Time Lapse at DVinfo.net

Alex Beaupre · September 19th, 2007, 10:24 PM

Hello everyone,
I just had a quick question, I wanted to use my XH A1 for a timelapse of a skyline of Detroit (which would last about an hour, from dusk to dark) and wanted to know how to go about this in terms of settings. Should I leave it in full auto so the camera can adjust naturally to the changes in light, or should I set the gain at one level and just mess with the iris as it gets darker? I hope that made sense, any help would be appreciated. Thanks guys.

Alex

Pete Bauer · September 20th, 2007, 06:39 AM

Personally, I wouldn't use Auto because as dusk falls, the camera is going to gain up. This will reduce the natural darkening and will increase the gain grain progressively through the video. I'd start with as full an exposure as you're comfortable with and lock it.

You could do quick-n-dirty test recordings if you have a room with a dimmer switch if there is a particular look you're trying to achieve.

Bob Thompson · September 20th, 2007, 07:37 AM

I would try an experiment setting the camera in AV mode with a fixed iris setting and a fixed gain and let the shutter change as it will have a far greater range - But I could be wrong

Bob

Alex Beaupre · September 20th, 2007, 10:07 AM

Thanks for your prompt responses guys. Pete I like the idea of using a dimmer to see where its at. Thank you both for your imput. I'll have to post some stuff when I get it so you can see how it turned out. Thanks again.

Alex

Jay Legere · September 20th, 2007, 12:01 PM

How exactly are you going to time-lapse.

In post?

I didn't think the a1 was capable.

Arthur Kay · September 20th, 2007, 03:04 PM

Indeed the A1 has no real time lapse function build in.
What I did, was filming in 25F (PAL) and do the time lapse in post, using Boinx iStopMotion on Mac or any other tool, even an NLE works great.
I used a fixed shutter and and gain setting and adjusted the iris.
Worked great.
Of course a good stable tripod is a must, but you knew that of course :D
I shrunk about an hour down to about 1 minute I think.

Bill Pryor · September 20th, 2007, 04:06 PM

I've done this with sunsets before. i don't change the iris, otherwise it doesn't get darker. I shoot about half a stop hot, and if possible get the sun behind some trees or something so it's not just a white hot ball. If the shot is an hour, a simple way to do it is to just hit record and let the tape run out. Then load it all and speed it up--for example if you want the shot to last 10 seconds, make a speeded up clip to last 10 seconds. Looks about the same as time lapse, for a sunset, anyway.

Loren Simons · September 23rd, 2007, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arthur Kay

Indeed the A1 has no real time lapse function build in.
What I did, was filming in 25F (PAL) and do the time lapse in post, using Boinx iStopMotion on Mac or any other tool, even an NLE works great.

I plugged my A1 into that program and it didnt work! it only read the isight. Is there a a specific camera setting i need to have?

Gregg Havens · September 23rd, 2007, 07:26 PM

I have used this for taking a 63 minute tape and compressing with the NLE to 1-3 minutes. Works for me.... there are several examples within the films shown within the G1/A1 threads. look at the

http://dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=101132 in the clips section.

September 19th, 2007, 10:24 PM	#1
Alex Beaupre Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: michigan Posts: 80	Time Lapse Hello everyone, I just had a quick question, I wanted to use my XH A1 for a timelapse of a skyline of Detroit (which would last about an hour, from dusk to dark) and wanted to know how to go about this in terms of settings. Should I leave it in full auto so the camera can adjust naturally to the changes in light, or should I set the gain at one level and just mess with the iris as it gets darker? I hope that made sense, any help would be appreciated. Thanks guys. Alex __________________ have you ever wanted something so bad you couldent stop thinking about it? a car, a girl, a skate trick? thats what this video was to me it started as an addiction but turned into an obsession. -Adam Johnson

September 20th, 2007, 06:39 AM	#2
Pete Bauer Wrangler Join Date: May 2003 Location: Eagle River, AK Posts: 4,100	Personally, I wouldn't use Auto because as dusk falls, the camera is going to gain up. This will reduce the natural darkening and will increase the gain grain progressively through the video. I'd start with as full an exposure as you're comfortable with and lock it. You could do quick-n-dirty test recordings if you have a room with a dimmer switch if there is a particular look you're trying to achieve. __________________ Pete Bauer The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science. Albert Einstein Trying to solve a DV mystery? You may find the answer behind the SEARCH function ... or be able to join a discussion already in progress!

September 20th, 2007, 10:07 AM	#4
Alex Beaupre Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: michigan Posts: 80	Thanks for your prompt responses guys. Pete I like the idea of using a dimmer to see where its at. Thank you both for your imput. I'll have to post some stuff when I get it so you can see how it turned out. Thanks again. Alex __________________ have you ever wanted something so bad you couldent stop thinking about it? a car, a girl, a skate trick? thats what this video was to me it started as an addiction but turned into an obsession. -Adam Johnson

September 23rd, 2007, 07:26 PM	#9
Gregg Havens Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: caledonia MS Posts: 26	vegas and PC time compression I have used this for taking a 63 minute tape and compressing with the NLE to 1-3 minutes. Works for me.... there are several examples within the films shown within the G1/A1 threads. look at the http://dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=101132 in the clips section. __________________ Gregg Havens DundeeYank Video

September 20th, 2007, 07:37 AM	#3
Bob Thompson Major Player Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Hong Kong Posts: 340	I would try an experiment setting the camera in AV mode with a fixed iris setting and a fixed gain and let the shutter change as it will have a far greater range - But I could be wrong Bob

September 20th, 2007, 12:01 PM	#5
Jay Legere Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Iqaluit Nunavut, Canada Posts: 98	How exactly are you going to time-lapse. In post? I didn't think the a1 was capable.

September 20th, 2007, 03:04 PM	#6
Arthur Kay Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Belgium Posts: 37	Indeed the A1 has no real time lapse function build in. What I did, was filming in 25F (PAL) and do the time lapse in post, using Boinx iStopMotion on Mac or any other tool, even an NLE works great. I used a fixed shutter and and gain setting and adjusted the iris. Worked great. Of course a good stable tripod is a must, but you knew that of course :D I shrunk about an hour down to about 1 minute I think.

September 20th, 2007, 04:06 PM	#7
Bill Pryor Contributor Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 4,449	I've done this with sunsets before. i don't change the iris, otherwise it doesn't get darker. I shoot about half a stop hot, and if possible get the sun behind some trees or something so it's not just a white hot ball. If the shot is an hour, a simple way to do it is to just hit record and let the tape run out. Then load it all and speed it up--for example if you want the shot to last 10 seconds, make a speeded up clip to last 10 seconds. Looks about the same as time lapse, for a sunset, anyway.