Time-lapses are now extremely popular for making those fancy nature videos, cityscapes, and even show an entire process from start to finish. Now, a lot of cameras support this feature, but as you’re looking for the best time-lapse video camera, that’s exactly what I’ve evaluated and reviewed here for you.
Now, when it comes to Timelapse videos, you need to ensure that the footage looks smooth and the camera handles the framing properly, so there are no stutters or weirdness in the footage. That’s where good hardware & processing come into play. This is something budget cameras often mess up, so midrange to premium is the better option.
Choosing the right camera for time lapse can be challenging at times and if you end up with the wrong camera, it may not do your videos justice at all. That’s why I’ve made a detailed list with proper evaluation, a stiff elimination process, and although I wasn’t able to include super cheap options, I’ve tried to include a couple of mid-range devices.
Best Time-Lapse Cameras in 2022
The time lapse videos can be really useful if shot correctly and to make sure you have all the tech support you may possibly need for that, I’ve evaluated a large number of cameras and only kept the best of the best ones in their respective price ranges. You should have no problem whatsoever while shooting timelapse videos on these cameras.
1. Best Overall: Sony A7 IV
The latest addition to Sony’s full-frame lineup, the Sony A7 IV is a significant improvement over its predecessor. It has received multiple upgrades including an improved sensor that upgrades the video recording capabilities and improved processing adds some extra cherries on top. So, this is definitely one of the best time-lapse video cameras you can get right now.
Design & Build
There haven’t been major design changes in Sony’s A7 line-up of cameras and the A7 IV looks very similar to its predecessor. It has the same boxy look with professional exteriors and premium build quality. It still doesn’t come with a top monitoring display which is a bummer because of the significant price increase.
As you may expect, the build quality is great and you have that certain heft that comes with it. At just 1.45 lbs, it’s actually still comfortable for handheld use. However, for Timelapse, you’re gonna have to use a tripod anyway, so the weight isn’t really making much difference here. You do get a vari-angle LCD flip display as well.
Timelapse & Video Recording
The A7 IV takes great timelapse videos with proper framing and control. You’ll need to use the control dial and set it to S/Q mode. This refers to Slow/Quick motion and that Quick Motion is indeed, Timelapse video. The camera does great time-lapses in both day and nighttime conditions.
As video is concerned though, it finally got the much necessary upgrade to 4K 60 FPS and, of course, there is also support for HDR in HLG and 10-bit 4:2:2 RAW. The quality has improved too and the low-light performance has benefitted a lot from the new sensor and processor on board. Timelapse videos look really great on this camera.
Connectivity & Inputs
Something that the company didn’t change is the wireless connectivity options. You still get the same old Bluetooth v4.1, but the Wi-Fi has been upgraded to 802.11 b/g/n/ac dual-band Wi-Fi. The Bluetooth though was okay in the past, but with a device this new and a price tag this high, it really isn’t ideal anymore.
The wired connections are great though. You get USB-C, Micro HDMI, 3.5mm headphone and microphone jacks, a Multi-accessory shoe, and a vertical grip connector. There are dual memory card slots and you get one for SD up to UHS-II alongside one for CFexpress cards.
Battery Life
Sony is using an NP-FZ100 battery which is kinda a chunky boy. With change in ambient temperature, the battery life might vary, but it’s a two-hour battery in practical scenarios. So, shooting timelapse videos is reliable on this camera as you do not need to worry about the battery dying too quickly.
Should you buy this camera?
If you have the budget, the Sony A7 IV is definitely the best camera when it comes to time-lapse videos. Even if you decide on shooting regular videos, or slow motion, then this camera will also do a great job in those areas.
- Easy and quick to shoot timelapse videos
- 4K video at 60 frames per second with support for HDR and RAW video
- Excellent battery life
- Great low-light performance
- A significant price bump over its predecessor
2. Best Canon Flagship: Canon EOS R6
If you still need top-notch capabilities and extreme Timelapse performance, but you want something from Canon’s books, the Canon EOS R6 is the perfect camera for you. It is an excellent video camera and it takes some of the best timelapse videos on the market right now. Priced similarly to the A7 IV, this is the perfect alternative.
