Timelapse camera on a budget

davesweets

Hi guys,

Looking for a budget camera to capture a timelapse of a 6-8 week project on a construction site. Don't want to spend big money as it would just be a one off use. It is for a local sports club.
I also have an akaso v50 at home. Just wondering if anyone had any experience of something similar for longer term project like this? It would be outdoors so would be difficult to house it watertight while keeping it charged.
All advice appreciated.
Thanks

Gregor Samsa

If it was me, I'd use my GoPro hooked up to a decent USB powerbank, inside an large IP66 junction box with a hole cut out of it for the GoPro lens, sealed with silicone sealant. I'd figure out what rate I wanted the timelapse to run over the 8 weeks, and what the power draw would be at that rate. Then you'd be able to open up the junction box and swap out the USB power bank as necessary (the powerbank would effectivly be recharging the internal GoPro battery, so the GoPro wouldn't lose power during the power bank swap. Maybe the power bank wouldn't need to be changed during this time, I'm not sure - but I'd plan for being able to do so.

I assume the akaso v50 can also be powered off a USB power bank.

Another option is someting like this:

https://www.photospecialist.ie/brinno-tlc200-timelapse-camera-with-lcd-screen?channable=e37585.NjI5Nw&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIsOmimrbR6QIVzed3Ch0NRg3CEAQYBSABEgI2g_D_BwE

Never used one, but it claims that it can capture 300,000 frames on 4 AA batteries. There's only 80,640 minutes in 8 weeks, so even at one shot a minute it should last the project length on one charge (if it's spec are to be trusted in a real world scenario). You'd end up with a video lasting almost 45 minutes (played at 30 fps), so you'd probably actualy want to a much longer interval on your timelapse.

Someone in the questions on Amazon claims that they used one to record something in their garden from September to November on one set of batteries:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Brinno-TLC200-Time-1-4-Inch-Display-720-pixels/dp/B006ICOK00/ref=sr_1_2?adgrpid=58110008813&dchild=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI_vyHqbrR6QIVYIBQBh2JuwCqEAAYASAAEgJ_VvD_BwE&hvadid=291321219804&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9040153&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=b&hvrand=10016083217686836401&hvtargid=kwd-300348542071&hydadcr=28215_1804859&keywords=brinno+tlc+200+pro&qid=1590493587&sr=8-2

Edit: looks like you need a waterproof case for it

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Brinno-ATH110-Weatherproof-Housing-Camera-TLC200/dp/B00CBO14FI/ref=pd_bxgy_2/261-1003586-5941010?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B00CBO14FI&pd_rd_r=399f25e9-952c-47d7-81b4-bacc3ab2972a&pd_rd_w=Nzaq5&pd_rd_wg=u9l3C&pf_rd_p=106f838b-b7d1-46e9-83e0-f70facc857bf&pf_rd_r=1BY4BJXS3HMZ6ND000NW&psc=1&refRID=1BY4BJXS3HMZ6ND000NW

ED E

GoPro Session and a powerbank as above. Probably change the pack weekly would be enough with a true 20Ah powerbank.

fixXxer

I got one of these before from an Amazon warehouse deal.

Initally it worked great. Loads of settings to maximize your time lapse. Its waterproof so you dont need a case, and can be set up to not take images when it's dark and there's nothing to see. All worked great until I changed phones and now I cant get the damn thing to connect at all, so its impossible to set the camera up. Looking online theres loads of people with Bluetooth problems that dont have a solution like myself.

Not a recommendation I know but just a warning to do your research on the Brinno ones.

dreamers75

Those brinnos are like Nokias on a charge, left one in Richmond Park for months taking pictures every 30 minutes.

You can "hack" the time on them with a simple text edit. Used SD card rather than bluetooth for images.