h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Hi, your guide stated that

24 frames per second, or 24fps, is the standard Frame Rate for most film cameras, as it is the lowest frame rate that will fool the eye into believing it is seeing a constant, fluid, moving image. If the frame rate drops below 24fps, the human eye begins to distinguish individual frames, and will see a stilted moving image. Cameras do use higher frame rates for filming, but these are usually for technical, geographical or effects purposes, and too detailed to explain here.
3 The advent of digital has surpassed this somewhat, but for the purposes of shooting on film, this is still the case.

I wanted to point out that that is incorrect; 12 FPS is the lowest needed for the illusion of movement

Damn - I've been found out! I wasn't aware of this - always been under the impression it was 24fps, after which the eye begins to distinguish individual frames and so the movement doesn't appear "true". For the illusion of movement I'm sure 24fps isn't the lowest frame rate, but maybe I didn't word my article too well?

If I'm totally wrong please let me know and point me in the direction of somewhere I can learn where I've fallen foul!

Ta V much.

Mike aka Smooshie

We had to learn it in my Silent Film class, I'm a film studies major in the states, the book we used, which is quite insightful, was a "A History of Narrative Film" by David A. Cook

I called up a number of director friends who work regularly in commercials and for the BBC, and was told 24fps is the lowest for the illusion of movement generally, but that it is highly subjective according to the material footage, format and numerous other interferences.

Apparently it can go as low as 8fps, but if your images contain a lot of movement and fast camera movements, the frame rate has to be higher to compensate, otherwise you end up with stilted movement.

With animation, it is often aquired at around 12 - 15fps, and a lot of design packages such as Flash MX and Director default at this frame rate - the lack of detail in animation (assuming, of course, simple animation rather than Disney/Pixar quality) means the frame rate can be reduced and the eye still be fooled.

There is also the far more complex and much argued issue of persistence of vision; the human limits of sight and it's affect on the interpretation of images displayed before the eye/brain.

I feel a whole other article coming on here.

Still, thanks for your comments - much apprecaited.

Smooshie

Yeah, thanks for yours too. I think it might have been persistence of vision he was talking about, I will have to look it up again, the books at my house now though, any way just to let you know it was the fourth edition of Cook's book.

Will check it out - sounds like a good book to read.

Thanks again!

Smooshie