Time-lapse Planning Calculator
Plan shooting interval, event duration, clip length, storage, and frame count for time-lapse photography and videography. Red light mode for night sessions.
What this calculator does
This time-lapse calculator solves the three-way relationship between shooting interval, event duration, and clip length. Pick which value you want to find, enter the other two using hour/minute/second pickers, and set your frame rate (24, 25, 30, or 60 fps). The tool calculates and shows the total photo count, storage requirement (based on your average file size), and a full plan summary you can copy. Enter an optional shutter speed to get a warning if your interval is too short for the camera to keep up.
Choosing the right interval
The shooting interval is the gap between consecutive frames. It controls both the number of photos you take and the speed-up factor of the final clip. A 5-second interval at 24 fps compresses real time by 120ร. For fast subjects (traffic, clouds), use 1โ3 seconds. For sunsets, 3โ5 seconds. For star motion, 15โ30 seconds. For construction or plant growth, intervals of minutes to hours work best. Shorter intervals produce smoother motion but consume more storage and shutter actuations.
Storage and buffer
Total storage equals . A typical 24 MP RAW is about 25 MB, so a 30-second clip at 24 fps (720 photos) needs ~18 GB. Shooting JPEG instead drops that to 2โ4 GB. For multi-hour sessions, bring spare cards or shoot to a tethered drive. Also make sure your interval leaves enough time for the camera to write โ if the interval is shorter than the exposure plus buffer-write time, you'll miss frames or lock up the camera.
Time-lapse Planning Calculator FAQ
? How do I calculate the number of photos for a time-lapse?
Multiply the final clip length (in seconds) by the playback frame rate. For example, a 30-second clip at 24 fps requires 720 photos. The calculator handles this automatically โ just enter your clip length and frame rate.
? What shooting interval should I use?
It depends on the subject. Fast-moving clouds and traffic work at 1โ3 seconds, sunsets at 3โ5 seconds, and star trails at 15โ30 seconds. The interval controls how much real time is compressed into each second of video.
? How much storage do I need for a time-lapse?
Multiply the number of photos by the average file size. A 24 MP RAW file is about 25 MB, so 720 photos need roughly 18 GB. Shooting JPEG instead cuts that to 2โ4 GB. The calculator shows this under "Storage needed."
? Why is my interval shorter than my shutter speed?
If the shooting interval is shorter than the exposure time plus the camera's write time, the camera can't keep up. Either lengthen the interval or shorten the shutter speed. The calculator flags this with a red warning when you enter a shutter speed.
? What frame rate should I use for time-lapse?
24 fps is the cinema standard and gives a natural look. 25 fps is standard for PAL broadcast. 30 fps is common for web and NTSC. Higher rates like 60 fps can be slowed down for a smooth slow-motion time-lapse effect.