Frame rate and slow motion: making motion cinematic

Frame rate (fps) is how many frames a camera captures per second — a defining factor in a video’s feel.

Cinema’s standard is 24fps. With the “shutter rule” (shutter around double the frame rate, ~1/50s) it produces the natural motion blur we read as cinematic. Higher rates like 60fps look sharper but more news-like.

For slow motion you shoot at a high frame rate and play back at 24/30 — e.g. 120fps played at 24 is 5× slower and smooth. Higher rates need more light, since each frame gets less exposure, so plan lighting first. And choose the moment wisely — slow motion works when it highlights a specific detail the eye never catches.