Time-Lapse Calculator
How many frames, how long to shoot, how many gigabytes — and an interval timer for the field.
How it works
A time-lapse is arithmetic before it's art: clip length times frame rate gives the frames you need; frames times interval gives how long you'll stand there; frames times file size gives the card you need. Change any input and the rest follow. The table shows how the same clip stretches across common intervals, from cloudscapes to star fields.
FAQ
- What interval should I use?
- Rough guides: 1–2 s for traffic and fast clouds, 3–5 s for slow clouds and crowds, 10–30 s for sunsets and shadows, 30–60 s for stars and the Milky Way. Longer exposures need intervals longer than the exposure itself.
- How big are the files?
- Raw files run 25–60 MB on modern full-frame bodies, 8–15 MB for JPEG. Enter your camera's typical size; the storage figure assumes every frame is kept.
- Can I use the timer with the app in the background?
- On the web the countdown notification fires if you granted notification permission and the tab stays open. The store apps will run it natively.