Timelapse

I have a range of modern methods that can be used to speed up time.

For capturing action lasting up to an hour or so, for example clouds, sunsets and crowds a conventional camcorder can be used and the footage then speeded up to the desired length in the edit suite.

For longer sequences there are several options. The first option is to use a DV camcorder with a timelapse function, this is often the simplest and cheapest option but has some drawbacks. The biggest drawback is the that the cameras record 10 frames at a time, this leads to a somewhat jumpy effect, not the more normal smooth timelapse action.

Another method is to use a broadcast quality camera with a solid state memory cache board fitted. This memory board stores individual frames before recording the frames to tape. This is a very high quality method but it can work out very expensive as the camera will need to be hired for the duration of the action. Broadcast cameras also have a high power drain requiring either mains power or very large battery packs. In addition it is a very valuable item needs to be in a secure place.

The third option is to use one of my adapted digital stills cameras with my special serial control unit and large memory card. The camera is comparatively low cost, the picture quality excellent (even suitable for Hi-Def or Film use) and the frame rates can be adjusted across a wide range. By using a high resolution camera the image can also be "panned and scanned" to add movement to the timelapse sequence. Another advantage is the low power consumption of the entire system, buy using a special low power mode the camera and controller will run for up to 10 hours on a standard internal battery. For longer periods external power packs can be used or I can even provide a solar powered option for very long sequences.