Importance of 30fps/60fps and Nikon

[Errol Lazare]

Perfect!

You are all set then because those are great frame rates! Very good.
This should have been my very first question… lol

Happy shooting,

Cheers,
Errol

Errol X. Lazare
EXL Films
http://www.exlfilms.com

[Jeff Bernstein]

Let’s clear up a few facts here…

The transmission standard for 720P is 60fps (actually 59.97). The problem will be how to turn Nikon’s 30fps to 60fps. Even if you are making DVDs or BluRay, you will have the same issue.

I have a Nikon D70 and I would like to upgrade to the D7000, but Nikon’s understanding, and their lack of, of video standards is KILLING ME.

While I already have 3 Nikon lenses and a Speedlight, I might need to convert to Canon after being a Nikon guy for the past 30 years.

[Tony Connoly]

Jeff,

Setting aside the fact that the Canon 5DII does not do 60fps either, I don’t really understand the importance of fps. What does it mean that the standard for DVD is x fps? Does that mean I can’t make a DVD from video recorded at a different fps?

[Andy Schroeder]

More frames per second equals smoother more “realistic” motion in a movie. DVD’s, Blu-Rays, YouTube, and yes even broadcast TV can handle any of the frame rates that camera shoots. Most big budget TV shows and films are shot on film at 24fps. If you want to get a cinematic look use this frame rate. If you want it to look more like TV, 30fps will give you a smoother look.
Broadcast TV that is shot on video cameras is shot at 60 interlaced fields per second. But the fields are only half the frame resolution(you only ever see either even or odd numbered scan lines at a time.) So you get smoother motion but at a lower resolution because you lose half of each frame. 60fps at 720p (which some DSLR’s can shoot) can often mean the full progressive frame and is useful for capturing fast action like sports, or filming at “high speed” so you can slow down the footage later on but keep the smoothness and full resolution while in slow motion.
Whether you want to use that camera for home or professional use the frame rates that it shoots are all valid and can be shown on almost any video players.

[Steven Delcambre]

60i (interlaced) and 30p (progressive) are similar frame rates. Interlace uses two frames to make 1.

24p is a bit slower, has more of a film look but doesn’t slow-motion well.

To the OP I just got the d7000 after having the d300s and the video feature of this camera is much better.