Looking for the best camera for time lapse?
If you want to shoot a scene that spans over several minutes, hours, or days, time lapses are your answer. They offer an interesting and intriguing view of scenes and can be used extremely well in certain scenarios.
Additionally, a time lapse will also allow you to capture much higher resolution pictures than a video. Although time lapses look amazing, they can be incredibly hard to capture without the right equipment and technique. As with any type of photography, choosing the right type of camera is critical.
This article will help you find out the best camera for time lapse!
Best Camera for Time Lapse: Editor Picks
Best Camera for Time Lapse: Comparison Table
How to Choose The Best Camera for Time Lapse
A time lapse camera is quite different from other cameras such as the ones used for sports photography. For capturing photos of sports, cameras must have a very high frame-per-second rate, an advanced tracking system, and also quick auto-focus. A high-resolution sensor, the feature to shoot in RAW format, and the ability to work well in low-light conditions are far more important for time lapse photography. Of course, the exact specifications required on a camera depend on the type of time-lapses that you are shooting. Shooting a time lapse in broad daylight is quite different from shooting a night-sky scene.
ISO Range: The ISO controls the amount of light needed to capture an image. Changing the ISO means that you are changing the senor’s sensitivity to light. For low light situations, a higher ISO is often necessary.
Camera Resolution: In almost all cases, regardless of the type of time lapses you are capturing, a high-resolution camera is preferred. A higher resolution camera equates to better quality photographs and consequently, a better result.
Storage: You will also need a large capacity CF or SD Card since you can expect to take a large number (400+) of high-resolution pictures. You must ensure that the SD Card or CF is fast so that the buffering rates are kept at a minimum.
Intervalometer: Intervalometers are devices that plug into a camera, and can control how often and how many shots must be taken. They can also aid with a prolonged shutter release and exposure length. Note that certain cameras come with an in-built intervalometer, or time lapse mode. For such cameras, an external intervalometer is not required.
Tripod: You require a tripod to place your camera in a steady position. Since time lapse photography can take place over several hours or days, having a tripod is crucial.
RAW: RAW is a file format that stores all the image data that is captured by the camera sensor. Unlike typical formats such as JPEG, a RAW file is not compressed, and none of the detail and information is lost. A camera that can store images in the RAW format is ideal for best quality photographs.
Best Camera for Time Lapse: Top 10
Sony a7III
- 24.2 MP Full-Frame BSI Sensor
- 10 FPS Mechanical or Silent Shutter along with AE/AF Tracking
- 14-bit uncompressed RAW
- ISO 50 to 204,800
Canon EOS 5D Mark IV
- 30.4 MP Full-Frame CMOS Sensor
- Dual Pixel CMOS Auto Focus
- 7 FPS Continuous Shooting Speed
- ISO 100 to 32,000, and expandable up to 50 to 102,400
Nikon D850
- 45.7 MP Full-Frame BSI Sensor
- 7 FPS Shooting with Full Auto Focus
- ISO 64 to 25,600, expandable up to ISO 32 to 102,400
- EXPEED 5 for incredibly fast processing
Canon EOS 60D
- 18 MP APS-C CMOS Sensor
- 9-point Auto Focus System
- 5.3 FPS Continuous Shooting
- ISO Range of 100 to 12800
Brinno BCC200
- 80 Day Battery Life
- HDR Timelapse Camera
- IPX4 Weather Resistance Rating with ATH120
Akaso EK7000
- 12 MP Optical Sensor
- Waterproof up to 100 feet
- Supports Class 10 SD Card up to 32 GB
- 170-degree Wide Angle Lens
GoPro Hero 7 Black
- 12 MP Optical Sensor
- Waterproof up to 10 meters
- TimeWarp for super-stabilized Time Lapse
- Voice Control for Hands-Free Instructions
Nikon Z7
- 45.7 MP BSI Sensor
- 9 FPS with 493-point Auto Focus sensor
- 8K Time Lapse
- Ultra-wide 55mm mount for brighter and faster photos
Canon EOS M50
- 24.1 MP APS-C CMOS Sensor
- Dual Pixel CMOS Auto Focus
- Wide Area Auto Focus with Advanced Tracking and Eye Detection
- Built-in high-resolution viewfinder
Nikon Z50
- 20.9 MP Sensor
- 55mm lens mount, for better low light performance
- 4K Ultra HD Time Lapse Mode
- Electronic Viewfinder
Final Notes
Depending on your budget and requirements, you can choose one of the above cameras for shooting time lapse photographs. Combined with the right setup and technique, you will soon find yourself capturing incredible time lapse sequences!
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Stefano Caioni is a photographer from Sydney, Australia. Founder and editor of Pixinfocus, his passion for photography helps him explore new places and live new adventures. Thanks to photography he reconnected with the outdoors and was able to travel the world and take photos of some of the most beautiful places on Earth.