Time-Lapse is an amazing and interesting way of taking pictures or creating an impressive scene! In simple words, a time-lapse is a big number of pictures that are taken in specific time intervals.
In this article, you will be able to find the best time-lapse cameras that are found on the market! The picks included are five in number and let me say that they indeed are the best ones that you can find!
A Quick Look at My Favorite Time-Lapse Cameras
| Image | Product | Features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
Best Security  | 10 | Check Price On Amazon | |
Best Mirrorless  | 9 | Check Price On Amazon | |
Best DSLR  | 8.6 | Check Price On Amazon | |
Best Value  | 8.5 | Check Price On Amazon | |
Best Overall  | 8.6 | Check Price On Amazon |
Key Takeaways
- The greatest thing you can do is use your camera’s timelapse option, which will allow you to shoot several photos spaced out over a while.
- There are several fantastic time-lapse cameras available that produce top-notch results.
- The GoPro HERO9 is the top time-lapse camera you can purchase.
- A fantastic DSLR camera like the Nikon D850 is another option.
- Ensure the camera you’re using has a built-in time-lapse capability and excellent video and image quality.
Without further ado, let’s dive deeper into the details!
The Top 5 Best Time-Lapse Cameras
5. Brinno BCC200 – Best Security
What I Like
- Greatly Built
- Resistant
- Great Angle of Recording
What I Don’t Like
- No built-in Image Stabilization
As titled, Brinno BCC200 is a security camera that is made to record outdoors, but still, that doesn’t mean that the other cameras mentioned below in the article, can not be used outdoors. As many people call it, Brinno BCC200 is a dedicated time-lapse camera that does its job in the best way possible!
This time lapse camera for time lapse measures 10.5 x 7 x 3 inches and weighs about 1.3 pounds. The color that it comes in is black and it is one of the most durable cameras that are known worldwide. Since it is a security camera, Brinno BCC200 is more designed to stay outside. What does that mean? Well, it can only mean one thing, the camera is ready to encounter any dangerous weather condition that may occur day or night. It is super resistant.
This time lapse camera owns a 1/3 Low Light HDR image sensor which works at 4.2um pixels. Videos recorded with this camera for time lapse are brought to you on 720p and they have an HD resolution. Since it is a dedicated time-lapse camera, there’s nothing more to tell besides the time-lapse feature. It is really amazing! You can set intervals from 1 second and also up to 24 hours. The angle that this camera for time lapse can record at is 112°.
As for this camera’s battery life, you can use the camera for 40 days of course if you choose to work with the interval of 5 minutes.
Why should you buy it?
The color that it comes in is black and it is one of the most durable cameras that are known worldwide.
4. Canon EOS RP – Best Mirrorless
What I Like
- Durable and Lightweight
- Sensor and Image Processor work great together
- Image and Video Quality
- Modes of Intervals
What I Don’t Like
- Battery Life
- No Stabilization
The EOS series of Canon quickly become the favorite camera for people, from beginners to professionals. The Canon EOS RP is a great mirrorless camera that is very easy to be used and it assures that when used for time-lapse, it is amazing!
This camera for time lapse measures 2.8 x 5.2 x 3.3 inches and weighs 2.7 pounds which in mirrorless cameras is considered lightweight. The material that this camera is made of mostly includes magnesium alloy, which is one of the strongest materials that can be used in the building of time lapse cameras.
It has a very simple retro look in a way and it owns a comfortable grip as well. It is a portable camera too that could accompany you wherever you go.
This camera for time lapse features a Full-Frame 26.2MP CMOS sensor that works in combination with the amazing DIGIC 8 image processor. This great combination, of the sensor and the processor, will help you take the best pictures and record the best videos.
The videos come with a 4K resolution which means videos are very clear and a specialty is that 4K time-lapse movies would be greater than ever. You can use it by choosing whatever interval you want on the settings.
The intervals that you can choose from are 2-5 seconds for fast-moving things, 5-10 seconds for slow-moving things, and 10 seconds or more for sunrises or sunsets.
As long as battery life is concerned, it allows you to take up to 370 shots for pictures, and for the video you can record easily on up to 50 minutes maximum.
Why should you buy it?
It has a very simple retro look in a way and it owns a comfortable grip as well.
3. Nikon D850 – Best DSLR
What I Like
- Great Build Quality + Weather-Sealed
- Impressive Sensor
- 4K and 8K Time-Lapse Movies
- Great in Low Light
What I Don’t Like
- Very Pricey
- Battery Life for Time Lapse Video could be Better
Who hasn’t heard of Nikon, right? It is a very famous name in the field of photography or in the field of cameras in general. The Nikon D850 is an amazing DSLR camera that brings to you an amazing time-lapse feature that works great!
The Nikon D850 is made of an amazingly durable material; magnesium alloy. It is a fully weather-sealed camera that can withstand outdoor shots in whatever weather. The measurements of this Nikon camera are 5.8 x 3.1 x 4.9 inches and the weight is 2.02 lbs.
This camera also has a very comfortable grip while holding it on your hand because of its great design.
The sensor that is packed in this camera is the 45.7MP BSI CMOS which helps you take the best pictures ever! The enormous 45.7MP sensor also helps you record amazing videos. They are brought to you with a 4K resolution, meaning the videos are shot clearly and in full detail.
That’s not all! You can also record 8K videos meaning it is brought in 7680 x 4320 pixels with exceptional enormous clarity. Both of the resolutions mentioned, help you also create amazing time-lapse movies. They can be easily controlled through the settings of the camera by using the intervalometer that is found there.
When it comes to the battery life, Nikon D850 allows you to take on up to 1840 shots of pictures, while on time lapse video it is able to stay with you for about 50 – 90 minutes.
