IP Camera Time Lapse Video Q&A

A customer recently contacted me with the following questions related to using a Zavio IP camera for a time lapse video project.

I am interested in purchasing one of your IP cameras for a time lapse video application. However, before I buy it, I want to make sure it will do exactly what I need.

This is the camera I’m looking at:
https://www.cctvcamerapros.com/1080p-IP-Camera-p/zavio-f3210.htm

This is the sort of thing I’m trying to achieve: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qGd7kG6r0Q

1. I would like for the camera to place a 1920px x 1080px .jpg file with a sequence number via FTP to a server. For example: 00001.jpg, 00002.jpg, etc. I would also like it to write the same files to the camera for redundancy.

   I need to be able to adjust the interval frequency from time to time. On some days, I would like it to shoot 1 frame every 5 minutes. On other days, I would like it to take a photo every 20 minutes. Is this possible?

   Thank you for contacting CCTV Camera Pros. Yes, you may configure the Zavio F3210 to take a snapshot and send it to an FTP destination and the SD card.

   Here is a link that shows how to configure the FTP image upload.
   https://www.cctvcamerapros.com/IP-Camera-FTP-Upload-Image-s/915.htm

   Here is a link that shows how to configure the SD card.
   https://www.cctvcamerapros.com/IP-camera-SD-card-recording-s/734.htm

   Here is a link that shows how to setup a Zavio IP camera for time lapse photography.

   How to use a IP Security Camera for Time-Lapse Photography

   The image names are sequenced.

2. Does it come with a microSD card? If not, what is the maximum size micro SD card that this system can handle?

   The SD card is not included with the camera. I have used 32GB and 64GB size cards. Be sure to get a class 10 card.

3. I don’t want a time stamp to overlay on the images. Is this possible?

   There is no time stamp overlay on the snapshot images.

4. Will I also need to buy a power injector, or does this unit come with a AC adapter?
   Zavio IP cameras come with a 12V DC power supply. PoE is optional.

5. I need to be able to adjust the interval frequency from time to time. On some days, I would like it to shoot 1 frame every 5 minutes. On other days, I would like it to take a photo every 20 minutes. Is this possible?

   Adjusting the time interval of the snapshot images is simple using the cameras interface. You can adjust the interval in minutes. This can be changed as often as you require by accessing the admin area of the camera through a web browser.

6. Is it possible to record video to the SD card and also send snapshot images in JPEG format to an FTP server for time-lapse?

   Yes, by configuring two different “event server” types in the cameras admin area.

7. Do these two cameras do the same thing in terms of timelapse photos? Are they using the same software?

   Outdoor camera
   https://www.cctvcamerapros.com/IR-Bullet-IP-Camera-p/zavio-b6210.htm

   Indoor camera
   https://www.cctvcamerapros.com/1080p-IP-Camera-p/zavio-f3210.htm

   Yes, they use the same firmware. So when you login to them, the interface is identical. You can setup snapshot photos at 1080p resolution the same for both, however, the B6210 does not have an SD card slot so no local recording is possible. You can use FTP or network storage for the B6210. You can use FTP, network, or local SD card storage for the F3210.

   If that option is not needed, they are pretty identical then as far as the firmware / software goes.

• This topic was modified 9 years, 6 months ago by Mike Haldas.
• This topic was modified 9 years, 6 months ago by Mike Haldas.