Time-lapse Interval
Find the shooting interval and photo count for a time-lapse.
About Time-lapse Interval
The final clip plays frames at the chosen frame rate, so the photo count is the clip length times fps and the interval spreads the event across them. Setting the interval correctly ensures your time-lapse compresses the whole event smoothly at the intended pace.
Formula
Time-lapse Interval
Photos = clip seconds x fps; interval = event seconds / photos
- interval
- Seconds between each captured frame
Worked example
With the default values below, Time-lapse Interval returns Photos Needed of 240. Change any input above and every figure here is recalculated in your browser.
Inputs used
- Event lengthminimum 1
- 60
- Final clip lengthminimum 1
- 10
- Frame rate (fps)minimum 1
- 24
Results
- Photos Needed
- 240
- Interval
- 15.00 s
- Interval in Minutes
- 0.25
Step by step
- 1Values used
- 2Time-lapse Interval
- 3Photos Needed= 240
- 4Interval= 15.00 s
- 5Interval in Minutes= 0.25
Assumptions and limits
- The result is derived only from the 3 inputs listed above. Anything not among them is not part of the calculation.
- In particular, this calculator does not take inflation, tax, fees or charges or compounding frequency into account.
- Figures are rounded for display to 2 decimal places, so totals built from several rounded parts can differ slightly from the unrounded arithmetic.
How these calculators are built and tested is described on the Methodology page. If a figure looks wrong, please report it.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is Time-lapse Interval calculated?
Photos = clip seconds x fps; interval = event seconds / photos The final clip plays frames at the chosen frame rate, so the photo count is the clip length times fps and the interval spreads the event across them.
Why does Time-lapse Interval matter?
Setting the interval correctly ensures your time-lapse compresses the whole event smoothly at the intended pace.
What values do I need to enter?
This calculator takes 3 inputs: Event length, Final clip length, Frame rate (fps). The pre-filled defaults are a realistic starting point — replace them with figures from your own environment for a result you can act on.