HD Time Lapse with the HC1 at DVinfo.net

Curtis Shillington · February 26th, 2007, 06:28 PM

Hello,

I want to do some time lapse footage using the HC1. I would like to use the camera within the camcorder to capture each frame and then compile them in post production.

My question is this.....Which photo option (fine-standard) would you suggest I use?

When the Camcorder is in Camera-Tape mode the:
1440X810 (which can later be slightly stretched to fit on a 1920*1080 screen)
Fine = 645KB
Standard = 274 KB

When Camcorder is in Memory Mode the:
1920X1080
Standard = 450

(Each picture take about 2 seconds writing time so it is acceptable for time lapse)

Any advice would be appreciated.

Curtis Shillington

Peter Ferling · February 27th, 2007, 09:30 AM

I personally would not use the HC1, and opt for a real digital camera to capture at a higher rez for such work.

Canon has a free still image capture utility that will allow greater flexibility and capture directly to a labtop. Again just my opinion. Therefore, you should do a quick test using the HC1 and see which settings work for yourself.

Rodolphe Pellerin · February 27th, 2007, 01:04 PM

I use the HC1 for timelapse in memory mode with a 1GB Memory Stick Pro Duo (940 jpg in fine quality). The image size is 1920x1080 and I import them in Quicktime. You can also choose 1920x1440 and apply a tilt movement later in Post-Production. In the menu Pict-Appli select INT.REC-STL and set the interval to 1, 5 or 10 min.

Curtis Shillington · February 27th, 2007, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rodolphe Pellerin

I use the HC1 for timelapse in memory mode with a 1GB Memory Stick Pro Duo (940 jpg in fine quality). The image size is 1920x1080 and I import them in Quicktime. You can also choose 1920x1440 and apply a tilt movement later in Post-Production. In the menu Pict-Appli select INT.REC-STL and set the interval to 1, 5 or 10 min.

Thanks for the reply!!!

The problem I found with shooting FINE-1920X1080 pics is that each pic takes about 2-3 seconds 2 process.....(i guess this is not a big deal though in most circumstances).
1 GB card will get you 1000 pics (aprox. 30 sec of time lapse = which is about 50 minutes of shooting time)

Do you think using 1920X1080 Standard will look any different after you transfer it to video and watched on a HD TV?

About QUICKTIME:
Is this the best program to use in transforming all these pics into a timelapse video? How do you go about this process with QUICKTIME?

David Delaney · February 28th, 2007, 05:46 PM

What are the steps to achieve time lapse with the HC1?

Curtis Shillington · February 28th, 2007, 07:21 PM

To do timelapse with the HC1 you have a couple of options:

1-easiest and cheapest way is to record a full 60 min tape then speed it up in post production to about 2 minutes....

2-you will need an intervolometer to control the camcorder to take photo's .....you can use software on your computer.....or a http://www.bmumford.com/photo/camctlr.html after you have all your pictures you put them together in post production.....

3-get a http://www.focusinfo.com/solutions/catalog.asp?id=149

Sean Schult · February 28th, 2007, 08:42 PM

If you don't mind tethering to a laptop, HDV Rack 2 (now released by Adobe) has a time lapse recording feature. I haven't used it but I believe it records directly to video so you wouldn't have to convert from a sequence of images.

Peter Hofbauer · March 1st, 2007, 03:05 AM

Does the HC1 dont have an own function for this?
The DCR-HC96 has one.
I recently did a review on this:
http://babelfish.altavista.com/babel...%26Itemid%3d28

Curtis Shillington · March 1st, 2007, 08:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter Hofbauer

Does the HC1 dont have an own function for this?
The DCR-HC96 has one.
I recently did a review on this:
http://babelfish.altavista.com/babel...%26Itemid%3d28

Yes the HC96 has a really good time lapse function.....but they took this option off almost all of their camcorder. Their is only a handful of 'older' model sony camcorders which include this function. I have the DCR-PC350 which also has this time lapse function.

Peter Hofbauer · March 1st, 2007, 09:20 AM

Can you record frames separatly?
The function is could "Frame Rec". The Idea: program a PDA with IR to control the camera and record in intervals.

James Bresnahan · March 1st, 2007, 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter Hofbauer

Does the HC1 dont have an own function for this?
The DCR-HC96 has one.
I recently did a review on this:
http://babelfish.altavista.com/babel...%26Itemid%3d28

Yes! The HC-1 has an intervalometer function in the still photo menu.

Peter Hofbauer · March 1st, 2007, 06:31 PM

In tape-mode or only in memory-mode?

James Bresnahan · March 2nd, 2007, 08:30 AM

Only in memory mode. I forget all the settings, but the shortest interval is 1 frame every minute.

