Shooting time-lapse video: application comparison and tips. How to make a year-long TimeLapse video on an Android phone Main features of the application

If there is one thing better than videography, it’s the ability to record time-lapse videos. Being able to watch different scenarios being fast-forwarded is a feast for the eyes. In a time-lapse video, the frames are captured at a much lower rate than usual, and when the video is played, time appears to be moving faster. Some smartphones already have the time-lapse feature built-in but if your smartphone does not have this feature, you can install some great time-lapse recording apps that can let you do that. So without further ado, here is a list of the 8 best time-lapse apps for Android and iOS:

If you are looking for a fast time-lapse app with almost zero rendering time, then Framelapse is the one you should download. With this app, you get a lot of control over the settings. You can change the camera settings like exposure, white balance, timer, and even apply filters to your time-lapse. And for the video, you can define the frame interval, video duration, and the orientation. With the option to let you choose the resolution and the bitrate of the app, Framelapse if one of the easiest time-lapse apps to use in this list.

If you don’t mind the occasional ads that pop-up, then the free version of the app is all you should need. However, if you want the app ad-free with a few more features like custom bitrate, white balance lock, exposure lock, etc., then you can download its pro version which costs only $2.99.

When it comes to shooting time-lapse videos, Lapse It boasts all the features that you can possibly think of. Ranging from manual settings like focus mode, ISO mode, scene mode, and white balance to choosing the interval after which each frame is clicked, Lapse It gives you the complete control. Not only can you shoot time-lapse videos in the app, but also stop motion videos. And once you’ve shot a video, you can change its resolution, codec, frames per second, and even add an audio or an effect before finally rendering it.

The only downside of the app is that most of the features are available only if you buy the pro version that costs $2.99. With the free version, there’s not much that you can do but wonder what all possibilities you’d be opened to if you buy the pro version.

Hyperlapse is the time-lapse app from Microsoft. It has a simple user interface with the options to shoot as well as import videos. If you choose to shoot a new one, you get the option to change the video speed anywhere from 1x to 32x. And if you want to stabilize the video with the audio left intact, you can do that by setting the speed to 1x. Once the time-lapse video has been shot, you can select the resolution(720p or 1080p) and the location where you want to save your time-lapse video. You can even share your masterpiece with others after the rendering is done.


Hyperlapse is Instagram’s take on time-lapse apps and it’s the simplest time-lapse app you will ever come across. Contradictory to what you may be thinking, it doesn’t require you to have an Instagram account. You can create time-lapse videos even when you are in motion and they will be stabilized using Instagram’s in-house stabilization, removing any bumps that might occur during their recording. The time-lapse videos can be created up to 12x the speed of the original video and then shared with others.

The app’s interface is just the camera, the option to change the speed of the time-lapse and that’s pretty much it. If you'd like a simple time-lapse app that does the job well and does not go with options and ads, Instagram’s Hyperlapse app is the one for you.

TimeLapse is a very powerful app for recording time-lapse videos. Like many other apps, TimeLapse offers manual controls like saturation, brightness, contrast, and exposure. In addition to this, you can record 4K videos and save RAW images. This is something no other app in this list offers. Along with the ability to record tilt-shift videos, you get absolutely no time-lapse flicker. And once they are recorded, you can even edit them on a frame level.

With its free version, you are restricted to only a certain number of videos. To record more, you’ll have to buy its pro version. Though it costs $4.99, it is worth every penny. If you're serious about recording time-lapse videos, then this is the app that you should download.

iTimeLapse Pro brings the idea of sharing your time-lapse videos with others using the app. Share your photos to the app’s gallery for others to see it and, if you want, you can see them too. The app clicks a series of images and, then, combines them to make a video. You can choose whether you want to click these series of images manually or after a set time interval. After the time-lapse video is compiled, you even get to add an audio before finally rendering it.

Sometimes, you may not feel like compiling a time-lapse video in a single sitting. iTimeLapse Pro lets you create different sessions so that you can save any pending video that you may want to work on later. For an app that costs only $2.99 ​​and has some unique features, I would totally recommend it.

Like most other apps in this list, iMotion lets you create time-lapse videos while giving you the complete control of video tools like exposure, white balance, orientation, etc. In addition to this, there are features like manual mode and WiFi remote that you can use. The time-lapse videos you record are autosaved and can be shot at up to 10 FPS. And once you record them, the app also gives you the option for reverse playback. Like most other apps, iMotion, too, lets you share your time-lapse videos from within the app. For an app that costs zilch, there isn’t much you can complain about it.

Use the Best Time-Lapse Apps on Android and iPhone

Now that you know some of the best apps that can be used to record time-lapse videos on Android and iOS, you can go out and discover the videographer within you. These apps let you experience time-lapse the way your phone’s stock camera app might not. So, try out these best time-lapse apps and let us know your thoughts. Also, tell us the app you found to be the best? Sound off in the comments section below.

