Why Does My Time-lapse Look Jerky Instead of Smooth?

Likely causes

• Interval too long for how fast the subject is moving. a long interval captures too little of a fast-moving subject's motion between frames, producing visible jumps.
• Inconsistent interval timing during the shoot. an interval that drifts or isn't held steady throughout the shoot produces uneven motion in the final playback.
• Frame count too low for the planned final video length. not enough frames for the target duration and frame rate forces the video to stretch too few frames across too much time.

The fix

1. Match the interval to your subject's actual speed — shorter intervals for fast motion like clouds, longer for slow transitions like a sunset.
2. Use a reliable intervalometer or camera setting that holds the interval steady for the full shoot rather than a manually-timed approach.
3. Check the calculated total frame count against your target video length and frame rate before starting a long shoot.