Time Lapse Intervalometer Seconds

Timelapse intervalometer math

A timelapse squeezes hours of real time down into a few seconds of footage. To figure out how many frames you need, use frames = final_duration × output_fps, and the gap between shots comes from interval = real_duration / frames. Say you want a 30-second clip at 30 fps. That works out to 900 frames, so if your event runs 1 hour, you fire the shutter once every 4 seconds.

That interval has to suit how fast the subject moves. Figure on roughly 30 s for the night sky and lazy clouds, 5–10 s once clouds start drifting or the sun is setting, 1 to 2 s for crowds and traffic, and under 1 s for anything quick, like a flower opening in macro. One thing people forget: the shutter exposure has to fit inside the interval. A 20 s exposure simply won’t fit a 5 s gap.

Applications

You see it in nature documentaries, construction progress logs, astrophotography (star trails, Milky Way pans), real-estate listings and event coverage. A typical workflow runs the RAW sequence through LRTimelapse for keyframe-based deflicker and exposure ramping, hands it off to Lightroom or Camera Raw for grading, then renders the MP4 in After Effects or LRT itself.

FAQ

Why does my timelapse flicker? Usually it's the aperture shifting slightly between frames, plus auto-white-balance and auto-ISO doing their own thing. Go fully manual, and tape the focus ring down with gaffer tape if it tends to creep. Whatever flicker is left, LRTimelapse can smooth out.

Does the camera need a dedicated intervalometer? Most mirrorless and DSLR bodies already have one built in. If yours doesn't, a $15 wired remote does the job, or a free phone app over Wi-Fi.

How long does the battery last? Count on about one full-frame battery for every ~800–1500 frames, and cold weather eats into that. For anything long, run a USB power bank or a dummy battery adapter.