Menu
 

BestReviews is reader-supported and may earn an affiliate commission. Details

Best Time-Lapse Cameras

Bottom line
Pros
Cons
Best of the Best
Brinno TLC200 Pro Time Lapse Camera
Brinno
TLC200 Pro Time Lapse Camera
Feature-Packed

This wireless camera is great for indoor or outdoor filming and can immediately share stills and videos online with no post-processing necessary.

Check Price
Check Price at Amazon
Feature-Packed
Bottom Line

This wireless camera is great for indoor or outdoor filming and can immediately share stills and videos online with no post-processing necessary.

Pros

This device is high quality and has a battery life that lasts up to 42 days. Equip with a waterproof case, and a CS-mount for interchangeable lenses. It also has a daily timer to conserve the battery when not in use.

Cons

Works best for wide-angle shots, not close-ups.

Best Bang for the Buck
Dragon Touch Vision 3 Action Camera
Dragon Touch
Vision 3 Action Camera
Simple Yet Solid

It’s hard to beat the stunning 4K video resolution, range of creative shooting modes, and versatility of this Dragon Touch time-lapse camera.

Check Price
Check Price at Amazon
Simple Yet Solid
Bottom Line

It’s hard to beat the stunning 4K video resolution, range of creative shooting modes, and versatility of this Dragon Touch time-lapse camera.

Pros

4K video and 16-megapixel camera. Wireless remote-control option. Features time-lapse, driving, loop recording, and slow-motion shooting modes. Affordable. Waterproof case. Great 4x zoom. WiFi connectivity.

Cons

Lacks a Bluetooth connectivity function.

Brinno BCC200 Time-Lapse Camera
Brinno
BCC200 Time-Lapse Camera
Customer Favorite

This durable, reliable, and weather-resistant time-lapse camera is the ultimate option for large-scale and long-term outdoor projects.

Check Price
Check Price at Amazon
Customer Favorite
Bottom Line

This durable, reliable, and weather-resistant time-lapse camera is the ultimate option for large-scale and long-term outdoor projects.

Pros

Dedicated time-lapse camera. Has an 80-day battery life of time-lapse shooting in 30-minute intervals. Includes ball-head mount that rotates 360 degrees and heavy-duty mounting clamp. Time-lapse video shot in 720p.

Cons

Expensive. Rechargeable battery would have been better than 4 AA batteries.

BlazeVideo Trail Camera
BlazeVideo
Trail Camera
Durable & Rugged

This camera with its long battery life makes it the perfect solution for watching over your property, garden, or home for extended periods of time.

Check Price
Check Price at Amazon
Durable & Rugged
Bottom Line

This camera with its long battery life makes it the perfect solution for watching over your property, garden, or home for extended periods of time.

Pros

1080p video resolution and 16-megapixel camera. Waterproof. Night-vision feature. Has 0.6 trigger speed for instantly capturing movement. Camo design. Time-lapse mode with an optional timer. Password protected. Easy to use.

Cons

A rechargeable battery option would have been nice instead of the 8 AA batteries.

ATLI EON Time Lapse Camera
ATLI
EON Time Lapse Camera
Portable Convenience

This HD camera is easy to use and has a wide range of capabilities to enhance time-lapse sequences.

Check Price
Check Price at Amazon
Portable Convenience
Bottom Line

This HD camera is easy to use and has a wide range of capabilities to enhance time-lapse sequences.

Pros

This is the first camera to create time slice photos, which is the passage of time blended into one photo. Can shoot up close or far away. Has a power-saving mode that allows you to shoot for days on end.

Cons

Must use a cellphone app to operate the camera.

Why trust BestReviews?
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and all opinions about the products are our own. About BestReviews  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and all opinions about the products are our own. About BestReviews  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We buy all products with our own funds, and we never accept free products from manufacturers.About BestReviews 
HOW WE TESTED

We recommend these products based on an intensive research process that's designed to cut through the noise and find the top products in this space. Guided by experts, we spend hours looking into the factors that matter, to bring you these selections.

First Reviewed
August 19, 2021
30
Models
considered
16
Hours
researched
Category cover

Buying guide for best time-lapse cameras

Bob Beacham
Written by Bob Beacham

Updated October 2021

There are lots of different ways to take time-lapse photos and video. One of the cheapest is to get an app for your smartphone — some are free — though they have limited functionality, and it’s not particularly convenient if you want to make a call.

Digital SLR and the latest mirrorless cameras can provide stunning image quality, either up close or at a distance, depending on the lens, but they are very expensive. Two much more affordable time-lapse devices are action cameras and trail cameras. There are also dedicated time-lapse security cameras, which are often used to monitor construction projects.

These are just your basic choices, without even starting on the variety of different models and wide-ranging features on offer.

Content Image
For clear images, you need some kind of stable platform. Trail cameras can be fitted to trees or posts. Security cameras usually come with mounting kits for walls, fences, or steelwork. With action cams, you need a monopod or tripod mount.

Key considerations

What do you want a time-lapse camera to do?

If you’re a professional filmmaker or videographer, you’ll have specialist equipment, plus software for post-production. We’ve all seen the results of clever time-lapse effects at the movies, but that gear costs thousands of dollars.

