The Difference between Slow motion and Super Slow motion

 

       Lets get started... with the basics first

         Step 1: Let's Understand the Basics of Slow Motion

Whats the difference between Slow motion and Super Slow motion?

In video production, a regular video cameras captures at 24fps (NTSC) or 25fps (PAL). Any frame rate you shoot at above 25fps up to 200fps is called slow motion, and with anything shot at above 500fps we call it Ultra or Super Slow Motion.

The human eye can only see a difference in frame rates when its doubled. Thus consider doubling your frame rates, such as from 50 to 100fps, 100fps to 200fps, 200fps to 400fps, 400 to 800fps and so forth. In-between frame rates have little effect on visual impression.

!Pro tip: The sweet spot for Super slow motion is to shoot between 
800-1000fps. That's where the magic happens.

What Makes Slow Motion Special?

Slow motion video capture works by increasing the frame rate, capturing more frames per second (fps) than traditional video. A typical video camera shoots/records at 25fps, but super slow-motion cameras like the Phantom Flex4K can capture up to 1,000 fps in the same span of time, when played back, it the stretch the seconds into captivating minutes.

25fps timeline

How the same timeline looks when shot with 1000fps

As you can see in this simple illustration above, there is more frames "cramped" into the same amount of time when you shoot at 1,000fps. This extra frames is where the magic happens and opens up a whole new world to the viewer to see.

Here's a video showing the different frame rates shot of the same scene.

Here are a few video examples of shooting in 25fps vs shooting in 1,000fps.

Smashing glass at 1,000fps vs 25fps

Frying Onions in Super Slow motion

Soldiers jumping from grenade blast zone in slow motion