XL1S Interval Timer
 

Does anyone have experience with the XL1S interval timer ? I have a project where I want to film over about six hours the set up on stage for an Easter Pagent (not the pagent itself just the dressing of the stage). I am not sure what settings to use to give me a reasonably smooth time lapse effect over that period. I would like the finished project to run about 2 minutes, and it's a matter os simple math to work out the settings, but I am concerned that the end result would be jerky so I am happy to sacrifice a longer running time for a smoother end result (and maybe shorten the finished project by some appropriate cuts and fades).

I am also slightly concerned about the amount of wear this might put on the XL1S heads as it is not clear if on the shorter duration the tape actually lifts off the heads (hope this makes sense).

Anyway if anyone has any experience or advice they can share I would be very grateful.

Steve G.

I've used the XL1S for interval shooting a bunch of times. You can see the result here:

http://www.videoclipstream.com/akamai/d/destiny/timelapse/

and a QuickTime one here from my apartment:
http://www.keithloh.com/video/timelapse2.html

It takes 3 seconds out of every 30 seconds as a minimum. It is kind of jerky when you do the conversion in Premiere. I understand why you have to take film 3 seconds but I have yet to figure out a way to do the conversion so you only extract 1 second. I'm not sure if I'm making myself clear but if you watch the playback look at the cars in the second clip or the men working in the first clip.

Also: you have to watch for is a change in lighting and making sure that it is not on AF as someone walking in front of it for a second may screw up your entire shot.

Nice time lapse, Keith! (There was a stationary large white block in the lower right corner of the video...is that by design? Perhaps covering a neighboring trademark?)

It's been 15+ years since I've visited Vancouver. Your clip makes me yearn to visit it again soon.

Interval Timer
 

Keith,

Thanks for the prompt reply. Your Vancouver clip is exactly the sort of end result that I want to achieve. Some question if I may:

1. Am I correct in understanding that the camera was set for 3 secs every 30 ? I see that the XL1S will allow a .5 sec clip every minute which is what I ws planning to use, do you have any experience with that setting ?

2. Did the 12 hour exercise have any adverse effects on the camera ?

Thanks for the advice re AF and auto settings, I would have set it that way without your advice. I'll let you know how the project goes.

Best Regards

Steve G

Ken,

that white block is something that needs fixing in Clipstream as far as it works with Safari (is that your browser?). The region is the popup where you can choose a different bit rate than is automatically sensed by the software. The video is supposed to redraw over that region. It's been noted by our testers. *sigh*

Steve:
//1. Am I correct in understanding that the camera was set for 3 secs every 30 ? I see that the XL1S will allow a .5 sec clip every minute which is what I ws planning to use, do you have any experience with that setting ?//

I haven't tried that setting. In my mind I wanted more information not less so I chose the 3/30. Of course, if you're doing say an hours worth of time lapse you would be better recording in realtime and speeding it up in software.

//2. Did the 12 hour exercise have any adverse effects on the camera ?//

Not that I can tell. I've done four different time lapse exercises and it's still the same camera.

Keith, Yes, I was using Safari.