Why should you buy it?
This camera has a very comfortable grip while holding it in your hand because of its great design.
2. DJI Osmo Action – Best Value
What I Like
- Affordable
- 4K HDR Video
- Amazing Stability
What I Don’t Like
- Only 60 mins of Battery Life with RockSteady
Some of you may already know the DJI Osmo Action, which is one of the best action cameras all around the world. It has the ability to take amazing pictures and time-lapse works perfectly!
This action camera for time lapse includes metal as a material that it is built of!
That can only mean one thing; a super-strong camera that can stand almost anything! It is waterproof and can go down underwater on 36ft easily, plus besides that, the camera is also dustproof and drop-proof, assuring more the fact that is a very strong one.
As per the measurements, the DJI Osmo Action has a size of 2.6 x 1.7 x 1.4 inches and it weighs 4.4 oz. The camera owns a magnet on the bottom part so that you can easily use it with any accessory.
This action time lapse camera is packed with a 1/2.3″ CMOS sensor that is responsible for the amazing quality of both pictures and videos. The viewing angle of this time lapse camera is 145° meaning you can record videos or take pictures from an amazing point of view. The videos that are recorded with this time lapse camera will be delivered on a 4K resolution that is HDR as well; meaning the contrast or the color range between the lightest and the darkest, will be perfectly shot.
While recording you will notice an immersive stabilization. That great job is only done by the amazing RockSteady technology, which indeed works perfectly. The time-lapse mode does its job very well, and it works in intervals that go on a maximum of 30 seconds.
A fully charged DJI Osmo Action allows you to use it for about 135 minutes, still, it is dependent on the RockSteady technology in a way; when you use it with this technology it may go down on 60 minutes.
Why should you buy it?
A super-strong camera that can stand almost anything! It is waterproof and can go down underwater.
1. GoPro HERO9 – Best Overall
What I Like
- Very Well Build and Super Durable
- Great Image and 5K Videos
- Amazing Time-Lapse
- Scheduled Capture
What I Don’t Like
- Little Bit Expensive
GoPro HERO9 is one of the most famous action cameras all around. It really has amazing features within and the time-lapse feature is one of them. It really does an amazing job!
When it comes to the build quality of this camera, it is one of the most durable and the strongest among lots of different time lapse cameras, and not only action ones.
It is waterproof and can work amazingly underwater down to 33ft. Besides being waterproof, the GoPro HERO9 can also stand any weather condition, and it works great from the lowest temperatures to the highest ones. Just as action cameras are, this one is small too, measuring 2.8 x 2.2 x 1.3 inches and it weighs 5.6 oz.
In general, the quality of pictures and videos is really at its highest! This time lapse camera allows you to record videos in three modes: HD resolution, 4K resolution, and even on 5K resolution. While in 5K videos the camera delivers stunning clear details of whatever you are recording.
It also has HyperSmooth 3.0 stabilization, which helps with the smoothness of the videos and pictures as well. When it comes to time-lapse scenes, the camera includes the TimeWarp which works in combination with the stabilization and helps you capture immersive time-lapse shots.
The intervals that the camera can work with time-lapse go from 0.5, 1, 2, 5, 10, 30, and 60 seconds. It also, allows you to schedule the time, that the camera will start to record.
The battery life promised by this amazing action camera is that on HD recordings it can shoot up to 100 minutes, still, there’s an exception because when you record 5K videos it can go down to 90 minutes.
Why should you buy it?
It is one of the most durable and the strongest among lots of different time-lapse cameras, and not only action ones.
FAQ about time-lapse cameras
Do I need to use a special time-lapse camera?
Not really! You don’t have to use a special time-lapse camera. Many cameras include time-lapse as a feature and have it included as a built-in mode.
Do I need to use any accessories when taking time-lapse videos?
A great accessory that you might use or that will help you during these types of videos is a tripod. A tripod will help you stabilize the camera so that the shots will be without blur. Most of the time-lapse cameras mentioned above include an image stabilizer, but still, a tripod may help you shoot some amazing time-lapse videos. If you need help choosing which tripod to choose, check out our articles about tripods.
How long is one hour in a time-lapse camera?
If you have recorded with your camera for about 1 hour in the time-lapse mode, you can expect 3600 seconds of video.
Does time-lapse mode take up a lot of space?
A time-lapse video is definitely shorter when it comes to minutes, but still, when it comes to its size, it is exactly like a normal video.
How to choose the best time-lapse camera? – Buying Guide
There are some things that you should consider before choosing the best time-lapse camera:
Time-Lapse Feature Built-In
Time-Lapse on cameras means that you can shoot a single frame of video at a specific time interval that you choose. As already mentioned above, the cameras that include this feature built-in are the best ones ever. If it is included, you are more than ready to go.
Image and Video Quality
These two things are the most important things when choosing any type of camera. When the quality of both pictures and videos is in the best way possible, time-lapse pictures will look better than ever!
Sensor
Even though it may sound without importance, the sensor has a lot to do with the time-lapse feature. The higher the sensor resolution, the better pictures you will be able to take.
Battery Life
Time-Lapse videos are shot with intervals. Always keep in mind that the battery life of a camera has to do a lot with it. What if while recording or taking pictures the camera powers off? It is always better for you if you choose a camera that delivers better performance when it comes to battery life.
Final Thoughts
Here, as we came at the end of this article, I really hope that you can find the best time-lapse cameras, as I always say, based on your personal preferences. The cameras are reviewed clearly and easily; so that you can find the one that you are looking for!
Wedding Photographer
From nature to urban landscapes, my camera is my tool for expressing my creativity and telling stories through my lens.
