Instant Expert: Time-Lapse and Stop-Motion Hardware, Software and Gizmos

ITEM/CONTACT

COMPANY

MSRP

WHAT’S NEW AND OTHER COMMENTS

Modulo

DitoGear

From $1,800

Motorized skater dolly for DSLRs and other small cameras. Works with standard 15mm straight or curved track. Build any number of configurations. Set motion interval and camera interval. And you can even use it as a continuous motion slider. Announced at Photokina 2012 in Cologne in September.

iStopMotion 3

Boinx Software

$49.99

For Mac OS, with free iOS camera remote for iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch. In its latest version, iStopMotion offers traditional stop motion effects and new time lapse functions. Movies created with iOS devices can be exported to traditional NLEs. Includes such features as onion skinning, tilt/shift adjustments, rotoscoping and chroma key. It’s a must-have for this type of videography!

Timelapse Pro 3.5

dw-c

$1.99

The first of several iOS apps we’ll highlight this month. Compatible with Apple iPhone and iPod Touch. Create time lapse movies with interval timer. Add music track and export. Can’t go wrong for this price!

OSnap!

Justin Cegnar

$.99

A time lapse and stop motion app for iOS. Allows you to set intervals from 1/4th of a second up to 48 hours. Onion skinning and a wealth of other features.

CineDrive

Kessler Crane

From $6,000

I am a real fan of my Kessler CineSlider. CineDrive’s combination of motors and software allows precise control of multi-axis camera movements, with time lapse, Bezier curves and stop motion. Limited shipments, but for anyone with a DSLR or small camera needing precise movement control, it’s worth getting in line.

Camalapse

Photojojo

$25, $45 with Glif tripod adapter

This is basically just an egg timer (a rotating stand) with a camera mount. Simple, but what a great and inexpensive way to create a stop motion or time lapse pan. Of course, it’s for small cameras or camera phones where intervals can be set. Rotates 360 degrees in 60 minutes. No batteries required.

SMAPP

stillmotion

$2.99

For iOS. SMAPP is a comprehensive tutorial app on filmmaking, with subjects ranging from lens selection to creating a shot list. Look for tutorials on creating stop motion or time lapse and learn which settings and tools will accomplish your job most effectively.

Phantom Miro

Vision Research

From $26,000

We’ve featured the Miro before. No discussion of off-speed and high-frame-rate video is complete without mentioning Phantom cameras. Miro brings portability and a lower price point than other cameras in the Phantom line. Worth considering when what you envisioned as a time lapse shot might actually be better as a high frame rate shot.

Twixtor

RE:Vision Effects

From $329 standard, $595 pro

Another plug-in that’s been around for years. Works within virtually every nonlinear editing, compositing, motion graphics and finishing app. Twixtor isn’t a time lapse or stop motion plug-in per se, but with its tremendous flexibility, it is possible to create these effects within a clip. A useful plug-in for this and the whole range of off-speed effects.

TLC200

Brinno

$200

Though marketed as a consumer item, this unit definitely has pro applications. The TLC200 (and its fully waterproof smaller sibling, TLC100) are basic 1280 x 720 or 640 x 480 time lapse cameras. Just set the camera in place and select any interval between five seconds and 24 hours. Records H.264 .avi files. Options include fully waterproof case for TLC200, wide-angle lens, motion sensor and Shutter Line to record jpeg image sequences.

Your Camera

Many manufacturers

Prices vary

There may be apps or specialized cameras or motorized rigs, but the tools for stop motion and time lapse are as close as learning the menu structure of your own video or DSLR camera. Most if not all professional and prosumer cameras offer the ability to shoot interval frames, with varying amounts of time and shutter control.