Want to capture long-term events like construction projects, blooming flowers, or even just the subtle shifts in clouds? Getting started with the Rexing TL1 time lapse camera is simpler than you might think, and it’s built to make those extended shoots a breeze. This sturdy little camera is a fantastic option for anyone looking to compress hours, days, or even months into captivating short videos without a complex setup. It really shines with its impressive 6-month battery life and water-resistant design, meaning you can set it up outdoors and pretty much forget about it for ages. Think of it as your dedicated partner for visual storytelling over time, whether you’re documenting a backyard renovation or the slow, beautiful change of seasons. We’re going to walk through everything you need to know to get the most out of your Rexing TL1, from its core features and initial setup to mastering those crucial time-lapse settings, so you can start creating those mesmerizing videos right away.
Getting a time-lapse camera can feel a bit daunting, right? All those settings, the worry about battery life, and whether it can actually survive being outside for weeks or months. But here’s the good news: the Rexing TL1 time lapse camera takes a lot of that stress away. It’s designed to be straightforward, incredibly durable, and boasts a battery life that’ll let you capture some seriously long projects without constant fussing. Forget about needing a complicated DSLR rig or constantly checking on an action camera. The TL1 is a purpose-built tool that focuses on reliability and ease of use, making it an excellent choice for everyone from hobbyists to professionals monitoring job sites.
It’s definitely a solid contender if you’re looking for a dedicated time-lapse solution, especially for those outdoor projects. Unlike many dash cams from Rexing that use the “Rexing Connect” app, the TL1 keeps things simple with an onboard screen and direct data transfer, which means fewer potential connectivity headaches and more focus on getting the shot. By the time we’re done here, you’ll be fully equipped to deploy your TL1 and capture stunning time-lapse videos that tell incredible stories.
A Closer Look: Rexing TL1 Key Features and What They Mean for You
When you’re picking a time-lapse camera, the specs really matter, especially for those long, unattended shoots. The Rexing TL1 comes packed with features that make it a reliable choice for a variety of projects.
|
0.0 out of 5 stars (based on 0 reviews)
There are no reviews yet. Be the first one to write one. |
Amazon.com:
Check Amazon for Unlocking the Power Latest Discussions & Reviews: |
Crystal-Clear Vision: Video and Photo Quality
The TL1 records in 1080p Full HD video 1920×1080 resolution and captures 2-megapixel still photos. While it’s not 4K, 1080p is still great for sharing online and offers a good balance between quality and manageable file sizes, especially when you’re recording over extended periods. This resolution provides clear and detailed footage, which is perfect for documenting progress or subtle environmental changes.
Seeing the Whole Picture: The Lens
You get a 110° wide-angle lens with the TL1, which is fantastic for capturing expansive scenes. Whether you’re recording a sprawling construction site or a wide-open natural , this lens ensures you fit more into your frame. The camera also features a “Starlight lens” and a 2W white LED supplementary light, which means it’s designed to perform well even in lower light conditions or completely dark places, giving you more flexibility for night-time lapse projects.
Your Command Center: The Display
Right on the camera, there’s a 2.4-inch HD LCD screen. This might seem small compared to your phone, but it’s incredibly useful for framing your shots, navigating settings, and reviewing footage directly on the device without needing to hook it up to anything else. It makes setup in the field much more intuitive.
Power for the Long Haul: Battery Life
This is where the Rexing TL1 truly shines! It boasts an impressive 6-month battery life when taking a photo every 5 minutes that’s about 288 photos a day. This is powered by 12 AA batteries. This extended battery life is a must for long-term projects, drastically reducing the need for frequent battery changes or complex external power solutions. You can literally set it and let it run for months, which is a huge convenience for tracking construction, plant growth, or other slow-moving events. Mastering Your Rexing TL1 Time-Lapse Camera: A Complete Manual Walkthrough
Built Tough: Weather Resistance
Let’s face it, if you’re putting a camera outside for a long time, it needs to handle the elements. The TL1 comes in a solid, jet-black, water-resistant housing that’s built to withstand outdoor conditions. This heavy-duty design makes it suitable for job sites, nature observation, and other outdoor uses where it might encounter rain, dust, or varying temperatures.
