Digital SLR TimeLapse Photography

Post by **El Jeffe** » Fri Oct 27, 2006 2:48 am

Hey team I am trying to get as much information about this topic as I can. Especially in regards to motion control. I have been searching around the net trying to gather information but thought some of you guys would know some links. The Ski resort I work for wants to do some Timelapse stuff. We are probably going to get a couple Canon 30d's to do this and all the other things we would need big memory cards, battery grips, nice lenses, etc.. I am interested in getting a motion control rig also. Any recommendations?

Thanks!

Post by **Nigel** » Sat Oct 28, 2006 1:02 am

The info is out there if you keep looking...

I know that "Corpse Bride" was shot on Canon DSLRs. It can be done but I don't haven't done it first hand.

Can you do some tests and see what happens??

I did a photo shoot on Digital a couple weeks back and did everything from my laptop. It was kinda cool. I wish I could get my F5 to run off this thing!!

Good Luck

Post by **El Jeffe** » Sat Oct 28, 2006 2:48 am

We are getting our equipment list together for what we would need. We are trying to convince them to buy rather than rent so we have the equipment for resort use all the time. We are gonna try and get a Canon 1D Mark II and a 30D. We are gonna give the after effects method a shot to add a slow pan within the timelapse in post. If they buy us the equipment then we will have some time to run tests before hand. It's gonna be a pretty tricky project. They want the timelapse to run all day and night for 4 days straight. This main hill will go from dirt to fully covered in snow in those days. I figure we are gonna have to have a daytime setting a nightime setting then when the snow starts to cover the hillside adjust again for all the reflection of light.

Then we have to factor in these giant fan guns blowing snow all over the place, snow-cats moving huge mounds of snow, and crews of guys adjusting snow guns and such. One of the camera's is gonna hold it's position throughtout the entire time and the other camera we will move daily and get diffrent shots.

I am thinking of having a couple wooden boxes built with some plexi-glass in the front to shoot through. Maybe insulate them also. I gotta worry about fogging, condensation, and the snow being blown onto the the glass. All kinds of fun stuff!!

This is all for the company I work for we now boast the largest snow making system in the world. Pretty crazy stuff we can have 3 one mile ski runs open for skiing in three days with just man made snow.

I will keep you posted on how it all works out. I have been looking to buy a digital slr to do this type of stuff anyways, so I am super excited.

Post by **MovieStuff** » Sat Oct 28, 2006 4:56 am

You really don't need a motion control rig for something like this. For pans you can buy continuous run gear motors that have realllllly slow RPMs and just mount the camera to that or a geared reduction off the main shaft. Simple math will tell you how far it will move during X amount of time. Contact me off list if you need any help. They're pretty simple to rig up.

Roger

Post by **dirb9** » Sat Oct 28, 2006 7:06 am

For each camera, Canon makes a remote control/intervalometer descriptivley called the TC-80N3. You can set any interval from 1 sec to 99 hours between shots. They usually run about $110, B&H photo has them. You're going to want an AC adapter; since the cameras have to be turned on while they're shooting, you'll get maybe a day of battery life, especially considering that cold weather kills batteries faster. However, why are you thinking of the 1d Mk II? Unless you need the 8 FPS and weather sealing, go for the 5d, it'll have better image quality, and is cheaper. As for lenses, for the one that's fixed, the Sigma 20mm f/1.8 would probably be your best bet for a lens that will nativly fit the EF mount. However, some other lenses like the OM mount olympus 21mm f/2 would give better results, you just have to use a mount adapter from someplace like fotodiox.com. For the camera you'll be moving around, the the Canon 17-55/2.8 (will only work on the 30D!) or the 24-70 2.8 would probably be they best, since they're wide angle zooms, and you probably won't need a telephoto. It won't hurt to pick up the 50mm f/1.8 just in case, under $100.

Post by **El Jeffe** » Sat Oct 28, 2006 5:49 pm

Cool thanks for the info guys. We are getting those remote/intervalometer's. The other guy I am working on this with wants the Mark II for the frame burst to shoot snowboarding sequences throughout the year. I personally would rather get the 5D also since I don't care about shooting sequences. I like to shoot timelapse and nice single photos. Thanks for the lens info I was looking to get that 17-55.

Post by **christoph** » Sat Oct 28, 2006 6:18 pm

havent done this myself either, but i suspect that the huge exposure changes are going to be one of the biggest challanges.. i'd try to experiment with exposure bracketing/HDR images to get a smooth change.

sounds like fun, but you'd better have a fast computer ;)
++ christoph ++