LensCalc

Time-Lapse Calculator

Plan the shoot before you start it.

Shooting Duration (min)

Interval (sec)

Playback FPS

Final Clip Length

30 s

Frames Captured: 720
Speed-up Factor: 120x

What you entered

Shooting Duration (min): 60Interval (sec): 5Playback FPS: 24

1
Shooting duration in seconds
60 min x 60= 3,600 s
2
Frames captured
3,600 / 5 s interval= 720
3
Final clip length
720 frames / 24 fps= 30 s
4
Speed-up factor
3,600 / 30= 120x

Result

Final Clip Length: 30 s

Time-lapse frames and clip length

Frames are the shooting duration divided by the interval. Clip length is frames divided by the playback frame rate.

Shooting duration	Interval	Playback	Frames	Clip length	Speed-up
60 min	1 s	30 fps	3,600	120.0 s	30.0x
60 min	2 s	24 fps	1,800	75.0 s	48.0x
60 min	5 s	24 fps	720	30.0 s	120.0x
120 min	5 s	24 fps	1,440	60.0 s	120.0x
480 min	10 s	24 fps	2,880	120.0 s	240.0x
1440 min	30 s	24 fps	2,880	120.0 s	720.0x

The last two rows both make a two-minute clip, one from 8 hours and one from a full day, purely by changing the interval. Plan the interval from the clip length you want: shorter intervals mean smoother motion but far more frames and battery.

Interval sets the feel

Short intervals of 1 to 2 seconds suit moving people and traffic, 5 to 10 seconds suit clouds, and 30 or more suits sunsets and construction. Too long an interval makes motion stutter; too short buries you in frames for very little extra smoothness.

Working backwards from clip length

Most time-lapse shots run 10 to 20 seconds on screen. At 24fps a 15-second clip needs 360 frames — multiply by your interval and you know exactly how long to stay on location, which is far better than guessing and running short.

Frequently asked questions

I want a 15-second time-lapse of a sunset shooting every 5 seconds — how long do I need to shoot?

At 24fps, 15 seconds needs 360 frames. At 5-second intervals, that's 360 × 5 = 1,800 seconds = 30 minutes of real time. Plan to arrive early and shoot a few extra minutes as buffer.

How is the time-lapse calculator different from the shutter speed calculator?

The shutter speed calculator finds the right exposure time for a single sharp photo. The time-lapse calculator plans the interval between shots and total shooting duration for a multi-frame sequence — it's about scheduling, not exposure.

What interval should I use for clouds?

5-10 seconds works well for most cloud movement. Fast-moving storm clouds can use 3-5 seconds; slow, wispy cirrus might need 10-15 seconds. Shorter intervals give smoother motion but need more storage and shooting time.

Does playback frame rate matter?

Yes. 24fps gives a cinematic feel, 30fps is standard video, and 60fps looks ultra-smooth. A 360-frame sequence plays for 15 seconds at 24fps but only 12 seconds at 30fps — plan your interval around both the desired real-time duration and playback speed.