Flexible Recording: Modes and Storage
The TL1 offers several recording options, including time-lapse photo, time-lapse video, and scheduled recording. You can set it to take individual still images at intervals and combine them, or record short video clips at intervals. The scheduled recording feature lets you select specific hours or dates for the camera to operate, saving battery life and storage space by only capturing during relevant times.
For storage, it uses a Micro SD card, supporting up to 512GB Class 10 or above is recommended. This large capacity means you can store tons of footage over several months. It also has a loop recording option, which, when turned on, will automatically delete the oldest files when the card is full, ensuring continuous recording for ongoing projects.
What’s in the Box?
When you unbox your Rexing TL1, you’ll find everything you need to get started: the camera itself, a strip mount, a screw mount, mounting screws, an installation tool, a USB to Mini-USB cable, an AV cable, and a user manual. This means you don’t usually have to scramble for extra accessories just to get it set up.
Grab 50% OFF on RexingUSA.com Unlocking the Wild: Your Complete Rexing Trail Camera Setup Guide
Getting Started: Setting Up Your Rexing TL1
Setting up the Rexing TL1 is pretty straightforward, but a few key steps will ensure you’re ready to capture some great time-lapses.
Powering Up: Batteries
The TL1 runs on 12 AA batteries. It’s a good idea to use high-quality alkaline or lithium batteries to get the most out of that impressive 6-month battery life. You’ll find two battery compartments: four batteries go into the left compartment, and eight into the right. Make sure you install them with the correct polarity.
Storage Solutions: The Micro SD Card
Before you start recording, you’ll need a Micro SD card. The camera supports cards up to 512GB, and I’d strongly recommend a Class 10 or UHS-I speed rating or higher for reliable performance, especially with continuous recording.
Here’s a quick rundown for the SD card:
- Insert the card: Gently push the Micro SD card into the slot until it clicks into place. Don’t force it!
- Format it: This is a crucial step, especially for first-time use or if the card was used in another device. Formatting ensures the card is ready for your TL1 and helps prevent any recording issues. You can usually find the “Format” function in the camera’s setup menu.
Mounting Your Camera: Finding the Perfect Spot
The TL1 comes with multiple mounting options, including a strip mount and a screw mount. Rexing USA Support: Your Ultimate Guide to Getting Help
- Screw Mount: This is great for permanent or semi-permanent installations on a wall, tree, or pole. Just make sure any existing screws are tight before mounting.
- Strip Mount: Offers more flexibility for attaching the camera to poles, branches, or fences.
When picking your spot, think about a few things:
- Line of Sight: Ensure a clear, unobstructed view of your subject throughout the entire project.
- Stability: The camera needs to be perfectly still. Any wobble will ruin your time-lapse.
- Protection: While the TL1 is water-resistant, protecting it from direct heavy impact, strong winds, or curious animals is always a good idea. Make sure the environmental temperature and humidity won’t cause short-circuiting.
Basic Operation: Getting Around the Menus
The TL1 has a pretty user-friendly interface with physical buttons.
- Power Button: Long press to turn the camera on or off. A short press after startup can enter the time-lapse mode.
- MODE Button: This lets you switch between Photo, Video, and Playback modes. It’s also used to enter and exit the main menu.
- OK Button: Confirms your selections or starts/stops recording in the respective modes.
- Up/Down Buttons: Used for navigating through menu options and selecting values. They also double as manual time-lapse shooting shortcuts.
- MENU Button: Opens the setup menu where you’ll find all your camera settings.
Mastering Your Time Lapse Settings
This is where the magic happens! Getting your settings right for time-lapse photography is key to creating a compelling video.
Choosing Your Mode: Photo vs. Video Time Lapse
The Rexing TL1 offers two main time-lapse approaches: Reaching Rexing Customer Service: Your Go-To Contact Methods
- Time-Lapse Photo: The camera takes individual still images 2MP, 1920x1080P at your chosen interval. It then automatically stitches these photos together to create an AVI video. This is great for maximum detail and flexibility in post-production.
- Time-Lapse Video: The camera records short video clips 1080p Full HD, 3 seconds to 2 minutes long at set intervals and then combines them into a fast-motion clip. This can be simpler for some projects, as the camera handles more of the processing.
Setting the Interval: The Heart of Your Time Lapse
The interval is how often your camera takes a picture or records a short video. Getting this right is crucial for the final speed and smoothness of your time-lapse. The TL1 allows you to set intervals from 3 seconds up to 24 hours.
