2. Z 7II/Z 6II Online Manual
  3. Menu Guide
  4. C The Photo Shooting Menu: Shooting Options
  5. Time-Lapse Movie

Time-Lapse Movie

G button U C photo shooting menu

The camera automatically takes photos at selected intervals to create a time-lapse movie.

Option

Description

[Start]

Start time-lapse recording. Shooting starts after about 3 s and continues at the interval selected for [Interval] for the time selected for [Shooting time].

[Interval]

Choose the interval between shots, in minutes and seconds.

[Shooting time]

Choose how long the camera will continue to take pictures, in hours and minutes.

[Exposure smoothing]

Selecting [On] smooths abrupt changes in exposure.

  • Large changes in subject brightness during shooting may result in apparent variations in exposure. This can be addressed by shortening the interval between shots.

  • Exposure smoothing will not take effect in mode M if [Off] is selected for [ISO sensitivity settings] > [Auto ISO sensitivity control] in the photo shooting menu.

[Silent photography]

Select [On] to silence the shutter and eliminate the vibrations it produces during shooting.

  • Selecting [On] does not completely silence the camera. Camera sounds may still be audible, for example during autofocus or aperture adjustment, in the latter case most noticeably at apertures smaller (i.e., at f-numbers higher) than f/5.6.

[Choose image area]

Choose the image area for time-lapse movies from [FX] and [DX].

[Frame size/frame rate]

Choose the frame size and rate for the final movie.

[Interval priority]

  • [On]: Enable interval priority to ensure that frames shot in modes P and A are taken at the chosen interval.

    • Select [Release] for Custom Setting a2 [AF-S priority selection] when AF-S is selected for focus mode and for Custom Setting a1 [AF-C priority selection] when AF-C is selected.

    • If [On] is selected for [ISO sensitivity settings] > [Auto ISO sensitivity control] and the time chosen for [Minimum shutter speed] is longer than the interval, the time selected for the interval will take priority over the selected shutter speed.

  • [Off]: Disable interval priority to ensure that photos are correctly exposed.

[Focus before each shot]

If [On] is selected, the camera will focus between shots.

[Destination]

Choose the slot used to record time-lapse movies when two memory cards are inserted.

Recording Time-Lapse Movies

Before Shooting

  • Time-lapse movies are shot using the movie crop.

  • Take test shots and check the results in the monitor.

  • Before proceeding, select [Time zone and date] in the setup menu and make sure that the camera clock is set to the correct time and date.

  • To ensure that shooting is not interrupted, use a fully-charged battery, an optional charging AC adapter, or an optional AC adapter and power connector.

  1. Highlight [Time-lapse movie] in the photo shooting menu and press 2.

  2. Adjust time-lapse movie settings.

    • Choose the interval between shots.

      Highlight [Interval] and press 2.

      Choose an interval (in minutes and seconds) and press J.

      • Choose an interval longer than the slowest anticipated shutter speed.

    • Choose the total shooting time.

      Highlight [Shooting time] and press 2.

      Choose a shooting time (in hours and minutes) and press J.

      • The maximum shooting time is 7 hours and 59 minutes.

    • Enable or disable exposure smoothing.

      Highlight [Exposure smoothing] and press 2.

      Highlight an option and press J.

      • Selecting [On] smooths abrupt changes in exposure.

    • Enable or disable silent photography.

      Highlight [Silent photography] and press 2.

      Highlight an option and press J.

    • Choose the image area.

      Highlight [Choose image area] and press 2.

      Highlight an option and press J.

    • Choose the frame size and rate.

      Highlight [Frame size/frame rate] and press 2.

      Highlight an option and press J.

    • Choose an interval priority option.

      Highlight [Interval priority] and press 2.

      Highlight an option and press J.

    • Choose whether the camera focuses between shots.

      Highlight [Focus before each shot] and press 2.

      Highlight an option and press J.

      • If [On] is selected for [Focus before each shot], the camera will focus before each shot according to the option currently selected for focus mode.

    • Choose a destination.

      Highlight [Destination] and press 2.

      Highlight the slot that will be used to record time-lapse movies when two memory cards are inserted and press J.
  3. Highlight [Start] and press J.

    • Shooting starts after about 3 s.