Design & Build
Canon has kept the same approach that started with the original EOS R, but because this is a higher-priced model it has been improved across the board. You get a slightly more robust, yet professional look with a vari-angle flip display, and just like the A7 IV, this one also skips on the top monitoring display.
The build quality is excellent though. It is much better compared to the EOS R and the weight is still just around 1.49 lbs which is just 0.04 lbs higher. It can survive difficult weather conditions, but I won’t recommend leaving it unprotected during snowfall.
Timelapse & Video Recording
Timelapse videos recorded on the Canon EOS R6 has to be one of the most exotic-looking footage competing head to head with the A7 IV Sony competition. I personally think Canon does the colors a little better compared to Sony’s when unedited footage is taken into account, but your preference may vary.
It even does a mind-blowing job with the regular video. No, you don’t have an HDR mode but you can use the 10-bit 4:2:2 raw footage to create HDR videos in post. It shoots 4K video at 60 frames per second and 1080P video at 60 frames per second as well. Full HD slow motion is also available at 120 FPS.
Fun fact: It’s also featured it in my list of top-rated cameras for music videos.
Connectivity & Inputs
The wireless connectivity options get downgraded compared to the R5 as well. It gets Bluetooth v4.2 instead of v5.0 and the Wi-Fi is also single band 802.11 b/g/n which also sends it behind the A7 IV. This is absolutely usable, but for this price, wireless connectivity shouldn’t have been compromised.
Wired connectivity is a different story though. You get USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-C, Micro HDMI Type-D, E3 Remote Terminal, and 3.5mm headphone & microphone jacks. There are also dual memory card slots, but these are both for SD cards, so no CFexpress support in this one.
Battery Life
As you may expect, battery life is also very similar to the A7 IV. The LP-E6NH can go around two hours as well and the recording time will indeed be affected by the ambient temperature. So, for extreme conditions keep an extra battery with you.
Should you buy this camera?
If you don’t like how Sony handles colors, and that Canon processing magic is what you need, then the EOS R6 is the perfect time lapse camera for you. It has all the goods that you need for great Timelapse videos and it is awesome for everything else as well.
- Breathtaking Timelapse videos
- Excellent battery life
- 4K 60 FPS video recording
- Great low-light performance
- Still on single-band Wi-Fi
3. Best From Nikon: Nikon Z7
If you’re not a big fan of either Sony or Canon, you can go for the Nikon Z7 instead. Although Nikon has been known for photos mainly, their new mirrorless lineup has excellent video capabilities and that includes great Timelapse video and good battery life as well.
Design & Build
Nikon has kept a signature design language for their full-frame cameras. This is created from inspirations from their previous DSLR cameras and the general design language of modern mirrorless cameras. Of course, you get a full flip and see the display and in this case, you also get a top monitoring display.
The build quality is great though. The company has never compromised in quality for their top-end models and that tradition continues with the Z7. It weighs just around 1.28 lbs, but that’s without the battery and SD card though so once you put those on it will increase slightly. As far as quality is concerned it can stand some extreme conditions.
Timelapse & Video Recording
Timelapse is actually one of the highlighting features of this camera. As the sensor is stitching a lot of information together and has a sensor resolution higher than 33 megapixels, this camera can do 8K Timelapse videos and those videos look amazing. However, do understand that this will also require a fast and high-capacity memory card.
As far as regular video is concerned, you can shoot up to 4K 30 FPS and if you wish to shoot slow-motion you can do 120 FPS in 1080p. The quality is great with a lot of details and excellent dynamic range. Even at night, this sensor performs really well.
Connectivity & Inputs
Surprisingly enough Nikon has thrown in a lot of good stuff into the Z7. Wireless connectivity includes 802.11 b/g/n AC dual-band Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.2. This camera even has GPS but it needs to use the SnapBridge app.
The wired connectivity includes USB type C with HDMI out, 3.5mm headphone and microphone jacks, and dual memory card slots with support for one CFexpress and one SD card slot. So that’s a pretty comprehensive selection of ports.
