Plan your time-lapse shoot by calculating the relationship between shooting duration, interval, number of frames, and final video length. Essential for cinematographers and content creators.
Frames = Duration ÷ Interval. Video length = Frames ÷ FPS. Storage assumes ~25MB per RAW or ~8MB per JPEG.
Goal: 30-second sunset time-lapse at 30fps
Needed frames: 30 seconds × 30fps = 900 frames
Shooting duration: 2 hours (golden hour period)
Interval: 2 hours ÷ 900 frames = 8 seconds between shots
Storage: ~7GB for RAW files, ~22GB for JPEGs
It depends on your subject: fast clouds need 1-3 seconds, sunsets 3-5 seconds, stars 15-30 seconds, and slow subjects like plants can use minutes between shots.
For smooth motion, aim for at least 10 seconds of video (300 frames at 30fps). Shorter clips can feel abrupt.
Use manual exposure, manual white balance, and consider aperture flicker (de-clicked aperture or electronic aperture helps).
For smooth time-lapses, use a shutter speed of about half your interval (e.g., 2-second shutter for 5-second interval).
Double-check your mode selection—this tool calculates one value from the other three. Make sure you're entering the right variables.
RAW files are larger but give more editing flexibility. Budget for twice the estimated storage to be safe.
ND Filter Calculator · Astro Shutter Limit · Memory Card Calculator