Most of us want time-lapse to capture plants, animals, or people over an extended period. That might be for personal entertainment, wildlife management and protection, hunting, or security, but because we’re just taking snapshots in time (videos or stills) the equipment doesn’t need to be anywhere near as expensive. Trail cameras, action cams, and security devices are easy to use and within most people’s price range, and they do a good job in a variety of locations.

We think the easiest way to identify the best time-lapse camera for your particular requirements is to answer the following questions:

What kind of image quality do you need?

Resolution capabilities run from 720p all the way up to 4K.

720p: This is often perfectly adequate for tasks like monitoring a job site or a deer trail. File sizes are small, so the number of images captured or the length of video can be considerable.

4K: This can produce superb images, but it results in large files. You need more memory to store them, which either means fewer images, shorter videos, or more expensive equipment. When looking, check both the memory capacity, and whether the resolution is switchable, which gives you greater flexibility.

What is the depth and width of the area you need to cover?

It’s unlikely you’ll have the benefit of zoom. With a fixed lens, focal length and depth of field are important if you’re trying to capture video or stills either panoramically or at a distance. Most action cameras have wide-angle lenses and good all-around ability. Trail cameras have a limited angle but usually have a good range. However, you might be pushing the limits of what they’re capable of, so you need to check the capabilities of each device individually.

How often do you need the camera to shoot images?

If you’re working on a creative film or animation project, you might want shots or clips every few seconds. On the other hand, if you’re watching plants grow or recording the progress of a building, the activity may only need to be captured a few times per day.

How much control do you need?

Some time-lapse cameras are “set it and forget it.” Action cams can usually be controlled via wrist units, though the range is limited. Some high-end trail cameras can be monitored by WiFi and linked to your smartphone or tablet.

What lighting conditions will the camera operate in?

If the subject is always well lit, you don’t have a problem, but if you’re taking time-lapse images over extended periods and it gets dark, you could end up with a black screen! Many trail cameras have infrared image capture but bear in mind that it will only be monochrome.

How will you view your images or videos?

All of these devices have their own screens, but the size of the unit restricts them to only an inch or two across. They can all download files to a tablet or laptop, either via WiFi or a direct cable connection. However, compatibility is far from universal, so you need to check whether the time-lapse device you’re considering will work with your computer.

Is time-lapse the right solution?

If you’re watching a fixed situation — building, bird’s nest, or area where wildlife is known to be active on a regular basis, then a time-lapse camera is a good idea. If you want to monitor activity in a location you don’t know well, a camera that’s activated by a motion sensor (trail cameras do this) might be a more effective way to capture your target.

Accessories

Tripod: GorillaPod Action Video Tripod
Designed specifically for action cams, this is much more than just a stiff-legged tripod. The ball and socket construction gives tremendous flexibility. You can bend it into all kinds of different shapes, set it up on uneven surfaces, or wrap it around poles, branches, and other supports. The head allows you to position the camera at virtually any angle, and it accepts all standard action cam fittings.

Rotating mount: TurnsPro Camera Mount
Want to take pictures all around rather than just straight ahead? The battery-operated TurnsPro lets you attach your action cam, DSLR, or smartphone and take pictures in 15° increments, up to a full 360°, clockwise, counterclockwise, or back and forth. You specify the speed from 20 seconds to 10 hours, in intervals as precise as a second.

Expert Tip
If you want to view or edit your images on a larger screen, you need to check compatibility. Several models will not work with iOS tablets or Mac laptops.
STAFF
BestReviews

Time-lapse camera prices

Inexpensive: Trail cameras are among the cheapest ways to take time-lapse photography, starting at around $40. You can get some pretty good entry-level action cams for around the same price.

Mid-range: Better-quality action and trail cams run from $60 up to almost $200, depending on capabilities. High-end specialist security/construction-site cameras can add another hundred.

Expensive: DSLR and mirrorless cameras with good time-lapse abilities can top $1,000, and that’s before you get lenses.

Content Image
If you need to get your feet off the ground to fix a time-lapse camera in place, be sure to take sensible safety precautions. It can be tempting to overstretch, but a fall can cause serious injury.

FAQ

Q. Are time-lapse cameras weatherproof?
A.
Yes, but just how much varies from device to device. The best thing to look for is an IP or IPX rating (charts are available online). These are precise, internationally recognized, independent testing standards. Action cams are frequently not tested, but if it’s waterproof to 100 feet, as many are, it’s a pretty safe bet that it’s OK in bad weather. DSLR cameras are not waterproof, though some models have a degree of moisture resistance. Care is needed when checking specifications. Just because it’s called “weatherproof” doesn’t make it so!

Q. How long can I leave a time-lapse camera to run unattended?
A.
It’s different for each model, and something you need to check carefully. The two factors that have the greatest impact are the time-lapse settings (and therefore the number of pictures or videos taken, which largely depends on the memory) and the battery life. It can be anything from a couple of days to several months.

Q. How do I protect my time-lapse camera from theft?
A.
Many trail cameras come with cases that can be fitted with a locking steel cable, which will deter the opportunistic thief. Time-lapse cameras used for security are usually fitted at heights that make access difficult. The portability of action cams, usually a bonus, does make them difficult to protect. Equally, expensive DSLR cameras are very tempting to thieves. We would be very cautious about leaving either of them unattended, though a secure hide might be an option.

Our Top Picks