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.
|
| [Shutter sound] | Adjust the volume of the shutter-release sound. |
| [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] |
|
| [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.
- We recommend using one of the following power sources to prevent loss of power while shooting is in progress:
- A fully-charged battery
- An optional EH-8P AC adapter connected using the supplied USB cable (featuring Type C connectors at both ends)
- Portable chargers (power banks)
- Highlight [Time-lapse video] in the photo shooting menu and press the multi selector right.
- Adjust time-lapse video settings.
- Choose the interval between shots.
Highlight [Interval] and press the multi selector right. 
Choose an interval (in minutes and seconds) and press the center of the multi selector. - Choose an interval longer than the slowest anticipated shutter speed.
- Choose the total shooting time.
Highlight [Shooting time] and press the multi selector right. 
Choose a shooting time (in hours and minutes) and press the center of the multi selector. - The maximum shooting time is 23 hours and 59 minutes.
- Enable or disable exposure smoothing.
Highlight [Exposure smoothing] and press the multi selector right to select [ON] or [OFF]. - Selecting [ON] smooths abrupt changes in exposure.
- Adjust the volume of the shutter sound.
Highlight [Shutter sound] and press the multi selector right. 
Select the volume of the shutter sound and press the center of the multi selector. - Choose the image area.
Highlight [Choose image area] and press the multi selector right. 
Highlight an option and press the center of the multi selector. - Choose a video file type.
Highlight [Video file type] and press the multi selector right. 
Highlight an option and press the center of the multi selector. - Choose the frame size and rate.
Highlight [Frame size/frame rate] and press the multi selector right. 
Highlight an option and press the center of the multi selector. - Choose an interval priority option.
Highlight [Interval priority] and press the multi selector right to select [ON] or [OFF]. - Choose whether the camera focuses between shots.
Highlight [Focus before each shot] and press the multi selector right 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 the multi selector right. 
Highlight the slot that will be used to record time-lapse videos when two memory cards are inserted and press the center of the multi selector.
- Choose the interval between shots.
- Highlight [Start] and press the center of the multi selector.
- Shooting starts after about 3 s.
- The display turns off during shooting.
- The camera takes pictures at the interval selected for [Interval] for the time selected for [Shooting time] in Step 2.
During shooting
- The memory card access lamp lights while shooting is in progress.
- If the display is turned on by pressing the shutter-release/REC 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 the center of the multi selector or select [Time-lapse video] in the photo shooting menu, highlight [Off], and press the center of the multi selector. Note that the menus may not be displayed when the A button is pressed and held 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 50-frame video recorded with [1920×1080; 25p] 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] 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 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 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 [Shooting time] or [Interval], or
- the memory card is full.
- Time-lapse photography will not start if the recording time is shown in red in the [Time-lapse video] display. Adjust the [Interval] or [Shooting time].
- The shutter will sound with every shot unless [Shutter sound] is set to [0] (note that this applies even when [ON] is selected for [Silent mode] in the setup menu).
- Selecting [HLG] for [Tone mode] in the photo shooting menu fixes [Video file type] at [H.265 10-bit (MOV)].
- 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 monitor will not be turned off by the standby timer 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 and shooting will resume in about 2 seconds 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,
- dehaze,
- interval-timer photography,
- focus shift, and
- pixel shift.