Here’s a rough guide for common scenarios:
- Fast-moving clouds, short events: 3-10 seconds
- Plant growth, crowds, traffic: 1-5 minutes
- Construction projects, longer nature changes: 5-30 minutes
- Very slow changes e.g., seasons: 30 minutes to 24 hours
Pro Tip: It’s usually better to overshoot slightly shorter intervals than undershoot. You can always speed up footage in editing, but you can’t create frames that weren’t captured. Keep in mind that shooting closer intervals will produce a lot of data, so ensure your SD card is up to the task.
Scheduling Your Recording: Daily Timer
The scheduled recording feature is incredibly useful. You can set specific start and end times for your camera to record each day, or even on specific days of the week. This means your camera won’t waste battery life or storage space recording during times when nothing interesting is happening, like overnight on a construction site. Just imagine setting it to record only during daylight hours, Monday through Friday!
Exposure Control: Handling Changing Light
The TL1 offers Exposure Compensation from +3.0 EV to -3.0 EV in 1.0 EV increments. This allows you to fine-tune how bright or dark your images are. For long-term outdoor time-lapses, lighting conditions will change drastically throughout the day and across seasons. While the TL1 handles much of this automatically, you might notice some “flicker” in your final video as the camera adjusts its exposure settings. You can minimize this in post-production using de-flickering software. Rexing Tech Support: Your Ultimate Guide to Getting Help
Loop Recording: Continuous Capture
With loop recording, if your Micro SD card gets full, the camera will automatically delete the oldest files to make space for new ones. This ensures continuous recording for ongoing projects without you needing to manually swap cards. You can toggle this feature On or Off in the settings.
Resolution and Other Settings
- Photo Resolution: Choose between 2MP 1920x1080P or 1MP 1280x720P.
- Video Resolution: Choose between 1920x1080P Full HD or 1280x720P.
- Video Clip Duration: For Time-Lapse Video mode, set clips from 3 to 120 seconds.
- Date & Time Stamp: You can choose to have the date and/or time stamped directly onto your photos or videos.
- Audio Recording: The camera has an option to record audio, which can be turned on or off.
- Light Source Frequency: Set this to match your local electricity supply 50Hz or 60Hz to prevent interference, especially if using the camera indoors or near artificial lights.
Why the Rexing TL1 is a Solid Pick for Time Lapse
Many people look for “rexing tl1 review” to see what others think, and it generally gets positive feedback for its intended use. The Rexing TL1 isn’t trying to be an action camera or a professional DSLR, and that’s actually its strength. It excels as a dedicated, user-friendly time-lapse camera designed for extended outdoor projects.
What Users Love Pros:
- Exceptional Battery Life: This is consistently highlighted as a major advantage. Up to 6 months on a single set of AA batteries means minimal intervention, which is priceless for long projects.
- Robust and Weather-Resistant: The heavy-duty casing is built to handle the outdoors, making it reliable for construction, gardening, or nature observation without needing extra waterproof housing.
- Easy to Use: Many users appreciate its simple interface and straightforward setup. You don’t need to be a tech wizard to get it running.
- Dedicated Functionality: It focuses on time-lapse, offering the specific settings and reliability needed for this type of capture. It’s not bogged down with features you don’t need for a static, long-term shot.
- Wide-Angle View: The 110° lens ensures you capture a broad scene, which is perfect for documenting large areas like a construction site.
Things to Keep in Mind Cons:
- 1080p Resolution: While good, it’s not 4K. If ultra-high resolution is your top priority for detailed, zoomable footage, you might look at higher-end alternatives. However, for most time-lapse purposes and sharing online, 1080p is perfectly adequate.
- No Wi-Fi/App Connectivity: Unlike some other time-lapse cameras or Rexing’s dash cam lines, the TL1 does not feature Wi-Fi or app control for remote viewing or settings adjustment. You’ll manage settings directly on the camera’s 2.4-inch LCD screen and transfer files via an SD card reader or USB cable. This can be a pro for simplicity, but a con if you were hoping for live remote monitoring.
- Onboard Screen Size: The 2.4-inch LCD screen is functional but small. While it’s great for quick checks, detailed review will require transferring files to a larger screen.
