The better of the two available data backs will set a frame
rate at almost anything you want - it worked fine for one
frame per day, but should be fine for sky animations -
though for this I would be inclined to load up to 80-minute
tape shot in LP-mode and then let Premiere or other NLE
speed up the results however much you want (Canopus has
a nice free utility for doing this, too). BTW, I used to
shoot 3-D stills with bracket-mounted pairs of 8008s and
Rollei-35s, video with VX-1000s - now I shoot stereo pairs
with one PC100 or TRV30, moved between frame. Examples are
at: http://www.David-Ruether-Photography.com/changing.html
(cross-eyed viewing...). I also made a 3-D video for
viewing cross-eyed - but most people have trouble watching
it and seeing the 3-D, darn (it is now easy for me, after
staring at "Magic Eye" books and posters enough...;-).

On Mon, 10 Dec 2001 17:58:15 GMT, "Kayaker" wrote:

>I have two 8008s.... how did you automate the shooting of the daily frame?
>This will probably not be the way I go since my time lapse interests are
>shorter than that.... I just want to make the clouds zoom across the sky and
>suchlike. BTW, I use my 8008s as a pair of 3-d cameras (shoot slide film
>and project using two Ektagraphics with polarizing filters.. the audience
>wears polarizing glasses).
>Jay Bender
>
>Neuman - Ruether wrote in message
>news:3c153b72.49996982@newsstand.cit.cornell.edu...
>> On Sun, 09 Dec 2001 22:19:44 GMT, "Kayaker"
>> wrote:
>>
>> >I really would like that time lapse capability. It is too bad the DV500U
>> >won't do it because I was really liking the looks of that camera. I am
>> >still searching in the $2500 to $4500 price range. I was getting set to
>> >spend the $4500 on the DV500U, but it may be off the list now.
>>
>> Well, the VX2000 will do it as well as any, with a
>> very good picture to boot...;-) I would still recommend
>> using an external system for grabbing frames
>> (computer-direct, or from long tapes shot at normal
>> speed [or by using a still camera {could be digital}
>> to shoot the time-lapse frames]) to save wear on
>> transport mechanism of the video camera. BTW, I designed
>> a 3-camera animation system for use during the multi-year
>> construction of a large radio telescope - three Nikon
>> 8008 bodies with 16, 35, and 50mm lenses, one frame
>> per day auto-timed with a data back, 100-speed negative
>> color film, film and batteries changed once a month...