Timelapse Interval Calculator
Calculate optimal interval, total shots, and clip duration for smooth timelapse videos. Enter values for instant results with step-by-step formulas.
Formula
Interval = Event Duration (sec) / (Clip Length x FPS)
Where Event Duration is the real-world time you want to capture, Clip Length is the desired final video length in seconds, and FPS is the playback frame rate. The resulting interval tells you how many seconds to wait between each photo capture.
Worked Examples
Example 1: Sunset Timelapse Over 2 Hours
Problem: You want to capture a 2-hour sunset as a 10-second clip at 24 fps. What interval should you use and how many photos will you take?
Solution: Total frames needed = 10 seconds x 24 fps = 240 frames\nEvent duration = 2 hours = 7,200 seconds\nInterval = 7,200 / 240 = 30 seconds between shots\nStorage (RAW at 25 MB) = 240 x 25 MB = 6,000 MB = 5.86 GB\nSpeed-up factor = 7,200 / 10 = 720x
Result: Interval: 30 seconds | Total Shots: 240 | Storage: ~5.86 GB | Speed-up: 720x
Example 2: City Traffic 30-Minute Timelapse
Problem: You shoot city traffic for 30 minutes at a 3-second interval and play back at 30 fps. How long is the resulting clip?
Solution: Event duration = 30 minutes = 1,800 seconds\nTotal shots = 1,800 / 3 = 600 photos\nClip duration = 600 / 30 fps = 20 seconds\nSpeed-up factor = 1,800 / 20 = 90x\nStorage (RAW at 25 MB) = 600 x 25 MB = 15,000 MB = 14.65 GB
Result: Clip Duration: 20 seconds | Total Shots: 600 | Storage: ~14.65 GB | Speed-up: 90x
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a timelapse interval and how do I choose the right one?
A timelapse interval is the time between each photo capture in a timelapse sequence. Choosing the right interval depends on how fast your subject moves and how long you want the final clip to be. Fast-moving subjects like traffic or clouds typically use intervals of 1 to 5 seconds, while slow subjects like plant growth or construction projects may use intervals of minutes or even hours. The interval directly determines the speed-up factor of your final video. A shorter interval captures more frames and produces smoother motion, while a longer interval creates a more dramatic acceleration of time in the final clip.
How many photos do I need for a smooth timelapse video?
For a smooth timelapse video, you need at least 24 frames per second of final video, though 30 fps is standard for most modern displays. A 10-second clip at 24 fps requires 240 photos, while the same clip at 30 fps needs 300 photos. Most professional timelapses use between 200 and 500 photos for a 10 to 15 second clip. Having too few photos results in a choppy, stuttering video that looks unprofessional. It is always better to capture more frames than you think you need, as you can always speed up the final edit but cannot create frames that were never captured.
What frame rate should I use for timelapse playback?
The standard frame rates for timelapse playback are 24 fps for a cinematic look, 25 fps for PAL broadcast regions, and 30 fps for NTSC broadcast and web content. Most YouTube and social media timelapses perform best at 24 or 30 fps. If you plan to add slow-motion sections within your timelapse, shoot at a higher capture rate and conform to your timeline frame rate in post-production. The choice between 24 and 30 fps is largely aesthetic: 24 fps has a slightly more filmic quality with natural motion blur, while 30 fps appears slightly smoother and is preferred for web delivery.
How do I calculate storage requirements for a timelapse shoot?
Storage requirements depend on your camera resolution, file format, and total number of shots. A typical 24-megapixel JPEG file is about 8 to 12 MB, while a RAW file from the same camera can be 25 to 50 MB. For a 1-hour timelapse at 5-second intervals, you will capture 720 photos. In RAW format at 30 MB per file, that requires about 21 GB of storage. Always bring more storage cards than you think you need, as running out of space mid-shoot ruins the entire sequence. Professional timelapse photographers often carry 128 GB or 256 GB cards and shoot exclusively in RAW for maximum flexibility in post-processing.
What camera settings work best for timelapse photography?
The most important camera settings for timelapse are manual mode exposure, manual focus, and manual white balance. Using automatic settings causes flickering between frames as the camera adjusts exposure, focus, or color temperature independently for each shot. Set your aperture between f/8 and f/11 for optimal sharpness across the frame. Use the lowest ISO possible to minimize noise, typically ISO 100 or 200 for daylight timelapses. Shutter speed should generally be set to half the interval time (so a 4-second interval uses a 2-second shutter) to create natural motion blur in moving elements like clouds or water.
How does the speed-up factor affect the look of my timelapse?
The speed-up factor determines how dramatically time appears compressed in your final video. A speed-up factor of 10x means one minute of real time plays in 6 seconds, while a 100x factor compresses one minute into less than a second. Gentle speed-ups of 2x to 10x work well for moderately paced subjects like foot traffic or cooking processes. Medium speed-ups of 30x to 120x suit subjects like cloud movement, shadows, and sunrise or sunset sequences. Extreme speed-ups of 500x to 5000x are used for very slow subjects like plant growth, construction projects, or seasonal changes that unfold over days, weeks, or months.