Why does 48 fps look like a soap opera?

[Explosion Man]

I saw The Hobbit as soon as it came out and I enjoyed it immensely. I had read about it being filmed at 48 fps and I really had no idea what this would do, when the film first came on I couldn't put my finger on it but something was off, then I realised that it looked like a soap opera or a drama or sort of a documentary or news broadcast.

I think 48 fps added to some scenes like when the history of Erebal was shown, it gave it this look that made all the fantasy elements look real. However some scenes like when Frodo is talking to Bilbo looks really strange.

What I can say is I'm glad that there is a version in 24 fps as well, I think in general 24 fps is better suited but 48 fps is a great experience in itself.

Can someone explain to me why 48 fps looks like a soap opera or why soap operas look the way they do?

 

[Concrete]

Seeing it in a few days in 48 so i'll reserve judgement. I think it's probably just weird because it's not what we're used to.

 

[Explosion Man]

Seeing it in a few days in 48 so i'll reserve judgement. I think it's probably just weird because it's not what we're used to.

It is weird but it does actually look like a soap opera or video. I'm trying to find out why this is. I'm hoping someone with more knowledge can give me an technical but easy to understand explanation.

 

[PhilCam]

I am seeing it tonight and I'll report back with my thoughts.

I'm anxious to see what the 48fps looks like.

 

[Blitz55]

Probably because your mind is just not use to seeing a movie like that. Im guessing a lot of people's problems with it will simply be not being use to seeing a movie like that. Even with 3D people have seen a 3D movie so you have an idea, but I have never seen one at 48 FPS and I cant wait to give it a go.

 

[Blitz55]

It is weird but it does actually look like a soap opera or video. I'm trying to find out why this is. I'm hoping someone with more knowledge can give me an technical but easy to understand explanation.

Maybe you can explain why you think it looks like a Soap Opera seeing as those are not shot at 48fps.

 

[Funkymonk]

Yes 48fps definitely looks like soap operas or kind of like live high def tv/news broadcast.

I am not a fan. But in general its a matter of what you are use to. For me it takes me out of the "moment" out of the movie and makes it seem too real to the point where you know its fake, you know thr is a set and you know they have a shit ton of make-up on.

 

[surf fu]

Wth does a soap opera look like?

 

[Magooglie]

Wth does a soap opera look like?

It looks very real. So real that it kind of comes back on itself and all the fake things look very fake.

 

[Blitz55]

Yes 48fps definitely looks like soap operas or kind of like live high def tv/news broadcast.

I am not a fan. But in general its a matter of what you are use to. For me it takes me out of the "moment" out of the movie and makes it seem too real to the point where you know its fake, you know thr is a set and you know they have a shit ton of make-up on.

Interesting.
Im still interested in checking it out like this. Did you see it in 3D as well. I know PJ said 48fps is better for 3D. Any change?

 

[Explosion Man]

Probably because your mind is just not use to seeing a movie like that. Im guessing a lot of people's problems with it will simply be not being use to seeing a movie like that. Even with 3D people have seen a 3D movie so you have an idea, but I have never seen one at 48 FPS and I cant wait to give it a go.

http://www.gamebreaker.tv/video-game-shows/best-sub-turned-f2p-model/

Gary Gannon who has worked in television mentions this at 31:20. He says it looks like a mexican soap opera or video.

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2403746,00.asp

This article also mentions the soap opera effect.

But what I want to know is why? Why does 48 fps which is supposed to improve quality look like a soap opera or it was filmed on video when from my understanding those mediums are filmed with lower quality equipment.

 

[minute bull]

FPS is frames per second, and traditionally movies film and run at 24fps. Doubling this rate -- 48fps -- creates a smoother transition of movement. Less blur. Less judder. The "lines" separating the color (for instance, the separation between figure and background) will be less jagged. Less aliasing.

Because the human eye is used to 24fps, 48fps will look quite different. Perhaps too "real." However, some people's eyes don't register a difference or can't.

What looks even more different is the current televisions that add the "48fps" effect to shows and films that are not filmed at 48fps. These are the 120hz and 240hz televisions. See, when shows and films are done in 24fps, the 120hz doubles each frame to create 48 frames per second (240hz multiplies even farther). So instead of 48 truly different frames, it's just 24 frames multiple twice (or more), so the effect is more ostensible.

So as to your question: the effect occurs because the rate of information has increased within the same span of time. Think of it like a dimmer switch, and we've just been used to "medium" brightness.

