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How does iPhone timelapse work?

Published in iPhone Photography 2 mins read

iPhone timelapse works by intelligently adjusting the capture interval dynamically, depending on how long you record for, to create a compressed video showcasing a long period of time. This dynamic interval is key to creating smooth and visually appealing timelapses.

Dynamic Interval Explained

Unlike traditional timelapse photography where you manually set the interval between shots, the iPhone automates this process. This means the iPhone automatically determines how often to take a photo, based on the total recording time.

Here's a breakdown based on the information provided:

  • Shorter Timelapses (under 10 minutes): The iPhone uses an interval of approximately 0.5 seconds between photos. This equates to capturing two frames per second.

Resulting Speed

This method results in a 15x speed increase compared to real-time when recording timelapses shorter than 10 minutes. This means one minute of recording will turn into approximately 4 seconds of timelapse video.

Why Dynamic Intervals?

Dynamic intervals are important for several reasons:

  • Efficiency: They optimize the storage space needed for the timelapse. Longer intervals for extended recordings prevent excessive file sizes.
  • Consistency: They aim to provide a consistently smooth and watchable timelapse regardless of the total recording duration.
  • Ease of Use: Automation simplifies the timelapse creation process for the average user, removing the need for manual interval settings.

In short, the iPhone's timelapse function utilizes dynamic intervals to automatically adjust the frame capture rate, creating an efficient and easy-to-use timelapse video.

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