Time-Lapse Interval Calculator

How it works

Frames = clip seconds × fps; interval = event duration ÷ frames; speed-up = event duration ÷ clip length

A time-lapse is just arithmetic between three quantities: how long the real event lasts, how long you want the finished clip to be, and how many frames each second of video needs. A 15-second clip at 24 fps is 360 frames; spread over a two-hour sunset that is one frame every 20 seconds. The interval also sets the feel — short intervals keep motion smooth for clouds and crowds, long intervals turn stars into streaks and make plants visibly grow. The shutter speed should ideally be around half the interval (the “180-degree rule” borrowed from cinema) so that each frame carries some motion blur and the result does not stutter, which usually means a neutral-density filter in daylight. Always shoot extra frames for a hold at the start and end.

Worked example

Two-hour event, 15-second clip at 24 fps: 360 frames, one every 20 s — a 480× speed-up, about 9.8 GB of 28 MB RAW files.

Frequently asked questions