How and Why to Shoot TIME LAPSE video | SJCAM & Action Cameras

Create TIME-LAPSE clips for your videos! I think all video creators should be adding time-lapse to their productions. It doesn't cost much and the added value is huge! Here's a broad perspective on how and why.
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This video covers the why, where, when, and how's of shooting Time Lapse from a broad perspective. I think every video content creator should be shooting time lapse for their productions.

I recorded most of time-lapse clips in this video with an action camera, the SJ7 Star and also with my main camera, the Panasonic G85.

There's some real advantages for using these small action cameras for time lapse. They can stand up to elements like rain, dust, and in my case, a lot of sawdust. They are small and discrete so they can be tucked into corners or clamped and hung almost anywhere and they don't attract a lot of attention. They have a built in wide angle lens to capture an entire scene. They are relatively inexpensive and it's easy to add an external battery for hours and hours of recording.

But why shoot time lapse anyway? What's the practical side to it?

In a broad sense, it can increase the production value of your video simply by having a variation of footage, angles, and styles. Time lapse can be informative and quite entertaining and funny sometimes.

It's a great way to speed up a long process or to dramatically compress time. And time lapse is very easy to set up. You set it and forget it and let it run. You just need adequate disc space on the camera card and long battery life. And having some time-lapse footage is a kind of insurance in case something is missed during a shoot, or you lose footage by some mishap.

So where do you set this up? Usually where you can cover all the action or show an angle that your main camera cannot. This is where the wide angle lens is an advantage.

When do you set it up? It should be your first camera that is running that day. Have it recording while you are setting up the rest of your location or your scene.

How do you set this up? The key is to always be ready to go. Have your card formatted, batteries charged, camera pre-set, and the tripod or clamping attachment ready.

But in most cases you will have it in a fixed position, and mounted securely to a tripod. Once you start recording images, don't touch the camera again until you are done. You won't be able to change batteries and get it back exactly where it was. Hence the need to an external, long lasting power source.

The best way to be ready is to shot many test sequences as soon as you get any new gear. Every camera is different. One general rule though is to have everything set on manual, your white balance, exposure, shutter speed, focus, etc. In most cases, you don't want the camera making any auto adjustments as the light or conditions are changing through the day. There are specific exceptions to these rules so experimenting with your own gear is a must.

I always prefer to have the camera shooting still images, or in photo-lapse mode instead of video. I find it more comforting to know there's an image written to the card every few seconds.

I like to shoot at 4K even if I publish my videos at 1080. This gives me room to crop or adjust the scene framing to my liking or to simulate a camera move in post production.

I encourage all video content creators to add time laps footage to their projects. It does not cost a lot and the added value is huge.


DISCLAIMERS:
Some of these links have an affiliate code, if you purchase tools with these links I will receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you!
The tools or equipment seen in this video and have been purchased ourselves. This review and it's content was not reviewed or paid for by outside persons or manufacturers.

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