In time-lapse photography, the frame rate used to record film frames is substantially lower than the frame rate required to display the sequence. Time looks to be slipping away when played at the standard speed.
As an illustration, a picture of a flower blossoming might be taken once every 10 seconds, and then play it back at a frame rate of thirty frames per second. The outcome would be an accelerated photograph of the flower blossoming three times more quickly than usual. Several events can be documented with time-lapse photography.
The sun rising and setting, plant development and clouds moving across the sky are a few examples of natural occurrences that fall under this category. Additionally, it may record artificial events like roadwork or traffic jams. With a Nikon D7200, there are various ways to capture time-lapse videos.
➢ First Option:
The use of the integrated interval timer is one option. You may access this timer from the menu by selecting Interval Timer Shooting under Timers/Remote. The camera will snap a picture at the predetermined intervals until the sd card is filled or the battery dies once the interval timer is set.
➢ Second Option:
The Nikon ML-L3 remote control is another option to capture time-lapse footage with a Nikon D7200. This remote can activate the shutter release and plug into the camera’s remote control connector.
Benefits of using a remote:
- The use of the remote has the benefit of freeing up the photographer’s hands by allowing the DSLR to be set on a tripod or other support.
- Using the other support or tripod to keep your camera stable is crucial for achieving the greatest results when recording time-lapse videos.
- Also, it’s critical to record in RAW format so that the photographs may be edited for the highest quality and to utilize a low ISO level to prevent image noise.
- Using the frame size and rate currently chosen in the video shooting menu, the camera automatically snaps photographs at predetermined intervals to produce a silent time-lapse video.
Some Crucial Things To Learn Before Shooting
Take a test shot with the camera’s settings before starting time-lapse photography, framing the image in the viewfinder to have a good idea of how the exposure will turn out. Choose a different white balance option from the auto for consistent color.
After the settings are as you like them, take off the rubber material eyecup and put the included eyepiece cap over the viewfinder to stop light from entering the viewfinder from affecting photos and exposure. It is advised to utilize a tripod.
The camera should be mounted on a tripod prior to shooting. Use a fully charged battery, an optional AC adapter, or a power cable to ensure that shooting is not interrupted.
❖ Choosing time-lapse photography.
The movie shooting menu’s Time-lapse photography option should be highlighted, and pressing 2 will highlight the time-lapse photography settings.
❖ Change the time-lapse photography settings.
Choose an exposure smoothing option, Interval, and duration of the entire shoot.
➢ To select the Interval between the frames:
- Choose the Interval, then press 2.
- Choose a time interval (in minutes and seconds) greater than the slowest predicted shutter speed and click “ok.”
➢ To select the overall shooting duration:
- Highlight the shooting period and press 2.
- Press “ok” to select the filming time (approximately 7 hours, 59 minutes).
➢ Exposure smoothing can be turned on or off by:
- Choose Exposure smoothing and then press the 2 buttons.
- Press “ok” after selecting an option.
In modes other than M, choosing On smoothes out sudden changes in exposure.
Note: Keep a mind that exposure smoothing only functions in mode M if the auto ISO sensitivity control feature is enabled.
❖ Start the shooting.
Highlight click “start” and “ok.” After roughly 3 seconds, time-lapse photography began. The camera takes pictures at the chosen interval and during the chosen shooting period. When finished, time-lapse movies are saved to the sd card chosen in the film shooting menu as the Destination.
Time-Lapse Photography Comes to an End.
If you want to stop time-lapse shooting before all the pictures are shot, select Off in the menu and hit OK. You may press ok between frames or right away after a frame is captured.
A movie will be made from the first frame until the time-lapse photography is finished. It should be noted that if the power source is disconnected or unplugged or the destination storage card is deleted, time-lapse photography will stop, and no video will be produced.
❖ No Image.
If the camera can’t focus using single-servo autofocus, it will skip the current frame (The camera refocuses before each shot while using AF-S or single-servo autofocus.). The next frame will mark the start of a new shooting.
Time-Lapse Imaging.
Live view (031, 161), shutter speeds of A or% (058), bracketing (0197), High Dynamic Range (HDR, 0141), multiple exposures (0211), and interval timer photography (0217) are all restrictions on time-lapse photography.
It should be noted that the duration between the recording of one shot and the beginning of the following shot may vary depending on the shutter speed and the amount of time required to record the picture to the memory card.
If a time-lapse movie cannot be captured at the present settings, shooting will not start (For instance, if the sd card is filled, the interval is more than the shooting time, the interval is zero, etc.)
If the HDMI cable is attached, the camera controls are utilized, or the settings are modified, time-lapse photography may end. A movie will be made from the first frame until the time-lapse photography is finished.
❖ Estimating the Final Movie’s Running Time.
A rough estimate of the total number of frames in the finished film can be obtained by dividing the filming time by the intermission and rounding it up.
