Best Time-Lapse Camera (15 Creative & Construction Time-Lapse Cameras)

The Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III is a fantastic Micro Four Thirds (MFT) camera. MFT Olympus cameras offer excellent performance in a compact package. And the E-M5 Mark III is their best mirrorless camera for time-lapse photography.

The MFT sensor is small, but it delivers on quality. It has a 20 MP resolution. And the built-in image stabilization reduces camera shake for sharp images. That’ll help your time-lapse video if there’s a strong wind when shooting. It also has a weather-sealed body, making it a suitable camera for outdoor photography in any weather.

The Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III has a dedicated time-lapse mode. And this mode uses the built-in intervalometer for perfectly timed sequences. The camera also puts the images together, making one smooth time-lapse video. You can then transfer it to another device as a complete video. And the Wi-Fi connectivity makes transferring media easy.

Video mode gives you equally excellent results. The video is 4K quality. And you get a continuous shooting speed of 30 fps in burst mode. And this mode uses an electronic shutter for silent shooting. You get excellent battery life, which is handy for long time-lapse sequences. And USB charging is always a bonus.

The Canon EOS Rebel SL3 is one of the best entry-level time-lapse cameras. It’s an excellent DSLR camera for beginners. The Rebel SL3 delivers beautiful photos and videos. And the camera is full of features newbies will love, including a time-lapse mode.

The Canon EOS Rebel SL3 has an APS-C sensor. And it gives you an image resolution of 24.1 MP. That’s more than enough to inspire any beginner. And it’s a big step up from a smartphone camera. The low-light performance is excellent due to its wide ISO range. That’ll help you create a night-lapse video or time-lapse video in changing light.

This Canon camera has a built-in intervalometer. This allows you to set time intervals and automates the shutter button. Once you’ve set it up, you can leave it to shoot the sequence. You won’t need to touch it again until it’s done. The Rebel SL3 then puts the images together to make the video. You can watch it back on the LCD screen. There’s no need for post-processing.

As a beginner’s camera, it isn’t as durable as other time-lapse cameras. There’s no weather-sealing, so you need to take care while shooting outside. The autofocus system is simple but reliable. And it does have eye detection, which is a bonus for time-lapses with people. The battery gives you plenty of shots when fully charged. And it has Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity.

The Nikon D850 is one of the ultimate workhorse cameras. It’s a rugged DSLR camera. The photography performance is outstanding. The video specs aren’t far behind. And it has some hard-to-beat time-lapse video options. It isn’t cheap, but the D850 is a fantastic professional camera.

The Nikon D850 has a powerful full frame sensor. And the FX-format sensor gives you a whopping 45.7 MP resolution. It’s hard to beat image quality of that standard. The ISO range allows you to shoot in low-light situations. And it’s more than capable of night sky photography. You can make a brilliant night-lapse video.

The time-lapse modes are fantastic. You can shoot 4K time-lapse videos using the time-lapse movie mode. Or you can harness more power from the 45 MP sensor for 8K time-lapse footage. For this, you need to use the interval shooting mode. Both modes allow you to select moving exposure. It adjusts the aperture and shutter speed depending on the lighting conditions. This is called exposure smoothing.

The normal video recording is also excellent. You can record videos with 4K quality at 30 fps. The D850’s burst mode is slow at only 9 fps. But that won’t affect your time-lapse movies. The camera uses the Nikon F lens mount. That gives you an excellent array of interchangeable lenses to choose from. And the dual memory card slot is ideal for time-lapse shooters. All those frames can fill an SD card fast.

Here’s a video from Nikon to help you with your D850 time-lapse videos.

The Sony a6600 is a brilliant mid-range mirrorless camera. It’s one of their most popular models. And the interval shooting modes make it one of the best time-lapse cameras you can buy. The A6600 is an enthusiast camera. But the straightforward controls encourage beginners to give it a go.

The Sony a6600 is an APS-C mirrorless camera with a 24.2 MP sensor. The resolution isn’t groundbreaking like Sony’s full frame models. But you can expect excellent image quality. You get a wide ISO range for low light shooting. And the camera has 5-axis image stabilization. That reduces camera shake, keeping your time-lapse photos sharp.

