Devices, methods, and non-transitory program storage devices are disclosed herein to perform intelligent determinations of non-linear (i.e., dynamic) image recording rates for the production of improved timelapse videos. The techniques described herein may be especially applicable to timelapse videos captured over long durations of time and/or with varying amounts of device motion/scene content change over the course of the captured video (e.g., when a user is walking, exercising, driving, etc. during the video's capture). By smoothly varying the image recording rate of the timelapse video in accordance with multi-temporal scale estimates of scene content change, the quality of the produced timelapse video may be improved (e.g., fewer long stretches of the video with too little action, as well as fewer stretches of the video where there is so much rapid action in the timelapse video that it is difficult for a viewer to perceive what is happening in the video).