Video frame rate: How to choose the right FPS for movies, videos, and drone footage

Introduction to Frame Rate and why it matters

Frame rate – often referred to as FPS (frames per second) – is one of the most important settings anyone dealing with video has to decide on. Whether it’s a filmmaker, commercial creator, wedding videographer, FPV drone pilot, or someone who just wants to record a nice vacation video. Even though FPS is discussed frequently, many people don’t actually understand what it affects and why it is so crucial.

That’s exactly why it makes sense to explain it in a human way, simply, and without unnecessary technical complexity. Frame rate is not just a number hidden somewhere in the camera menu. It is one of the key decisions that defines the character of the video, its atmosphere, smoothness, sense of realism, cinematic feel, and how it will be perceived by the viewer.

And what’s important – this is not just about drones. It applies to all types of cameras:

• cinema cameras
• mirrorless cameras
• action cameras
• mobile phones
• FPV drones
• 360° cameras
• professional broadcast equipment

Simply everywhere video is being recorded.

🎬 Why different frame rates exist at all

Historically, these differences came from technical limitations, television standards, and film conventions. Today, we are no longer limited by technology, but by aesthetics and the purpose of the video.

Film – the traditional 24 FPS

Classic film is shot at 24 FPS. It is a standard that originated in the 1920s and has remained ever since. Why? Because 24 FPS creates a specific “film look” – a slightly blurred motion that feels natural, soft, and aesthetic.

Viewers are used to this look. When they see 24 FPS, their brain automatically says:
“This is a movie.”

Video – 25, 30 FPS and their multiples

With video, the situation is different. Video is used for a wide range of purposes, which is why multiple standards exist:

• 25 FPS – European standard (linked to 50 Hz power grids)
• 30 FPS – American standard (linked to 60 Hz)
• 50 FPS – slow motion, sports, dynamics
• 60 FPS – smooth motion, action, modern style
• 100/120 FPS – strong slow motion, sports, detailed motion analysis

Today, however, it’s no longer about technical limitations. It’s about what kind of feeling we want to create.

🎥 How FPS affects the atmosphere of a video

Every frame rate has its own character. And that character determines how the viewer perceives the video.

24 FPS – cinematic feel

• subtle motion blur
• soft, natural impression
• ideal for stories, emotions, atmosphere
• used for films, commercials, weddings, real estate videos, mood videos

25 FPS – European standard

• similar to 24 FPS
• slightly smoother
• ideal for general shooting, interviews, corporate videos

30 FPS – modern, cleaner look

• sharper motion
• less cinematic, more “digital”
• used for sports, action, FPV, automotive

50/60 FPS – dynamics and smoothness

• significantly smoother motion
• ideal for fast scenes
• ability to slow down to half speed
• used for sports, action videos, FPV fly-throughs, events

100/120 FPS – slow motion

• extremely smooth slow motion
• ideal for details, sports, emotions, water drops, hair movement
• used for commercials, clips, sports

🧭 How to choose FPS based on purpose

Choosing a frame rate is not random. It is a decision that affects the entire character of the video.

• I want a cinematic look → 24 FPS
  Commercials, weddings, real estate, storytelling, atmosphere.
• I want standard video → 25 FPS
  Interviews, corporate videos, documentaries, general filming.
• I want action → 30 or 60 FPS
  Sports, automotive, FPV fly-throughs, dynamic scenes.
• I want slow motion → 50/60/120 FPS
  Detailed moments, sports, emotions, effects.

🛠️ FPS is only one part of pre-shoot settings

This is important to emphasize. Frame rate is just one item in a long list of things that influence the final video.

Other key settings include:

• ISO – sensor sensitivity
• aperture – depth of field
• shutter speed – shutter speed (closely linked to FPS)
• white balance – color temperature
• picture profile – flat, log, standard
• resolution – 1080p, 4K, 5K
• bitrate – video data quality
• dynamic range – how the camera handles highlights and shadows

And of course things outside the camera:

• light
• composition
• camera movement
• environment
• purpose of the video
• atmosphere

FPS is therefore just one piece of the puzzle, but a very important one.

🌍 And it applies everywhere – Prague, Brno, Ostrava, Plzeň…

Whether someone is searching for:

• drone video Prague
• drone filming Brno
• aerial footage Ostrava
• sports drone video Liberec
• commercial drone video Plzeň

…the principles of frame rate are the same. A camera behaves the same in Prague as it does in the Beskydy Mountains. The only difference is the style you want to create.

How frame rate affects motion, sharpness, and the overall impression of a video

In the first part, we explained why different frame rates exist and what kind of character they have. Now we’ll go deeper into what FPS actually does to the image, how it affects motion, sharpness, smoothness, and the overall feel of the video. This is an area where mistakes are very common – even though understanding just a few simple principles is enough for a video to look professional.

