What do I use to capture a time lapse scenery? Camera or Camcorder?

Cameras tend to be the device of choice for high quality time lapses, and this usually requires a DSLR for the best time lapses.

While some compacts and mirrorless cameras do have a time lapse function, they are often limited to relatively long intervals (5sec to 30sec or more). This is directly a result of sensor heating.

I once forced a compact camera that had a 30 sec time lapse interval limitation to 5sec intervals, and sure enough - after around 15 minutes, the camera overheated and shut down.

DSLRs on the other hand typically have shorter interval capability - even down to sub-second intervals.

Time lapse by using a camera is accomplished by taking hundreds or thousands of photos, then assembling them in post-processing into a time lapse movie. This can be tedious, but it can give you maximum flexibility in selecting the interval and frame rate - depending on what software you use to assemble the photos:

http://www.althephoto.com/tips/timelapse.php

Another option is that some cam-corders, as well as POV (Go Pro, Sony Action Cam, etc) cameras have a time lapse function. Again, the minimum interval rate may vary from camera to camera.

And if you want simplicity, the Brinno time lapse cameras are probably the easiest to use. The TLC100 starts out at around $125 and the TLC200pro (with interchangeable lenses) is around $220. Unfortunately, they are only 1.3Mp so they won't give you Full HD (which requires 2.1Mp), but they are very convenient as they assemble the time-lapse in-camera - so you don't need to post-process them.

However, these cameras are designed for the specific purpose of creating time lapse video, and while they do well in this regard, they should not be considered a general purpose camera (meaning buy this camera for time lapse only).

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AM2R4Y6/ref=as...

What most people don't understand is you do not need the same quality images to do video vs. photos. A 16Mp camera is not needed to take good video. Video is not that demanding (pixel wise) and a 2.1Mp sensor will do full HD, and anything larger is overkill and just heats the sensor up.

Time Lapse Camcorder

Time lapse of photos? The right tool is a digital camera with an intervalometer.