Time lapse help
Discussion
Hello all,
I am after some time lapse advice. I am getting married in July and have hired an excellent wedding 'tog to do the main photography duties. But the idea of setting up a time-lapse camera or two to cover the ceromony/reception/party feels like a really good idea.
I could have about £200 to spend, IQ needs to be good enough to make a nice HD video (Resolution won't be an issue but low light performance might...) My camera gear consists of a Canon 50d and various lenses but no interverlometer (sp). I was thinking however of buying some dedicated kit and/or using a smaller camera that can more easily be strapped somewhere high up to get the whole scene in. If using my current gear is the best option though i am happy to put it to use! I know this is pittance in photography terms, but this is a 'nice idea' and not a project i can afford to throw money at (its all going on the rest of the wedding!)
As well as hardware questions, what sort of intervals will i need to take photo's at and what sort of frame rate are they usually played back at? I realise the two will be linked!
TIA
James
I am after some time lapse advice. I am getting married in July and have hired an excellent wedding 'tog to do the main photography duties. But the idea of setting up a time-lapse camera or two to cover the ceromony/reception/party feels like a really good idea.
I could have about £200 to spend, IQ needs to be good enough to make a nice HD video (Resolution won't be an issue but low light performance might...) My camera gear consists of a Canon 50d and various lenses but no interverlometer (sp). I was thinking however of buying some dedicated kit and/or using a smaller camera that can more easily be strapped somewhere high up to get the whole scene in. If using my current gear is the best option though i am happy to put it to use! I know this is pittance in photography terms, but this is a 'nice idea' and not a project i can afford to throw money at (its all going on the rest of the wedding!)
As well as hardware questions, what sort of intervals will i need to take photo's at and what sort of frame rate are they usually played back at? I realise the two will be linked!
TIA
James
Or look at a TriggerTrap, runs from a smart phone http://triggertrap.com/products/triggertrap-mobile...
trigger trap looks like a good idea! - Thanks
How does magic lantern work? does it completely remove the canon firmware from the camera? Is it removable?
Rob - with a shot every few seconds, i imagine battery life could be an issue? Actually one of those tripods that grip around a post would allow me to mount the camera wherever i liked (pretty much) which would make using my SLR very achievable.
Is it worth shooting at higher res? Or should i set it to small jpeg?
How does magic lantern work? does it completely remove the canon firmware from the camera? Is it removable?
Rob - with a shot every few seconds, i imagine battery life could be an issue? Actually one of those tripods that grip around a post would allow me to mount the camera wherever i liked (pretty much) which would make using my SLR very achievable.
Is it worth shooting at higher res? Or should i set it to small jpeg?
Edited by jimmy156 on Tuesday 4th February 18:32
RobDickinson said:
ML completely removable easily.
50d with good battery and LCD review off should Be good for couple thousand shots
Medium jpg should be fine, getting a consistent exposure or fixing in post is the tricky bit
Good to know, thanks!50d with good battery and LCD review off should Be good for couple thousand shots
Medium jpg should be fine, getting a consistent exposure or fixing in post is the tricky bit
Will the camera take a new meter reading for each shot, or does it only take one at the beginning?
Remote release like this also have valometer feature
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Remote-Control-Shutter-Rel...
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Remote-Control-Shutter-Rel...
Echo the above - intervalometer 
Handful of random thoughts:
- Get the intervalometer soon and have a play. AV mode may be best as it'll adjust the exposure at finer increments than if you went in shutter priority mode, but have a tinker with all the settings and get a feel for what's best for you.
- Consider passing on the timelapse responsibility to the best man, rather than worrying about setting up and retrieving the cam yourself on the day.
- Set up the camera and start it shooting well in advance of the ceremony, and leave it running well after you've left. That way you'll have enough footage to give a couple of seconds at the beginning and end, which will give the video a better pace.
- Bear in mind that you may hear the shutter opening during the whole ceremony. If you're in an echoey space it might be distracting (although sod's law dictates that a crying baby will probably cover this anyway!)
Handful of random thoughts:
- Get the intervalometer soon and have a play. AV mode may be best as it'll adjust the exposure at finer increments than if you went in shutter priority mode, but have a tinker with all the settings and get a feel for what's best for you.
- Consider passing on the timelapse responsibility to the best man, rather than worrying about setting up and retrieving the cam yourself on the day.
- Set up the camera and start it shooting well in advance of the ceremony, and leave it running well after you've left. That way you'll have enough footage to give a couple of seconds at the beginning and end, which will give the video a better pace.
- Bear in mind that you may hear the shutter opening during the whole ceremony. If you're in an echoey space it might be distracting (although sod's law dictates that a crying baby will probably cover this anyway!)
Definitely get an intervalometer, they aren't too expensive on ebay!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_m8vhkdRqis
I shot the time lapses in that video on my 600d at around 1/50th every 20secs. f3.5. I find the time lapses turn out better if you use manual focusing and leave it, thats a personal preference though! Use Jpeg as it saves a lot of memory, if shot at full res it means you can add little zooms etc in when editing
Ended up with around 3,000 photos after this though!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_m8vhkdRqis
I shot the time lapses in that video on my 600d at around 1/50th every 20secs. f3.5. I find the time lapses turn out better if you use manual focusing and leave it, thats a personal preference though! Use Jpeg as it saves a lot of memory, if shot at full res it means you can add little zooms etc in when editing
Ended up with around 3,000 photos after this though!