For time-lapse photography, you need to find the Interval Shooting mode. The camera’s menu system is easy to navigate, so you’ll find it in no time. Then you can set your intervals and the total number of shots. The camera calculates the time this will take, which helps you plan your time-lapse. You can also set the shooting start time. This creates a delay between the click of the shutter and the first shot. This is to avoid camera shake when you press the shutter button.

The a6600 is packed full of other creative features. The 4K video quality is fantastic. You have an 11 fps burst mode for action. The autofocus system is top of its class, using 425 focus points for fast and accurate AF tracking. The Sony a6600 is also compact and lightweight. And you also have your pick of the Sony E lens mount series.

Check out our specs comparison between the Sony a6600 vs a6400 or vs the Sony a7 III for more context!

The Olympus Tough TG-6 is tough by name and tough by nature. Most Olympus cameras are durable. But the Tough TG-6 takes durability to the next level. It’s shockproof, crushproof, and waterproof. Combine that with a dedicated time-lapse mode, and you’ve got one of the best time-lapse cameras for all conditions.

The sensor resolution isn’t groundbreaking. But while you only get 12 MP, you won’t find many complaints about the final image. You also have built-in image stabilization. It counteracts camera shake, giving you more options with aperture and shutter speed. The low light performance is excellent.

The Tough TG-6 has an interval timer for time-lapse photography. The time-lapse mode gives you a frame limit of 299. And you can set the interval range from 1 second to 24 hours. That gives you incredible scope for creative time-lapse movies.

You can set time-lapse movie mode on or off. When turned on, the camera will create a time-lapse movie automatically. When it’s off, you need to export the still images and create the video in post-production.

The 4K video is brilliant for a compact action camera. And you get excellent slow-motion video options. The optical lens quality is very good. And the lens gives you an 8x zoom range. The battery has a long life, which is handy for long time-lapse projects. And the durability means time-lapse shooting is possible in any weather.

Check out this video to see a superb example of time-lapse with an Olympus Tough TG-6.

The Panasonic Lumix S5 is the ultimate hybrid camera. The still photography is excellent. But the video production is just as good, if not better. It’s a professional camera for multimedia creators. And the price reflects that. The time-lapse features are the best you’ll find in any camera.

The Lumix S5 has a full frame sensor with a 24.2 MP resolution. The expanded ISO range is ideal for low-light conditions. The max setting is 204,800 ISO. And you have a low 50 ISO setting for incredible quality images.

The dedicated time-lapse mode is one of the best on the market. You can set a start time. This allows you to set up your camera in advance. And you don’t even have to be with the camera to start the sequence.

You also have settings for interval times and the maximum number of shots. Both settings max out at 9,999. That makes it ideal for long-duration time-lapse projects, like construction or plant growth.

The time-lapse features include exposure leveling. When you activate this mode, the camera will adjust the exposure settings during the time-lapse. You can set the camera to aperture or shutter priority mode. This allows you to lock one setting. Then the camera adjusts the others as conditions change.

The S5 also gives you excellent video options. 4K quality is fairly standard these days. But you don’t often see 4K shot at 60 fps. That’s what you get with the S5. You also get fabulous slow-motion options. Animators with love the stop-motion mode. The Panasonic Lumix is an incredible multimedia machine.

Check out this video to see what the Panasonic Lumix S5 can do with time-lapse.

Sony’s full frame mirrorless cameras are the best on the market. And the Sony A7 III is one of their most popular models. It’s not a budget camera. But the performance for photos and videos justifies the price. The interval shooting features make it one of the best time-lapse cameras for professionals.

The full frame sensor gives you a 24.2 MP resolution. That might not sound like much for a full frame sensor. But you’ll get stunning image quality. The ISO range is excellent. You get excellent low light performance with a high end of 204,800. But you also get a low level of ISO 50. That gives you incredible detail and color rendition.

