Time Lapse Camera

First of all, I'm not too sure if this is where this belongs. If not, please move it to where it belongs...

Anyway, I have been tossing around the idea of doing time lapse photography just for fun so I really don't wan to spend a small fortune on a Time Lapse capable DSLR and lenses. And I really don't want to do this with my Canons either. I was thinking more about getting a P & S that had this feature already built in it without having to add a hack to it. The time lapse feature absolutely has to come with it. I thought about looking at what Canon might have to offer in their P & S lines or maybe their G Series. I've heard so many nice things about these cameras they call Canon and thought this would be a good thing to look at.

Then I started thinking, "well, what if I wanted to use this outside and maybe catch some storm clouds". It would seriously have to be weatherproofed! No doubt!!!

I remembered Go Pro had some pretty sturdy cameras that could handle bad weather. I looked into it and they do have time lapse already built into them.

Ah Ha! I may have found what I'm looking for! So I go to their website (after about a year and a half from the last time I looked there) and discovered they now have an 11 MP model (Hero 2). Hmmmmmmm... I remembered reading that you don't necessarily have to have a high MP camera if you're doing Time Lapse videos. But I'm thinking that for $70 more I can have the newest bestest (<- I know, not a word) camera they make and I can set it to either 11MP, 8MP or 5MP. So no big deal there. It also does 1080 30FPS video as well in case I ever wanted to try that. (The original Hero was a 5MP camera also with the 1080 30FPS video if I recall).

So I think I'm sold on this Hero2 Motorsports edition (Motorsports so I can use the suction cup that comes with it and stick it to my truck during the storms so it doesn't blow away).

Unless someone knows of a camera that is just as sturdy, inexpensive, and can do time lapse... I think I have a winner.

Any insight from you time lapse fans would be greatly appreciated.

Cool Promo Video <--GoPro Hero2

11 mp isn't going to do much for you on a time lapse but the fact that the newer version is zoom-able certainly will. The old version is super wide angle which is not ideal for most time lapse scenes.

Personally if I was you I would be using that 5dII with magic lantern for any time lapse projects. There are ways to get around the weather. Shoot out of windows, doors, the trunk of your car... basically any covered area and you are good to go.

Check out Contour. I picked up a Contour Roam just before Christmas when Amazon had them on sale. http://contour.com/pro​ducts/contour-roam
It's waterproof to 3' or with a waterproof case, down about 200' and can be set for time lapse with a 5MP photo taken every 1, 3, 5, 10, 30 or 60 seconds.

Man, I sound like a commercial.

Dustin Mustangs wrote in post #13781331
11 mp isn't going to do much for you on a time lapse but the fact that the newer version is zoom-able certainly will. The old version is super wide angle which is not ideal for most time lapse scenes.

Personally if I was you I would be using that 5dII with magic lantern for any time lapse projects. There are ways to get around the weather. Shoot out of windows, doors, the trunk of your car... basically any covered area and you are good to go.

Thanks for the info. At first I was wanting something to take time lapse of normal stuff then, after thinking about it, if I could find something rugged that I could hook to an ATV maybe and go nuts with it, that would be fun too. Also I have a 4X4 pick up truck I'd like to hook it to and drive through the woods with as well. So practically, a $2400 5D Mark II that I use to shoot weddings wouldn't be ideal for running through mud holes on an ATV or a 4X4 pickup.

When I started thinking about the Go Pro a whole world of ideas came flooding in. If you saw that video, they are not being very delicate with that camera. I don't think the 5D Mark II could stand most of what they did there. Not that I plan on jumping out of airplanes with mine or strapping it to a surf board. But you never know.

Thanks for the suggestion.

CalmAsToast wrote in post #13781406
Check out Contour. I picked up a Contour Roam just before Christmas when Amazon had them on sale. http://contour.com/pro​ducts/contour-roam
It's waterproof to 3' or with a waterproof case, down about 200' and can be set for time lapse with a 5MP photo taken every 1, 3, 5, 10, 30 or 60 seconds.

Man, I sound like a commercial.

I'll have to look into that one. Looks interesting and a little less expensive as well. Thanks!