And again, a reminder: this doesn’t apply only to drones. It doesn’t matter whether you’re filming in Prague on a mirrorless camera, in Brno with an FPV drone, in Ostrava on a mobile phone, or in Plzeň with an action camera. The principles are universal.

🎞️ Motion and blur – why 24 FPS looks different from 60 FPS

When people hear “frame rate”, most imagine only the number of frames per second. But that’s only half the story. The other half is motion blur.

Motion blur is natural

The human eye perceives the world with natural blur. When you wave your hand in front of your face, you don’t see it as a series of sharp photographs – you see a smooth, slightly blurred motion.

And this blur is exactly what creates a cinematic feel.

24 FPS = more blur → cinematic look

Because there are fewer frames, each frame captures a longer slice of time. Motion therefore appears softer, smoother, and more natural.

60 FPS = less blur → sharper, more realistic look

More frames mean less time per frame. Motion becomes sharper, cleaner, more “realistic”.

This is great for sports, action, fast fly-throughs, automotive, or FPV freestyle.

At the same time, it can feel “television-like” or “game-like” if used where a cinematic style is expected.

🧮 Shutter speed – the inseparable partner of FPS

Frame rate never stands alone. It is always linked to shutter speed. And here applies one of the most important rules in video:

The 180-degree shutter rule

The shutter speed should be approximately double the FPS.

• 24 FPS → 1/48 s
• 25 FPS → 1/50 s
• 30 FPS → 1/60 s
• 50 FPS → 1/100 s
• 60 FPS → 1/120 s
• 120 FPS → 1/240 s

Why?

Because it creates natural motion blur, which the human eye is used to.

What happens if you break this rule?

Shutter too fast (e.g. 1/1000 s)
→ the image becomes sharp, choppy, unnatural, and feels “cheap”
→ used only in specific cases (sports analysis, extreme action)

Shutter too slow
→ the image becomes overly blurred, hard to read

This is also why ND filters are often used on drones – to maintain a correct shutter speed even in bright light.

🎥 How FPS affects video style in practice

Now let’s look at real-world situations every creator deals with – whether filming in Prague, Brno, Olomouc, or even in the Tatra Mountains.

1) Cinematic style – 24 FPS

Used when you want:

• atmosphere
• emotion
• storytelling
• soft motion
• aesthetic impression

Typical examples:

• wedding video
• real estate video
• commercial spot
• mood video
• travel film
• portrait video

24 FPS is simply “cinema”.

2) Standard video – 25 FPS

This is the European standard. Suitable for:

• corporate videos
• interviews
• documentaries
• reports
• general filming

It’s a compromise between cinematic feel and practicality.

3) Modern, clean look – 30 FPS

30 FPS feels sharper and more modern. Suitable for:

• sports
• action
• automotive
• FPV fly-throughs
• dynamic scenes
• social media

This is a style used by many creators today because it feels “digitally clean”.

4) Dynamics and slow motion – 50/60 FPS

This is the ideal choice when:

• you want to slow footage to half speed
• you’re filming fast motion
• you need smoothness
• you want clean, sharp motion

Used for:

• sports videos
• FPV freestyle
• automotive
• action scenes
• events

5) Slow motion – 100/120 FPS

This is the world of slow-motion footage. Great for:

• details
• emotions
• water drops
• hair movement
• sports moments
• dramatic effects

Slow motion gives video power and depth.

🌐 Why it’s important to stick to one FPS within a project

One of the most common beginner mistakes is filming:

• some shots at 24 FPS
• some shots at 30 FPS
• some shots at 60 FPS

And then trying to combine them into one video.

Technically, it’s possible.
Aesthetically, it feels disturbing.

Why?

Because each FPS has a different motion character. When you mix them, the viewer subconsciously perceives it as inconsistency.

How to do it correctly

• choose one main FPS for the project
• use other FPS values only for slow-motion shots
• never mix 24 and 30 FPS in one timeline

🧭 And again – this applies everywhere, not just to drones

Whether you’re filming:

• drone video Prague
• corporate drone video Brno
• sports drone video Liberec
• commercial drone video Ostrava
• wedding drone video Plzeň

…the principles of FPS are the same.
A drone is just a camera in the air.
The physics of light and motion remain the same.

How frame rate affects motion, sharpness, and the overall impression of a video

In the first part, we explained why different frame rates exist and what kind of character they have. Now we’ll go deeper into what FPS actually does to the image, how it affects motion, sharpness, smoothness, and the overall feel of the video. This is an area where mistakes are very common — even though understanding just a few simple principles is enough for a video to look professional.

And again, a reminder: this doesn’t apply only to drones. It doesn’t matter whether you’re filming in Prague on a mirrorless camera, in Brno with an FPV drone, in Ostrava on a mobile phone, or in Plzeň with an action camera. The principles are universal.