The Sony A7 III has a dedicated time-lapse mode. You need to find the Interval Shooting section in the camera’s menu. Once you’re there, the time-lapse controls are easy to use. You can set the shooting start time. And you can select the total number of shots and the intervals between shots. The camera calculates the final length of your video.

One of the A7 III’s best time-lapse features is the AE Tracking Sensitivity. It allows the camera to adjust the exposure settings during your time-lapse. This exposure smoothing gives you perfectly exposed stills even in changeable lighting conditions.

The standard video mode is also outstanding. You can shoot 4K videos at 30 fps. And you get different frame rates to play with, including slow-motion options. The autofocus system is one of the best you’ll find. The Sony A7 III doesn’t have weather-sealing, so take care outdoors. You can go for the Sony A7 IV, which is weather-sealed. But it’ll stretch your budget even further.

The Canon EOS 90D is a powerful APS-C DSLR camera. It produces professional-standard images and videos. And it’s packed with creative features. If you’re looking for a powerful DSLR, the EOS 90D might be the best time-lapse camera for you.

The sensor gives you an image resolution of 32.5 MP. That’s incredible image quality for an APS-C camera. That’s a number you’d expect to see from a full frame camera. The ISO range gives you more possibilities in low-light conditions. The video results are just as impressive. There’s 4K at 30 fps. And you can shoot slow-motion videos in Full HD.

Time-lapsers will be happy to know the 90D has a built-in intervalometer. It also gives you three scene modes, each with time-lapse presets. These allow you to set up quickly. But you can also use the custom time-lapse mode. You can set any time-lapse settings you want, and it gives you the final runtime of your video.

The autofocus system is very good. It uses 45 cross-type focus points for accurate locking and tracking. That’s ideal for time-lapse videos that include people. You can also use the Canon EOS 90D as a webcam with the EOS Utility app. Outdoor photographers will be pleased to know the 90D is weather-sealed.

Panasonic has built its name on making incredible hybrid cameras. They put just as much focus on video and still photography. And the Panasonic Lumix G100 is no different. It’s ideal for video makers and vloggers. And you can see the time-lapse capabilities in this video.

The G100 has a Micro Four Thirds sensor with a 20.3 MP resolution. You can expect excellent image quality in your time-lapse footage. The MFT sensor means you get a compact camera. And you have a 5-axis image stabilization system squeezed in. That means you’re guaranteed sharp images.

The G100 has a built-in interval timer for time-lapse shooting. You get a good selection of interval and shooting options. And once the shooting is complete, you have the option to create a video in-camera. You can then export the media as one video file. Or you can select “no” and compile the footage using editing software.

You also get fantastic video quality. It’s 4K at 30 fps. Or you can shoot in Full HD at 60 fps for extra smooth footage. There’s also a stop-motion mode for animators. And there’s a dedicated selfie mode with the rotating screen. The Wi-Fi connectivity and USB charging are other positive features.

The Panasonic Lumix G100 is the perfect camera for multimedia creators and vloggers. And the easy interval shooting mode makes it one of the best time-lapse cameras too.

The Canon PowerShot G7 X III is a point-and-shoot camera. While many point-and-shoot cameras are basic, the G7 X III is packed full of features. And that includes dedicated time-lapse features. It’s a convenient choice if you want a compact time-lapse camera.

The Canon PowerShot G7 X III has a small 1-inch sensor. But it gives you excellent image quality with a 20.2 MP resolution. It has a fixed lens with a 4.2x zoom range. And it has a bright maximum aperture of f/1.8. That gives you more options with ISO and shutter speed.

The dedicated time-lapse mode makes it the perfect compact camera for time-lapse shooting. The Canon gives you three scene modes for interval shooting. Each has pre-set time-lapse configurations. They’re handy if you’re new to time-lapse photography. But you can go to custom settings if you want more control.

You can record 4K video at 30 fps. And you get slow-motion in Full HD at 120 fps. There’s also 20 fps in continuous shooting mode. And there’s built-in Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity. It’s the best time-lapse camera if you want something compact.