Peter Jackson's whole thing was changing the format to 48fps, both in filming AND in projection. Thus, some theaters had to upgrade their projection systems in order to show a true 48fps film.

 

[Magooglie]

Maybe you can explain why you think it looks like a Soap Opera seeing as those are not shot at 48fps.

I think it has to do with lighting. Soap Operas are lit everywhere. In 3d films every part of the picture is supposed to look very clear so the lighting has to be everywhere as well.

 

[HereticBD]

Maybe you can explain why you think it looks like a Soap Opera seeing as those are not shot at 48fps.

You have to see it. It does something to the lighting, that makes it look cheap. Like your watching a made for TV production.

HDTV's with 240hz, have a similar feature. You can crank up the HD to a point where movies start to look like a home video.

 

[Explosion Man]

FPS is frames per second, and traditionally movies film and run at 24fps. Doubling this rate -- 48fps -- creates a smoother transition of movement. Less blur. Less judder. The "lines" separating the color (for instance, the separation between figure and background) will be less jagged.

Because the human eye is used to 24fps, 48fps will look quite different. Perhaps too "real." However, some people's eyes don't register a difference or can't.

What looks even more different is the current televisions that add the "48fps" effect to shows and films that are not filmed at 48fps. These are the 120hz and 240hz televisions. See, when shows and films are done in 24fps, the 120hz doubles each frame to create 48 frames per second (240 multiplies even farther). So instead of 48 different frames, it's just 24 frames multiple twice (or more), so the effect is more ostensible.

So as to your question: the effect occurs because the rate of information has increased within the same span of time. Think of it like a dimmer switch, and we've just been used to "medium" brightness.

Peter Jackson's whole thing was changing the format to 48fps, both in filming AND in projection. Thus, some theaters had to upgrade their projection systems in order to show a true 48fps film.

This is the kind of answer I'm looking for, I know why the effect is quite jarring to me but the question I have now is why does a soap opera also sort of give me this effect?

Like how are soap operas filmed differently from movies and how does this change the way it looks?

 

[Explosion Man]

I think it has to do with lighting. Soap Operas are lit everywhere. In 3d films every part of the picture is supposed to look very clear so the lighting has to be everywhere as well.

Oh I see, this makes sense to me. It's helping me to understand something I couldn't explain.

 

[Blitz55]

http://www.gamebreaker.tv/video-game-shows/best-sub-turned-f2p-model/

Gary Gannon who has worked in television mentions this at 31:20. He says it looks like a mexican soap opera or video.

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2403746,00.asp

This article also mentions the soap opera effect.

But what I want to know is why? Why does 48 fps which is supposed to improve quality look like a soap opera or it was filmed on video when from my understanding those mediums are filmed with lower quality equipment.

Thanks, that second link is a good read for anyone who is interested.

 

[Blackdanger***]

I saw The Hobbit as soon as it came out and I enjoyed it immensely. I had read about it being filmed at 48 fps and I really had no idea what this would do, when the film first came on I couldn't put my finger on it but something was off, then I realised that it looked like a soap opera or a drama or sort of a documentary or news broadcast.

I think 48 fps added to some scenes like when the history of Erebal was shown, it gave it this look that made all the fantasy elements look real. However some scenes like when Frodo is talking to Bilbo looks really strange.

What I can say is I'm glad that there is a version in 24 fps as well, I think in general 24 fps is better suited but 48 fps is a great experience in itself.

Can someone explain to me why 48 fps looks like a soap opera or why soap operas look the way they do?

Thats just the real life effect. When LED Tv's first came out everyone was complaining that it was too realistic, didn't have that movie glaze in the image. People got used to it and LED's tv are selling like crazy.

 

[minute bull]

This is the kind of answer I'm looking for, I know why the effect is quite jarring to me but the question I have now is why does a soap opera also sort of give me this effect?

Like how are soap operas filmed differently from movies and how does this change the way it looks?

Soap opera doesn't work the same way as a higher framerate. They look the similar through different means.

Soap opera's effect is a combination of videotape quality, lenses, lighting, and lack of movement. All combined to create a glowing look very much the same way good lighting sells meat and bad lighting makes it look rotten. Whereas soap opera is fakery to make things look beautiful, 48fps is intended to give you true fidelity of picture (supposedly).

 

[Cicero**]

My eyes had a tough time adjusting to HD TV.

For the longest time it looked like cheap scifi.