Writing posts is an interesting and challenging job. The most important thing is to try to publish material when there are no interesting broadcasts from the Olympics. A couple of weeks ago, Sasha and I were asked to review a small but interesting application. And now this day has come, meet Time Lapse Camera - an application for time-lapse photography.


If you've seen a video like this, but don't know how to make it, then this review is for you.

The video above is a bright representative of time-lapse video. The point is to force your camera/phone to take photographs at a certain interval, and then, preferably, it will all be stitched together automatically.
This is exactly what the Time Lapse Camera application will help us with.
I don’t think it’s worth making a very large review of this program; in fact, everything is already clear.

Download and enable

You can set the desired shooting interval.

Well, actually, start filming!

One of the features I would like to note is the instant saving of the video, that is, the user just needs to turn on recording, and when he stops it, the video will be ready

You should end up with a video like this:

This video was recorded for about an hour. The shooting interval is 5 seconds.

There is a paid and free version of the program. The free one has a shooting limit (10 minutes) and contains advertising. But it’s easier to pay 30 rubles and enjoy the application.

If you don’t have that kind of money at the moment, here are the codes:

All codes are activated

Y99YW6MWEJMT
JTFPKMEJ7JAX
W99EXMMEATHH
H34REXXYF67P
WWW6K6WEFLWW
4AYEW4LNP3N3
6KWMX4A4NR9K
RFJWETMYHAWN
7NFPL3L3E6LH
9JRX3LRHW43T
6FRJEPW6T436
YXHERKEFXHMH
9KN6TTPJR337
LER6ANNWRYXM
9N4TLN3L6F9R

Any interesting apps? Write to us, we have a special one for you

Surely many of you have seen hyperlapse and time-lapse videos on YouTube demonstrating various natural phenomena or simply beautiful views in accelerated mode.

Gaperlapse and timelapse video are not the same thing. Hyperlapse technology involves shooting accelerated video with image stabilization. To create a time-lapse video, the device's camera, mounted on a tripod, must take pictures at a very low frame rate, which are then "stitched" together.
Previously, the technology for such video recording required expensive equipment and time-consuming editing in the editor, but with the advent of special software for smartphones, everything has changed.

In this article we will tell you how any owner of an Android smartphone can shoot hyperlapse and timelapse videos without spending a huge amount of time on it.

Making hyperlapse videos using the Microsoft Hyperlapse Mobile app

Thanks to the Microsoft Hyperlapse Mobile application, creating hyperlapse videos becomes a simple task - you simply shoot a regular video, and then send your video for processing in Microsoft Hyperlapse Mobile. Using special technologies, the application smoothes out image shaking and produces a spectacular video with accelerated motion.

Here are some examples showing how the Microsoft Hyperlapse app processes source material.

After you install and launch the program, you will be asked to load an existing video into it or shoot a new one.

For optimal results, we recommend that you use video shot with Microsoft Hyperlapse Mobile. To do this, you just need to click on the button with the image of the camera, and on the next screen - on the red button to start recording.

After the video recording is completed, a slider will appear at the bottom of the application, by moving which you can select the desired video playback speed. After this, you need to click on the checkbox on the right and wait until the application processes and saves your video.

Applications for shooting time-lapse videos

Timelapse video is shooting video over a long period of time, recording a scene or objects that change very slowly over time. This way, the video can capture hours, days, weeks, and then plays at a fast pace.

As with hyperlapse videos, you can create timelapse videos using your Android smartphone. There are dozens of time lapse video apps available on the Google Play store, but the best ones, in our opinion, are Framelapse - Time Lapse Camera and Lapse It.

Framelapse - Time Lapse Camera

Framelapse - Time Lapse Camera is a multifunctional mobile application for creating time-lapse videos on devices running the Android operating system.

— Frame interval;

— Ability to set video duration to automatically stop recording;

— Built-in calculator for calculating the duration of the video;

— Zooming and autofocus;

— Selfie timer, white balance, color effects, exposure;

— Video resolution;

— Output video in high quality in mp4 format;

— Immediate loss, without processing;

— Display the duration of recorded videos;

— Dynamic viewing of frame size without cropping;

— Built-in guide and help.

Special features of the Framelapse - Time Lapse Camera application:

— Setting the interval from 0.1 seconds to 24 hours;

— Setting the video duration;

— Setting up a selfie timer;

— White balance lock;

— Exposure lock;

— “Magic wand” mode for automatically setting the interval;

— Sleep mode (turns off the screen) while recording is in progress, so as not to drain the battery.

In the Framelapse - Time Lapse Camera app you will also find beautiful templates and backgrounds that will complement and diversify your videos.