Battery Life
Nikon is using an EN-EL15b battery which can do up to 85 minutes of 4K video recording. Of course, this time will go up and down based on your usage and the ambient temperature around in case it is extreme. So definitely keep a couple of extra batteries around.
Should you buy this camera?
A lot of you want to use a full-fledged Nikon camera for shooting Time-lapse videos, and the Nikon Z7 is probably the best option to invest in, for that. If you want it to double as your professional photography camera that’s fine too.
- Support for up to 8K Timelapse videos
- Performs well at night
- 5 GHz Wi-Fi support
- The battery life is below average
4. Best Compact Full-frame: Sony A7C
Need something more compact, but don’t want to make compromises in video quality either? The A7C from Sony might just be the camera you need. It houses a full-frame sensor inside a small body and it takes excellent timelapse videos. It also costs slightly less, so if you want to spend less, this is a great alternative to the A7 IV.
Design & Build
Sony has taken a slightly different approach for the A7C. Although The basics remain the same With the boxy shape, this one has been shrunk more to almost the size of a compact APS-C camera. Considering there is a full-frame sensor in there, this is very impressive. Even the grip is decently large and you get a flip LCD display as well.
Just because they have made the device more compact, doesn’t mean they have compromised in build quality though. The camera feels socket in hand and because the weight of around 1.12 lbs Has been cramped in that space, It has a really nice heft to it. It is still lighter than most of The competition though.
Timelapse & Video Recording
As you would expect this camera shoots excellent quality 4K timelapse videos. The framing and the stitching are excellent and although you will see a little bit of difference in quality compared to the A7 IV, for a regular set of eyes it is very hard to notice. The detail and the dynamic range really impressed me here.
As far as regular video is concerned, you get 4K 30 FPS and 1080P 60 FPS which you can record in HDR and 4:2:2 RAW. For slow-motion you get up to 1080 P 120 FPS. So if you are trying to shoot regular and slow-motion alongside, this camera does those really well too.
Connectivity & Inputs
The wireless inputs on the A7C, Are pretty basic with 802.11 b/g/n single-band Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.1. Sony generally never compromises on physical inputs and that’s the case with this camera as well. You get micro HDMI, USB 3.2 type-C, and 3.5mm headphone and microphone jacks.
Battery Life
Sony’s NP-FZ100 holds its own with 140 minutes of 4K video recording time that can go up to 220 minutes with continuous recording. It’s pretty good battery life but still, keep an extra battery for safety. Four timelapse videos extra juice does come in handy though.
Should you buy this camera?
If you want the compact form factor without having to sacrifice any significant quality pointers, then the Sony A7C is one of the best options you can get for shooting Timelapse videos. It is roughly producing similar quality footage but making a very short number of compromises here and there.
- The most compact full-frame camera in the market
- Excellent quality timelapse videos
- 4K HDR video recording
- Impressive battery life
- Doesn’t do 4K 60 FPS
5. Best From Panasonic: Panasonic LUMIX S5
Panasonic has also improved their video recording game with the new S-series of full-frame cameras and the Panasonic LUMIX S5 is one of the best options of the bunch for shooting timelapse videos. It has excellent video quality and a modern approach similar to the Sony & Canon options of the world.
Design & Build
Panasonic has done some major changes to its design language while trying to preserve some of the nostalgia, for the Lumix S5. It looks a lot closer to its mainstream competition now but you can still tell that it’s a Panasonic camera by looking at it. However, this does look way better compared to what they had in the past with a more compact form factor and a flip LCD display.
The build quality is also really good. It feels robust in the hand, and it has a weight of around 1.58 lbs. compared to their G lineup of cameras, this is an impressive step up and it even has five access image stabilization built-in, so it’s not like it is making major compromises in any of these areas.
Timelapse & Video Recording
Previous new Panasonic cameras would not have been on my recommendation list for shooting timelapse videos but with these new cameras, Panasonic has come a long way and the S5 takes some of the best 4K timeless videos I have ever seen on a Panasonic camera.
