The Future of Long-Term Timelapse

Dedicated timelapse cameras are becoming common tools for content creators, artists, construction companies and more. Why?

Timelapse: Make it WORK!

While many manufacturers offer timelapse capabilities, Timelapsecameras.com focuses on dedicated cameras for their simplicity and ability to free up other gear to do what it does best. Sure, your phone can shoot timelapse, but are you going to mount it outside at a construction site for a month? A dedicated timelapse camera allows you to capture your longterm footage while you can still snap & shoot with your DSLR, action cam or other equipment.

(Writers note: Using a mobile device or DSLR set-up to record in these conditions was out of the question for the TimeLapseCamera team when they documented the Microtunnel Boring Machine project in Rochester MN, January 2020.)

MP4 is in, AVI is out

Regardless of whether you stopped using AVI in 2009 or not until 2019 when Adobe killed support for the format, it's gone... or at least it should be. This move outdated several timelapse cameras, yet some manufacturers still hung on too long, and it cost them. However, when security camera manufacturer Afidus introduced the ATL-200 in 2019, they quickly realized this and upgraded their firmware to output mp4 format.

Simplicity Rules

While power users love features, it's becoming more apparent that simplicity rules. Don't get us wrong, we love options as much as the next shooter, but when you've got to get set up and keep moving, the run & gun style is a big plus. Manufactures with their ear to the pavement understand this and have responded.

The Afidus ATL-200 offers Pro features including optical zoom, PIR, multiple recording modes and more. This camera was a giant leap forward in a camera that could last 30+ days in the field on a set of AA batteries. However, all those options brought on some difficulties as more cameras found their way into hands of craftsmen, artists and others who were focused on their work, not camera setting.

Bring on the ATL-201 timelapse camera. Stripped of the Pro features, this little powerhouse more than made up for with an amazing optics that offered fixed focused and unprecidented low-light capabilities. Despite falling in love the the 200, the 201 is quickly becoming our go-to tool.

So What's Next in Timelapse Cameras?

1st, let's get the big one out of the way, we've got a little ways to go before we see 4K in a camera under $500 that can run up to 90 days. But it's coming! We think it's safe to say, the next big jump will be improved battery life... WAIT?!?! EVEN MORE BATTERY LIFE??? That's the direction we're seeing as manufactures push limits of big capabilities in small cameras, because, let's face it, who wants to hang a boom-box level of D batteries when a few AA's get the job done. Lastly, like much of the video camera industry, better sensors will be coming to low-cost timelapse cameras further improving the clarity and quality of the footage.

What's next for you? Let us know in the comments what you're using timelapse for and what you want to see coming down the pipeline.

For more information on the Afidus ATL-201, (https://www.afiduscam.com/atl-201) To check out some 201 content, click here.