Definitely get an intervalometer, they aren't too expensive on ebay!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_m8vhkdRqis
I shot the time lapses in that video on my 600d at around 1/50th every 20secs. f3.5. I find the time lapses turn out better if you use manual focusing and leave it, thats a personal preference though! Use Jpeg as it saves a lot of memory, if shot at full res it means you can add little zooms etc in when editing
Ended up with around 3,000 photos after this though!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_m8vhkdRqis
I shot the time lapses in that video on my 600d at around 1/50th every 20secs. f3.5. I find the time lapses turn out better if you use manual focusing and leave it, thats a personal preference though! Use Jpeg as it saves a lot of memory, if shot at full res it means you can add little zooms etc in when editing
Ended up with around 3,000 photos after this though!
Lunja said:
Echo the above - intervalometer
Handful of random thoughts:
- Get the intervalometer soon and have a play. AV mode may be best as it'll adjust the exposure at finer increments than if you went in shutter priority mode, but have a tinker with all the settings and get a feel for what's best for you.
- Consider passing on the timelapse responsibility to the best man, rather than worrying about setting up and retrieving the cam yourself on the day.
- Set up the camera and start it shooting well in advance of the ceremony, and leave it running well after you've left. That way you'll have enough footage to give a couple of seconds at the beginning and end, which will give the video a better pace.
- Bear in mind that you may hear the shutter opening during the whole ceremony. If you're in an echoey space it might be distracting (although sod's law dictates that a crying baby will probably cover this anyway!)
Is there any advantage to a separate intervalometer compared to the one built into Magic Lantern?Handful of random thoughts:
- Get the intervalometer soon and have a play. AV mode may be best as it'll adjust the exposure at finer increments than if you went in shutter priority mode, but have a tinker with all the settings and get a feel for what's best for you.
- Consider passing on the timelapse responsibility to the best man, rather than worrying about setting up and retrieving the cam yourself on the day.
- Set up the camera and start it shooting well in advance of the ceremony, and leave it running well after you've left. That way you'll have enough footage to give a couple of seconds at the beginning and end, which will give the video a better pace.
- Bear in mind that you may hear the shutter opening during the whole ceremony. If you're in an echoey space it might be distracting (although sod's law dictates that a crying baby will probably cover this anyway!)
Yes i thought i would have a good play around first! I will have the chance to visit the venue and maybe do a little test first. I had thought of giving the best man / an usher the duty, I can already feel the look of death if i was to do it myself
I was thinking i could take a print of how i want the image(s) to be framed so they can just set it up and click 'go'good point about hearing the shutter, i should be able to test that too.
Jamie, cool video, top work. Not sure i have a CF card big enough to do full resolution, i suppose i could always buy a monster one!
Lunja said:
- Get the intervalometer soon and have a play. AV mode may be best as it'll adjust the exposure at finer increments than if you went in shutter priority mode, but have a tinker with all the settings and get a feel for what's best for you.
I'm curious as to why you think Av mode has finer exposure control than Tv mode? I think you would be nuts to use Tv mode as it would adjust aperture this dof and look/feel anyhow but...An intervalvometer probably offers more control or at least easier more visible control of whats going on.
If the light levels arnt changing much shoot manual mode (always manual focus) else Av would probably be best
RobDickinson said:
I'm curious as to why you think Av mode has finer exposure control than Tv mode? I think you would be nuts to use Tv mode as it would adjust aperture this dof and look/feel anyhow but...
An intervalvometer probably offers more control or at least easier more visible control of whats going on.
If the light levels arnt changing much shoot manual mode (always manual focus) else Av would probably be best
It offers finer exposure control over the duration of a timelapse if light is drastically changing since the camera will have the option of adjusting shutter speed by 100ths of a second according to the meter reading, as opposed to full stops in Tv mode. There are a number of techniques I'd recommend that would probably make the job more complicated than OP needs it to be (RAW or HDR timelapse for example), but agree that full manual would be better if lighting is consistent. An intervalvometer probably offers more control or at least easier more visible control of whats going on.
If the light levels arnt changing much shoot manual mode (always manual focus) else Av would probably be best
jimmy156 said:
Is there any advantage to a separate intervalometer compared to the one built into Magic Lantern?
Yes i thought i would have a good play around first! I will have the chance to visit the venue and maybe do a little test first. I had thought of giving the best man / an usher the duty, I can already feel the look of death if i was to do it myself I was thinking i could take a print of how i want the image(s) to be framed so they can just set it up and click 'go'
Main advantage is that it's easier than installing ML, plus an intervalometer can usually also be used as a remote release, great for self portraits or night/star/long exposure shots, so it's a handy addition to your kit bag. They use very little power too - over 3 months continuous on 2 AAAs. Just double check that your chosen intervalometer will be compatible with your camera as some have different connections.Yes i thought i would have a good play around first! I will have the chance to visit the venue and maybe do a little test first. I had thought of giving the best man / an usher the duty, I can already feel the look of death if i was to do it myself
I was thinking i could take a print of how i want the image(s) to be framed so they can just set it up and click 'go'Lunja said:
It offers finer exposure control over the duration of a timelapse if light is drastically changing since the camera will have the option of adjusting shutter speed by 100ths of a second according to the meter reading, as opposed to full stops in Tv mode. There are a number of techniques I'd recommend that would probably make the job more complicated than OP needs it to be (RAW or HDR timelapse for example), but agree that full manual would be better if lighting is consistent.
Tv mode should be able to change aperture in 1/3rd of a stop increments. But there is certainly less latitude/range, most lenses are f2.8 to f16 or 22 etcGassing Station | Photography & Video | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff