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Posts Tagged ‘Timelapse’

Video: Starry time-lapse at the ESA’s Ariane 6 rocket launch site

13 May

The European Space Agency (ESA) recently published a stunning time-lapse of the star-filled night sky at the ESA’s Ariane 6 launch site in French Guiana, South America. Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana is preparing for the arrival of Ariane 6, ‘Europe’s next-generation launch vehicle.’

The Ariana 6 rocket will come in two versions depending on mission requirements. The A62 has two strap-on boosters, while the A64 has four. The Ariane 6 is 207′ (63m) tall with a diameter of 18′ (5.4m). The mass of the rocket ranges from 1,170,000-1,900,000 lbs (530,000-860,000kg). Replacing the Ariane 6 launch vehicle, the Ariane 6’s maiden test flight is scheduled for 2022 following several delays.

You can see what a typical Ariane 6 mission might look like in the ESA’s video below. Ariane 62 can launch payloads of approximately 9,920 lbs (4,500kg) into a geostationary orbit and 22,700 lbs (10,300kg) into low Earth orbit. By strapping on an additional two boosters, Ariane 64 can launch payloads of around 25,350 lbs (11,500kg) into geostationary orbit and 45,400 lbs (20,600kg) into low Earth orbit. With a full payload, Ariane 6 weighs about the same as one and a half Airbus A380 passenger airplanes.

The development of Ariane 6 has comprised an industrial network of more than 600 companies in 13 European countries, including 350 small- and medium-sized companies. The development is led by prime contractor ArianeGroup. The Ariane 6 launch facilities in French Guiana, seen in the time-lapse video above, are being prepared by France’s space agency, CNES.

Artist’s rendition of the two configurations of Ariane 6, the two-booster A62 and the four-booster A64. Image credit: ESA

The modular design of Ariane 6 means that it will be suitable for a wide range of missions, including Earth observation, telecommunications, meteorology, science and navigation. Adapters have been developed to allow Ariane 6 to carry multiple small satellites at once, allowing small companies more cost-effective access to the space industry. For more information on Ariane 6, click here.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Review: Timelapse+ makes day-to-night time-lapse sequences easy

16 Feb

Even if you’re only a casual time-lapse photographer then you probably know how challenging it can be to shoot a time-lapse sequence that involves drastic changes in lighting conditions. For example, sequences shot during periods of time covering sunrises, sunsets, moonrises and moonsets are difficult because a single set of exposure parameters won’t work for the entire sequence. It’s also unlikely that your camera’s Auto Exposure mode will give you proper results, especially during low light conditions.

That’s where the Timelapse+ View intervalometer, a device designed to automate day-to-night time-lapse sequences, comes in. It retails for $ 399 and it includes Timelapse+ Studio, a Lightroom plugin for processing the timelapse sequences. Studio is also sold separately for $ 49.

I started photographing astronomical observatories 12 years ago. Whenever I needed to leave my camera unattended I would expose for the nighttime conditions (mainly considering the Moon’s brightness) and start my time-lapse sequence before sunset. The sequence would start completely overexposed but would become correctly exposed as it got darker. I would then try to salvage as many evening and morning twilight frames as possible by reducing the exposure value and recovering highlight information in post-processing. (More on how to do this in the Timelapse+ Studio for Non-Ramped Sequences section below.)

These time-lapse sequences illustrate the challenge that the Timelapse+ View aims to solve. I optimized the exposure to correctly capture the night sky, but as a result the afternoon and morning sequences were completely overexposed. Paranal Observatory, Chile. (Nikon D700 and Nikkor 14-24mm F2.8)

Timelapse+ View (the hardware)

All that hassle and limitation can be eliminated with the use of an exposure ramper, a device that progressively changes the exposure according to the lighting conditions. Some devices require that you know beforehand how the light is going to change as a function of time (that is, a light curve) and program the device accordingly. For changes involving the Sun and the Moon, this light curve will depend on the day of the year and your latitude on Earth. Consequently, a lot of trial and error might be required.