🎞️ Motion and blur – why 24 FPS looks different from 60 FPS

When people hear “frame rate”, most imagine only the number of frames per second. But that’s only half the story. The other half is motion blur, meaning blur caused by movement.

Motion blur is natural

The human eye perceives the world with natural motion blur. When you wave your hand in front of your face, you don’t see it as a sequence of sharp photographs — you see a smooth, slightly blurred movement.

This blur is exactly what creates a cinematic feel.

24 FPS = more blur → cinematic look

Because there are fewer frames, each frame captures a longer slice of time. Motion therefore appears softer, smoother, and more natural.

60 FPS = less blur → sharper, more realistic look

More frames mean less time for each frame. Motion becomes sharper, cleaner, and more “realistic”.

This is ideal for sports, action, fast fly-throughs, automotive footage, or FPV freestyle.

At the same time, it can feel “television-like” or “game-like” if used where a cinematic style is expected.

🧮 Shutter speed – the inseparable partner of FPS

Frame rate never stands on its own. It is always linked to shutter speed. And here applies one of the most important rules in video:

The 180-degree shutter rule

The shutter speed should be approximately double the FPS.

• 24 FPS → 1/48 s
• 25 FPS → 1/50 s
• 30 FPS → 1/60 s
• 50 FPS → 1/100 s
• 60 FPS → 1/120 s
• 120 FPS → 1/240 s

Why?

Because it creates natural motion blur, which the human eye is accustomed to.

What happens if you break this rule?

Shutter too fast (for example 1/1000 s)
→ the image becomes overly sharp, choppy, unnatural, and feels “cheap”
→ used only in specific cases (sports analysis, extreme action)

Shutter too slow
→ the image becomes excessively blurred and hard to read

This is also why ND filters are commonly used on drones — to maintain the correct shutter speed even in bright daylight.

🎥 How FPS affects video style in practice

Now let’s look at real-world situations that every creator deals with — whether filming in Prague, Brno, Olomouc, or even in the Tatra Mountains.

1) Cinematic style – 24 FPS

Used when you want:

• atmosphere
• emotion
• storytelling
• soft motion
• strong aesthetics

Typical examples:

• wedding video
• real estate video
• commercial spot
• mood video
• travel film
• portrait video

24 FPS is simply cinema.

2) Standard video – 25 FPS

This is the European standard. Suitable for:

• corporate videos
• interviews
• documentaries
• news reports
• general filming

It is a compromise between cinematic feel and practical usability.

3) Modern, clean look – 30 FPS

30 FPS feels sharper and more modern. Suitable for:

• sports
• action
• automotive
• FPV fly-throughs
• dynamic scenes
• social media content

This is a style many creators use today because it feels digitally clean.

4) Dynamics and slow motion – 50 / 60 FPS

This is the ideal choice when:

• you want to slow footage down to half speed
• you are filming fast movement
• you need maximum smoothness
• you want clean, sharp motion

Commonly used for:

• sports videos
• FPV freestyle
• automotive footage
• action scenes
• events

5) Slow motion – 100 / 120 FPS

This is the realm of slow-motion shots. Ideal for:

• details
• emotions
• water droplets
• hair movement
• sports moments
• dramatic emphasis

Slow motion adds impact and depth to a video.

🌐 Why it’s important to stick to one FPS within a project

One of the most common beginner mistakes is filming:

• some shots at 24 FPS
• some shots at 30 FPS
• some shots at 60 FPS

And then trying to combine everything into a single video.

Technically, it works.
Aesthetically, it feels wrong.

Why?

Because each FPS value has a different motion character. When you mix them, the viewer subconsciously perceives it as inconsistency.

How to do it correctly

• choose one main FPS for the entire project
• use other FPS values only for slow-motion shots
• never mix 24 and 30 FPS in the same timeline

🧭 And again – this applies everywhere, not just to drones

Whether you are filming:

• drone video Prague
• corporate drone video Brno
• sports drone video Liberec
• commercial drone video Ostrava
• wedding drone video Plzeň

…the principles of FPS are exactly the same.
A drone is simply a camera in the air.
The physics of light and motion remain unchanged.

Why the frame rate must be the same during filming and editing, and how to avoid choppy video

This is one of the most important things anyone working with video needs to understand — whether it’s drones, cameras, mobile phones, or professional cinema equipment. Frame rate is not just a choice made during filming. It is a technical and aesthetic commitment that must also be respected in post-production.

And this is exactly where most problems arise. People record footage at one FPS, but set the timeline in the editor to a different one. The result? The video feels choppy, unnatural, or even “broken”. And yet, all it takes is following one simple rule.

