Best Time Lapse Camera: Capture Every Moment

Time lapse photography allows you to capture changes over an extended period of time and condense them into a captivating video. Choosing the best time-lapse camera can help you create stunning time-lapse videos with ease.

In this article, we will introduce you to time-lapse photography, factors to consider when selecting the best time lapse camera, and provide recommendations for the best camera for time lapse to use.

What is Time Lapse?

Time-lapse photography records images of a scene over an extended period of time and plays them back at a higher frame rate to show changes quickly. For example, a time-lapse video can show a flower blooming over days or weeks condensed into a short video just minutes long. This technique allows us to see processes that normally occur slowly in a sped-up format.

How does the Best Time-Lapse Camera Work?

The best time-lapse cameras allow you to control the interval between each image capture precisely, ranging from fractions of a second to minutes or even hours, depending on your desired effect.

DSLR and mirrorless cameras use an intervalometer, either built-in or attached externally to automatically take images at preset intervals. Point-and-shoot and smartphone cameras generally have a built-in time-lapse mode and an app to set the timing and capture each frame.

When creating a time-lapse, you generally want the camera locked into position on a tripod without shifting or adjusting framing. This maintains consistency across hundreds or thousands of images. The camera then continuously captures images based on the timed interval and settings.

Once capture is complete, the series of images get combined in editing software and converted into a fluid, compressed time-lapse video that plays at a standard video frame rate. This brings together the incrementally changing scene into a cohesive, creatively accelerated video.

Types of Time Lapse Cameras

There are many camera types capable of time-lapse photography and videography. The best timelapse camera option for you depends on your budget, portability needs, and artistic goals.

DSLR Cameras

DSLR cameras are the best time lapse cameras and a top choice for professional-level time-lapse videos thanks to their immense customizability and image quality. They allow fine-tuned control over exposure settings and provide interchangeable high-quality lenses.

Mirrorless Cameras

Mirrorless cameras provide an excellent middle-ground option, combining portability and strong image quality. They have sensors and capabilities similar to DSLRs when it comes to intervals, exposure, and lenses in a more compact and simple package.

Action Cameras

Ultra-rugged action cameras like GoPro have soared in popularity in recent years due to their durability, portability, and simplicity. What they lack in image quality and configurability, they make up for in toughness and convenience.

Security Cameras

Modern smart security cameras like those from Ring, Blink, Arlo, and others make time-lapse capture affordable and hassle-free. While not offering professional quality, they make it simple to set up motion-activated or interval time-lapse recording. Their fixed wide-angle lenses limit composition flexibility but provide great convenience at a low cost.

Smartphones

Even smartphones can capture decent time-lapse sequences thanks to increasingly advanced camera hardware and software. Time-lapse apps and settings built into your iPhone, Pixel, or Galaxy device provide an easy introduction to this creative photography technique.

Choosing Best Camera for Time Lapse: Factors to Consider

When selecting the best cameras for time lapse for your needs and vision, keep these key factors in mind:

Image Quality

For impressive, visually sharp sequences you can enlarge and display proudly, maximum image quality matters. Seek out cameras with sizable imaging sensors, high megapixel counts, and capabilities to shoot stills in RAW format. This allows more data and color accuracy, aiding in professional quality final footage.

Interval Shooting

The interval determines just how smooth or accelerated your time-lapse appears by controlling the spacing between image captures. Look for either preset intervals and durations or preferably fully manual settings from hundredths of seconds out to hours. Maximum flexibility here allows for properly calibrating motion speed.

Lens Types

Interchangeable lenses give creative flexibility, including wide angles, telephotos, macro, tilt-shift, and more for impactful, purpose-driven time lapse. If stuck with a fixed lens, choose based on your primary capture type, whether sweeping landscape, tight detail shots, or general usage.

Battery Life

Capturing images constantly over hours or days demands ample battery life or preferably an AC power source. Having ample external batteries or power banks on hand works when off the grid. Otherwise, access to consistent charging prevents losing progress mid-capture.

Weather Resistance

If filming outdoor time lapses of weather, nature, or landscapes, ensure your camera can withstand the elements. Seek water, dust, and shock resistance along with cold tolerance to work in tough conditions without damage or disruption.

Best Time Lapse Camera for Surveillance Recommendations

Setting up long-term time-lapse shots at construction sites brings unique challenges. You need the best time lapse cameras for construction that can withstand harsh weather, charge reliably off-grid, work unattended for months, and integrate 4G/LTE connectivity. Here are the best time-lapse camera for construction options:

Best Time Lapse Camera for Construction Monitoring

The Reolink TrackMix LTE stands out as one of the toughest and most capable construction site time-lapse cameras money can buy. This rugged PTZ security camera packs two lenses for wide context and close detail shots.

It runs entirely off an integrated rechargeable battery coupled with a high-efficiency solar panel for unlimited autonomous operation. Simply mount the weatherproof camera at any outdoor location without wiring or external power access to capture uninterrupted long-term time-lapse footage.

Best Wireless Camera for Construction Time Lapse

For maximum flexibility in deploying time-lapse cameras across active job sites, the Reolink Argus PT Ultra battery-powered WiFi camera hits the sweet spot. This clever standalone unit captures gorgeous 4K video while running on an integrated battery, which can be charged via the included solar panel. So place this camera anywhere without wiring or charging access to record uninterrupted time-lapse footage day and night.

How to Use Best Camera for Time Lapse Videos

Follow these tips to properly configure your camera gear for compelling, polished time-lapse sequences:

1. Choose the right camera: Select a time-lapse-capable camera based on creative goals, available gear, and budget. Used properly, everything from phones to DSLRs can produce great results.
2. Select location and subject: Scout spots that allow unobstructed long-term access to your desired subjects. Construction sites, parks, cityscapes, and natural landscapes make excellent candidates.
3. Adjust camera settings: Dial in exact exposure, ISO, aperture, and other photo controls needed for consistent images. Enabling RAW shooting allows more leeway, adjusting images later during editing if needed.
4. Set interval timer: Program your camera to capture frames at the precise duration needed to accentuate changes over the time span while avoiding excess redundancy between images.
5. Frame shot: Mount the camera securely on a tripod, and compose clean, level framing. Avoid unwanted obstruction or distractions impacting the scene over many hours.
6. Edit and render video: Import sequence into editing software, apply adjustments across frames as needed, then export as a polished, engaging time-lapse video at the proper frame rate and compression for sharing and presentation.

FAQs

What is the best camera for time-lapse video?

For professional results, DSLR and mirrorless camera options currently lead for time-lapse capture thanks to their outstanding imaging capabilities coupled with extensive creative control and lens flexibility. Models like the Canon EOS R5 or Sony A7 IV represent excellent choices.

Can any camera do time-lapse?

Nearly any digital camera offers some means for time-lapse photography and video capability either built directly into the camera software itself or available via mobile app connectivity and external control software.

Is a GoPro good for time-lapse?

Yes, GoPro action cameras work very well for time-lapse capture in the right contexts thanks to their unmatched portability, ruggedness, wind/waterproofing, and easy mounting everywhere, from helmets to vehicles to buildings.

Conclusion

Best time-lapse cameras have showcased the creative, fun, and technical possibilities From stitching together fleeting changes imperceptible to our eyes into readily visible transformation to summarizing lengthy processes into compact, engaging videos, time-lapse enjoys near limitless potential.

Did we leave any of your questions unanswered? Have experience or advice to share? Let us know in the comments below!