Photography

Inexpensive Camalapse enters the time-lapse video market

Inexpensive Camalapse enters the time-lapse video market
The Camalapse is an inexpensive device that allows users to shoot basic time-lapse video
The Camalapse is an inexpensive device that allows users to shoot basic time-lapse video
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The Camalapse, with a Contour actioncam mounted on top
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The Camalapse, with a Contour actioncam mounted on top
The Camalapse, mounted on a Gorillapod
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The Camalapse, mounted on a Gorillapod
By mounting one Camalapse on another, the panning speed can be doubled
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By mounting one Camalapse on another, the panning speed can be doubled
The Camalapse offers four time/rotation settings, but only one speed
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The Camalapse offers four time/rotation settings, but only one speed
The Camalapse, with a Drift Innovation actioncam mounted on top
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The Camalapse, with a Drift Innovation actioncam mounted on top
The twist-to-operate Camalapse doesn't require batteries
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The twist-to-operate Camalapse doesn't require batteries
The Camalapse, with a Canon point-and-shoot camera mounted on top
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The Camalapse, with a Canon point-and-shoot camera mounted on top
The Camalapse has a tripod-mounting hole in the bottom
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The Camalapse has a tripod-mounting hole in the bottom
The Camalapse is an inexpensive device that allows users to shoot basic time-lapse video
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The Camalapse is an inexpensive device that allows users to shoot basic time-lapse video
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People really seem to like time-lapse video devices. In the past several months, the Genie, Radian, and Astro have all surpassed their Kickstarter funding goals. While those gizmos are presumably heading into production, however, the Camalapse is a similar product that’s available now. It may not have all the bells and whistles of the others, but that fact is reflected in its price tag.

All of the devices do pretty much the same basic thing – they slowly pan or tilt the user’s video camera, as that camera shoots at a very slow frame rate. The result is time-lapse video, in which the camera moves as opposed to sitting locked off. The footage can actually look quite impressive.

Some of the features offered by one or more of the Kickstarter devices include variable panning speed, and the ability to control the camera (or smartphone) via software built into the device.

The Camalapse doesn't concern itself with such things.

It offers a single speed of six degrees per minute. This is meted out into four time/rotation presets which the user can choose between, ranging from a 90-degree pan taking 15 minutes in real time, to 360 degrees in one hour. It is entirely mechanically-operated, so no batteries are required.

The Camalapse, with a Canon point-and-shoot camera mounted on top
The Camalapse, with a Canon point-and-shoot camera mounted on top

How much footage is recorded in the chosen time depends upon how many frames per second (or minute, even) the camera is shooting at. For that, the user is left to whatever settings are available on their camera, or whatever app they can find for their smartphone. Another option, of course, is to shoot in real time and then speed up the footage in editing.

The camera attaches to the device via a simple threaded stud on top – depending on the specific camera or smartphone, a tripod mounting adapter may be required. The Camalapse also has a threaded hole in the bottom, so it can itself be mounted on a tripod. It only pans from right to left, although clever types might experiment with turning it upside-down or sideways. Be aware, however, that it’s intended for small, light cameras and smartphones only.

The Camalapse is available at various retailers, and sells for US$25. Footage shot using it can be seen in the video below. Prices for the other, fancier time-lapse devices range from $150 to $999.

Source: Camalapse via Photojojo, TUAW

camalapse

View gallery - 9 images
2 comments
2 comments
cyrnel
Isn't this just an old-school kitchen timer with a flat top?
Gene Jordan
For one-fourth the cost of the Camalapse at only $5.99, I purchased an IKEA "ORDNING" Timer, stainless steel (Article Number: 300.667.25) and mounted a GoPro Helmet cam adapter to it for my camera.
The only disadvantage is that when the timer runs out, the bell rings, but I'm sure that could be disabled easily enough.