# Time lapse formula **URL:** \ **Category:** Lifestyle\ **Tags:** cam-v1-v2\ **Created:** [May 3, 2018, 8:13pm UTC](https://forums.wyze.com/t/time-lapse-formula/4748 "2018-05-03T20:13:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![kitrichardsgmgmail-c](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/wyze/user_avatar/forums.wyze.com/kitrichardsgmgmail-c/32/2185_2.png) [@kitrichardsgmgmail-c](https://forums.wyze.com/u/kitrichardsgmgmail-c)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2018, 8:13pm UTC](https://forums.wyze.com/t/time-lapse-formula/4748/1 "2018-05-03T20:13:09Z")
I have wanted a way to know the interval I should use depending on how many hours the images are taken and the length of movie I want. I think I have a formula that works. Hours divided by minutes times 2 equals the interval. For instance I want a time lapse taken over 3 hours that will last 1.5 minutes when I watch it. 3 hours/1.5 minutes = 2, 2\*2 = 4. The interval is 4. ---
**Author:** ![Loki](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/wyze/user_avatar/forums.wyze.com/loki/32/1595_2.png) [@Loki](https://forums.wyze.com/u/Loki)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2018, 4:54am UTC](https://forums.wyze.com/t/time-lapse-formula/4748/2 "2018-05-04T04:54:51Z")
Yes,that works, as long as the units you use are hours for the elapsed time, minutes for the end video length, and seconds for the interval. Are you interested in why that works? ---
**Author:** ![kitrichardsgmgmail-c](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/wyze/user_avatar/forums.wyze.com/kitrichardsgmgmail-c/32/2185_2.png) [@kitrichardsgmgmail-c](https://forums.wyze.com/u/kitrichardsgmgmail-c)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2018, 5:46am UTC](https://forums.wyze.com/t/time-lapse-formula/4748/3 "2018-05-04T05:46:43Z")
I think it works because: (Period in hours \* 60 minutes/hour \* 60 seconds/minute) / (Video in minutes \* 60 seconds/minute \* 30 frames/second) = (P/V) \* 2 seconds/frame       ---
**Author:** ![Loki](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/wyze/user_avatar/forums.wyze.com/loki/32/1595_2.png) [@Loki](https://forums.wyze.com/u/Loki)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2018, 5:54am UTC](https://forums.wyze.com/t/time-lapse-formula/4748/4 "2018-05-04T05:54:09Z")
Yup! ---
**Author:** ![kitrichardsgmgmail-c](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/wyze/user_avatar/forums.wyze.com/kitrichardsgmgmail-c/32/2185_2.png) [@kitrichardsgmgmail-c](https://forums.wyze.com/u/kitrichardsgmgmail-c)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2018, 6:02am UTC](https://forums.wyze.com/t/time-lapse-formula/4748/5 "2018-05-04T06:02:00Z")
I could do that because of what my physics 101 professor drilled into my head 50 years ago… ---
**Author:** ![mark2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e19adc/32.png) [@mark2](https://forums.wyze.com/u/mark2)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2019, 6:24pm UTC](https://forums.wyze.com/t/time-lapse-formula/4748/6 "2019-01-27T18:24:56Z")
I have created a little excel formula that calculates recording times for any desired video length and any interval. You choose the output video length, and the interval settings, and it tells you how long to record. Any way to share it? ---
**Author:** ![Loki](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/wyze/user_avatar/forums.wyze.com/loki/32/1595_2.png) [@Loki](https://forums.wyze.com/u/Loki)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2019, 7:01pm UTC](https://forums.wyze.com/t/time-lapse-formula/4748/7 "2019-01-28T19:01:22Z")
You can’t share an Excel file here, but you could share a screenshot of the formula so others could type it into their Excel spreadsheet. ---