    • The display turns off during shooting.

    • The camera takes pictures at interval selected for [Interval] for the time selected for [Shooting time] in Step 2.

Ending Shooting

To end shooting before all the photos are taken, press J or select [Time-lapse movie] in the photo shooting menu, highlight [Off], and press J. Note that the menus may not be displayed when the G button is pressed if the time selected for [Interval] is very short.

  • A movie will be created from the frames shot to the point where shooting ended and normal photography will resume.

Calculating the Length of the Final Movie

  • The total number of frames in the final movie can be calculated by dividing the shooting time selected in Step 2 by the interval, rounding up, and adding 1.

  • The length of the final movie can then be calculated by dividing the number of shots by the frame rate selected for [Frame size/frame rate] (for example, a 48-frame movie recorded with [1920×1080; 24p] selected for [Frame size/frame rate] will be about two seconds long).

  • The maximum length for time-lapse movies is 20 minutes.

1

Frame size/frame rate
2

Length recorded/maximum length
3

Memory card indicator
Image Review

The K button cannot be used to view pictures while shooting is in progress. The current frame will however be displayed for a few seconds after each shot if [On] or [On (monitor only)] is selected for [Image review] in the playback menu. Note that other playback operations cannot be performed while the frame is displayed. The current frame may not be displayed if the interval is very short.

Time-Lapse Movies

  • Sound is not recorded with time-lapse movies.

  • The shutter speed and the time needed to record the image to the memory card may vary from shot to shot. As a result, the interval between a shot being recorded and the start of the next shot may vary.

  • Shooting will not begin if a time-lapse movie cannot be recorded at current settings, for example if:

    • The value selected for [Interval] is longer than that selected for [Shooting time]

    • [00:00'00"] is selected for [Interval] or [Shooting time]

    • [On] is selected for both [Silent photography] and [Interval priority] and [00:00'0.5"] is selected for [Interval]

    • The memory card is full

  • The K button cannot be used to view pictures while time-lapse recording is in progress.

  • For consistent coloration, choose a white balance setting other than 4 [Auto] or D [Natural light auto] when recording time-lapse movies.

  • Regardless of the option selected for Custom Setting c3 [Power off delay] > [Standby timer], the standby timer will not expire while recording is in progress.

  • Shooting may end if camera controls are used, settings are changed, or an HDMI cable is connected. A movie will be created from the frames shot to the point where shooting ended.

  • The following end shooting without a beep sounding or a movie being recorded:

    • Disconnecting the power source

    • Ejecting the memory card

During Shooting

During shooting, the time-lapse recording indicator will be displayed in the control panel. The memory card access lamp will light.

Adjusting Settings Between Shots

Shooting and menu settings can be adjusted between shots. Note, however, that the monitor will turn off approximately 2 s before the next shot is taken.

Time-Lapse Movies: Restrictions

Time-lapse movie recording cannot be combined with some camera features, including:

  • movie recording,

  • long time-exposures (“Bulb” or “Time”),

  • the self-timer,

  • bracketing,

  • HDR (high dynamic range),

  • multiple exposures,

  • interval-timer photography, and

  • focus shift.

When [On] Is Selected for [Silent Photography]

Selecting [On] for [Silent photography] disables some camera features, including:

  • ISO sensitivities of Hi 0.3 through Hi 2.0,

  • flash photography,

  • exposure delay mode,

  • long-exposure noise reduction, and

  • flicker reduction.

C The Photo Shooting Menu: Shooting Options

Reset Photo Shooting MenuStorage FolderFile NamingPrimary Slot SelectionSecondary Slot FunctionChoose Image AreaImage QualityImage SizeNEF (RAW) RecordingISO Sensitivity SettingsWhite BalanceSet Picture ControlManage Picture ControlColor SpaceActive D-LightingLong Exposure NRHigh ISO NRVignette ControlDiffraction CompensationAuto Distortion ControlFlicker Reduction ShootingMeteringFlash ControlFlash ModeFlash CompensationFocus ModeAF-Area ModeVibration ReductionAuto BracketingMultiple ExposureHDR (High Dynamic Range)Interval Timer ShootingTime-Lapse MovieFocus Shift ShootingSilent Photography