Timelapse Intervalometer & Storage Calculator
Calculate exact intervalometer delay, total captured frames, clip duration, and memory card storage with card headroom and battery life requirements.
Event Timing & Output Parameters
How to Calculate Timelapse Intervals and Storage
Time-lapse photography compresses time by capturing individual still frames at regular intervals and playing them back at standard motion picture speeds (24, 25, 30, or 60 frames per second).
Core Mathematical Formulas
- Total Frames Needed:
Total Frames = Clip Duration (seconds) × Playback Framerate (fps) - Shooting Interval:
Interval (seconds) = Total Event Duration (seconds) / Total Frames - Storage Footprint (GB):
Storage (GB) = [Total Frames × Average Photo File Size (MB)] / 1000 - Speed-Up Multiplier:
Time Compression = Event Duration / Clip Duration = Interval × Framerate
The Critical Shutter Exposure Margin Rule
Your shooting interval must always be longer than your shutter exposure time. If you take a 20-second long exposure for Milky Way astrophotography, your interval must be at least 22 to 25 seconds. If the interval is equal to or shorter than the shutter speed, the camera will drop every second frame while writing to the memory card.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why should I avoid shooting timelapse in Auto Exposure mode?
Auto exposure causes severe "flicker" between consecutive frames because modern camera light meters adjust aperture blades and shutter speeds in tiny fractions of a stop. Lock manual exposure (M mode), manual white balance, and manual focus.
How many shots can a standard mirrorless camera battery take?
Most modern mirrorless batteries (such as Sony NP-FZ100 or Canon LP-E6NH) handle roughly 800 to 1,500 continuous timelapse shots if the rear LCD preview is turned off. For sessions longer than 3 hours, use a USB-C PD dummy battery or external power bank.
What interval should I use for 3D printing timelapse (Octolapse)?
For 3D printing, snap a photo at every layer change after retracting the nozzle to a home position. This yields a frame count equal to the total layer count of your slicer (e.g. 1000 layers = 1000 frames = 41.6s at 24fps).