Keep the photos.
Or compress the time.
Interval photography describes a way of capturing: photos at repeated time intervals. Time-lapse describes a way of showing change in a short video. They can share a capture technique, but choosing the output first makes the decision easier.
The biggest difference is what you keep
| What matters | IntervalCam | Time-lapse video |
|---|---|---|
| Output | Individual still photos | A video that shows change at an accelerated pace |
| After shooting | Select, edit and share photos separately | Play the sequence as motion |
| Typical goal | Choose expressions, compare progress, create photo material | Show a change over time, such as moving clouds |
| To get a video | Arrange photos in a separate video editor | Use the exported video |
IntervalCam is on the individual-photo side of this comparison. Time-lapse in the built-in iPhone Camera is intended to create video; it is not simply another route to the same output.
When individual photos make sense
Choose a flattering expression from a group session. Include stages of a craft project in an article. Place matching views side by side to compare a change. These tasks are easier when you already have separate photos to work with.
If all you need is a ready-to-watch accelerated video, a tool that captures time-lapse video directly can save steps. There is no reason to add a photo-to-video editing workflow just to use IntervalCam.
Making a video from photos: the arithmetic
In another video editor, if each photo becomes exactly one video frame, duration is photo count divided by frame rate. For example, 100 photos at 30 frames per second make about 3.33 seconds of video.
Capturing 100 photos at 5-second intervals spans a nominal 495 seconds, or 8 minutes 15 seconds, from the first shutter to the last. Add the start delay separately. It is not 100 × 5 seconds: there are 99 gaps between 100 photos.
Holding each photo for several frames or setting a longer still-image duration makes a longer video. The arithmetic here applies only when one photo is used as one frame.
A regular interval is not a timing guarantee
Low-light exposure, image processing, saving and device load may make actual capture intervals longer. Do not use the selected interval as a precision time reference for scientific measurements or tasks requiring exact time spacing.
The app also does not keep shooting in the background or while the phone is locked. For security monitoring or long-term unattended observation, use equipment or software intended for that job.
See the App Store for current pricing, compatibility and actual app screenshots.