How to keep camera on for time lapse

[aribh123]

I was planning to use my Canon T3 to make a time lapse of my orchid flowers opening. What are some ways that I can get the camera to stay on? I need it to be on for at least a couple days for the flowers to fully open and I'm pretty sure 1 battery isn't going to cut it. I could buy a battery grip but I still don't think it would provide enough power. Is there some way that I can connect it to a wall socket? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

[table1349]

Canon ACK-E10 AC Adapter Kit for EOS Rebel T3 and T5 5113B002

 

[john.margetts]

Buy a Canon A/C adapter and use it in place if the battery. I am fairly sure there was one available for the 350D but I haven't checked for my newer cameras.

 

[table1349]

Buy a Canon A/C adapter and use it in place if the battery. I am fairly sure there was one available for the 350D but I haven't checked for my newer cameras.

You mean like the one I posted the link to above?

 

[dasmith232]

Yes to the above recommendation about a power adapter. (I have one and it works fine.)

In addition, you'll want to consider how you're building the time lapse. There are two main approaches.

First, you can shoot in video mode by altering the frame rate. I assume that you would NOT want this option for now. But it's something to think about in the future. This is possible (and works well) by using the Magic Lantern software. This has the advantage of not exercising the shutter hundreds (to thousands) to times. But also has the disadvantage of being power-hungry. (And you would definitely need the A/C power adapter.)

Second, you can shoot individual frames and render them into a movie later. I think you'll want to do this. This is a common approach with many options. I think(!) that you'll want this variation for something like an orchid. In addition, you may not be wanting or needing to shoot at the same frame rate for all hours. For example, you may want to capture more frame during daytime hours and fewer during nighttime hours. (I don't know enough about botany to recommend.)

Regardless, you'll need some kind of intervalometer. I have this one:
Amazon.com : Neewer LCD Timer Shutter Release Remote Control for Canon 700D/T5i, 650D/T4i, 550D/T2i, 500D/T1i, 350D/XT, 400D/XTi, 1000D/XS, 450D/XSi, 60D, 100D, and Pentax : Telescope Remote Controls : Camera & Photo
It's cheap and works fine. You'd be able to alter the frame rate on the remote control without touching the camera.

When the frame rate is low (like 1 frame every few minutes), you can turn off things like auto-focus and the back monitor display to save power. Also, set the camera to go to sleep fairly quickly (after 30 seconds - on the yellow wrench menu, first option). The intervalometer will wake the camera up, take the picture and it will go back to sleep. I've done this on a T3i and taken over 1000 pictures on a battery.

 

[table1349]

If the OP is going to hook the camera to an AC power supply he can use Canon's EOS Utility on a laptop hooked to the camera instead of buying a separate intervalometer.


The maker of the video really needs to check out a screen capture program, but the steps involved work.

EOS Utility

 

[aribh123]

Thanks, everyone, the AC power adaptor was exactly what I was looking for. I am planning to use EOS Utility as the intervalometer. I think I will go with 1 every 3 minutes to start. I want the finished product to be around 15 seconds so I multiplied that by 25fps to get 375 frames total. There are 1440 minutes in a day total ( 24 hours = total time for the flower to fully open) so I divided 1440 by 375 to get 1 frame every 3.84 seconds which I will round down to one every 3 seconds. Its all trial and error but its not the end of the world if I don't get it the first time.