The View is an intervalometer and exposure ramper that uses algorithms to analyze the last several exposures and determine how the lighting conditions are changing. Then it predicts the correct exposure for the next frame and sets it accordingly on the camera.

With the Timelapse+ View you can correctly expose the first frame of a sequence and let its auto ramping mode do the rest of the work. The View is an intervalometer and exposure ramper that uses algorithms to analyze the last several exposures and determine how the lighting conditions are changing. Then it predicts the correct exposure for the next frame and sets it accordingly on the camera. At the same time, the View ignores transient sources of light such as headlights.

With the Timelapse+ View you can correctly expose the first frame of a sequence and let its auto ramping mode do the rest of the work.

The View has an internal battery which can be recharged via a Micro-B USB cable connected to a power device or AC outlet adapter. It sits on the camera hot shoe and is connected to the camera via a USB cable (simultaneous multi-camera control is supported via an optional USB port). The View works with many camera models from Nikon, Canon, Sony, Panasonic, Fuji and Olympus, and works with most motion control systems for shoot-move-shoot functionality and motion keyrame integration. It writes image files to either the camera memory card or to an SD card in the unit itself.

Exposure ramping a day-to-night sequence

To shoot a day-to-night sequence, one sets the camera to the lowest ISO and the appropriate shutter speed, making sure that no highlights are clipped. This initial setup will ensure that the sequence will not be overexposed. Since I always shoot in Raw I leave the white balance set to Auto (AWB) and edit the values in post-processing. (See below to learn how to edit a varying White Balance with Timelapse+ Studio.)

You can program the View with its intuitive menu but I prefer to use the free TL+View app (iOS and Android) to program, monitor, and even override my time-lapse sequences. The View can also be controlled from a web-based app on any device with a web browser.

In the first video example below, I captured a fisheye time-lapse sequence of night falling in Nashville for a planetarium show produced by Chicago’s Adler Planetarium. The most natural way of viewing circular fisheye photography is by projecting it on a dome. This results in an immersive experience putting the viewer at the center of the action.

Left: Out-of-camera sequence from a Nikon D810A controlled by the Timelapse+ View exposure ramper. The shutter speed changed from 1/250 sec to 5 sec. Right: The same sequence processed with the Timelapse+ Studio plugin to smooth out exposure changes and gradually change the white balance. Nashville, Tennessee.

For this sequence I set up a Nikon D810A with a Fisheye-Nikkor 8mm F2.8 AI-s lens by the Cumberland River in downtown Nashville. I chose an initial shutter speed of 1/250 sec and ISO 200 (with a fixed F8 aperture) and used the View’s Auto Day/Night interval mode. I set the (initial) ‘Day’ Interval to 5 sec, the ‘Night’ Interval to 10 sec, and chose Speed and ISO Auto Ramping (Aperture ramping mode is also available on the View).

In the Speed and ISO Auto Ramping mode, the View will gradually increase the exposure time and interval between exposures as night falls. ISO values will increase when the exposure time approaches the interval. In the Nashville sequence, the final shutter speed was 5 sec with an interval of 7 sec. It is interesting that during the sequence the ISO gradually decreased from 200 to 100. That’s because, whenever possible, the View will use the longest exposure (for a smoother motion) and lowest ISO (for a lower noise), even if this does not change the resulting exposure.

The View is an intervalometer and exposure ramper that uses algorithms to analyze the last several exposures and determine how the lighting conditions are changing.

I later learned that one can set a mimimum ISO. Setting this to 200 would have prevented the D810A from going into its extended (non-native) ISO range (below 200). According to the developer, only native ISO values should be used since going below the lowest native ISO could cause loss of highlights.

While a time-lapse sequence is in progress you can preview the sequence on the unit’s screen by using hand gestures. This nifty feature lets you control the sequence playback without ever touching the unit, and unintentionally moving the camera. Of course, you can also preview and monitor the sequence remotely using the TL+View mobile app or web-based interface (connected via Wi-Fi, either locally or over the internet). Furthermore, if you need to tweak the sequence settings, the app lets you make changes spread over a determined number of frames, resulting in a smooth change.

You can preview your time-lapse sequence on the built in screen using hand gestures, eliminating the need to physically touch the camera and risk moving it. The View can be programmed with its intuitive menu but I prefer to use the free TL+View app.

On the next page, I’ll explain how to process your images using the Timelapse+ Studio Lightroom plugin.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Third-party iOS Sony remote camera app Camrote adds new zoom, time-lapse capabilities

16 Oct

Third-party remote control camera app for Sony cameras, Camrote, has released a major update that brings new features and improved performance to the latest version of its iOS app.

In addition to general support for Apple’s latest mobile operating system, iOS 13, Camrote version 1.2.0 also adds new wireless functionality for select Sony cameras. Specifically, the update adds support for zooming, ‘BULB’ time-lapse capture, and a new double-tap gesture to disable all Touch AF points from the app. Wales-based developer Simon Mitchell has also added Spanish localizations and made adjustments to the user interface throughout the app.

Mitchell says Apple Watch support and shooting presets are ‘Coming Soon’ while other unique focus-stacking, exposure ramping and other features are in the pipeline as well for future updates. No specific list is given for what cameras support what features of the latest update, so it might take a bit of trial and error to ensure it works with your Sony camera system.

To get the latest update, head over to the iOS App Store to download Camrote for free (with in-app purchases available to unlock time-lapse and geotagging functionality). You can keep up with Camrote updates via Twitter.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Video: Incredible timelapse shows Earth’s rotation relative to the Milky Way

24 Aug

Photographer Aryeh Nirenberg has shared an incredible timelapse from a trip to Northeast Colorado that shows the Earth’s axial rotation in relation to the location of the Milky Way Galaxy in the night sky.

The timelapse, which was captured nearly two years ago, but only now uploaded to YouTube, was captured with an astro-modified Sony a7S II with a Canon 24-70 F2.8 lens attached via an adapter. Approximately 1,100 10-second exposures were captured at 12-second intervals to create the 55-second timelapse.

In speaking with DPReview, Nirenberg said:

I was trying to shoot a regular Milky Way timelapse at a reservoir, but access to it was blocked on the side of the reservoir that I needed to be at to face the Milky Way. So, instead of just shooting the Milky Way with the boring field in the foreground, I thought I’d try doing it with my iOptron portable equatorial mount to make it more interesting and I [photographed] until most of the sky was out of the frame.

The resulting images were processed in Lightroom and the timelapse was rendered using LRTimelapse. You can find more of Nirenberg’s work on his website, Instagram profile and YouTube channel.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Open-source Intervalometerator helps DIYers create inexpensive remote time-lapse DSLRs

20 Aug

Sydney-based coder Greig Sheridan and his photographer partner Rocky have introduced Intervalometerator, an open-source intervalometer designed for deploying inexpensive remote time-lapse systems involving Canon DSLRs, Arduino and Raspberry Pi hardware. The system is ideal for DIYers seeking an inexpensive alternative to existing remote time-lapse systems.

According to the Sheridan’s ‘Intvlm8r’ website, the open-source intervalometer system can be used with a battery and solar panel remotely, in addition to ‘on-grid’ for less remote setups. The intervalometer was designed for the Canon 6D, 60D, and 600D models, Sheridan told PetaPixel, but the duo hopes ‘that over time other models and brands will be tested and found compatible too — it relies on gPhoto to talk to the camera.’

The Intervalometerator can be set up with Web access for remote control and is fully configurable, enabling users to choose the full camera settings, select the time/day when images are captured and interval. The software’s interface, a demonstration of which is available here, includes information on battery level, captured images, remaining storage, the time and date of the last image, as well as when the next shot will be captured and the camera hardware in use.

In addition to having a low power requirement of less than 1mA, the Intervalometerator can also automatically recover in the case of a temporary power loss. Sheridan estimates the Intervalometerator’s cost, excluding the protective housing, mount, and camera, at around $ 242. That is substantially cheaper than competing commercially available systems; the Titan2 Remote time-lapse box with solar power for DSLRs, for example, costs $ 4,700 USD.

Sheridan details the project on his blog and has shared the code on Github.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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TikeePRO 2+ 6K time-lapse camera with GPS is made for professionals

20 Jun

Enlaps, the company behind the Tikee and TikeePRO time-lapse cameras first introduced in 2015, is back with a new model: the TikeePRO 2+ professional time-lapse camera. The new model is described as entirely self-sufficient with both WiFi and 4G LTE wireless connectivity options. The camera can capture and send images in Full HD, 4K, and 6K resolutions.

The TikeePRO 2+ time-lapse camera automatically shuttles images to the cloud and the companion MyTikee web app automatically creates time-lapses from the images. Enlaps bills the new model as a camera for professionals, emphasizing its wide 220-degree field of view for capturing ‘immersive’ panoramas.

The device features two Sony EXMOR R 16MP sensors, each capable of capturing 4608 x 3456 images in JPEG and DNG formats. Enlaps describes the device as ‘smaller than a laptop, lighter than a DSRL,’ with the added benefit of a durable and waterproof housing for outdoor use.

The company redesigned how users access the camera’s microSIM and microSD cards, and it has also added a ‘breathable valve’ that it says is suitable ‘for all weather.’ The device features a standard tripod mount, 4.1W solar panel, 12,800mAh battery, and a metal insert for securing the device with a padlock. With a fully charged battery, TikeePRO 2+ can run autonomously for 10 days with image uploads or for 30 days without image uploads.

Overall, the TikeePRO 2+ is distinguished from the TikeePRO 2 model by its 6K support, built-in GPS for geotagging images, support for 512GB microSD cards, and twice the autonomy for longer time-lapses. The model is available to pre-order from Enlaps now for 1300 EUR. The company expects to start shipping the camera to buyers in August 2019.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Gear: AFIDUS ATL-200 Time-Lapse Camera Introduction

05 Jun

The post Gear: AFIDUS ATL-200 Time-Lapse Camera Introduction appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Sime.

I don’t know how many of you have looked into long-term time lapse before now, but I’m renovating my house and I scoured the web for a solution that was simple to setup and use, and more economical than the ones I found.

Skip forward a few months and this is something we spotted at NAB this year!

An amazing little time lapse camera that is very big on features, but remains very economical on price – The AFIDUS ATL-200.

I wanted to write up an overview of this product for any of you that might be interested. A Macro Time Lapse of a plant growing, or your house being renovated, the possibilities are mostly limitless…

 

The camera was pointed out to me by my friend and filmmaker buddy, Lee Herbet. And then it went and won itself NAB Product of the Year! (Congrats!) To me, as a photographer first, what makes this little camera so appealing is its feature set.

Specifications at a glance

  • Full HD Sony Sensor 1080p
  • Optical zoom equiv. of a 16-35mm lens
  • Wifi App controlled
  • IP65 weather resistant
  • System timer
  • Motion Detection
  • Pinch Zoom
  • MP4 Video output
  • Macro function
  • One Touch Autofocus
  • Wild battery life – weeks to months!

(Full spec here)

Features at a glance

  • The lens has a macro capture feature. With the camera inches away from your subject, you can fill the frame with perfect clarity.
  • Sony Exmor IMX sensor with HDR. Select the HDR amount within the app for great contrasts between bright and dark areas of your scene.
  • Built-in PIR motion detection. This is a great feature. Capture animals, traffic, pedestrian movement and more.
  • One tap autofocus with manual tap precision. If focus is off, manual saves the day and there is a focus calibration feature in the app.
  • 16-35mm DSLR equivalent, optical zoom lens. Yes, the lens zoom actually moves within the camera.
  • Full Wi-Fi app control. Press the camera button, connect to it with the Wi-fi signal on your phone and open the app. In seconds, you have complete control of your camera on your phone. IP65, which means dust protected and water splashing will have no effect on the camera. There is no need to purchase an optional housing with the ATL-200.

