Time-Lapse Calculator (Interval, Photos and Storage)

What this tool does

A time-lapse is a normal video made of far fewer frames: you decide how long the clip should run and at what frame rate, which fixes the number of photos, and the interval is simply the event time divided by that number. A two-hour event squeezed into a 20-second clip at 25 fps needs 500 photos, one every 14.4 seconds, and about 12.5 GB at 25 MB each. The interval must be longer than the exposure plus the time the camera takes to save the picture, and fast-changing scenes such as clouds or traffic need a shorter interval than slow ones such as a flower opening.

Formula

photos = clip length × fps · interval = event duration ÷ photos · storage = photos × MB per photo

Variables

Worked example

Limitations

• The result is an estimate based only on the values you type. Real situations often include factors this calculator does not know about.
• Mixing units is the most common source of error. Convert every input to the units shown next to each field before calculating.