VIDEO: Frames Per Second

Choosing the right number of frames per second and the PAL or NTSC region when shooting video is crucial. This setting will impact your subsequent video editing work.

When working with videos, you may encounter settings divided into two regions, each using different frequencies. Just as analog television broadcasting systems historically used PAL and NTSC formats:

  • PAL was the standard in Europe, and to this day, it uses a frequency of 25 fps and its multiples, namely 50, 100, 200, etc.
  • In contrast, NTSC – the American system, has a typical frequency of 24 or 30 fps and other multiples, namely 30, 60, 120, 240, etc. Where 24 fps is more commonly used for cinema, and 30 fps is more common for television broadcasting or video.

Due to different frequencies, it can happen that movies released in Europe may have a slightly shorter duration than the same movies released in the USA.

We recommend shooting at 24, 25, or 30 fps. Files won’t take up as much space, and your computer will handle them faster, resulting in the most natural-looking motion in your shots.

If you shoot at 50 fps, you’ll have twice as many frames, and you can slow down the video to half speed while still maintaining a beautifully smooth image.

If you plan to slow down your videos, always shoot at higher fps.

Once you’ve finished shooting, don’t forget to edit your videos in Zoner Photo Studio X, which you can download for free for 7 days.

And for a constant supply of useful video tutorials, subscribe to our YouTube channel.