Understanding the Visual Difference Between Interpolated 60fps Videos and Native 60fps Footage

The difference in visual quality between interpolated 60fps videos and those filmed natively at 60fps can be attributed to several factors, including advanced frame interpolation techniques, temporal and spatial resolution differences, visual perception, and compression artifacts. Here, we explore these factors in detail to provide a clearer understanding of why natively captured footage often looks more natural and less artificial than interpolated content.

Frame Interpolation Techniques

Motion Estimation: When a video is interpolated from a lower frame rate like 24 or 30fps to 60fps, algorithms analyze the motion between existing frames to generate new frames. This process, however, can introduce several issues.

Ghosting and Blurring

Ghosting and Blurring: Interpolated frames can sometimes create ghosting effects or blurring, especially in scenes with fast motion. This is because the algorithm may struggle to accurately predict the intermediate frames, leading to a visual artifact that distorts the perceived motion.

Temporal Resolution vs. Spatial Resolution

Native 60fps: Videos shot natively at 60fps capture more temporal information, providing a smoother motion and more accurate representation of fast-moving subjects. Each frame is a true representation of the scene at that moment, enhancing the overall visual fidelity.

Interpolated 60fps: Interpolated videos lack the same level of detail in movement because the generated frames are based on predictions rather than actual captured data. This can result in less fluid motion, reducing the overall quality and naturalness of the footage.

Visual Perception

Frame Rate Familiarity: Audiences are accustomed to certain frame rates for specific types of content. For example, films are traditionally shot at 24fps, and viewers associate this frame rate with cinematic quality. When 24fps content is interpolated to 60fps, it can clash with viewer expectations, creating a sense of artificiality.

Cinematic Feel: The aesthetic of 24fps is often preferred for storytelling, while 60fps is more common in sports and video games where smooth motion is crucial. When 24fps content is altered to 60fps, it can disrupt the narrative flow and emotional tone, impacting the viewing experience.

Compression Artifacts

Encoding Differences: Natively filmed 60fps videos may have different compression and encoding processes compared to interpolated videos. Compression artifacts can become more pronounced in interpolated videos, further affecting visual quality.

Conclusion: In summary, the weirdness of interpolated 60fps videos compared to natively filmed ones stems from the limitations of motion estimation algorithms, differences in how motion is captured and represented, viewer expectations, and potential compression artifacts. Natively filmed content benefits from a higher fidelity of motion representation, leading to a more natural viewing experience.