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Time-Lapse Video

G button UC photo shooting menu

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

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.
[Choose image area] Choose the image area for time-lapse videos from [FX] and [DX].
[Video file type] Choose the video file type for the final video.
[Frame size/frame rate] Choose the frame size and rate for the final video. The options available vary with the setting chosen for [Video file type].
[Interval priority]
  • [ON]: Enable interval priority to ensure that frames shot in modes P and A are taken at the chosen interval.

    • Release priority is enabled regardless of the options selected for Custom Settings a1 [AF-C priority selection] and a2 [AF-S priority selection].
    • 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 videos when two memory cards are inserted.

Recording Time-Lapse Videos

Before Shooting

  • Time-lapse videos are shot using the video 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, the supplied charging AC adapter, or an optional AC adapter and power connector.
  1. Highlight [Time-lapse video] in the photo shooting menu and press 2.

  2. Adjust time-lapse video 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 23 hours and 59 minutes.
    • Enable or disable exposure smoothing.

      Highlight [Exposure smoothing] and press 2 to select [ON] or [OFF].

      • Selecting [ON] smooths abrupt changes in exposure.
    • Choose the image area.

      Highlight [Choose image area] and press 2.

      Highlight an option and press J.

    • Choose a video file type.

      Highlight [Video file type] 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 to select [ON] or [OFF].

    • Choose whether the camera focuses between shots.

      Highlight [Focus before each shot] and press 2 to select [ON] or [OFF].

      • 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 videos 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.

During Shooting

  • A 8 icon is displayed in the control panel during shooting.

  • If the display is turned on by pressing the shutter-release button halfway, the message [Interval timer shooting] will be displayed and the 8 icon will flash.

Ending Shooting

To end shooting before all the photos are taken, press J or select [Time-lapse video] 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 video will be created from the frames shot to the point where shooting ended and normal photography will resume.

Calculating the Length of the Final Video

  • The total number of frames in the final video 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 video 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 video recorded with [1920×1080; 24p] selected for [Frame size/frame rate] will be about two seconds long).

    1. Frame size/frame rate
    2. Length recorded/maximum length
    3. Memory card indicator

Picture 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 [Picture 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.

Cautions: Time-Lapse Videos

  • Sound is not recorded with time-lapse videos.
  • The shutter speed and the time needed to record the picture to the memory card may vary from shot to shot. As a result, camera may be unable to take shots at the selected interval.
  • Shooting will not begin if a time-lapse video 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], or
    • the memory card is full.
  • Time-lapse recording will not start if the recording time is shown in red in the [Time-lapse video] display. Adjust the [Interval] or [Shooting time].
  • When 7680 × 4320 is selected for [Frame size/frame rate], shooting will not start if a DX lens is attached or [DX] selected for [Choose image area].
  • 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 videos.
  • 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 video will be created from the frames shot to the point where shooting ended.
  • The following end shooting without a beep sounding or a video being recorded:

    • Disconnecting the power source
    • Ejecting the memory card

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 Videos: Restrictions

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

  • video recording,
  • long time-exposures (“Bulb” or “Time”),
  • the self-timer,
  • high-speed frame capture +,
  • bracketing,
  • multiple exposures,
  • HDR overlay,
  • interval-timer photography, and
  • focus shift.