Road trip video and time lapse photography - how?

[Ari]

We're planning a road trip to Italy via the Italian Alps later this year.

I'd love to do a time lapse video like this one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vIEacJ4Cgfg

But I've no idea how to go about it, what size or sort of camera I'd need, how to continually power it, what sort of capacity memory would be required (seven day trip) that kind of thing.

The car is an SLk so I'm thinking maybe I could position something using maybe a webbing strap low down between the roll bars, but again, any advice on securing a camera would be good.

And if anyone knows of any good links to similar videos I'd be very interested to see them.

Many thanks in advance.

[14-7]

I suppose something like a gorilla pod would do although may be a bit shaky. You can buy mounts to fix to the head rests or even a small suction mount for the screen. Do you have a compact camera? I know my 4 year old little Canon IXUS does timelapse. All you need to do is put it in movie mode and go in to the menu and there is a timelapse section that allows you to select how many frames a minute you want.

[DIW35]

I have a Sony video camera that allows you to take time lapse video. Can't remember the model number or if it's still available, but the duration of the actual lapse between shots is quite variable, allowing you to tailor it to your requirements.

[Jakg]

I have a dash camera in my car mounted to the windscreen - it records "normal" video.

To make a timelapse I just load it onto my PC, and use VirtualDub to increase the speed.

A 32GB card is good for 10 hours recording (on my specific dash cam) - download that to a PC each night and compile it when you get home.

Couple of examples:
http://youtu.be/ml4gELT_gKw
http://youtu.be/txTNiiblWtE?hd=1

[dogbucket]

A GoPro will do 5MP timelapse photos at either 2/5/10/30/60 seconds. Could be powered from the cig lighter using a USB power adapter. Then stitch them into a movie on a computer. Takes SD cards so they could be swapped out and downloaded each day.

[Ari]

Wow, those Gopro jobbies look the absolute biz! Need one of those!

Looks like it'll be perfect for what we need, and waterproof too so can use it for diving.

[Ari]

Jakg said:

I have a dash camera in my car mounted to the windscreen - it records "normal" video.

To make a timelapse I just load it onto my PC, and use VirtualDub to increase the speed.

A 32GB card is good for 10 hours recording (on my specific dash cam) - download that to a PC each night and compile it when you get home.

Couple of examples:
http://youtu.be/ml4gELT_gKw
http://youtu.be/txTNiiblWtE?hd=1

Those vids are really good!

[Ari]

Quick question regarding the GoPro which I can't find on their site.

Are they 4:3 or 16:9 aspect?

[GetCarter]

16:9

Also they are MUCH happier (to edit) on a Mac than an IBM PC. They are very good though.

There is an app on the iPhone which will do timelapse (79p). It's very good.

[Ari]

Brilliant, thanks!

Are there different types? Looking at their web site it seemed to me that there's basically one sort but SD or HD with different mountings.

SD is fine for what I need, but waterproof would be very useful.

[mrmr96]

Ari said:

Brilliant, thanks!

Are there different types? Looking at their web site it seemed to me that there's basically one sort but SD or HD with different mountings.

SD is fine for what I need, but waterproof would be very useful.

I have one of these. For the difference in price I'd get the HD one.
They all come with a waterproof case, even the 'naked'. The motorsport/surf/helmet versions just come with different mounts bundled in. If you know where you're going to mount it then get the naked and the appropriate mount. They come with batteries but not SD cards. They support up to 32GB SDHC cards though, which I found are very cheap here at £26.99 delivered:
http://www.7dayshop.com/catalog/product_info.php?c...
(No brand name but class 10 is very fast and I've been using them with my gopro with no problems.)

[Ari]

Perfect, that's really very useful thank you.

Id there a best/cheapest place to get these in the UK? I see Amazon have them.

[mrmr96]

Ari said:

Perfect, that's really very useful thank you.

Id there a best/cheapest place to get these in the UK? I see Amazon have them.

No problem.
They all appear to be pretty well price fixed at £299 for the motorsport for example. A bit galling as they are on the US website for US$299.

