Can the Sony FX1 do Time Lapse recording? at DVinfo.net

Jim Rog · September 11th, 2005, 03:47 PM

Hello

Please can someone advise me if the Sony FX1 can do Time Lapse recording? If not is there any device out there that I can buy to give it this ability?

Thanks for any help

Douglas Spotted Eagle · September 11th, 2005, 04:01 PM

With a LANC control, you can do timelapse with the FX1, yes. The cam itself cannot.

Jim Rog · September 11th, 2005, 04:06 PM

Hi

Thanks for the quick reply

Where can I find out more info about LANC control? is this software or hardware? And with this can I have full control time lapse with the fx1?

Thanks

Boyd Ostroff · September 11th, 2005, 04:38 PM

First you need to define what "time lapse" means to you. I have a VX-2000 and PDX-10 and they do something called "interval recording." This is somewhat crude in that the minium setting shoots something like 1/2 second of video every 30 seconds. That would give good results when you want to speed things up by a factor of 1000x (like watching a full day in less than a minute) but it doesn't look good for shorter events like a sunset or the movement of clouds in the sky.

For those kinds of things lasting an hour or less, any camera will give you good time lapse results. Just tape normally and speed up in post. It has the disadvantage of requiring you to capture the full tape, but you'll get smooth motion.

I don't know about high definition software, but if you want to shoot in SD mode then there's software which will capture time lapse over firewire as well - see BTV Pro for the Mac. I think the FX1 may shut down automatically if a tape isn't running however, so that might be a problem.

Where can you find out about LANC control? I just typed "LANC time lapse" into Google and got many pages of results...

Jim Rog · September 11th, 2005, 05:26 PM

Hi

I want to record 24/48 hours maybe even up to one week over time lapse recording. Yes I did a search on LANC time lapse, but the same as you I got many pages up so that’s what im trying to find out what is LANC? Is this software hardware or another term for time lapse recording?

Thanks

Boyd Ostroff · September 11th, 2005, 05:54 PM

LANC is simply a serial protocol whereby devices can commnunicate with camcorders. It is most frequently used for things like zoom and focus controllers that mount on a tripod handle, such as these:

http://www.varizoom.com/lenscontrols.php

Here's some info on the protocol itself:

http://www.boehmel.de/lanc.htm

Jim Rog · September 11th, 2005, 06:16 PM

Thanks for the links.

So as far as you know there is no device out there that can somehow connect the FX1 and give it the ability to do time lapse recording apart from software? But if you do it over fire wire then you are stuck with how far the lead can go as it needs to be connected to the computer? or your going to be running into the $$$$ for some fire wire portable device correct?

Thanks

Boyd Ostroff · September 11th, 2005, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Rog

So as far as you know there is no device out there that can somehow connect the FX1 and give it the ability to do time lapse

No... that was my point about the Google search. It turned up a bunch of things, but of course you need to read their specs and see if they meet your needs; I have never used any of these personally.

Armin Obersteiner · September 12th, 2005, 12:44 AM

have a look here: http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/archive/i...p/t-33925.html

you should be able to try such a controller in a store ...

John Jay · September 12th, 2005, 06:44 AM

you will need to have something 'gaffered'

heres a link to help you get started

http://translate.google.com/translat...lr%3D%26sa%3DG

September 11th, 2005, 03:47 PM	#1
Jim Rog Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: PAL Zone Posts: 188	Can the Sony FX1 do Time Lapse recording? Hello Please can someone advise me if the Sony FX1 can do Time Lapse recording? If not is there any device out there that I can buy to give it this ability? Thanks for any help

September 11th, 2005, 04:01 PM	#2
Douglas Spotted Eagle VASST Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Stockton, UT Posts: 5,648	With a LANC control, you can do timelapse with the FX1, yes. The cam itself cannot. __________________ Douglas Spotted Eagle/Spot Author, producer, composer Certified Sony Vegas Trainer http://www.vasst.com

September 12th, 2005, 06:44 AM	#10
John Jay Major Player Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: US & THEM Posts: 827	you will need to have something 'gaffered' heres a link to help you get started http://translate.google.com/translat...lr%3D%26sa%3DG __________________ John Jay Beware *PLUGGER-BYTES*

September 11th, 2005, 04:06 PM	#3
Jim Rog Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: PAL Zone Posts: 188	Hi Thanks for the quick reply Where can I find out more info about LANC control? is this software or hardware? And with this can I have full control time lapse with the fx1? Thanks

September 11th, 2005, 04:38 PM	#4
Boyd Ostroff Wrangler Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Mays Landing, NJ Posts: 11,802	First you need to define what "time lapse" means to you. I have a VX-2000 and PDX-10 and they do something called "interval recording." This is somewhat crude in that the minium setting shoots something like 1/2 second of video every 30 seconds. That would give good results when you want to speed things up by a factor of 1000x (like watching a full day in less than a minute) but it doesn't look good for shorter events like a sunset or the movement of clouds in the sky. For those kinds of things lasting an hour or less, any camera will give you good time lapse results. Just tape normally and speed up in post. It has the disadvantage of requiring you to capture the full tape, but you'll get smooth motion. I don't know about high definition software, but if you want to shoot in SD mode then there's software which will capture time lapse over firewire as well - see BTV Pro for the Mac. I think the FX1 may shut down automatically if a tape isn't running however, so that might be a problem. Where can you find out about LANC control? I just typed "LANC time lapse" into Google and got many pages of results...

September 11th, 2005, 05:26 PM	#5
Jim Rog Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: PAL Zone Posts: 188	Hi I want to record 24/48 hours maybe even up to one week over time lapse recording. Yes I did a search on LANC time lapse, but the same as you I got many pages up so that’s what im trying to find out what is LANC? Is this software hardware or another term for time lapse recording? Thanks

September 11th, 2005, 05:54 PM	#6
Boyd Ostroff Wrangler Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Mays Landing, NJ Posts: 11,802	LANC is simply a serial protocol whereby devices can commnunicate with camcorders. It is most frequently used for things like zoom and focus controllers that mount on a tripod handle, such as these: http://www.varizoom.com/lenscontrols.php Here's some info on the protocol itself: http://www.boehmel.de/lanc.htm

September 11th, 2005, 06:16 PM	#7
Jim Rog Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: PAL Zone Posts: 188	Thanks for the links. So as far as you know there is no device out there that can somehow connect the FX1 and give it the ability to do time lapse recording apart from software? But if you do it over fire wire then you are stuck with how far the lead can go as it needs to be connected to the computer? or your going to be running into the $$$$ for some fire wire portable device correct? Thanks

September 12th, 2005, 12:44 AM	#9
Armin Obersteiner New Boot Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Vienna, Austria Posts: 24	have a look here: http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/archive/i...p/t-33925.html you should be able to try such a controller in a store ...