Compact Cameras with Time Lapse Function

Are you looking for cameras with time lapse function? A camera with a built-in interval timer makes it much easier to capture time lapse photos because it will continuously shoot at set intervals without any effort on your part. This is great for capturing the changing colors of sunrise or sunset, watching flowers opening up in the sun, or recording any other progressive event. Fortunately, several manufacturers now offer compact cameras with time lapse function so you can just set the camera and let it do the work. Here's a sample of some of the models currently available.

(Image: Pentax Optio WG-3 GPS available on Amazon. See link below)

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS4 is a great all-around compact camera that is loaded with features, including time lapse mode. Just select the start time, interval time and the numbers of picture to shoot and let the camera do the rest. And if you leave it outside to capture your time lapse images, there's no need to worry about rain. The Lumix TS4 is also with four-way rugged protection against water, dust, cold temperatures and accidental falls - it's waterproof to 40 feet, shockproof to falls from 6.6 feet, freezeproof to 14 degrees Fahrenheit and dustproof - so you can take it just about anywhere. With a built-in GPS, compass, altimeter and barometer, you'll always know exactly where you're at. This is an extremely versatile camera that you can take with you just about anywhere without worrying about the elements.

Set the interval timer and get ready to capture great photos with the Nikon Coolpix P7000. The 10.1 MP sensor, 7.1x Wide Zoom-Nikkor ED Lens and 3-Inch LCD will help you frame and take perfect shots every time. And when you're ready to get out of time-lapse mode and catch the action, the ultra-fast start-up time, subject tracking and continuous shooting at 1.3 fps will help ensure you never miss that once-in-a-lifetime shot. The P7000 also includes features such as red-eye correction, smile timer, Face Priority AF, Skin Softening, and 18 scene modes for optimized settings in a variety of situations.

The GoPro series of cameras are made with adventure in mind. They come with various mounts, straps or harnesses to attach this tiny, but powerful camera to your helmet, bike handlebars, skateboard, surfboard, or just about any other type of sports equipment or vehicle. The GoPro Hero3 is waterproof to 197' (60 meters) and has a170-degree wide-angle lens to capture all the action with still images, HD video or time-lapse photos up to every 0.5 seconds.

Time lapse photography isn't the only special feature you'll find in the Optio WG-3 or WG-3 GPS. This camera is waterproof to 45 feet, shockproof to falls from 6.5 feet, crush-proof to 100kg of force, freezeproof to 14 degrees Fahrenheit, and dustproof. But that's only the beginning. This 16 MP camera also has a variety of fun features, including digital filters such as starburst, fisheye effect, black & white, sepia, color emphasis and miniature effect. It also offers in-camera cropping, voice memo, multiple scene modes, and, of course, interval shooting. The GPS version also includes geotagging.

The Nikon Coolpix is being marketed as a camera that's easy enough for everyone to use, but it comes with plenty of features at a family-friendly price. It's the cheapest camera on this page with time lapse mode. The 10.1 MP Coolpix S30 digital camera has 3x Zoom Nikkor Glass lens and 2.7-inch LCD. It's waterproof and shockproof, making it great for kids, and time lapse is one of several available shooting modes on this camera. You're limited to intervals of every 30 seconds, every minute or every 5 minutes, but for a simple point-and-shoot camera at an entry-level price, the time lapse function on this camera is a bargain.

If you're planning to do a lot of time lapse photography, the Brinno TLC200 was designed for you. It's easy to operate and can be mounted on a tripod or used on any flat surface. Simply turn it on, set your preferred interval (from 1 second to 24 hours), focus, and let the camera do the rest. The TLC200 can output AVI or JPEG formats and runs on 4 AA batteries.

Here's an amazing example of what you can do with time lapse photos. This video was created by Shawn Reeder and includes approximately 7000 individual images.

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