Time-lapsing a 20 mile walk

[ddvmor]

I'm taking part in a 20 mile charity walk across the Mendips in June and I've been asked if I can make a time-lapse video of the route.

I've been looking around the internet for a wearable camera that will take a photo every 30 seconds or so and, most importantly, has a battery that will last all day. All I've been able to find with the right kind of battery life are those new life logging cameras that cost £200 or £300, which is quite a bit more than I want to spend on the project.

Although most of the action cameras mention that they're capable of time-lapse, I can't see anything about battery life when using the function.

So I'm after a recommendation: a sub-£100, wearable camera which will take time-lapse photos at (ideally) around 2 megapixels and with a battery that will last 7-8 hours minimum.

Thanks!

 

[Some Bloke]

Would renting something with spare batteries work for you instead of buying ?

 

[Dexy]

I used to have a good iPhone app that was good for time lapses.

 

[BT Bob]

I used to have a good iPhone app that was good for time lapses.

Lapse It? It'll do the job - the big question would be whether the iPhone's battery would last that long!

 

[AMc]

The Gorillacam app for iPhone does a good job but you would definitely need an extra battery pack.
You can also get hack software for canon cameras that you put on the memory card which enables time lapse. Again battery could be an issue.
If you use an egg timer and a stills camera you can combine the stills into a video using windows movie maker. Simply reduce the default display time for an image to its lowest level. Select you images in time order (e.g. 1st image hold shift last image) and drag them in. My kid uses that to make stop motion movies.

 

[ddvmor]

Would renting something with spare batteries work for you instead of buying ?

Maybe, but I'm not sure what to hire.

I used to have a good iPhone app that was good for time lapses.

Lapse It? It'll do the job - the big question would be whether the iPhone's battery would last that long!

The Gorillacam app for iPhone does a good job but you would definitely need an extra battery pack.

I'll definitely experiment with the app option, but I'm not convinced that even with a battery pack, my iPhone is up to the task. Plus, I'm not sure how keen I am on keeping my phone exposed the whole time.

You can also get hack software for canon cameras that you put on the memory card which enables time lapse.

No canon handy, although I do have an old Olympus ep-1. Same battery issues though.

 

[Hillskill]

Sounds perfect for a Go Pro! You can get the chest strap and that should be comfy enough to run with. Yes it is of course out of budget but why don't you just hire one?
Also, in my opinion every 30" is too big a gap. The sequence generated will be quite flickery as the scenery around you will change quite significantly in 30 seconds. I'd recommend somewhere between 5 and 10 seconds. Yes you will generate more data but it will all lend itself to a much more "easier on the eye" sequence. The other benefit of hiring is that you would likely get a 2nd battery and you could simply swap it out halfway through the day.

 

[Dexy]

Go Pro camera would be the one to use as mentioned but they are power hungry wee beasts, I'm sure you could borrow one and some spare batteries.

 

[Vigmandingo]

I bought a reconditioned Canon A480 and put CHDK software on it with a time lapse program. Takes AA batteries so you can swap out as and when you need to. You'll need to fashion something so you can wear it, but for 30 notes, couldn't recommend it more!

 

[aVdub]

Not long bought one of THESE for bike and car-cam duties and have found it to be decent quality and you can buy extra batteries for only a few £'s
Comes with more mounts than can be used, is cheap, takes extra batteries, takes snapshots and records in HD.

 

[Ugg10]

with the Iphone, turn off roaming, turn off wifi, turn off blutooth, dim the screen right down, even take the sim out, turn off GPS (if you can, unless you want to geotag the images and then put the route in google maps) and use it like a camera for the day, do an experiment and see how long the battery lasts with all of that off, you may be surprised how much juice some of those take.

 

[AMc]

Also, in my opinion every 30" is too big a gap. The sequence generated will be quite flickery as the scenery around you will change quite significantly in 30 seconds. I'd recommend somewhere between 5 and 10 seconds. Yes you will generate more data but it will all lend itself to a much more "easier on the eye" sequence.

I agree - if you have an iPhone then I would have a play with the time lapse apps to at least narrow down what you need - a quick walk to the shop should show you if 30 secs is too short. I expect there are free android ones too if that's your bag.