suggested frame rate for documentary?
- Thread starter pernell91
- Start date
AwakenedFilms
Veteran
Avoid 30p at all costs, unless you don't want 60p/i and can't stand the potential strobe of 24p - but even then, 30p does not translate well for broadcast (2:3 pulldown does not work) and does not translate well to flim (unless you don't mind slowing it down 25%).
25p is a good choice for PAL countries and can be slowed down 4% to blow up to film.
If you are going to blow up to film definately go for 24p.
If you are going to broadcast, 60i may be a better choice (or 50i in PAL country).
I think it is more a subjective decision - is your doc meant to have that 'reality' 60i feel, or is it meant to be more 'dreamy' and 'cinematic' 24p feel.
I am a personal fan of 24p.
An important point of discussion is resolution. If you want the most flexibility in the future, go for high definition - as high a resolution as you can afford. 720 or 1080 or 2k or 4k or celluloid.
Jason
25p is a good choice for PAL countries and can be slowed down 4% to blow up to film.
If you are going to blow up to film definately go for 24p.
If you are going to broadcast, 60i may be a better choice (or 50i in PAL country).
I think it is more a subjective decision - is your doc meant to have that 'reality' 60i feel, or is it meant to be more 'dreamy' and 'cinematic' 24p feel.
I am a personal fan of 24p.
An important point of discussion is resolution. If you want the most flexibility in the future, go for high definition - as high a resolution as you can afford. 720 or 1080 or 2k or 4k or celluloid.
Jason
AwakenedFilms
Veteran
Seunosewa,
I still would never use 30p for the simple fact that 30p is a hybrid type of frame rate that is not explicitly supported for broadcast. 30p does offer smoother motion, and can be played by a TV or output to film, but it is not a standard. Sure I can edit 12fps video from a camera phone onto an SD or HD timeline for broadcast or for film output, but it is going to look funny. Why not just go with something that everyone else in the industry uses: 60i NTSC broadcast, 50i PAL broadcast, 24p film output.
Pernell, I highly recommend you avoid 30p if you would like to go to 35mm or broadcast someday. 24p is probably your best bet, IMHO. You may find it is exactly what you are looking for, in which case, use it.
Jason
I still would never use 30p for the simple fact that 30p is a hybrid type of frame rate that is not explicitly supported for broadcast. 30p does offer smoother motion, and can be played by a TV or output to film, but it is not a standard. Sure I can edit 12fps video from a camera phone onto an SD or HD timeline for broadcast or for film output, but it is going to look funny. Why not just go with something that everyone else in the industry uses: 60i NTSC broadcast, 50i PAL broadcast, 24p film output.
Pernell, I highly recommend you avoid 30p if you would like to go to 35mm or broadcast someday. 24p is probably your best bet, IMHO. You may find it is exactly what you are looking for, in which case, use it.
Jason
@AwakenedFilms:
What are you talking about? 30p is a essentially a subset of 60i and as such is supported by all NTSC TV sets and most camcorders with a progressive mode. Your comparison between 30p and "12p" is unjustified; how many camcorders record in "12p"?
The reason 30p is often not recommended is because it's not easy to convert it to 24p for film out or 25p/50i for PAL broadcast. 30p perfectly fine for US broadcast and even online DVD distribution (most PAL DVD players play NTSC-encoded DVDs). 60i is probably the safest format to shoot, though.
What are you talking about? 30p is a essentially a subset of 60i and as such is supported by all NTSC TV sets and most camcorders with a progressive mode. Your comparison between 30p and "12p" is unjustified; how many camcorders record in "12p"?
The reason 30p is often not recommended is because it's not easy to convert it to 24p for film out or 25p/50i for PAL broadcast. 30p perfectly fine for US broadcast and even online DVD distribution (most PAL DVD players play NTSC-encoded DVDs). 60i is probably the safest format to shoot, though.