They all speed up time; the difference is what the camera does. In a timelapse the camera stays still while the scene changes. In a hyperlapse the camera travels through space, such as walking down a street or a drone flying a line. A motionlapse is in between: the camera stays in place but pans or slides slowly between set positions. So no, a hyperlapse isn't the same as a timelapse, though many apps group them together.
Timelapse
The camera is locked on a tripod and takes a photo or video frame every few seconds. Played back at normal speed, clouds race, shadows sweep and crowds flow. It's the classic way to show sunsets, star trails, tides, traffic and construction.
Tips: fixed exposure and white balance to avoid flicker, an interval of 1 to 5 seconds for moving clouds and traffic, and enough battery for the shoot.
Hyperlapse
The camera moves a real distance between frames. Because each step is big, the result looks like a fast, smooth journey: a walk through a city compressed into seconds, or a drone gliding along a coastline. Hyperlapses need stabilization, since any wobble between frames becomes a jump.
Tips: pick a fixed point to aim at, move in small, even steps, and keep speed slow. On a drone, small moves look big.
Motionlapse
The camera stays in one spot but rotates or slides slowly between two or more points you set. It adds depth to a timelapse without needing to walk or drive. A motorized gimbal or slider does the work.
How DJI gear handles each
DJI drones. In DJI Fly, open Shooting Modes and choose Hyperlapse, then one of four modes:
| DJI Fly mode | What it creates |
|---|---|
| Free | Hover for a timelapse, or fly manually for a hyperlapse |
| Circle | Orbit a subject |
| Course Lock | Fly a fixed heading, camera can lock on a subject |
| Waypoint | Follow a saved path, repeatable across batteries |
The drone shoots the frames and builds the video. The Mini 5 Pro can also save original RAW frames for deflickering. Full guides: drone timelapse and drone hyperlapse.
Osmo Pocket 3. The Osmo Pocket 3 has separate Timelapse (camera mounted and still), Hyperlapse (handheld or in a car) and Motionlapse (pans between set positions) modes. See Osmo Pocket 3 timelapse.
Interval and length math
Each second of finished video needs about 25 to 30 frames. With a 2-second interval, 10 seconds of video takes roughly 8 to 10 minutes to shoot. Longer intervals compress more time, which suits slow subjects like clouds, but on a drone they quickly use up the battery.
| Subject | Starting interval |
|---|---|
| Traffic, fast clouds | 1 to 2 s |
| People, boats | 2 to 3 s |
| Slow clouds, sunset light | 3 to 5 s |
Which should you shoot?
- Show change in one place: timelapse.
- Show a journey: hyperlapse.
- Add polish to a static scene: motionlapse.
Night hyperlapses and flights near people have rules; check can you fly a drone at night before you plan one.
Related guides
- Lito X1 and SkyRover X1 vs DJI Mini: what's the difference?
- How to shoot a drone hyperlapse (DJI settings that work)
- How to shoot a hyperlapse with the DJI Mini 5 Pro
- How to shoot a timelapse on the Osmo Pocket 3
- Best drone settings for sunset and golden hour
- D-Log M to Rec.709: how to color grade DJI footage
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