Camera Settings for Fast Motion Dolly Shot? at DVinfo.net

Sheldon D. Charron · March 30th, 2010, 05:02 PM

I have a short that requires a dolly shot that will be sped up quite a bit. I'm not sure how best to accomplish this. I know it can be done in post by simply speeding it up, but I wonder if I should shoot in something other than 24p like the rest of the footage, then conform later? It's a long dolly that will be about 200 yards (probably being pushed in a shopping cart or something LOL) but it will only run about 2-3 seconds in the final. Any tips would be greatly appreciated.

Jon Fairhurst · March 30th, 2010, 05:14 PM

Consider a timelapse. You would need a remote timer. You will probably want an ND filter so the shutter can be really slow. You probably want deep focus, so you can run a small aperture, say f/11 to f/18.

For more information do a search on time lapse.

The quality will be excellent. You can shoot in RAW, if you'd like. There will be no rolling shutter or aliasing to worry about, and you can get 4K resolution.

Tim Kolb · March 31st, 2010, 07:15 AM

Is it a straight line move with a lock down camera? (camera stays panned in one position, view changes in a linear, horizontal move).

...or does the camera track some object in the shot as the camera is moving, making some possible camera orientation changes necessary along the way?

Can you use a small car/pickup instead of a shopping cart? ...or even a wheelchair? What's the surface like?

Is the subject matter moving and "unmanageable?" (as in: city street with traffic and people whom you are not paying who are doing whatever they want?)

March 30th, 2010, 05:02 PM	#1
Sheldon D. Charron New Boot Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Winnipeg, Canada Posts: 9	Camera Settings for Fast Motion Dolly Shot? I have a short that requires a dolly shot that will be sped up quite a bit. I'm not sure how best to accomplish this. I know it can be done in post by simply speeding it up, but I wonder if I should shoot in something other than 24p like the rest of the footage, then conform later? It's a long dolly that will be about 200 yards (probably being pushed in a shopping cart or something LOL) but it will only run about 2-3 seconds in the final. Any tips would be greatly appreciated.

March 30th, 2010, 05:14 PM	#2
Jon Fairhurst Inner Circle Join Date: May 2006 Location: Camas, WA, USA Posts: 5,513	Consider a timelapse. You would need a remote timer. You will probably want an ND filter so the shutter can be really slow. You probably want deep focus, so you can run a small aperture, say f/11 to f/18. For more information do a search on time lapse. The quality will be excellent. You can shoot in RAW, if you'd like. There will be no rolling shutter or aliasing to worry about, and you can get 4K resolution. __________________ Jon Fairhurst

March 31st, 2010, 07:15 AM	#3
Tim Kolb Major Player Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Neenah, WI Posts: 547	Is it a straight line move with a lock down camera? (camera stays panned in one position, view changes in a linear, horizontal move). ...or does the camera track some object in the shot as the camera is moving, making some possible camera orientation changes necessary along the way? Can you use a small car/pickup instead of a shopping cart? ...or even a wheelchair? What's the surface like? Is the subject matter moving and "unmanageable?" (as in: city street with traffic and people whom you are not paying who are doing whatever they want?) __________________ TimK Kolb Productions