Transferring Your Masterpiece: Getting Footage Off the TL1
Once your time-lapse project is complete or you just want to check on progress, getting your files off the Rexing TL1 is simple. Since there’s no Wi-Fi app for the TL1, you have a couple of reliable options: Unlock Your Rexing M2 Dash Cam’s Full Potential: The Ultimate SD Card Guide
-
Using a Card Reader: This is often the fastest and most convenient method.
- Gently press the Micro SD card to eject it from the camera.
- Insert the SD card into a card reader.
- Connect the card reader to your computer or a compatible mobile device.
- You can then copy your image or video files directly to your device.
-
Connecting Directly to Your Computer:
- Use the included USB to Mini-USB cable to connect your TL1 directly to your computer.
- Your computer should recognize the camera as an external storage device, allowing you to access and transfer files from the Micro SD card.
Advanced Tips for Your Rexing TL1 Time Lapse
Even with a user-friendly camera like the TL1, a few extra tips can help you elevate your time-lapse game.
Planning for Perfection
- Location, Location, Location: Think about your background and foreground. What story do you want to tell? A well-composed shot can make a huge difference.
- Consider the Light: Pay attention to how the light will change throughout the day or over your project’s duration. This can help you anticipate any exposure adjustments needed or decide if specific scheduling is necessary.
- Power Strategy for extremely long projects: While the TL1’s battery life is excellent for up to 6 months, if your project extends beyond that, you might consider scheduling periodic checks to swap out batteries or explore external battery packs for AA cells.
Post-Production Polish
- De-flickering Software: If you notice any inconsistencies in brightness between frames common with automatic exposure adjustments, dedicated de-flickering software like LRTimelapse, if you’re getting serious can smooth out your final video.
- Editing Software: Basic video editing software even free ones can help you trim your time-lapse, add podcast, titles, or speed it up/slow it down further to tell your story effectively.
- Backup, Backup, Backup: Always transfer and back up your footage regularly. You don’t want to lose months of recording due to a lost or corrupted SD card.
Grab 50% OFF on RexingUSA.com Rexing camera sd card
Frequently Asked Questions
What is time lapse on a camera, and how does the Rexing TL1 do it?
Time lapse is a photography technique where frames are captured at intervals over an extended period, and then played back at a much faster speed, making slow-moving events appear to unfold quickly. The Rexing TL1 does this by either taking a series of individual photos at set intervals and stitching them into a video, or by recording short video clips at intervals and combining them. This allows you to condense hours, days, or even months into a short, compelling video.
How long can the Rexing TL1 record for?
The Rexing TL1 is designed for long-term recording, offering an impressive battery life of up to 6 months when taking a photo every 5 minutes. Its large Micro SD card support up to 512GB and loop recording feature also allow it to capture extensive footage without interruption.
Does the Rexing TL1 have an app for remote control or viewing?
No, the Rexing TL1 does not feature Wi-Fi or app connectivity for remote control or live viewing. You manage all settings directly on the camera’s 2.4-inch LCD screen. To view or transfer recordings, you’ll need to physically remove the Micro SD card and use a card reader, or connect the camera to your computer via the included USB cable. This keeps the camera simple and minimizes potential connectivity issues often associated with apps for similar devices.
What kind of projects is the Rexing TL1 best suited for?
The Rexing TL1 is ideal for a wide range of long-term outdoor projects due to its durable, water-resistant design and exceptional battery life. It’s frequently used for documenting construction progress, observing nature like plant growth, blooming flowers, or weather changes, capturing art installations, and monitoring traffic or crowds. Its robust build makes it perfect for job sites and off-the-grid areas.
What resolution does the Rexing TL1 record in?
The Rexing TL1 records 1080p Full HD video 1920×1080 resolution and captures 2-megapixel still photos 1920x1080P. While not 4K, this resolution provides clear, detailed images and videos suitable for most time-lapse applications and sharing on various platforms. Getting a Rexing Smart Hardwire Kit Near You: Your Ultimate Guide to 24/7 Dash Cam Protection
Do I need special batteries for the Rexing TL1?
The Rexing TL1 requires 12 standard AA batteries for operation. While it doesn’t need special rechargeable packs, using high-quality alkaline or lithium AA batteries is recommended to achieve the maximum advertised 6-month battery life. You simply install them into the two designated battery compartments within the camera.
Leave a Reply