Most photography professionals consider anything at 60fps or higher to be good enough for slow motion. 60fps is the threshold for high-speed frame rates, and anything higher than this can deliver solid slow-motion footage.
This post will explore if 60fps is good for slow motion. I’ll explain why this frame rate is good for slow motion and provide you with some other relevant information. The goal is to help you decide which camera might be best for your needs or preferences.
Let’s get to it.
Contents
Key Takeaways
- 60fps is the minimum frame rate for slow-motion footage and can be a good starting point for delivering quality footage of this type.
- 120fps and 240fps or higher are also used for slow motion, and these are all considered high frame rates.
- You can’t really get good slow-motion footage with less than 60fps because the camera won’t capture enough footage to slow things down.
Is 60fps Good for Slow Motion?
60fps is a good benchmark for slow motion. This is a fast enough frame rate to capture footage that can then be slowed down. If you have lower than 60fps, you won’t be able to turn the footage to slow motion.
60fps is considered a high frame rate. And this is the minimum high frame rate where you can begin to use slow-motion footage. You can go higher than this, but you don’t always need to get good slow motion.
You can use higher frame rates than 60fps for slow motion, but you can’t really go lower. Typically, you want to choose the lowest high frame rate that allows you to show everything in slow motion clearly.
60fps will get the job done right and can work in many professional film situations. You can use a higher frame rate, which might be helpful for different types of filming or live footage of sports and nature.
Frame rate, or fps, basically refers to how many frames you can capture per second. So higher frame rates capture more frames, allowing you to slow things down more effectively. Lower frame rates don’t capture as many, which is why you can’t do great slow-mo with them.
Best Frame Rate for Slow Motion
The best frame rate for slow motion depends on the type of slow motion you are trying to get. 60fps is the benchmark for the average slow-motion footage and will give you the ability to slow things down effectively.
60fps is commonly used when slow-motion footage is needed for the average movie. This will help you slow things down without affecting other parameters. A lot of cameras can shoot at 60fps.
Once you get into higher frame rates, you can achieve even better slow-motion footage. But very high frame rate cameras can be specialized, and you might not need one if you don’t have the need for extreme slo-mo.
120fps is a frame rate that can be used for wildlife and nature documentaries. This can be the best option when you want to slow things down to document a creature running or flying through the air.
240fps is another level, and this is when things really start to slow down. This frame rate can effectively capture water falling from the sky or a faucet, which gives you an idea of when this level of slow-motion footage can be beneficial.
480fps is often used for sporting events. If you’ve ever watched a game or event and have wondered how they slowed things down so much, it’s because they used a 480fps or higher frame rate.
And for super slow motion footage, 960fps can really give you another level of slowing things down. This frame rate isn’t that commonly used but does have a place when shooting fast things that need to be slowed down.
As you can see, there’s a different best frame rate for different filming situations. There really isn’t one single best frame rate for slow motion. It’s more related to what type of slow motion you need to get.
How to Choose the Best Slow Motion Camera?
Construction
Any camera, slow motion or otherwise, needs to be durable. While this isn’t as big of a concern if you’re only shooting in a confined space, anyone who wants to use their camera in different environments needs a strong shell that can stand up to bumps or accidental drops.
It always helps to get a waterproof model. If you want further protection, especially if you like to shoot outside, look for dust, shock, and scratch-proof shells as well.
Usability
Your camera has to be easy to use. There are many high-end models on the market that come packed with a ton of great features.
However, the more attributes a camera has, the trickier it is to use. Even if you’re an experienced photographer, it’s not easy to navigate a new interface. Try to get simple-to-use models that don’t skimp on essential features. Ones with help buttons are extremely nice as well.
Additional Features
Slow motion is the basis for all the cameras in this guide, but they can do so much more. When purchasing your camera, it’s important to know what you want to get out of it beyond the slow-motion capabilities.
The lens, pixel count, shutter speed, and zooming capacity are all things to keep in mind. It also helps to get cameras that can shoot at different angles or ones that are compatible with your other technology.
What’s the Best Slow Motion Camera?
Here are a few of our top recommendations:
1. Sony Cyber‑Shot RX10 IV
This camera has excellent slow motion, as a result of the stacked sensor technology, and offers excellent image quality for both moving and still shots. In fact, it slows down shots 40 times from their standard speed.
To add to that, the model has a Zeiss Sonna T lens with 25 times zooming power and an Auto Focus feature that gives all of your shots a professional look. There are even start and end triggers to give you more control over your shots. If you want quality, it’s hard to do better.
2. Sony RX0 II 1” Sensor Ultra-Compact Camera
This model is waterproof down to 33 feet, dustproof, and crushproof as well. To complement that solid exterior, the camera’s interior provides great slow-motion video, and excellent stabilization, and comes with a Zeiss Tessar T lens.
The real stand out with this device is the 180-degree tilt feature, which enables you to capture all potential angles regardless of how you want to shoot. That offers a lot of versatility to an already solid machine and helps you take your photography to the next level.
3. GoPro HERO10 Black Waterproof Action Camera
This action camera from GoPro doesn’t just provide excellent stabilization and great 4K60 video, it also has an ultra-high frame rate that slows down clips from eight times their normal speed. The stabilization is also fantastic here, enabling you to take moving or action shots with ease.
It comes with a responsive touchscreen and water-proof shell, and is quite durable. That combination of features makes it the best pick for users who want to shoot while on the move. Its capabilities also make it great for anyone who wants to record in tough environments.
FAQs
Here are a few quick answers to some of the most commonly asked questions related to if 60fps is good for slow motion.
Is 60fps fast enough for slow motion?
60fps is fast enough for slow motion, and this frame rate can help you slow things down effectively. It won’t deliver super slow-motion footage, but for the average slow-motion situation, 60fps will do the trick.
Which FPS is better for slow motion?
You need at least 60fps for effective slow motion. But which frame rate is best depends on what type of footage you are taking and how slow you need it. A higher frame rate will give you the ability to slow things down more.
Which is slow 30fps or 60fps?
When considering slow motion footage, 60fps will give you slower footage than 30fps. 60fps is considered the lowest high frame rate you can use to achieve decent slow-motion footage. 30fps is not enough to make things that slow.
Final Thoughts
A frame rate of 60fps will allow you to turn the footage into quality slow motion. This is the baseline for what you need when shooting slow motion. A lower frame rate will not really allow you to slow things down efficiently.
Higher frame rates will ultimately lead to increased slow-motion capabilities. If you want extra control over how slow you can go, you’ll want to get a frame rate higher than 60fps.
What frame rate do you use for slow-motion footage? Let me know in the comments below.