**Author:** ![Loki](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/wyze/user_avatar/forums.wyze.com/loki/32/1595_2.png) [@Loki](https://forums.wyze.com/u/Loki)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2019, 7:02pm UTC](https://forums.wyze.com/t/time-lapse-formula/4748/8 "2019-01-28T19:02:13Z")
Here’s a related #Roadmap topic that you can vote for. Be sure to scroll up to the top and click the VOTE button: > [@Improve information displayed when setting up or returning to a time lapse](https://forums.wyze.com/t/improve-information-displayed-when-setting-up-or-returning-to-a-time-lapse/16259): > > It would be great if the timelapse setup page told you the final duration of the timelapse based on the interval. Most of the time I want for example, a 15 sec 30 fps timelapse, and have to calculate the interval by hand. ---
**Author:** ![JennLynnC](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/wyze/user_avatar/forums.wyze.com/jennlynnc/32/7259_2.png) [@JennLynnC](https://forums.wyze.com/u/JennLynnC)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2020, 3:51pm UTC](https://forums.wyze.com/t/time-lapse-formula/4748/9 "2020-02-21T15:51:04Z")
@mark2 i know this is an old post, but i would love to see this formula so i can use it 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![JennLynnC](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/wyze/user_avatar/forums.wyze.com/jennlynnc/32/7259_2.png) [@JennLynnC](https://forums.wyze.com/u/JennLynnC)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2020, 4:02pm UTC](https://forums.wyze.com/t/time-lapse-formula/4748/10 "2020-02-21T16:02:36Z")
> [@kitrichardsgmgmail-c](#): > > I have wanted a way to know the interval I should use depending on how many hours the images are taken and the length of movie I want _ **Raising my hand** _ I have a question … what if you dont care how long the resulting time lapse video is… So for example, using the case discussed here, what if i did not care if the video is 1.5 minutes or 3 minutes long when i watch it. I just need a way to know what interval is best for the situation. Is there a way to know what interval to use that is best for the actual situation? ---
**Author:** ![JennLynnC](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/wyze/user_avatar/forums.wyze.com/jennlynnc/32/7259_2.png) [@JennLynnC](https://forums.wyze.com/u/JennLynnC)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2020, 4:03pm UTC](https://forums.wyze.com/t/time-lapse-formula/4748/11 "2020-02-21T16:03:38Z")
this thread is old… but still awesome … just sayin! 🙂 😀 ---
**Author:** ![StopICU33](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/wyze/user_avatar/forums.wyze.com/stopicu33/32/121370_2.png) [@StopICU33](https://forums.wyze.com/u/StopICU33)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2020, 4:09pm UTC](https://forums.wyze.com/t/time-lapse-formula/4748/12 "2020-02-21T16:09:27Z")
Here is a general guide from the Wyze time lapse support article. Hope this helps. 🙂 > Creative Tip: If your Time Lapse is of a slow-moving motion, like a flower blooming, you will want the interval to be a minute or longer. If your Time Lapse is of a short-lived event, like clouds moving in the sky on a windy day, the interval should be around three seconds. Edit: There are several Time Laspe calculators in the app store you can check out as well. > > > Simple flexible app calculating all timelapse parameters for you... ---
**Author:** ![JennLynnC](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/wyze/user_avatar/forums.wyze.com/jennlynnc/32/7259_2.png) [@JennLynnC](https://forums.wyze.com/u/JennLynnC)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2020, 5:29pm UTC](https://forums.wyze.com/t/time-lapse-formula/4748/13 "2020-02-21T17:29:53Z")
this is helpful, thank you 🙂 😀 ---
**Author:** ![StopICU33](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/wyze/user_avatar/forums.wyze.com/stopicu33/32/121370_2.png) [@StopICU33](https://forums.wyze.com/u/StopICU33)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2020, 5:49pm UTC](https://forums.wyze.com/t/time-lapse-formula/4748/14 "2020-02-21T17:49:00Z")
You’re welcome! Good luck on your time lapse video. 🙂