The Hero2 and the Contour have basically the same features except...

Looking at the Contour, I noticed it's only waterproof to 1M. The Hero2 is 60M.

The Hero2 can shoot up to 120FPS in standard resolution. It also does 60FPS and 48FPS in HD mode. I don't see any info on the Contour though about frame speed for video. I know video isn't the main thing I'm looking for but it would be nice to have for the future maybe.

It seems that the Hero2 has a few more photo options as well with the wide view and all.

Neither one mention any type of software packages that come with them. Hero2 formats the video in MP4 and I have no problem playing those on the computer now. I'm sure the time lapse is JPG. I just need an app that will make those time lapse photos into a HD movie or whatever. I'm not sure if Photoshop or Lightroom do that. I'll have to check into that.

I don't know. I think I still like the Hero2 but the Contour is also a good choice too as far as price is concerned.

CameraMan wrote in post #13783093
The Hero2 and the Contour have basically the same features except...

Looking at the Contour, I noticed it's only waterproof to 1M. The Hero2 is 60M.

The Hero2 can shoot up to 120FPS in standard resolution. It also does 60FPS and 48FPS in HD mode. I don't see any info on the Contour though about frame speed for video. I know video isn't the main thing I'm looking for but it would be nice to have for the future maybe.

It seems that the Hero2 has a few more photo options as well with the wide view and all.

Neither one mention any type of software packages that come with them. Hero2 formats the video in MP4 and I have no problem playing those on the computer now. I'm sure the time lapse is JPG. I just need an app that will make those time lapse photos into a HD movie or whatever. I'm not sure if Photoshop or Lightroom do that. I'll have to check into that.

I don't know. I think I still like the Hero2 but the Contour is also a good choice too as far as price is concerned.

LR does have the capability with a preset download from Shawn McCullough (spelling?) It actually works quite well and if you have worked with LR, you have all of the functionality of LR at your fingertips.

Well, I bought the Hero2 about a week ago, used their suction cup and put it on my car to do a test run with it. 15 minutes into my drive (less than a mile from the house) the damn suction cup gave way and the camera ended up on the ground in pieces. I was p.o'ed and I'm still a little miffed about it. The lens got badly scuffed but I was able to put the rest of the camera back together. It works but the scuff on the lens is making it impractical to use. I'm trying to buy a replacement lens for it since GoPro is refusing to take the blame for a faulty suction cup.

Here's some great info for you after the fact - put a tether on your camera if you attach it to anything with a suction cup, velcro strap, etc. A simple piece of fish line works. I've used the suction cup to attach my Hero to the inside of the car window but never had an issue with it falling off.

And which lens was scratched, the actual camera lens or the case lens? The case lens is replaceable.

The camera/suction cup mounted to the outside of the car not only has vibration, but windshear as well. Glass holds the suction cup better than painted surfaces.

I think more Hero/Hero2 cameras are sold because of this type of use.

Dave, that is a great idea - tethering with fish line! - 20 pound test would seem good to me.

Yah, I thought of the tether after the fact. I also thought about cleaning the windshield really good and mounting it inside the car. That way if it falls off again it'll just end up on the car seat or the floor and not bouncing down the road starting at 45MPH.

My overall intentions was just to mount it outside and get time lapse pictures of stuff that happens around my house. Neighbors dogs tearing up my garbage, dogs pooping in my yard, etc. and as I mentioned in the OP just for fun. It seems like a very capable piece of equipment and I'll be fixing it really soon.

I have the Hero 2 and it works great for time lapse as a stand alone unit. The other option is that since time lapses are sequences of photos(not video) that a much cheaper intervalometer like this Opteka that I have can deliver higher quality results with any of your cameras/lenses.

http://www.ebay.com …motes&hash=item​45fd297018

I also have it and it works perfectly. The Hero2 quality in daylight is impressive, but it is hard to frame, and has too much grain for nighttime use. The Opteka and 40D solves those issues.

-Scott

I bought one of those at a flea market down in Florida. Didin't buy a battery for it until I got home and discovered the display screen wasn't working. All I can do with it is long exposure or use it as a shutter release without looking through the viewfinder.