How to Take Time Lapse Video: A Guide to Taking Video for Time Lapse


Time-lapse videos present a fun way to create compelling content and capture the beautiful sceneries around us. Whether you are going to work, watching the beautiful sunsets or spending quality time with family, you can always take a lapse video for future reference. But what exactly is a lapse video?

In simple terms, a lapse video is sped-up video footage that shows lots of images/photos over a certain period. The captured pictures are played back faster, with an average frame rate of 24 to 30 frames per second. This means that if you watch the lapse video for 10 seconds, you will be watching 240 to 300 sped up images.

Here is a brief guide on how you can effectively take a time-lapse video.

How to take a time-lapse video

The standard photographic rules apply when taking a time-lapse video. Here is a step by step guide of how to take a time-lapse video:

Plan

Plan for the photography like you would do for regular photography. What location would you like to capture the photos from? Will you shoot during the day or night? Planning helps you to get the best images, especially if you need the lapse video for professional purposes.

Get the Right Gear

Your gear entirely depends on the quality of the lapse videos you need. If you need to create the videos for fun, you can use your smartphone, provided it has the lapse video option. Here is a list of the things which you might require for the process:

  • Time-lapse camera — the camera should have strong lens to capture the best quality photos/videos.
  • The tripod or the motorized head — it should be strong so that the camera won't be blown away.
  • Intervalometer — it takes the photos continuously without you touching the camera.

Set up the shot

The settings entirely depend on how you would like your lapse video to appear. However, you should keep in mind that 24 or 25 shots equal one second in lapse photography. So if you need your lapse video to last for ten seconds, you will need to take an average of 250 shots consecutively. 

Another setting to keep in mind is the interval. The time interval for the shots can range between 2 to 30 seconds, depending on your liking. For instance, you can set a 2 seconds interval for the fast-moving clouds and 30 seconds interval for the beautiful oceanic sceneries.

Start your shoot

Now that your gear is set, you can start your shoot. Place the tripod in a stable place, mount the camera and ensure that the intervalometer is well attached. 

Note: you may need to carry a spare battery just in case the first one drains if you will be shooting in a forest or a remote area.

Edit the shots

Editing is the last step to help you get the desired effects for your lapse video. You can edit the photos from your PC or your phone. 

What is the best camera for time lapse video?

Most cameras can capture the timed still pictures and then feed them to a computer for editing. Smartphone cameras can be used for the job too. So, in short, you can use any phone or camera with the time-lapse option, and then transfer the photos to a computer for video editing.

Download the best solution for editing time lapse videos

Proper editing is required to get the best versions for your time-lapse videos. Roxio provides easy and fast video editing tools to help you edit your time-lapse video within the shortest period. 

If you need to capture or edit your time-lapse video using a powerful solution, download the Roxio Creator on your PC today for the best results. For more information about the Roxie video editor for PC, visit our page.

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