Full Introduction and Tips for Shooting Time-lapse Video with Reolink Camera

[Reolink Fiona]

TLDR:
This article will tell you about the support models of time-lapse, how the time-lapse work, behind the scene of development, how to shoot the time-lapse, and tips for time-lapse settings and its download & storage. 
 

What Reolink cameras support time-lapse?

Below are the cameras that support Time-lapse:

• RLC series: All models with A suffix(eg.RLC-510A)
• Duo series: Duo 2 series and Duo Floodlight series
• TrackMix series: All
• Battery-powered cameras: With firmware updated
• E1 series: E1 (hardware ver. IPC_566/561), E1 Pro (hw. IPC_566), E1 Zoom (hw. IPC_566), E1 Outdoor, E1 Outdoor PoE

 
PS: If you add the camera to the NVR, the time-lapse is not available.
Please check the list here if you are not sure whether your camera supports the time-lapse or not.
https://support.reolink.com/hc/en-us/articles/900002907866-Which-Cameras-Support-Time-Lapse

 


How does this video create?
 
The camera takes the photo at regular interval and then gather the series of photos together as an accelerated video. This is called a time-lapse video.
 
The time-lapse video can record the project like the construction/garden process, the object changes like weather change, sunrise, flower blossoming, and all the life around us as time passes by. It shows time passing in a few seconds, which could not experience if we just see the recording videos at normal speed.
 

Why did we add a time-lapse function in the camera?

Before, many users will deal with our cameras all day videos and secondary processing videos to record the evolution of the project or life. But the videos are at long length and it is hard to choose and process them if we would like to view the long-lasted event in a short moment.
 
As a result, adhering to the concept of making the camera not only useful but fun, our engineer evaluates the interesting function in the market and decide to add the time-lapse.
 
 

How to shoot the time-lapse?

Just put the SD card in the camera and the time-lapse feature can work.
 

How to set up a time-lapse via APP?

Step 1. Go to Device Settings > Time Lapse.
Step 2. Tap Try Now and select a scene for time-lapse capture.
 

How to set up a time-lapse via PC Client?

Step 1. Put your mouse on the live view screen and click the Time-lapse button.


Step 2. Click Create Now and select a scene for time-lapse capture.
 

Introducing the time-lapse mode settings

We have different kinds of preset modes like Event/People/Traffic, Moving Clouds, Sunrise, and so on. The preset settings can give you the right settings of duration, interval, etc. to generate a good time-lapse for a specific scene.
 
For example, if you would like to record your camping event, you can choose the Event/People/Traffic mode.

 
Optional modes: 
Event/People/Traffic, Moving Clouds, Sunrise, Sunset, Construction, Blooming, Animal, Crops
PS: Reolink battery-powered cameras do not support the Event/People/Traffic scene.

 

Customize the time-lapse

You can also choose to customize the time-lapse settings if you don’t find the right mode. Both videos and images are supported.

Tips for customized settings:

 
1. Duration: It is to define the time duration of the whole time-lapse, which can be set from 1 minute to 830 days, or no limit.
 
2. Daily Capture Period: It means that the camera will begin to capture the photo in this time period every day. Only available when the duration is more than 1 day.
 
3. Interval: The interval is the time between two captures in the capture period. From 2 seconds to 6 hours for PoE or DC-powered cameras and from 10 seconds to 6 hours for battery cameras.
 
4. Format: Choose to store the capture as a photo series or a compressed video. A camera can save a maximum of 10,000 photos per day if the photo format is chosen. If you want to enable the time-lapse for a long period, you are recommended to set a longer interval or store the capture as a video instead of a photo format. 
 
5. Estimated video length & estimated file size: After all the settings, there will be an estimated video file size for your reference. Based on the estimated size and the scene, you can adjust the duration, interval, and quality to generate a proper size video. If the file size is so large that exceeds the available storage, it is recommended to set up a shorter capture duration, a longer capture interval, or a lower video quality.

 

Tips for download and storage:

 
1. If you would like to download the large time-lapse, it is better to download it on the PC Client(with the latest version).
2. You can choose to overwrite the time-lapse function in the setting. This will allow the camera to overwrite the files when the storage is full.

 
Troubleshooting steps for download failed of the time-lapse video

Links: SD card requirement; Download Center – Reolink
 
If you fail to download the videos or images after several attempts, you can take out the SD card and put it on the PC for download. 
 
Don’t have a camera that supports the time-lapse?
Buy one to capture your own time-lapse now.
Official website: https://bit.ly/400dL4L
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3lvEYNq
 
Please comment below if you have any questions.

[user_710299873853677_710299873853677]

For a multi-day time lapse, is it possible to have the camera save one video per day, rather than one video for the entire duration of the time lapse?