David Delaney · March 2nd, 2007, 06:40 PM

Anybody remember the setting or step off-hand? I took a quick look and couldn't find it - is it under Burst?

James Harring · March 13th, 2007, 07:48 PM

Unless you know relatively precisely how much interval is correct, you may want to just roll tape and do stop motion in post, as recommended above.
This way you have lots of flexibility to fit it to a scene. Especially true for things that would be a hassle to re-shoot.

Calculating this for stills is as much art as science, IMO

February 26th, 2007, 06:28 PM	#1
Curtis Shillington New Boot Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 12	HD Time Lapse with the HC1 Hello, I want to do some time lapse footage using the HC1. I would like to use the camera within the camcorder to capture each frame and then compile them in post production. My question is this.....Which photo option (fine-standard) would you suggest I use? When the Camcorder is in Camera-Tape mode the: 1440X810 (which can later be slightly stretched to fit on a 1920*1080 screen) Fine = 645KB Standard = 274 KB When Camcorder is in Memory Mode the: 1920X1080 Standard = 450 (Each picture take about 2 seconds writing time so it is acceptable for time lapse) Any advice would be appreciated. Curtis Shillington

February 27th, 2007, 09:30 AM	#2
Peter Ferling Trustee Join Date: May 2005 Location: Wyomissing, PA Posts: 1,141 Images: 57	I personally would not use the HC1, and opt for a real digital camera to capture at a higher rez for such work. Canon has a free still image capture utility that will allow greater flexibility and capture directly to a labtop. Again just my opinion. Therefore, you should do a quick test using the HC1 and see which settings work for yourself. __________________ Pete Ferling http://ferling.net It's never a mistake if you learn something new from it. -------------------------------------------

March 1st, 2007, 03:05 AM	#8
Peter Hofbauer New Boot Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Vienna Posts: 18	Does the HC1 dont have an own function for this? The DCR-HC96 has one. I recently did a review on this: http://babelfish.altavista.com/babel...%26Itemid%3d28 __________________ Sony DCR-HC96 Blog: http://hc96.myblog.de/ www.hc96.de

March 1st, 2007, 09:20 AM	#10
Peter Hofbauer New Boot Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Vienna Posts: 18	Can you record frames separatly? The function is could "Frame Rec". The Idea: program a PDA with IR to control the camera and record in intervals. __________________ Sony DCR-HC96 Blog: http://hc96.myblog.de/ www.hc96.de

March 1st, 2007, 06:31 PM	#12
Peter Hofbauer New Boot Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Vienna Posts: 18	In tape-mode or only in memory-mode? __________________ Sony DCR-HC96 Blog: http://hc96.myblog.de/ www.hc96.de

February 27th, 2007, 01:04 PM	#3
Rodolphe Pellerin New Boot Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 22	I use the HC1 for timelapse in memory mode with a 1GB Memory Stick Pro Duo (940 jpg in fine quality). The image size is 1920x1080 and I import them in Quicktime. You can also choose 1920x1440 and apply a tilt movement later in Post-Production. In the menu Pict-Appli select INT.REC-STL and set the interval to 1, 5 or 10 min.

February 28th, 2007, 05:46 PM	#5
David Delaney Trustee Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Niagara Ontario Canada Posts: 1,121	What are the steps to achieve time lapse with the HC1?

February 28th, 2007, 07:21 PM	#6
Curtis Shillington New Boot Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 12	To do timelapse with the HC1 you have a couple of options: 1-easiest and cheapest way is to record a full 60 min tape then speed it up in post production to about 2 minutes.... 2-you will need an intervolometer to control the camcorder to take photo's .....you can use software on your computer.....or a http://www.bmumford.com/photo/camctlr.html after you have all your pictures you put them together in post production..... 3-get a http://www.focusinfo.com/solutions/catalog.asp?id=149

February 28th, 2007, 08:42 PM	#7
Sean Schult New Boot Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: New Berlin, WI Posts: 21	If you don't mind tethering to a laptop, HDV Rack 2 (now released by Adobe) has a time lapse recording feature. I haven't used it but I believe it records directly to video so you wouldn't have to convert from a sequence of images.

March 2nd, 2007, 08:30 AM	#13
James Bresnahan Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 30	Only in memory mode. I forget all the settings, but the shortest interval is 1 frame every minute.

March 2nd, 2007, 06:40 PM	#14
David Delaney Trustee Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Niagara Ontario Canada Posts: 1,121	Anybody remember the setting or step off-hand? I took a quick look and couldn't find it - is it under Burst?

March 13th, 2007, 07:48 PM	#15
James Harring Major Player Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 210	Roll tape! Unless you know relatively precisely how much interval is correct, you may want to just roll tape and do stop motion in post, as recommended above. This way you have lots of flexibility to fit it to a scene. Especially true for things that would be a hassle to re-shoot. Calculating this for stills is as much art as science, IMO