When it comes to regular videos you get 4K 30 frames per second, 1080P 60 frames per second, and you can shoot raw video on this camera as well. Full HD at 120 FPS slow motion is not really an option though.
Connectivity & Inputs
For the camera of this price, the wireless connectivity options are actually surprising as Panasonic has thrown in 802.11 b/g/n/ac dual-band Wi-Fi which enables the 5 GHz band. The Bluetooth version is 4.2 but that’s OK in this case.
As far as wired inputs are concerned, they have provided micro HDMI type D, Micro USB, 3.5mm microphone, and headphone jacks, and there are also dual SD card slots. However, do keep in mind that while slot one supports up to UHS-II, the Second slot supports UHS-I only.
Battery Life
Using a 16 Wh battery, The S5 can shoot up to 110 minutes of video on a single charge, but if you are shooting at a lower resolution than 4K then this time will improve slightly. However extreme temperatures both high and low will definitely have a huge impact on record time.
Should you buy this camera?
Compared to the offerings from the big players, Panasonic is offering a more affordable price while retaining as many features as possible. The LUMIX S5 shoots great timelapse, has a full-frame sensor and is priced considerably well. If you don’t have a problem with Panasonic’s color processing, then you can definitely consider the S5 and save some cash.
- Professional looking timelapse videos
- 5 GHz Wi-Fi support
- Dual SD card support
- The color science may not be universally preferred
6. Best Affordable Flagship: Canon EOS R
If you need that Canon color science & reliability, but you don’t have the budget to afford the Canon EOS R, the regular EOS R is going to give you a very similar experience while costing almost $1K less. This was Canon’s first Mirrorless flagship and although it’s not the latest model right now, it is one of the best options for Timelapse, in this price segment.
Design & Build
The EOS R was Canon’s first major design change in the full-frame camera segment as they moved away from their DSLR lineup of cameras. This camera is compact, lighter, and boxier. You also get a flip LCD display and a top monitoring display on this camera. Since the EOS R6 is missing the secondary top display, you can get this one if you need that.
The build quality is as amazing as you would expect. It has a weight of around 1.45 lbs and again as it’s readily cramped into a smaller body, the heft is just right. It can indeed survive in extreme situations. However, please don’t leave this unprotected under a snowfall.
Timelapse & Video Recording
This camera takes some of the sweetest timelapse videos in its range. It’s easy to set up and go, the video itself has excellent detail preservation and dynamic range, and of course, the framing and stitching is done really well. So, around that $1500-ish price point, this would be my top recommendation.
You can also shoot regular video at 4K 30 frames per second, or 1080P 60 frames per second. Slow-motion video is also available at full HD 120 FPS. Even if you’re shooting regular video with this camera it is professional-level good. So, this is definitely the Camera to pick out in the midrange.
Connectivity & Inputs
Wireless connectivity consists of 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth v4.2. For wired inputs, HDMI out via. Type C (HDMI-CEC compatible), 3.5mm Microphone & Headphone jack, E3 terminal for remote control. Dual SD card slots with support for UHS-II.
Battery Life
The LP-E6N isn’t as gigantic as some of the other options though, so I won’t expect it to excel in every situation. It shoots around an hour to 80 minutes of video on a single charge and very high or very low temperatures will have a significant effect on these numbers. So for timelapse video, I would recommend keeping a couple of extra batteries around.
Should you buy this camera?
If you have to have a full-frame camera and you don’t have a lot of cash to spend on it, the Canon EOS R should be the camera to go for. Alongside capturing high-quality time-lapses, this camera also performs well under challenging situations and has a wonderful battery life to go along with.
- Professional looking timelapse videos
- 4K video recording with support for raw video
- Great nighttime video quality
- Doesn’t support 4K 60 FPS video
7. Best Under $1500: Sony A6600
There are some super-powerful APS-C cameras from Sony and the Sony A6600 is the flagship of the bunch. It is relatively cheaper than the full-frame options I’ve mentioned here, but it provides top-notch video & timelapse quality. So, for those, looking for something affordable yet highly efficient in timelapse, this is an excellent camera to consider.
