Timelapse Calculator
This timelapse calculator shows at which interval you have to shoot: enter the length of the event, the wanted clip length and the frame rate, then read the interval, photo count and storage needed.
Example: What should be calculated: Interval from the wanted clip length · Length of the event: hours 2 h · Length of the event: minutes 0 min · Wanted clip length 10 seconds · Video frame rate: 25 fps · Size per photo 25 MB → Timelapse: Interval 28.8 s · 250 photos · clip 10 s. Source: Wikipedia – Time-lapse photography (Aufnahmeintervall, Bildrate, Beschleunigung). Updated: .
How it is calculated
An event of 2 hours becomes a clip of 10 seconds at 25 frames per second if you take a photo every 28.8 seconds; that is 250 photos. The calculator works out the interval from event length, clip length and frame rate.
How it is calculated
For a clip of 10 seconds at 25 frames per second you need 250 photos. Divide the length of the event, here 7200 seconds, by this photo count and you get the interval of 28.8 seconds. The speed-up is event length divided by clip length, here 720 times. In the second mode you set the interval, say 5 seconds, and get the photo count and the length of the finished clip. The storage needed is the photo count times the file size per photo.
Tips for timelapse shooting
- Choose an exposure time shorter than the interval, otherwise the camera has no time to save.
- For fast clouds short intervals are enough; for sunrises, sunsets or the night sky longer ones make sense.
- With an ND filter you lengthen the exposure time in daylight so that motion looks soft.
More photo tools: the crop factor calculator, the depth of field calculator and the data size converter.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate the interval for a timelapse?
Divide the length of the event by the photo count, that is clip length times frames per second. For 2 hours and a 10-second clip at 25 fps that is 28.8 seconds.
How many photos do I need?
Clip length in seconds times frames per second. For 10 seconds at 25 fps that is 250 photos.
Which frame rate is common?
24, 25 and 30 frames per second are widespread. 25 is common in Europe, 24 gives a cinematic look.
How much storage does a timelapse need?
Photo count times file size per photo. 250 RAW photos of 25 MB each need about 6.3 GB.
Sources and legal basis
As of: · Editorial policy
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