I was looking around for a solution to capture my home renovation a few months back. While there are a handful of different systems on the market, for me, they were quite cost restrictive. Whereas, the ATL-200 comes in at $ 389.00, which is much easier on the bank account.

There are a couple of the system’s features that really appeal to me. One is the system timer, which means you can set it up so that it captures your time lapse during the day while the workmen are on-site. It doesn’t fill your card with all the overnight photos where nothing is happening.

The ATL200 has a macro mode, too. So it can do some really creative things (I’m thinking of things like watching little critters in a garden). Also, it’s weather resistant, so just sit it in the dirt and off you go! Alternatively, capture a plant growing, or that sort of thing!

One of the real highlights is that the camera takes regular batteries. A set of four AA batteries will last you 45 Days at the 1-minute interval, 80 days at the 5-minute interval (8 hours a day). This is really quite amazing and great for long term time lapse. No special batteries required, and you can use rechargeable batteries, of course.

Here are a couple of example videos:

While we don’t have our own video made in-house just yet, we’re looking forward to trying the ATL-200 camera on a project very soon! For such a feature set at this price, this could be a really great addition to your content creation toolbox.

Find out the full tech spec and details here.

 

The post Gear: AFIDUS ATL-200 Time-Lapse Camera Introduction appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Sime.


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Timelapse+ Studio makes it easier than ever to create timelapses directly in Lightroom

02 May

Timelapse+ has introduced a new plug-in for Adobe Lightroom that promises to make editing and constructing timelapse videos significantly easier. Timelapse+ Studio can identify timelapse sequences in your library and form them into collections. It will then automatically mark what it thinks are key frames in the sequence and allow users to edit those key frames in Lightroom as normal. Users can add more key frames and then have the software blend transitions to balance for adjustments across all the images in the sequence.

The software also allows users to zoom in to areas of the scene and to pan across the frame to create a sense of camera movement even in situations in which the camera and lens were stationary during recording.

Exposure differences between frames, or different parts of the sequence, can be ironed out to avoid abrupt changes, and the result can be previewed in a window within Lightroom once the sequence is complete. The company says all the automated tasks the software performs can be undone and redone by those that need manual control of the way the timelapse is created.

The astro timelapse below was created by Adrien Mauduit using Timelapse+ Studio.

Timelapse+ Studio is available now and costs $ 49. For more information see the Timelapse+ website.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Timelapse+ VIEW Intervalometer now supports select Fujifilm, Panasonic cameras

15 Jan

Timelapse+ has announced support for select Fuji X series cameras and Panasonic cameras with its Timelapse+ VIEW Intervalometer, which went on sale to the public in January 2017.

Until now, the Timelapse+ VIEW Intervalometer only supported select Nikon, Canon, Sony and Olympus cameras. Now it’s capable of triggering the following camera systems from Fujifilm and Panasonic:

Fujifilm:
• Fujifilm X-T1
• Fujifilm X-T2
• Fujifilm X-T3
• Fujifilm GFX 50S

Panasonic:
• Panasonic GH3
• Panasonic GH4
• Panasonic GH5

The Timelapse+ VIEW is a powerful intervalometer with features including an OLED color screen, automatic exposure ramping, gesture controls, live preview and an accompanying smartphone app for wireless control of the settings. It features a 15+ hour battery life according to Timelapse+ and also has the option to be powered externally using a Micro USB cable.

More information is available on the Timelapse+ website. The Timelapse+ VIEW Intervalometer retails for $ 399.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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DPReview TV: Time-lapse photography

10 Nov

Digital cameras have made it incredibly easy to do time-lapse photography, thanks to the ability to take hundreds—or even thousands—of photos without interruption. However, creating a time-lapse sequence that achieves your artistic intent may require a bit of planning or even some camera accessories. This week, Chris and Jordan walk us through the process of planning and shooting compelling time-lapse videos.

Also, make sure to read our article Behind the scenes: Shooting a motion time-lapse in the Canadian wilderness.

Get new episodes of DPReview TV every week by subscribing to our YouTube channel!

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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