Frame Rate
The number of individual frames recorded or played back per second.
Measured in
fps
In depth
Frame rate has two independent roles: the capture rate determines how motion is sampled, and the playback rate determines how it is shown. Recording at a higher rate than playback produces slow motion. Twenty-four frames per second remains the cinema standard because its slight strobing is culturally read as film, while 25 and 30 suit broadcast.
Examples in practice
Footage captured at 120 fps and played at 24 fps runs at one-fifth speed with smooth, continuous motion.