Design & Build
Sony‘s compact camera philosophy carries over to the A6600. It is ever so slightly smaller compared to the A7C and this one actually comes with a Smaller sensor so that is understandable. You still get the boxy shape with industrial design and a flip-up display in this case.
The build quality is excellent as this is the highest-end variant in the Sony APS-C lineup. It weighs just around 1.11 lbs, so when you’re not shooting Timelapse, you can also just put it in your pocket and go for a photography session or shoot a casual video.
Timelapse & Video Recording
This camera also takes great timelapse video as you may expect, and the shooting mechanism is actually similar to the other alpha cameras where you need to switch the top dial to S/Q mode. It shoots in 4K and the quality is really good. So if you want a smaller camera get this one.
For regular video, you can shoot 4K at 30FPS and 1080P at 60 FPS in HDR, RAW, and SDR. For slow-motion you get 120 FPS in Full HD. Everything from the details, the colors, the dynamic range, and the processing is top-notch. Night performance is good but it still doesn’t compete with those full-frame sensors because of the smaller physical size.
Connectivity & Inputs
The wireless connectivity on the A6600 is pretty basic with 802.11 single-band Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.1. For wired inputs, you get micro HDMI type D, USB Type-C, 3.5mm microphone and headphone jacks, and a multi-accessory shoe. Sony really needs to upgrade their wireless game though.
Battery Life
As the camera is physically smaller and it is using the NP-FZ100 battery that is found on the full frames, you get up to 150 minutes of actual recording time and 250 minutes of continuous recording time on a single charge. So, one battery is probably enough but if you plan to shoot even longer then keep some extra batteries.
Should you buy this camera?
If you are tight on a budget, you can’t go wrong with the Sony A6600. Yes, it’ll introduce a 1.52x crop, but other than that, it performs almost exactly like the pricier A7 III, and the long battery life just makes the deal that much sweeter. So, if you don’t mind the crop, this is one of the finest affordable mid-range cameras to opt for.
- Affordable, compact, yet an excellent camera for Timelapse videos
- Excellent battery life
- 4K HDR and raw video recording
- Wireless connectivity is pretty basic
Frequently Asked Questions
Timelapse or Fast Motion videos are a compilation of a very long video compressed into a very short amount of time. So, it is actually giving the illusion of time moving faster. It’s like a million tiny movements accelerating in a single timestream.
Slow-motion videos are used to slow down the footage and create the illusion of time moving slower, whereas Timelase speeds up the footage and creates the illusion of time moving faster instead.
Cheap budget cameras often don’t get the framing and stitching right of the Timelapse video you’re trying to shoot. The quality also isn’t up to mark in most cases. Some budget cameras may even skip the Timelapse feature completely.
Compared to a smartphone, a professional camera shoots better quality video with more details, better dynamic range and you can use a much wider lens compared to the one on your phone. In low-light situations, the difference is even more noticeable. However, if you don’t have a camera, and you need to shoot something, that’s when you can get by using your smartphone.
Verdict
Time Lapse video goes a long way when it comes to telling the story and with new advanced cameras, these look more professional and full of life more than ever. If you know how to use that to your advantage, your video is essentially legendary.
Now, I hope you already know what camera to get, but if you are still not totally sure, let me give you a short summary of the same:
- If you want no compromise full-fledged camera that is good for everything including Timelapse video, get the Sony A7 IV or the Canon EOS R6.
- In case you want something similar but also want your camera to double as a professional photography tool, then the Nikon Z7 is the way to go.
- If you are looking for a compact full-frame camera, get the Sony A7C.
- On a slightly lower budget, you can choose between the Panasonic LUMIX S5 or the Canon EOS R depending on your preferences.
- If you need something even more affordable get the Sony A6600.
All you need to do now is get the camera you need to turn on time-lapse video and start shooting those amazing stories for yourself. I hope I was helpful and I also hope that you found the perfect camera for yourself. Ending the article here but maybe catch up on the next one.