Lapse It

Lapse It is a great app for time-lapse photography enthusiasts from the developers of Interactive Universe.
Thanks to the Lapse It application, you can capture sunrises and sunsets, flowers blooming, water movement and much more. All you need to do is simply select the desired functions in the settings and place your device motionless.

Click on "Every 2 secs" in the toolbar on the left to change the interval at which frames are taken for the video (adjust it in milliseconds, seconds or minutes). Video quality can go up to 1080p, and footage can be imported from the gallery and then combined into a video.

Main features of the application:

— Ability to set the photography frequency in the settings (in milliseconds, seconds and hours);

— Ability to select the shooting quality (up to 1080p);

— Possibility to add musical accompaniment;

— Front camera support;

— Export in H264, MP4, MOV and FLV formats.

Have you ever tried to shoot hyperlapse or timelapse video? Share your impressions in the comments.

We are all very familiar with the technique of filming slow processes, which is called TimeLapse. Its essence is to take a photo at specified intervals, and then assemble a video from many photos. For example, by taking a photo every 6 seconds and then stitching it into a video at a frame rate of 25fps, we will speed up the time by 150 times. Clouds will float across the sky and boats will float across the water at the speed of a jet plane, flowers will bloom before our eyes, etc. From the article you will learn some details of how you can take a year-long TimeLapse of a window view on a regular Android phone.


Initial data:

  • A computer with a 2TB hard drive running Windows (of course, the same can be done in Linux, replacing the scheduler with cron and robocopy with rsync)
  • Phone with Android of any version, memory card of any size and Root rights
  • Wi-Fi hotspot
The shooting is organized as follows:
  1. We fix the phone on the window using any available means such as a vice, connect it to electricity, wi-fi, set a static IP address in the settings (or create a dhcp reservation on the access point), for example, 192.168.0.123
  2. We install the Samba Filesharing program and any program capable of taking photos at specified time intervals on the phone. I use FastMotion Tamelapse, which I once bought for $2, but for some reason the author has now removed from Google Play. There is also Lapse It and dozens of others. We start shooting by selecting the frequency, resolution and quality of the images. In my case, the parameters “5 sec, 5 megapixels and jpeg 80%” are used.
  3. On the computer, go to \\192.168.0.123\, find the directory in which the pictures are recorded, in my case it is \sdcard\DCIM\FastMotion\shooting_start_time\, create a bat-file with the text
    robocopy<\\IP_телефона\директория_с_фото> <директория на компьютере>/MOV
    Example:
    robocopy \\192.168.0.123\sdcard\DCIM\FastMotion\2012-06-10_23-31-57 F:\2013-06-10_23-31-57 /MOV
  4. Add the specified file to the Windows scheduler to run every 5 minutes
  5. We wait several hours/days/months
If you want to assemble a video from any subset of photos:
  1. We rename them by mass renaming (Ctrl+M in Total Commander or free Unreal Commander), calling them [C].jpg ([C] is a 6-digit counter starting from 0)
  2. Download ffmpeg
  3. We carry out
    ffmpeg -r 25 -i %06d.jpg -s 1280x720 -vcodec libx264 -vpre hq -crf 25 output.mp4
    -r - frame rate; -i - file name format; -s - video resolution; -vpre - codec settings preset; -crf - quality level (from 18 to 28, lower number - higher quality); Of course, you can select other settings, for example, use the webm format and the vp8 codec
  4. We look at the result, edit it with video editors, and share it on YouTube :-)
Filming has been going on almost continuously since September 2012, with several breaks for various emergency reasons. More than 3 million photos occupy 1.5TB.

Previously, instead of Samba Filesharing, different FTP servers were used on the phone side, and Filezilla was launched on the computer in console form, but this method was more complicated and less reliable, because every few weeks the FTP server always crashed (different ones - “FTP Server”, “SwiFtp”, “MyMobiler”).

On sunny days, the reflection of the white window sill in the window came into the frame; installing a homemade cardboard hood helped, thanks to which the phone was isolated from the window sill.

With the onset of spring, the HTC Desire HD camera began to randomly turn off two hours - several days after the start of shooting (including in cloudy weather, so I did not fully believe in overheating, suspecting the battery, power supplies, processor frequency control profile ). But the cause still turned out to be overheating :-) A window of 8x8 centimeters was cut out in the hood and a computer fan with a 6V power supply was installed, the shutdowns stopped.

One day consists of approximately 13,200 photographs (i.e., in fact, shooting in full resolution, taking into account technical time costs, can be carried out only with a frequency of 6.54 sec) and takes from 4 gigabytes on short winter days and up to 12 GB on a sunny June day with 80% quality .

