[Konvas] frame rate questions: put on your thinking caps and break out your calculators

[Adam Frey]

dweber101 at comcast.net wrote:
> Exposure time and FPS don't really have such a direct effect on 
> perceived quality, strobing excepted.  It's more the amount of 
> magnification, quality of camera lens and projector lens that affects 
> quality. 16 is limited by the amount of light that can be crammed thru 
> the projector aperture but when blown up to 35 can look very good on a 
> big screen.

Agreed, lens quality, registration, etc are all extremely important. But 
strobing is one of the issues that I'm talking about. At 24 frames per 
second, there is a wider (unlit) gap between frames. You may not think 
you notice it, but it is still there and your brain is subconsciously 
registering it as unlit (or dark).

I honestly don't think most viewers can notice a difference between 
Super16 and 35mm (well, maybe a little bit of a difference, but most 
would shrug it off and completely forget about it). Of course, the sad 
truth is that half of those would probably not notice the difference 
between Super8, HD, and 35mm for that matter...

But I'm looking for concrete numbers, if possible. Since concrete 
numbers can settle arguments a little easier.

Come to think of it, if the film were to be transferred to 1080i60 HD, 
then it isn't strobing, so much as the 3:2 pulldown is showing redundant 
frames and also interleaving B/C and C/D, which creates a new set of 
issues with perceived image quality. At that point, I doubt it hurts 
fairly still images, but I don't think it helps moving images on the screen.

And, speaking of which, has anyone transferred 24fps (or 24p) derived 
footage to either 1080p60 or 720p60? How does the pulldown pattern work? 
I'd assume it's a weird pulldown variant from the 3:2 interlaced 
pulldown, but using progressive frames. Probably something like 
AAABBCCCDD. And if it is transferred that way, how would this effect the 
perceived image quality...

Hmmmm. Maybe I just need to quit thinking and go to bed...


Good night, everyone!

Adam Frey
Director/Cinematographer
Crimson Chain Productions
http://crimsonchainproductions.com
Cell: 301-639-7146

Crimson Chain Productions
PO Box 35
Libertytown, MD 21762