Something I have never done until the Sony Time-lapse App
I have always had a desire to shoot a time-lapse I just never got around to it. You see for me, I normally shoot with one camera. It makes things less complicated and allows me to enjoy the scene when I am shooting long exposures. There have been many times I wanted to shoot for a Time-Lapse, but I didn’t want to run the risk of getting an awesome Time-Lapse but a horrible series of photos to work with on single images. Call it laziness, call it whatever you will but something about rummaging through a ton of images to build a time-lapse seemed daunting and time consuming for 9-12 seconds of “video”.
That has all changed with the Sony Time-Lapse App. This app can be accessed through your camera’s menu (once purchased and installed) and run an auto time-lapse sequence. I was skeptical at first, but since the Sony a6000 has been collecting dust when I shoot with my Canon 6D I figured it couldn’t hurt to try it out.
Where to get the Sony Time-Lapse App
The Sony Time-Lapse app can be purchased through the Sony Play Memories store. Once you purchase the app you can install it on your Sony camera. You have two ways to purchase and install it:
- Through your computer via the link provided above and transmitted via USB cable
- Through the app on the camera when connected to a wifi access point (preferred way)
I had a hell of a time trying to do it with the first method. I found it much easier to do it with Option 2. Be sure your camera’s firmware is up to date prior to running the app via the camera. I had to update first before it would allow me access.
How does the Sony Time-Lapse App work?
The app basically does all the heavy lifting for you. When accessed it turns your camera into an intervalometer. This gives you the ability to say okay camera:
- Take one picture every 10 seconds (variable based on your desired outcome).
- Take anywhere from 10-990 images.
- Give me just the AVI or the images, or both.
Once you press the shutter the camera does the rest. It will continue to shoot through the sequence you selected until it is done cycling, you tell it to stop or the battery dies (which happens often with Sonys!).
The app also has several settings from Night Sky, to Sunset/Sunrise, or Standard settings. I put several of these settings to the test.
