Best way to shoot a 5 day timelapse

[BNSFILMS]

Hi everyone,

The plan is to shoot a 5 day time lapse with a DSLR camera.

What is the best way to shoot the time lapse without having someone man the camera. So that means framing the camera, plugging it into a power outlet, setting the intervalometer, and pretty much leaving it alone till the 5 days are up.

My major concern is that someone hits the camera, or some sort of technical glitch stops the intervalometer. Even though this probably won't happen I am doing this for a client so I can't fudge this up.

Any suggestions or options would help.

Thanks!

 

[clang]

If the DSLR can feed a live picture to a computer, the picture taking can be triggered from and recorded directly to the computer. Whether that's any more reliable than an intervalometer is another matter

As you've already worked out, the biggest risk is physical interruption. all you can do is minimise the risk - a UPS power supply, securing all the equipment in a location where it can't accidentally be disturbed (e.g. behind glass in a locked room would be ideal). But you definitely need a backup plan for a second attempt - even a storm or a passing truck can potentially cause tripod wobble, and you can't predict what bizarro malfunction might strike 2 days into the shooting, e.g. a spider building a web over your lens, lighting burning out, whatever.

Also consider recording pictures at twice the rate you actually need - expect to only use every second one, but having the spares gives you more editing options if individual shots are glitched for any reason.