From TV to YouTube, we've all seen the videos of a busy city street with people and cars zipping by, or the serene image of nature with quick-moving clouds. These time-warping clips are either a timelapse or a hyperlapse. Do you know the difference between them? If not, then you’ve clicked the right link because we’re going to answer that question and others, as we apply these techniques to the world of drones.
Closer than You Think
Timelapse and hyperlapse are way more similar than they are different. Both take multiple pictures at fixed time intervals to create short clips that display an accelerated passage of time. The difference is that with timelapse, the camera is static, while with hyperlapse, it's moving to create a more dynamic result. That's really all there is to it.
How Do You Make One?
Timelapse
When it comes to timelapse videos, we don't have the advantage of the rock-solid stability of a tripod like traditional cameras do. Instead, we need to hover. As you hover the drone in the air, select your timelapse mode if you have one, or use your timed photo feature. This will be the one that lets you take a photo at different intervals, such as one photo every three seconds, five seconds, and so on.
Take as many photos as you need to achieve the final video length. For example, a 10-second video at 30 fps will require 300 images! When you have your images, you'll likely have to pull them into Photoshop or Lightroom to make adjustments and fix any variation caused by the wind. From there, you just import the shots into an editing application of your choice to create the final video, such as Premiere, Davinci, or iMovie.
TIP: Pick a dynamic scene. You don't get the added movement of a hyperlapse, so it's essential to make sure there's enough movement in the scene to make your clip more captivating. As mentioned earlier, a classic example is a city street with moving people and vehicles.
Hyperlapse
This is where drones excel! On the ground, a traditional camera is limited by physical space or possibly having to use a motorized rail. In the sky, you're free to go in any direction with likely little to no obstructions. To fly a smooth hyperlapse, we suggest not trying to make the attempt manually. Many drones, such as those from DJI, will have a hyperlapse mode built in. If yours doesn’t, you’re not necessarily out of luck.
A good backup is to see if you can combine a waypoints or other intelligent flight mode with a timed interval photo shooting feature. Waypoints are naturally the preferred option, as you can create any flight path you want, compared to built-in flight modes. Things really open up if you can save the flight path. That lets you repeat the exact hyperlapse over and over to even greater effect. For example, show both daily life and daylight, or the seasons, quickly pass in a flash.
Similar to timelapses, you will need to take as many images as needed to achieve the final video length. Then, import them into your favorite app for image editing, and then into a video editing program to create the final product.
TIP: Time management is critical. So critical, that it’s a tip for shooting both hyperlapses and timelapses. Do you remember that 10-second video example we mentioned? Well, if you take those 300 photos at a rate of one for every 3 seconds, that’s 15 minutes of total flight time! On top of the flight out there, setup time, and the trip home, you can see how tight the time requirements can be. Especially when you consider that drone batteries only offer about 30 minutes of flight time on average.
Which Drone to Choose?
You'll probably not be surprised to learn that DJI is a great option when it comes to creating either type of clip. Most of their drones feature a dedicated hyperlapse mode and a timed interval feature, such as the Mavic 3, Air 3, Mini 4 Pro, and Flip. They aren't the only ones though! Check out the Potensic Atom or Fimi Mini 3 if you're into timelapses. The Atom has interval shooting and stable hovering, thanks to a combo of GNSS and a downward vision system. The Mini 3 has a dedicated 8K timelapse mode and can withstand winds up to 24 mph. For both modes in a non-DJI aircraft, there's the Fimi X8 Tele. It has both 8K timelapse and hyperlapse modes, and like the Mini 3, strong wind resistance. This time it's up to 27 mph.
Timelapse and hyperlapse are both incredibly energetic and effective clips to add to your content, and a drone's unique aerial perspective only adds to their appeal. Thankfully, there are so many drones out there that are up to the task. We hope this overview has given you a good understand of each style of shooting, but more importantly, the motivation to grab your drone and film your own. If you're new to it all and want to give it a try, always remember that you can find the drones and accessories you need at B&H.
