Ping Pong balls bouncing on a hard surface!

In this class:

  • Frame rates in filmmaking
  • Frames per second
  • Shutter speeds in filmmaking
  • How to create slow-motion and time-lapse videos

Questions? Please post them in the comments section below.

Comments

  1. garystasiuk

    So placing this into a light enhanced real world situation.. you are shooting 30 fps.. generally targeting 1/60th of a second exposures, and thus you are managing the exposure through light control.. let us assume ISO remains at an optimal. Is that generally the approach in the set up?

    1. Hi Gary, yes we are mostly managing through light control either via the light source or through ND filters or adjusting aperture or ISO but of course it would be better to keep the desired aperture and ISO but it’s not as critical, for example on the AS73 we like to work with either of the base ISOs of 640 or 12800 which if correctly exposed give the best dynamic range and minimal noise.

  3. What shutter speeds did you use for the various frame rates in the fruit dropping test, it would be good to know. Thanks.

    1. In the video we used 60fps – 1/120th, 120fps – 1/250th, 240fps – 1/400th and 400fps – 1/425th, (the 180 degree rule, except for the 400fps as that camera does not have the low light capabilities).

      With high frame rates/ slow motion its generally better to use a higher shutter speed as there is no need for motion blur like in normal speed video, the advantage of using higher frame rates for slow motion is the slow motion will look slightly sharper or crisper, however when filming in these higher frame rates light is an obvious issue so as long as your shutter speed is the same as or higher than your frame rate you will still get good slow motion.

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