How is this effect done?

Adam Haro · February 18th, 2009, 11:22 PM

I appreciate everyones responses. This has been a very interesting discussion.
Does anyone have any tips on how to achieve a decent dolly zoom? Is it possible to get good results using a tripod on a 3 wheel dolly? I can't imagine this looking smooth trying to use my Glidecam.

Jacques E. Bouchard · February 19th, 2009, 12:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adam Haro

I appreciate everyones responses. This has been a very interesting discussion.
Does anyone have any tips on how to achieve a decent dolly zoom? Is it possible to get good results using a tripod on a 3 wheel dolly? I can't imagine this looking smooth trying to use my Glidecam.

My camera, the Canon XH-A1, lets you set a zoom point and "return" to it at the pre-set speed when you press a button. Automating that process leaves all of your attention on doing a smooth dolly.

J.

Robert Martens · February 19th, 2009, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alan Certeza

manually zooming and tilting while trying to pace to the dolly is very hard, or for me as I'm still learning about videography.

As much as I love doing things by myself, I can't imagine trying to pull off a move like this without another pair of hands to help out. I have to wonder what most crews go through in terms of rehearsals when preparing this move.

Matthew mentioned Hitchcock earlier, does anyone know which of his films was the first to feature a dolly zoom? Off the top of my head I'd guess "Vertigo", but I'm embarrassingly unfamiliar with his body of work.

Jacques E. Bouchard · February 19th, 2009, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adam Haro

I appreciate everyones responses. This has been a very interesting discussion.
Does anyone have any tips on how to achieve a decent dolly zoom? Is it possible to get good results using a tripod on a 3 wheel dolly? I can't imagine this looking smooth trying to use my Glidecam.

You also need to consider whether you want to do the effect in the first place. It's become overused and clichéd.

J.

Adam Haro · February 19th, 2009, 03:06 PM

I'm not even sure when and if I would ever use this effect, especially since most of what I shoot is weddings. But if the occasion were to arise that this effect would fit the scene its cool to know ho to do it.

I think thats cool the Canon has that setting, that could definitely be handy.

Philip Gioja · February 20th, 2009, 04:19 PM

Pretty certain it was Vertigo, in the tower at the end. I did a paper on Vertigo in film school and I seem to remember the dolly zoom being discussed for that film. BTW, I have an A1 and didn't know you could do that with the zoom. How do you do that? I'll have to check it out (-:

Chris Light · February 20th, 2009, 10:48 PM

for a wedding, it can be fun...since every guy has a bit of a panic attack right before he says "i do"...make THAT your dolly zoom shot...i would have laughed so hard if somoene shot my wedding that way.

Jacques E. Bouchard · February 21st, 2009, 12:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Philip Gioja

BTW, I have an A1 and didn't know you could do that with the zoom. How do you do that? I'll have to check it out (-:

P.34 of the manual. "Zoom preset".

J.

Philip Gioja · February 21st, 2009, 11:02 AM

Very cool. Looks like it has the same thing with focus as well. (Maybe I live under a rock - never really noticed that before).

Jacques E. Bouchard · February 21st, 2009, 03:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Philip Gioja

Very cool. Looks like it has the same thing with focus as well. (Maybe I live under a rock - never really noticed that before).

I printed out the pdf manual and read the whole thing while I was waiting for FedEx to deliver my camera last year. :-)

J.

February 18th, 2009, 11:22 PM	#16
Adam Haro Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Fresno, CA Posts: 171	I appreciate everyones responses. This has been a very interesting discussion. Does anyone have any tips on how to achieve a decent dolly zoom? Is it possible to get good results using a tripod on a 3 wheel dolly? I can't imagine this looking smooth trying to use my Glidecam.

February 19th, 2009, 03:06 PM	#20
Adam Haro Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Fresno, CA Posts: 171	I'm not even sure when and if I would ever use this effect, especially since most of what I shoot is weddings. But if the occasion were to arise that this effect would fit the scene its cool to know ho to do it. I think thats cool the Canon has that setting, that could definitely be handy.

February 20th, 2009, 04:19 PM	#21
Philip Gioja Major Player Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Piper City, IL Posts: 350	Pretty certain it was Vertigo, in the tower at the end. I did a paper on Vertigo in film school and I seem to remember the dolly zoom being discussed for that film. BTW, I have an A1 and didn't know you could do that with the zoom. How do you do that? I'll have to check it out (-:

February 20th, 2009, 10:48 PM	#22
Chris Light Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Fallbrook, CA Posts: 49	for a wedding, it can be fun...since every guy has a bit of a panic attack right before he says "i do"...make THAT your dolly zoom shot...i would have laughed so hard if somoene shot my wedding that way.

February 21st, 2009, 11:02 AM	#24
Philip Gioja Major Player Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Piper City, IL Posts: 350	Very cool. Looks like it has the same thing with focus as well. (Maybe I live under a rock - never really noticed that before).