Time-Lapse Camera

[Kobus]

I'm looking for a decent video camera to take to Africa with me and would like one that has good time-lapse capability. Any suggestions?

Guess my budget is more along the lines for mid-level cameras, but could probably splurge for a nice one that'll last a while.

If video camera isn't the right route, any suggestions on regular cameras are also appreciated.

Thank you.

[Tyche]

Time lapses are generally done through an external means or via laptop. Find a DSLR you like, buy a good wide angle lens such as a 17-55, and then download the appropriate software.

[Tyche]

Oh, and a tripod is pretty much a must, this isn't going to be cheap

[Kobus]

Dang, need to start saving more then. Thanks for the info.

[Tyche]

It shouldn't be too bad. I think the EOS software that comes with Canon DSLRs are able to capture timelapse. I can't speak for Nikon. You can get a pretty capable DSLR for around $600. A T1i/T2i is relatively cheap and a very capable camera. A kit would include an 18-55 lens, which would probably work. You would still need a tripod though, and they range from anything to anything. As cheap as $50-60 for a crappy one to thousands of dollars. You could probably get the most basic of cheap setups for about 7-800 bucks. Also, both the T1i and T2i are capable of HD video. I'd take a DSLR over a camcorder, because doing street photography in Africa would probably be very rewarding.

[Blabj]

Screw that noise.

http://gopro.com/cameras/hd-hero-naked-camera/ + http://gopro.com/hd-hero-accessories/lcd-bacpac/

For that you get a bombproof 1080p capable camera (and 720p at 60fps!!), which is waterproof, has an ultra wide lens and is capable of doing pretty decent timelapses. And it fits in your pocket. It'll take a 5 mega pixel still every 2, 5, 10, 30, or 60 seconds. And trust me, that's more than enough. You'll need a very beefy computer to edit 5 mega pixel footage natively. Recording times are stupendous when recording to a 32gb SD card, and battery life is very good.

http://www.highballblog.com/2010/08/...ideo-edit.html

Tyche is right if you think you're going to be shooting a lot, but depending on where you're going to in Africa you might regret taking a few thousand dollars worth of camera gear if you get it nicked the first time you take it out after dark. I've heard of many photo journalists in that part of the world ghettoing their cameras to make them less desirable targets for thieves, such as covering them in gaffer and masking tape, smashed screen decals on the rear screen, tatty straps... I'd take a point and shoot, possibly something like a second hand Canon G9. You can get them cheap on ebay and they give you almost all the same controls as a fully fledged DSLR, minus the interchangeable lenses. These will also shoot timelapses with firmware modifications such as CHDK.

[Zansho]

I have a tripod I can recommend that's relatively inexpensive, and it's a fucking tank. All metal construction, has a unique head and pistol grip, so you can use it pretty much however you need.

http://www.amazon.com/Ravelli-Profes...048819&sr=8-26

Problem is, it's heavy, and probably not what I'd call travel friendly if you're going to be lugging it about. The positive part is, you can stick it in your check in luggage, and it'll take the beating just fine.

[Kobus]

Yeah, where I'm planning on going stealing is socially encouraged, so definitely need to "ghetto" up anything I take.

My brother bought a really nice camera a few years ago for his Agriculture degree (up close pics of plants and stuff like that), downside is it's film only :/

Thanks for all the info, I'll see what I can do.

[SephYuyX]

When I think timelapse, I think focusing on one point, walking away for a very long period of time, and having it automatically taking a picture every xx seconds/minutes/hours/days/etc.

Just searching on google for time lapse cameras and tons of things came up, for example this thing: http://www.amazon.com/Wingscapes-WSC.../dp/B002M2TLLI

Or these: http://www.amazon.com/Canon-PowerSho.../dp/B00006LU7J or http://www.porterelectronics.com/ser...dsh-290/Detail

Idk, youre being kind of vague.

As far as a tripods goes, you can find tons, hell you can build one for 20$ that beats out most professional ones (assuming you have carpentry skills) as long as you want it to be stationary and not have a lot of movement.

[Kobus]

I have an older Canon Powershot that I've tried to use to do some timelapse. It doesn't really focus properly. Most of the times I've tried it with the weather or the lake it looks awful.

Where I'm going in Africa has lots of different places I'd like to try, but I want a camera that will take good pictures of broad landscapes or the sky, not just closeups of people.

Edit: Just tried again, the moon is a white blob, and there are no stars in the sky.

[Tyche]

You can't manually focus a powershot? It would seemingly be a good candidate with CHDK and a tripod. You aren't going to be adjusting the focus during a timelapse, so set focus manually and let it go.

[Blabj]

Agree with Tyche, manual focus is key to timelapses. Flickering footage can be a problem if it's all over the place, but can be rectified in post production, but the focus wandering all over the footage cannot be fixed.

Whenever I do timelapses with my Canon 5D, I'll put the camera on fully auto mode, find the correct focus and then disable focus on the lens. This way any minute changes in exposure within the scene should be automatically compensated for in camera so that I do not need to do as much work in post.

In terms of tripods you'll obviously want to go as small and as lightweight as you can afford since you'll be traveling with it. You can spend a lot of money on a tripod, any suggestions I could make would be based solely on what budget you have. I have a gorillapod which is great for shooting timelapses with smaller cameras because you can basically put them anywhere.