Stable hyperlapses on compact drones: settings and steps

TL;DR:

Pick calm wind, a slow path, and a distant subject.
Lock exposure, white balance, and focus before you start.
Use ND filters to reach motion-blur shutter speeds.
Fly 1–3 m/s with 2–3 s intervals for most scenes.
Export RAW sequences for the best stabilization and color.

This is helpful content for all drone users. It was updated on 2025-09-18.

You will learn how to plan, set up, and fly stable hyperlapses. You will also learn a simple edit flow that fixes flicker and shake.

Hyperlapse vs timelapse, quick refresher

A timelapse holds the camera still while time moves.
A hyperlapse moves the camera between shots to add motion.

DJI describes four in-drone hyperlapse modes. These are Free, Circle, Course Lock, and Waypoint. The names change slightly by model, but the ideas stay the same.

Pick the right scene

Choose a clear subject you can frame for minutes. Good picks include a skyline, harbor, mountain ridge, or a wide road. Keep the subject far enough away to reduce parallax.

Avoid tight gaps, tall trees, and heavy crowds. Small drones drift more in wind, so open space helps.

Plan the path and timing

Decide what will move over time. Good options are clouds, tides, shadows, or steady traffic.

CineD explains that intervals control the speed of change. Shorter intervals show smoother motion. Longer intervals compress more time. We use that rule to pick intervals in the table below.

Example intervals and flight speeds

Scene	Interval	Drone speed	Target shutter	Notes
Fast clouds at dusk	2 s	1–2 m/s	1/2–1 s	Low wind is key
City traffic, day	2–3 s	1–2 m/s	1/15–1/30 s	Use ND8–ND16
Harbor or river	3 s	2–3 m/s	1/10–1/20 s	Keep altitude steady
Golden hour skyline	3–5 s	1–2 m/s	1/4–1/2 s	Watch exposure ramp

These are starting points. Adjust for wind, light, and distance.

Core camera settings

Set photo format to RAW or RAW+JPEG when possible. That gives you headroom in post.

Lock white balance. Pick a number near the scene and stick with it.
Lock exposure in manual mode. Use ISO 100 or the lowest clean ISO.

Use ND filters to slow the shutter. PolarPro’s tutorial shows ND helps add motion blur. This blur hides micro jitters between frames and looks smooth.

Set focus. For a skyline, use manual or tap to focus near infinity. Recheck after a tilt change.

Useful drone modes for stability

Use Cine or Tripod speed profiles if your drone supports them.
Keep yaw changes slow and limited. Avoid quick left-right corrections.

DJI’s hyperlapse modes help you fly repeatable paths:

Course Lock keeps the ground track fixed while you pan gently.
Waypoint repeats saved points, great for longer scenes.
Circle orbits a subject at a set radius.
Free lets you fly while the drone handles intervals.

Pick the mode that matches your path. Course Lock and Waypoint are the safest for stable results.

How many frames do you need

Decide the final clip length first. A 10 second clip at 24 fps needs 240 frames.

With a 2 second interval, capture time will be 480 seconds, or 8 minutes. Check your battery and wind before you commit.

Quick math helper

Frames needed = duration in seconds × frame rate.
Shoot a little extra to allow trimming.

Preflight checklist

Check local rules and airspace.
Calibrate compass and IMU if the app suggests it.
Set RTH altitude above all hazards on your path.
Fly the path once in normal video to test wind.
Swap to Hyperlapse after the test pass.

Step-by-step: a stable “push in” hyperlapse

Pick a skyline on a calm day. Start far away.
Set Manual exposure, ISO 100, fixed white balance.
Add an ND to reach a 1/4–1/2 second shutter.
Set Interval to 2–3 seconds.
Choose Waypoint or Course Lock for a straight line.
Speed 1–2 m/s, gimbal tilt locked, no yaw changes.
Start capture, keep the horizon centered, and watch wind.
Stop with extra frames, then hover and review.

Step-by-step: a clean “orbit” hyperlapse

Pick a roundabout or small island with space around it.
Set Manual exposure and fixed white balance.
Add ND for a 1/10–1/30 second shutter.
Set Interval to 2–3 seconds.
Use Circle mode at a wide radius.
Keep altitude constant. Avoid gimbal tilt pulls.
Let the drone complete at least 180 degrees of arc.

In-camera render vs RAW sequence

Most DJI drones can render a video on the card. This is fast and fine for social posts.

For the cleanest result, save the photo sequence. RAW sequences let you remove flicker, fix shifts, and stabilize better. You can also export at higher bit depth.

DJI’s support pages show how to enable each mode and where the files go.

Fast post workflow that works

Import the sequence into Lightroom Classic.
Grade the first frame. Sync settings to the rest. PolarPro suggests this as a clean start.
Export JPEGs at full resolution.
In After Effects or Premiere, import as an image sequence at 24 or 30 fps.
Apply Warp Stabilizer or position keyframes to remove drift.
Deflicker if needed. Many apps and plugins offer a deflicker tool.
Add a speed ramp at the ends to ease in and out.

Keep crops small to protect resolution. Stabilize before heavy sharpening.

Common mistakes and easy fixes

Windy days. Pick calmer light or fly lower.
Subject too close. Back up to reduce parallax and jitter.
Auto exposure flicker. Lock exposure and white balance.
Wild yaw moves. Keep heading changes slow and rare.
Interval too long. Use 2–3 seconds for most scenes.
No motion blur. Add ND and slow the shutter.
Not enough frames. Plan clip length and frame count first.

One-page field checklist

Step	Do this
Goal	Decide clip length and frame rate.
Scene	Pick distant subject and calm wind.
Safety	Check airspace, RTH altitude, and battery.
Settings	RAW, manual exposure, fixed white balance, ISO 100.
Shutter	Add ND for blur. Aim 1/4–1/30 second.
Interval	Start at 2–3 seconds. Adjust to taste.
Mode	Course Lock or Waypoint for stability.
Speed	1–3 m/s, steady altitude, minimal yaw.
Post	Grade first frame, sync, stabilize, deflicker, export.

Why it matters

A stable hyperlapse turns a simple sky or street into a smooth visual story. With a few choices on speed, interval, and shutter, compact drones can deliver pro results.

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