- The total number of shots can then be divided by the frame rate chosen for Frame size/frame rate in the movie shooting menu to get the duration of the finished film.
- For illustration, a 48-frame movie shot at 1920 1080; 24p will last roughly two seconds. The longest time-lapse photography-based videos can be 20 minutes long.
❖ During the shooting.
The internal memory card access lamp will illuminate when time-lapse photography is done, and the time-lapse recorded indicator will appear in the control panel. Before each frame is recorded, the amount of time (in hours and minutes) is displayed in the shutter-speed display.
Other times, halfway pushing the shutter-release button will show you how much time is left. The standby timer won’t run out when shooting, regardless of the Custom Setting c2 (Standby timer, 0 279) option that is used to check the time-lapse photography settings now in effect or to stop it altogether. Press the G button between each snap.
❖ Image Analysis.
The K button cannot be used to view images while time-lapse shooting is taking place. However, if On is chosen for Picture review in the playback menu, the current frame will be shown for a little while after each shot (0 267). The frame cannot be viewed while performing any other playback operations.
What Kind of Equipment Is Needed for Time-Lapse Photography?
There are not many specialized pieces of equipment needed for time-lapse photography.
❖ Tripod.
A tripod is required for time-lapse photography since the camera must remain completely still to highlight your subject’s progress and prevent photographs from becoming too fuzzy.
Consider using a sturdy tripod like the JOILCAN tripod with its adjustable legs and robust construction. This tripod provides excellent stability, ensuring sharp and well-composed time-lapse shots.
❖ Intervalometer.
An external device called an intervalometer, or in some circumstances, a program you can install to your camera, instructs the camera to take pictures at preset intervals for a predetermined period. You can avoid having to manually push the shutter button on your camera every few seconds by using an intervalometer.
“The PIXEL Nikon DC2 TW283 intervalometer is a compatible and user-friendly device for Nikon cameras like the D7200. It offers precise control over time-lapse settings and features a digital display. With a remote distance of over 80 meters, it provides reliable performance and anti-interference ability. You can set delay timer, exposure time, interval time, and more. The intervalometer supports various shooting modes and comes with an LCD screen on the transmitter and receiver. It is compatible with different camera brands using appropriate connecting cables. Ensure com01patibility and follow the manufacturer’s instructions for proper usage.”
❖ Filters with neutral-density.
Similar to sunglasses for cameras, neutral-density (ND) filters to cut down on the quantity of light passing through the lens without altering color temperature.
Although not technically necessary, ND filters give you more control over your shutter speed, so you may use slower shutter speeds while maintaining the same light level.
❖ Memory cards with a large capacity.
To capture time-lapse photography, numerous high-quality photographs must be taken back-to-back, which takes up a lot of room. Shooting in RAW format captures photographs at the highest possible quality with true image dimensions for the best results. Bring several high-capacity memory cards, such as 512GB and 256GB options, so you can be prepared for the huge RAW file sizes.
A 512GB memory card offers ample storage space for extended time-lapse sessions, allowing you to capture a large number of high-resolution images without worrying about running out of storage. Additionally, a 256GB memory card provides a generous capacity for shorter time-lapse sequences or as a backup option.
Ensure that the memory cards you choose are compatible with your camera, and opt for reputable brands known for their reliability and fast data transfer speeds. These high-capacity memory cards will enable you to store a vast collection of RAW images, giving you the flexibility to create stunning time-lapse sequences with ease.
FAQs
How long does a 10-second time-lapse take?
With 24 fps and 30 fps being two popular frame rates, 10 seconds is roughly 240–300 frames (photos). If you want a video that lasts 10 seconds and your duration is one hour (3600 sec), split 3600 seconds by 300 frames to get a 12-second gap.
What frame rate works best for time-lapse photography?
Most time-lapse videos are presented at a frame rate of 30 seconds (FPS). If you don’t consider how rapidly the action happens in the camera, your time-lapse video will just be a collection of static images. The frame rate of a time-lapse movie can be modified throughout the editing process.
How long can a D7200 video record?
The Nikon D7200 DSLR can produce individual videos that are approximately 29 minutes and 59 secs (1080/30p) or 4 GB in size. If the DSLR temperature increases, recording may stop before these restrictions are reached.
Is the Nikon D7200 a camera for professionals?
With my years of experience, the Nikon D7200 is among the most cutting-edge professional APSC cameras out there right now. With its tough, weather-sealed build and great image quality for its class, You can be sure that it will shoot stunning pictures anywhere you carry it.
Can the Nikon D7200 capture quality video?
The Nikon D7200 produces high-quality HD video. Let’s take a closer look at utilizing a Nikon D7200 to record video, as there are many settings unique to this format.
Conclusion:
I sincerely hope you found this article very beneficial and that it answered any questions you may have had. You can leave a comment below if you have any questions.