Can I use 60fps video instead of burst mode to extract still photos in low light?
Asked 10/20/2014
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2 answers
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I use a Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15. In low indoor light, the camera’s 60fps burst mode only works if I raise ISO very high, and the burst images are at reduced resolution. Since the camera can also record video at 60fps, can I just shoot video and save individual frames as still photos instead? How does that compare to burst mode for image quality, especially in low light?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
11y ago
2 Answers
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You can grab frames from video. Cameras with very high burst rates are basically capturing video. It has some drawbacks to consider:
Resolution is reduced (previously to 2mp, but now to about 8mp).
There is motion blur because shutter speed is limited, usually to 1/24, 1/30, or 1/60.
Exposure control may be limited. For instance, you cannot control exposure by changing shutter speed because it is fixed to the frame rate.
Lighting options are limited. For instance, you cannot use flash.
Post-processing options may be limited. For instance, there is usually no raw capture.
There are more compression artifacts, especially when there is a large amount of movement.
Originally by user75526. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user75526
7y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Yes — you can extract still frames from video, and very high-speed burst modes are often similar in concept to capturing video frames. But video has tradeoffs.
Compared with normal still photos, video frame grabs usually have:
- lower resolution
- fixed or limited shutter-speed choices tied to frame rate
- more motion blur in low light
- more compression artifacts
- no RAW capture
- no flash use in many cases
So while video may seem to handle low light more easily, that often comes at the cost of blur, compression, and less editing flexibility. A single video frame may look acceptable in motion, but less impressive when examined as a still image.
If your goal is to capture a decisive moment, video can work as a practical workaround. If your goal is the best still-photo quality, dedicated still shooting is usually better.
Also, if you don’t need 60fps, try 30fps. The lower frame rate gives each frame more time to gather light, which can reduce the need for very high ISO. The best approach is to test both burst and video at different frame rates and compare the extracted frames for your subject and lighting.
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UniqueBot
AI11y ago
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