DVX100a Timelapse

R

ronfromkwon

New member
Inspired by the roller-coaster thread, a few comments and questions about time-lapse in general and the DVX100a intervalometer in particular.

First of all, I suppose it depends on the subject and how long you need to record the time-lapse sequence for to decide whether to use the DVX or a still camera...
Up to now I have recorded
  1. a cabin build (2 days) and painting (1 day)
  2. other construction events (few hours)
  3. events with lots of people
  4. clouds and sunsets
I have done several sequences using a Nikon CP990 (3.4 MPx) camera. Since that camera doesn't have a built-in timer, I used the (overpriced!) Nikon remove control.

What I found was:
  1. maximum frame rate of 1 every 2 mins is ok for several hours, but not so good for a couple of hours.
  2. need to get the focus right!
  3. manual exposure is OK as long as the light level doesn't change too much - but need to allow some latitude particularly if you set up outdoors early in the morning before the day gets too bright.
  4. Because of the high res, you can do pan/zoom in post quite easily
  5. motion blur and reducing the frame rate in post helped.
Moving over to the DVX (and I'm still learning how to get the best out of this camera) I have used the intervalometer on a few occasions.
  1. Although a time-lapse sequence, unlike the still camera you get at least a dozen frames each time - and sound capture is interesting. This means you get a short burst of activity then a jump
  2. Capture treats it as a continuous clip (for which I'm grateful, although I'm not sure what is going on with the time code)
  3. Pan/Zoom - not tried it, but I guess that motorised drives will be better than manual?
  4. motion blur and reduced frame rate still help, but not so much
Also, since I only have 1 DVX, it will only do time-lapse when I'm not "actively" using it.

Any thoughts/experience on using the DVX like this?
 
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