time-laps movie- mjpeg codec?

[nalooti]

Hi,

i want to take several photos at fixed intervals (intervalometer mode) with my digicam,Canon S80, then join/merge them into one Mjpeg .avi file for later compression to DivX.
Can you please tell me how to do this ?

some notes:
1/ i need it for various things like plant observation, blooming flowers, people going around in one area, etc...

2/ i could do a direct compression to DivX without passing through Mjpeg step. However, i prefer to first have an Mjpeg .avi file so i get the max resolution out of my digicam (Canon s80), then if necessary to reduce the resolution while compressing to DivX in order to view them on TV

I though Mjpeg is a kind of joing jpeg files with some timing sets between each frame (photos). Saying it that way, it should be really straightforward, but how to do it, what tools ?

Do i need an Mjpeg codec ? How and where to get one ?


thanks very much
nalooti

[guns1inger]

What you are really talking about is creating an image sequence (a series of still images) that you eventually want to turn into a video. You don't need mjpeg at all in this instance, although you can use it if you have a codec. Otherwise, pretty much any lossless or or low loss (mjpeg is lossy) codec will do just as good a job. If you don't have one, look in the codec area of the Tools section (link to your left)

You can use a variety of programs to create the video from the sequence, so long as the files are numbered sequentially. Virtualdud can load an image sequence and output a video, however it doesn't give you direct control over how long each image represents (you may want your image to represent 2 frames instead of one, for instance). Premiere Pro or Vegas can also do this, and give you more control when loading the image.

[yoda313]

There is a freeware alternative. You can use "stop motion animator". You can hook up an external camera to it. Then you can click "grab" or "capture" or whatever the snap button is and it will take a frame at a time. From there it will automatically combine the stills for you into an animated sequence.

I believe you can do a full array of codecs with it. Though I've only used it for a short time.

I don't have a link for it handy but just do a net search and you'll find it. Very straightforward software.

[nalooti]

Hi and thanks for your answers

the timelaps movie i want to make is for entertainment only and i'm not willing to pay for a soft. I'm looking for a freeware doing it automatically with minimum actions for my part.

Actually i'd be very grateful if someone can tell me if i can and how do it with virtualdub, the soft i prefer

thanks
nalooti

[guns1inger]

To clarify - you want the software to control the taking of the image, not just the assembling of the images into a film.

[tonyp12]

Virtual dub have a capture feature that can down to as little as 1pic every 2 seconds.
(0.5 frame rate)

But is your camera WDM compatible?

To open a image sequence (.001, .002 ) in vdub,
just click open video file and change "Files of type"

Vdubs http://neuron2.net/logo/logo.html logo filter can take
single image files to create a video.

But they have to be bmap and you would need a background video equal lenght of
your time lapse.

[trossin]

I have a free tool that I use to make timelapse movies here:

http://www.geocities.com/ted_rossin/tools/2dgraphics/2dgraphics.html

Just get ImgConvert.zip

I let you set the repeat rate on the frames, select the images to include (you can deselect images that you screwed up) and set output size. I use it to create an MPEG movie which has no interpolated frames (basically motion JPEG). I then take this file and bring it into my authoring package to make a DVD. The results look nice and sharp.