Calculator

Time-Lapse Budget Calculator

Estimate photo count, clip duration and storage, check exposure and writing time, and work backward from a desired clip duration.

Enter your values

Results update as you type · Prefilled values are a worked example

720photos

Clip duration24 s

Estimated storage14.4 GB

Photos that fit in storage800 photos

Storage capacitySufficient

Time budget per photo

Margin after exposure and writing3.5 s

First to last capture start3,595 s

The interval accommodates the entered exposure and writing time. The camera may need additional processing time.

Work backward from target duration

Required photos600 photos

Maximum available interval6 s

Duration after rounding frames up20 s

One full interval is reserved per photo. Storage uses 1 GB = 1,000 MB, before formatting and other files. Check against test captures.

Time-Lapse Budget Calculator — Methods & worked examples →

How it works

Reserve one complete interval for each photo: frames = floor(capture seconds ÷ interval seconds). Clip seconds = frames ÷ playback fps. If the first photo starts at time 0, the first-to-last start span is (frames − 1) × interval, not the full interval budget. Camera finishing time is separate.

Scope & limitations

For a fractional target frame count, round up; the resulting clip can be slightly longer. Known time margin = interval − exposure − writing/processing time. A zero or negative margin requires replanning. Units are decimal: 1 GB = 1,000 MB. Allow for variable file sizes, formatting and other files. The tool does not simulate skipped frames, camera-specific interval behavior, battery life or video rendering; confirm with test captures.