How to shoot time lapse?

V

vision_filmz

Carbonite Member
I've had my camera for close to a year and only shot video with it (Canon 60d). I want to know how is it possible to shoot time lapse shots? Do I need anything special and any ideas/tips for interesting shots I can do?

Thanks
 
vision_filmz said:
I've had my camera for close to a year and only shot video with it (Canon 60d). I want to know how is it possible to shoot time lapse shots? Do I need anything special and any ideas/tips for interesting shots I can do?

Thanks
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You will get smoother more consistent shutter speeds if you add ND filters slow down your shutter to 1/8 or 1/4. My 60D got a flickering at 125/sec because the shutter is not all that exact.
I shot a lot of film timelspse in the past with a Norris on and Arri 2C and the fastest normal shutter speed on that is 1/8sec. I shot daylight with 50 iso film and with a 2 stop ND. I was usually at about f16 so with the canon's at 100iso minimum you will need a 4 stop or series 9. In lower light or at night you can decrease your shutter speed to 1/2 or 1 sec for streak effects. If you can get your timer to shoot one frame every second then you will want you shutter speed below that. The closer you frames are together the more fluid your movement. Lots of tests and you will know everything.
 
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Another reason for flickering is the lens aperture not being perfect. This is only the case with lenses with an electronic aperture. The lens opens up so you can more easily focus and then closes down to shoot. This can be avoided by either using manual lenses or then your ready to start shooting hit the DOF preview button and then the lens release button. While holding both of these buttons unscrew the lens just slightly so that it will hold the aperture at its current position. then start your shooting. This should help with that.

I like the idea of using a slower shutter speed as well ROCKMORE. It does sound like a good idea, as long as your subject matter wont get too blurry because of that shutter speed.
 
The biggest issue that I ran into, doing long timelapses, is powering the camera. The Canon batteries don't hold up for very long. I would look into using a power grip, or external power.
 
What is the aperture setting you use? Do you use manual, aperture or shutter priority? I am also interested in shooting time lapse. I got a T3i with Magic Lantern.
Thanks...
kiko2tj :-)
 
treynolds said:
Another reason for flickering is the lens aperture not being perfect. This is only the case with lenses with an electronic aperture.
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Of course, that is correct and probably has more to do with flickering than shutter speed. All the work I did in film was with manual Zeiss and Schnider lenses opened to the correct aperture. I'd use manual lenses with an aperture ring and a shutter speed of 1/8 or slower and you should have very smooth timelapse.
 
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