🎬 1) The golden rule: FPS during filming = FPS in the timeline = FPS in export

This is the absolute foundation of a professional workflow:

• If you film at 30 FPS, you must edit at 30 FPS.
• If you film at 25 FPS, you must edit at 25 FPS.
• If you film at 24 FPS, you must edit at 24 FPS.

And the same applies here:

The export must have the same FPS as the timeline.

In other words:

• 30 FPS → timeline 30 FPS → export 30 FPS
• 25 FPS → timeline 25 FPS → export 25 FPS
• 24 FPS → timeline 24 FPS → export 24 FPS

The moment you break this rule, the software has to either interpolate or drop frames. And that is exactly what causes:

• stuttering
• “ghosting”
• unnatural motion
• a cheap-looking result
• distracting artifacts

🎞️ 2) Why you can’t edit 30 FPS footage on a 25 FPS timeline (and vice versa)

Imagine it simply:

• 30 FPS has 30 frames per second
• 25 FPS has 25 frames per second

When you place 30 FPS footage into a 25 FPS timeline, the software must discard 5 frames every second.

That results in:

• jerky motion
• irregular jumps
• the feeling that the video is “stuttering”

On the other hand:

When you place 25 FPS footage into a 30 FPS timeline, the software has to generate 5 new frames every second.

That results in:

• artificial motion
• ghosting
• blurred double edges
• an unnatural look

And this is exactly the moment when the viewer feels that “something is wrong”, even if they can’t explain what it is.

🧭 3) How to correctly combine different FPS values in one project

It is absolutely fine to record different parts of a project at different frame rates. But you must do it intelligently.

Main project FPS = timeline FPS

This is your foundation.

For example:

• you want a cinematic look → timeline 24 FPS
• you want standard video → timeline 25 FPS
• you want a modern, clean look → timeline 30 FPS
• you want dynamics → timeline 50 or 60 FPS

Higher FPS is used only for slow motion

• 50 FPS → slow down to 50% on a 25 FPS timeline
• 60 FPS → slow down to 50% on a 30 FPS timeline
• 100 FPS → slow down to 25% on a 25 FPS timeline

Lower FPS is not used at all

Never place:

• 24 FPS into a 30 FPS timeline
• 25 FPS into a 30 FPS timeline
• 30 FPS into a 25 FPS timeline

That is the direct path to choppy video.

🎥 4) How FPS affects the viewer’s experience

The viewer may not know what FPS is.
But their brain knows.

When FPS is set correctly:

• motion feels natural
• the video looks professional
• the atmosphere is consistent
• nothing distracts attention

When FPS is wrong:

• the video feels amateurish
• motion is jerky
• the viewer feels that “something doesn’t fit”
• shots lose their impact

And that’s a shame, because even beautifully shot footage can be completely ruined by an incorrect timeline FPS.

🛠️ 5) FPS is just one part before filming — but it affects everything

Frame rate is connected to many other settings:

• shutter speed – must match the FPS
• ISO – higher FPS = less light per frame
• aperture – affects exposure and depth of field
• ND filters – essential for correct shutter speed
• image profile – log profiles require proper exposure
• bitrate – higher FPS = higher data rate
• stabilization – more frames = better calculations

All of this together creates:

• atmosphere
• style
• aesthetics
• technical quality

FPS is therefore one of the pillars on which the entire visual character of a video stands.

🌍 And again — this applies everywhere, not just to drones and not just in one city

Whether someone is searching for:

• drone video Prague
• drone filming Brno
• aerial footage Ostrava
• sports drone video Liberec
• commercial drone video Plzeň
• custom drone video services

…the principles of frame rate are universal.

A camera is a camera.
Light is light.
Physics is physics.

Whether you’re standing on the ground or flying an FPV drone between trees.

Conclusion

Frame rate is one of the most important parameters of video. It affects:

• atmosphere
• smoothness
• aesthetics
• technical quality
• viewer experience

And most importantly:

FPS must be the same during filming, editing, and export.

The moment you break this rule, the video starts to feel choppy and loses its professional impression.

But when you understand FPS and use it correctly, you unlock the ability to create videos with atmosphere, style, and impact — whether it’s a cinematic spot, real estate video, FPV fly-through, sports action, or aerial footage from any city.

Are you interested in the pricing and specific service offerings of FPVvideo? Visit the page Services / Pricing, where you can find an overview of all packages – from wedding drone videos and FPV indoor flights to complete productions for family events (baptisms, birthdays, anniversaries), corporate parties, team building, product presentations, manufacturing process videos, corporate spaces, or promotional videos for municipalities, towns, and regions. We film in locations such as Prague, Central Bohemia, Říčany, Benešov, Beroun, Kamenice, Moravia, and Slovakia. Everything with a focus on quality, safety, and a creative approach.