Capturing a time-lapse sequence during sunset or sunrise can be challenging but the Timelapse+ VIEW intervalometer changes the exposure settings automatically for you. Does it work? This comprehensive review tested various scenarios.
The Challenge of Holy Grail Time-Lapse
Shooting a smooth day to night or night to day time-lapse sequence is complicated because you must change the exposure settings manually in a certain order without over or underexposing the image. The exposure ramping must also be conducted progressively without sudden abrupt changes over time. Having clouds or sunlight in the field of view will make matter worse. Therefore, this type of time-lapse is known as the “Holy Grail” technique because of the relative difficulty of this photography pursuit.
The Timelapse+ VIEW Intervalometer to the Rescue
The VIEW intervalometer remove the complexity out of the equation by ramping the exposure automatically. Simply connect the little device to the camera, press start, and the intervalometer will “analyze each image for precise results across any range of exposure” according to the manufacturer.
The VIEW in Real Life
Los Angeles-based photographer Emeric Le Bars created a series of videos in which he tested the intervalometer under various conditions such as cloudy weather or with the sun directly appearing in the field of view of the camera. He also tried to change certain key settings of the VIEW and compared the outcome. Overall, Le Bars seems pleased by the results of the intervalometer but gives some advices about the settings and technique to get the best time-lapse sequence out of the VIEW.
So is the "Holy Grail" still the Holy Grail when you can get it automagically?
The VIEW makes it much easier for sure
So basically the same as leaving the camera in automatic mode?
Day to night and night to day don't work well with auto mode. First because the camera tends to overcompensates the exposure change which leads to heavy flicker and also because past a certain level of darkness the metering system doesn't work well. Sony camera work better than Canon though in auto mode for that type of things but it's far from perfect.