Best settings for time lapse

[Colin Jones]

Anybody have recommendations for the best settings for time lapse on the XL2? Would I get better results using 60i or 24p? Final output would be DVD so I am staying in the digital world. Time lapse will be captured as a combination of the XL2's built in interval timer and FCX fit to fill to reduce to one frame per capture period or as a time lapse cature in iMovie HD to convert straight footage to time lapse. I have done a few test shhots and I seem to get some doubling of images in 24p. For example if I am shooting a scene with sky in it and a bird flys past, it looks like two birds, one on top of the other, in the capture. If I use 60i I have some double images on certain frames of objects moving across the screen (people jogging). I am shooting 16:9 with the gamma and everything set to look like film.

Thanks,

Colin

[Tony Davies-Patrick]

I prefer to set my XL2 (Pal version) to 50i and film normally, then speed or slow the footage in post - this allows a lot of control for various time-lapse footage to fit in nicely with normal speed footage in the same sequence - and for everything to look smooth and natural.

For HD time-lapse, one of the best methods is to use an SLR 35mm film camera with motordrive and bulk film back, such as the Nikon F5, and then scan each image; or use a high-end motor-driven DSLR camera such as the Nikon D2X or Canon EOS 1D MkII.

[Colin Jones]

Hi Tony,

Thanks for the info. Have you had much succes slowing footage in post? What kind of range can you get before it gets too jerky?

Colin