How to Shoot a Quick and Dirty Time-Lapse | Chase Jarvis TECH | ChaseJarvis

TL;DR

To shoot a quick time-lapse, mount each camera securely, use its intervalometer to capture one frame every 10 seconds, and compile the images in Final Cut Pro. On Signal Hill, Chase Jarvis runs four cameras, including Nikon D3s and D7000 bodies plus two GoPros, to cover Lion’s Head, Table Mountain, and the water. Read on for his rigs, settings, and footage-duration calculation.

Transcript

everyone's gone I'm chase Jarvis and we are on top of Signal Hill here in Cape T on Sat David guy and that was a terrible accent by the way and we have four time lapses running at the same time right now and I'm gonna walk you through them real quick so here we have the d3s which has a built-in intervalometer and it's got an 70 to 200 pointing at t... Read More

Key Insights

• 🗯️ Different cameras and rigs, like Nikon D3s and GoPro with gorilla pod, are used for versatile time-lapse setups.
• ❓ Gaffer tape is preferred over the GoPro housing to prevent fogging issues and ensure clear footage.
• 🖼️ Frame intervals of every 10 seconds are set for consistent frame capturing across the diverse setups.
• ☠️ The estimated video output is calculated based on the frame rate and duration of the time-lapse setup.
• ⌛ Time-lapse photography offers a unique way to capture the changing scenery over time with multiple cameras and angles.
• 🚵 Utilizing sturdy tripods and mounts like Manfrotto tripod enhances stability and ensures precise frame capturing.
• ✋ Final Cut Pro is mentioned as the editing tool of choice to compile and produce high-quality time-lapse videos.

Questions & Answers

Q: How does Chase Jarvis shoot a quick and dirty time-lapse?

Chase Jarvis mounts four cameras around Signal Hill and sets each one to capture a frame every 10 seconds. He uses different lenses, mounts, and viewpoints, then plans to assemble the images in Final Cut Pro.

Q: What cameras and rigs are used for the four time-lapse setups?

The setups use a Nikon D3s with a 70–200 lens, a GoPro attached to a GorillaPod, a Nikon D7000 on a tripod, and another GoPro fixed to a Manfrotto tripod. Jarvis summarizes the support gear as two grip devices, one tripod, and one magic arm.

Q: What interval does Chase Jarvis use for time-lapse photography?

All four cameras capture one frame every 10 seconds. Both Nikon cameras use their built-in intervalometers, while the GoPros are also configured for the same interval.

Q: Why is the Nikon D3s set to normal JPEG?

The D3s records normal JPEG images because Jarvis says that quality is more than enough for HD. He intends to bring the resulting frames into Final Cut Pro to create the finished time-lapse.

Q: Why does Chase Jarvis use gaffer tape instead of the GoPro housing?

He removes one GoPro from its housing because the case can cause hiccups during a long shot, even when fog strips are used. He attaches the small, light camera directly to a GorillaPod with gaffer tape and says motion is not a concern.

Q: How much finished video does a two-hour time-lapse produce at 24 frames per second?

At 24 frames per second, every four minutes of shooting produces one second of finished video. Jarvis calculates that one hour yields 15 seconds, so two hours can provide 30 seconds of potential footage from each setup.

Q: What landmarks and views do the time-lapse cameras capture?

The D3s with the 70–200 lens points toward Lion’s Head, while the D7000 films Table Mountain. The GoPro mounted on the Manfrotto tripod captures roughly a 180-degree view from Lion’s Head to the edge of the water.

Q: How is the GoPro attached to the Manfrotto tripod?

The second GoPro remains inside its case and uses the bike-mount attachment supplied with the camera. That mount is fixed to a round tube on the Manfrotto tripod to capture the wide surrounding view.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Chase Jarvis demonstrates four time-lapse setups using different cameras and rigs on Signal Hill.

• Cameras used include Nikon D3s, GoPro with a gorilla pod, Nikon D7000, and a GoPro mounted on a Manfrotto tripod.

• Each setup captures unique views of landmarks like Lion's Head and Table Mountain in Cape Town.