I have yet to find good software for batch filtering millions of photos from noise and choosing from many days the most visually attractive with their sunsets and storms. Photoshop with a built-in noise filter is not able to use the quad-core Core i7 by more than 12.5-25%, although the filtering result is visually quite good. On an Athlon64 X2 4850e (2x2.5Ghz), filtering one day of shooting from noise took approximately 48 hours, on a Core i7 (4x3.8Ghz) - about 9 hours.

Time lapse is one of the genres of videography, the essence of which is to noticeably accelerate slow processes that are invisible to the human eye. Many individual frames taken at the same interval from one point are glued together into one video. Because of this, the long process is reduced by at least an order of magnitude!

Initially, the technique of time-lapse photography was used in science. A little later, she gained popularity among professional photographers. Long preparation, painstaking filming and labor-intensive editing of the finished result - this is how the process of producing time-lapse video could be described a few years ago. Today, due to the rapid development of mobile technologies, it all comes down to installing a special application on your smartphone and looking for an idea!

What is required to create a video?

Well-prepared equipment is half the success! First of all, we need a smartphone. Any Android device is suitable, the important condition is a good camera. The quality of the final video depends on it, which is especially important when shooting in low light conditions.

Time lapse involves taking all frames from one point, the camera must be fixed, even the slightest movement is unacceptable. A tripod is the most convenient way to mount a smartphone. We talked in more detail about tripods and their use in mobile photography in. Alternatively, you can mount your smartphone using a regular car holder, which every car enthusiast can find. This method is not universal, but it is suitable for shooting time-lapses with a view from the window. Be careful, glass suction cups tend to fall at the most inopportune moment - secure your smartphone. In addition to car holders, a variety of stands and docking stations are also suitable. The main condition is the ability to place the device horizontally.

Before shooting, do not forget to prepare your smartphone. First of all, make sure that there is enough space in the device memory to record a video. One minute of video in HD quality takes up approximately 100 MB of disk space - a ridiculous amount for our time, free up memory with a small margin.

The second detail is nutrition. Shooting video is an energy-consuming process; charge your smartphone battery in advance. Better yet, use a stationary power supply or an external battery in the field.

In addition, do not forget about weather conditions. Shooting in direct sunlight in calm weather can lead to overheating and damage the device. Unexpected rain will also be a surprise! Choose a shaded location that is open to the wind. If rain is forecast, take care to protect your smartphone.





The application interface is completely Russified. The main menu is divided into three tabs, in addition to the videos you shot, the best time-lapse videos from YouTube are aggregated in a separate section - a great place to look for inspiration!



The application supports two modes. The first of them, Photo Lapse, is useful when it is necessary to demonstrate how the photographed subject changes over a long period of time. The video is assembled from many individual frames, filmed at intervals of 24 hours to a week. At the same time, it is important to take photos from approximately one point, so that the photolapse does not turn into a slide show of frames that are not interconnected with each other. Using this technique, you can demonstrate changes in people’s physical shape and appearance over time: weight loss, the result of gaining muscle mass, pregnancy, growing up. In addition, the technique will be useful for demonstrating the construction process, plant growth, and so on. For convenience, the application will automatically remind you of the next frame depending on the selected interval.







The second mode is Video Lapse; at first glance, the interface resembles a regular video recording. The key difference lies in the additional settings. The application allows you to adjust the resolution; all modes that the smartphone records are supported. Frame interval ranges from 0.1 second to 60 seconds, acceleration is 3 and 1800 times, respectively. The shooting duration is up to 12 hours, the application does not calculate the timing of the finished video in advance, you have to figure it out in your head. Once recording begins, the display brightness is reduced to its minimum setting to save power and prevent overheating.


Framelapse- alternative to TimeSpirit. The most downloaded time-lapse recording program on Google Play.


The application is not Russified, but the interface is simple and understandable even without knowledge of English. The main menu is the viewfinder window, no additional actions, launched and immediately began recording.





Like the previous program, Framelapse records videos in all supported resolutions. The maximum possible resolution is marked as Recommended. The interval between frames can be set from 0.1 seconds to 60 seconds. It is possible to set the duration of the finished video in advance; the informant on the main screen will notify you of the time required for recording. Among other things: timer, autofocus mode change, white balance adjustment, various effects and manual exposure compensation.






A special mode helps automatically calculate the interval between frames depending on the selected recording duration and the finished video. This function is announced in the PRO version, but for some reason it also works in the free version.


If, when creating a time-lapse, the wrong interval between frames was chosen or the finished video does not have enough contrast, you will have to edit the source material. One of the easiest video editors for Android - ActionDirector from CyberLink.



The application interface looks neat and not overloaded. Unfortunately, the menu is not Russified, but mastering the program will not cause any difficulties; each function is indicated graphically.





Additionally