The US units are the same as the UK ones, as there's no power supply. (The batteries are removeable, but they charge in the camera body using a USB cable which can be connected to your computer, or to a USB/wall socket/car socket thing which you'll have to buy separately.) The downside of ordering from the US is obviously lead time and the fact that you'll pay import duty which may negate the cost saving.

Buying from the UK I'd either use Amazon.co.uk. (I could have sworn there was a uk version of the official go pro website, but I can't seem to find it now.)

[Ari]

Amazon have these at £187. Is it the same but not HD or is there more to it?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/GoPro-CHD960-001-HD-HERO-9...

[mrmr96]

Ari said:

Amazon have these at £187. Is it the same but not HD or is there more to it?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/GoPro-CHD960-001-HD-HERO-9...

That's the '960' version, not the '1080' version.

960 - http://gopro.com/cameras/hd-hero-960-camera/ $179/£179
1080 - http://gopro.com/cameras/hd-hero-naked-camera/ $259/£259

go pro website said:

Missing from the HD HERO 960 are 720p @ 60fps, 1080p video, and the HERO BUS expansion port in the rear of the camera that will let you take advantage of GoPro’s forthcomingcurrent BacPac accessories – LCD screen & Battery Extension – both important features for filmmaking hobbyists & professional videographers that are compatible with the original HD HERO camera.

I've used 720p@60fps and it's great. I also bought the LCD screen which makes the menus easier to use (as standard you have to deciper a '7 segment display' version) and also means you can frame your shots more reliably - useful if you're installing the camera in the car somewhere and want to check what's in/out of frame.

[Ari]

Hmmm... Would the "Battery Extension" allow you to run a permanent power source from the car 12v socket? Or can you do that anyway via a USB adapter?

[Nick Grant]

One thing I've never understood from that coast to coast video is that the car is left camera running with the roof down overnight and yet the camera is not stolen or messed with. I wonder if it was bolted to the car or something. If you want your timelapse to be continuous like that you will need to leave the camera fixed to the car or find a way to mount it in exactly the same place everyday.

[Jakg]

Nick Grant said:

One thing I've never understood from that coast to coast video is that the car is left camera running with the roof down overnight and yet the camera is not stolen or messed with. I wonder if it was bolted to the car or something. If you want your timelapse to be continuous like that you will need to leave the camera fixed to the car or find a way to mount it in exactly the same place everyday.

It would be very easy to mount a camera to the windscreen and leave it there all the time - mines only on when the cars ignition on, but i never take it out.

[mrmr96]

Ari said:

Hmmm... Would the "Battery Extension" allow you to run a permanent power source from the car 12v socket? Or can you do that anyway via a USB adapter?

You can already hardwire power using the usb socket on the camera.

Battery bacpak is to allow you to fit two batteries at the same time, by strapping an extra one on the back. It also allows you to charge the spare in the bacpac I believe.

[mrmr96]

Jakg said:

Nick Grant said:

One thing I've never understood from that coast to coast video is that the car is left camera running with the roof down overnight and yet the camera is not stolen or messed with. I wonder if it was bolted to the car or something. If you want your timelapse to be continuous like that you will need to leave the camera fixed to the car or find a way to mount it in exactly the same place everyday.

It would be very easy to mount a camera to the windscreen and leave it there all the time - mines only on when the cars ignition on, but i never take it out.

The gopro system will allow you to keep the camera in the same place each time. Here's a picture of the basic kit:


The GoPro system comprises three things essentially:
i the camera (bottom left)
ii the camera case (top left)
iii the stem (bottom of case) and mount (middle and far right is a two piece adhesive mount that clips together, but you can get suckers and clamps too and these generally screw straight onto the stem rather than clip.)

The camera is a 'delicate' box which fits into a super rugged case. The case then screws into a stem of somekind, which bolts or clips into the mount which is itself glued/screwed/clamped/suckered onto whatever you're fixing it to. If you're using a clip to connect the stem to the mount then it will clip in the same place each time. The camera case connects to the step with a screw, so that would move if you undid it.

If you don't use a clip mount, then the best option is just to leave the case 'in situ' and remove the camera from the case. You can easily do this to change memory cards or batteries. Because the case stays clamped in situ then of course when you put the camera back in the case it will be in exactly the same place as it was before.