What interval should I use for a time-lapse?

For clouds or sunsets: 3–5 seconds. For city traffic: 1–2 seconds. For plant growth: 30 minutes to 1 hour. For construction projects: once per day or once every few hours. The interval depends on how fast the subject moves — faster subjects need shorter intervals.

How many photos do I need for a 30-second time-lapse?

At 24 fps, a 30-second video requires 30 × 24 = 720 photos. At 30 fps, you need 900 photos. At 60 fps, you need 1,800 photos. Use this calculator to find the exact count for any duration and frame rate combination.

What frame rate is best for time-lapse video?

24 fps gives a cinematic film look and is the most popular for time-lapses. 30 fps is the standard for TV and web video and looks slightly smoother. 60 fps is very smooth and works well for fast-moving subjects, but requires twice as many photos as 30 fps.

How long does a 1-hour time-lapse take to film?

A 1-hour real-world event has 3,600 seconds of footage. At a 3-second shooting interval, you capture 1,200 photos. At 24 fps, that produces a 50-second video. At 30 fps, the same 1,200 photos create a 40-second video. Adjust the interval or fps to hit your desired output length.

How much storage do time-lapse photos use?

JPEG photos typically use 3–8 MB each. RAW files use 20–30 MB each, depending on the camera. For 1,000 JPEG photos at 5 MB each, you need about 5 GB. For 1,000 RAW files at 25 MB each, plan for 25 GB. Always budget extra storage for backup copies.

Can I make a time-lapse on a smartphone?

Yes — most modern smartphones have a built-in time-lapse mode that automatically selects the interval for you. For manual control over interval and frame rate, dedicated apps are available. Dedicated cameras with intervalometer support give more flexibility for long multi-day shoots.

How do I calculate the time-lapse shooting interval?

Interval (seconds) = Real Duration (seconds) ÷ (Desired Video Length (seconds) × Frame Rate (fps)). Example: you want to film a 1-hour (3,600-second) sunset and produce a 30-second video at 24 fps. Interval = 3,600 ÷ (30 × 24) = 3,600 ÷ 720 = 5 seconds. This means the camera fires every 5 seconds during the 1-hour shoot, capturing 720 frames that play back as 30 seconds of smooth video.

How long should a time-lapse video be?

Most effective time-lapses run 15–60 seconds. Shorter than 15 seconds feels abrupt; longer than 60–90 seconds tests viewer patience unless the subject is exceptionally compelling. For social media, 15–30 seconds is optimal. For documentary or commercial use, 30–60 seconds allows the full story arc to develop. Construction project time-lapses can run 2–5 minutes because the transformation is dramatic enough to sustain attention.

What frame rate should I use for time-lapse?

24 fps produces the most cinematic look — it is the frame rate of film and is widely preferred for nature and artistic time-lapses. 30 fps gives a slightly smoother, more "video" look common in TV and web production. 60 fps is very smooth and best for fast-moving subjects like traffic or waterfalls, but requires twice as many photos and twice the storage as 30 fps. For most purposes, 24 fps is the best starting point.

Time Lapse Calculator — Interval & Photo Count

How Time-Lapse Photography Works

The time lapse calculator on this page finds the shooting interval, total photo count, and speed multiplier for any time-lapse setup. Time-lapse photography compresses a long real-world event into a short video by taking still photos at regular intervals — a 1-hour sunset photographed every 5 seconds produces 720 photos. Played back at 24 fps, that becomes a 30-second video, 120 times faster than real life.

The three variables that control everything are: real-world duration (how long you film), shooting interval (how often the camera fires), and playback frame rate (how fast the resulting video plays). This calculator finds the interval and photo count for any combination of duration, desired video length, and fps.

Time-Lapse Formula

The core formulas are simple:

Interval (s) = Real Duration (s) ÷ (Video Length (s) × FPS)
Total Photos = Video Length (s) × FPS
Speed Multiplier = Real Duration (s) ÷ Video Length (s)

For example, a 60-minute real event compressed into a 30-second video at 24 fps: Interval = 3,600 ÷ (30 × 24) = 5 seconds. Total photos = 30 × 24 = 720. Speed multiplier = 3,600 ÷ 30 = 120×.

Choosing the Right Interval

The interval should match the pace of your subject. For slow-moving subjects like clouds or plants, longer intervals work well. For fast subjects like cars or crowds, use shorter intervals to capture enough motion detail. A good rule of thumb: the subject should move noticeably between each frame but not jump large distances.

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Recommended Intervals by Subject

These intervals are starting points — adjust based on the actual speed of your subject:

Clouds and weather: 3–5 seconds
Sunrises and sunsets: 3–5 seconds
City traffic and pedestrians: 1–2 seconds
Candles, flames, and smoke: 0.5–1 second
Stars and night sky: 15–30 seconds
Plant growth (flowers blooming): 30–60 minutes
Construction progress: 1–4 hours
Seasons changing: Daily or weekly

Storage Planning for Time-Lapse Shoots

Storage is often the limiting factor for long time-lapse shoots. JPEG files are smaller but lose some quality; RAW files preserve all sensor data but use far more space. Plan your storage before you shoot — running out of space mid-shoot means a gap in your sequence.

JPEG (typical camera): 3–8 MB per photo
RAW (DSLR/mirrorless): 20–30 MB per photo
RAW (medium format): 50–100 MB per photo
Smartphone: 2–5 MB per photo (HEIF/JPEG)

For long shoots, consider shooting JPEG to extend storage. If image quality is critical (professional productions), use RAW and bring extra cards. The storage estimate in this calculator uses an editable per-photo size so you can enter your camera's actual file size.

Frame Rate: 24 vs. 30 vs. 60 fps

Frame rate affects both the visual quality of the video and the number of photos you need to shoot. Higher fps looks smoother but requires more photos and more storage. For time-lapses, 24 fps is the most cinematic and requires the fewest photos. For sports highlights and commercial work, 30 fps is the standard. Use our time duration calculator to plan your total shoot time and battery requirements.

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Battery Life for Time-Lapse Shoots

Long time-lapse shoots drain batteries quickly because the camera wakes up frequently to take photos. For shoots lasting more than an hour, use an AC adapter or external battery bank if possible. For shorter shoots, charge the battery fully before you start and test the interval setup to verify the camera is firing correctly before leaving it unattended. See our battery run time calculator for estimating how long your power source will last.

Sources & References

SMPTE ST 12: Time and Control Code — Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers

Time Lapse Calculator

Time-Lapse Settings

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