Time-lapse photography is a unique form of cinematography whereby the photographer takes a series of still photos at regular intervals within the same frame over a specific period. Once the series of still photos the photographer intends to take is completed, they’ll rapidly play through the whole sequence. The result of this is a video that shows detailed insights into the movement or transition of the subject. 

Photographers who do time-lapse photography do so to create the illusion of high-speed movement. This is mostly used to show insights into a slow process that is usually not visible to the naked eye. Likewise, time-lapse photos can be used for fast movements to make those movements seem even faster. 

To achieve this, it’s essential to have the right time-lapse photography equipment, such as the following: 

Camera

Technically, any smartphone or point-and-shoot camera can be used for time-lapse photography or any photography, for that matter. However, when shooting a time-lapse, it does make a significant difference if you have a good-quality camera. Hence, the camera is first on the list as it’s a piece of equipment you need to have before you can move forward with other supporting equipment.  

A digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) or a mirrorless camera are two of the easiest cameras to work with for time-lapse photography. If you search thoroughly enough, you may even come across a camera with an in-camera intervalometer or a built-in time-lapse feature. Learn more here about other camera selections you may wind up choosing.

Neutral Density Filter 

A neutral density filter can slow down the camera’s shutter speed to get more fluid transitions, especially when shooting time-lapse photography during the daytime. To simplify things, you can think of the neutral density filter as sunglasses for your camera. Having one enables you to have more interesting transitions, so each movement looks less jumpy when moving from one frame to the next. 

Tripod 

Next, you’ll need to have a tripod. And not just any type of tripod but a sturdy one at that.  

Shooting time-lapse photography means you’ll need to leave your camera in a stable position for an extended period. Of course, it’s impractical for you to hold the camera itself, as its weight will eventually make your hands shaky. A tripod that can hold up the camera’s weight is your best friend in ensuring longer durations of taking stills will be achieved. 

Wide-Angle Lens 

When you have a good DSLR camera, its lens kit is usually more than sufficient. However, if you yearn to elevate your photos, a wide-angle lens is something you’ll want to have. 

Ideally, you should look for a wide-angle lens around 10 to 20mm in size. For night shooting, a lens with a large aperture ranging from f/1.2 to f/2.4 works well to bring in the light. 

Ball Head 

A ball head is a professional photographer’s must-have. Having one increases your camera’s stability on a tripod while making the camera rotate faster and more accurately. The best ball heads should be built like a tank while offering precise and smooth adjustments when used to shoot photos. 

Intervalometer 

An intervalometer is a remote controller that helps make shooting time-lapse photos easier. An intervalometer lets you control the number of shots you’re taking, the exposure length, and the interval time between each frame. 

Motorized Slider And Head 

Using a motorized head and slider lets the photographer take more dynamic time-lapse photos. It facilitates the movement on two axes: the tilt and pan. Moreover, this machine moves the camera along a rail, resulting in a real-time soft movement coordinated with time-lapse. 

Memory Card 

Once you start shooting multiple time-lapse photographs, you’ll soon realize how much storage space all those photos occupy. If you want to play it safe, you can use a memory card with a storage capacity of 512GB. This is usually adequate for around 200 photos each day for an entire year. 

Alternatively, you may consider purchasing multiple memory cards to reduce the chances of a project failure due to a dysfunctional memory card. Several memory cards, each with a capacity of around 32GB, would be sufficient. Once you’re done processing a specific project, you can always free up space from that memory card. The more well-maintained it is, the less the likelihood of it crashing in the middle of a project. 

The Bottomline 

If you want to dabble in time-lapse photography, the list above shows that you don’t need a lot of expensive equipment to get started. The most important factor to consider as you shop for equipment is quality. Don’t skimp on this, so you can have the time-lapse cinematography outcome you intend to achieve. Furthermore, brush up on your skills, as the photographer controlling the equipment still does more work than the equipment itself.