Time-lapse Calculator
Calculate the total number of frames, final video duration, and speed-up factor for a time-lapse shoot.
Results
What is it?
A time-lapse compresses long real-world events into short video clips by capturing frames at extended intervals and playing them back at normal frame rates. The speed-up factor tells you how many times faster the final video appears compared to real time.
How to use
Enter the total shooting duration in hours and the interval between shots in seconds. Choose your target playback frame rate. The calculator shows how many shots you will take, how long the final video will be, and the speed-up factor.
Example scenario
Shooting a 1-hour sunset at 5-second intervals at 24 fps: 720 frames total, producing a 30-second video at 120× real speed. Changing the interval to 10 seconds doubles the speed-up to 240× but halves the frame count to 360.
Pro tip
For smooth motion, aim for at least 200–300 frames total. For flicker-free results in changing light, shoot in Manual mode and use deflicker software in post. A shorter interval requires more storage and battery but allows more flexibility in final playback speed.