Zolly/Vertigo/Zoom dolly

[Paul Salmons]

I often get asked about adding this shot to a film. I have tried it a few times without the results I wanted. The best result I had was on a doorway dolly, red epic, cooke 20-100mm zoom. I had one follow focus on the focus ring, zoom was pulled off the lens.

 

I'm not sure if maybe I was trying to go to fast, maybe covering to much distance I don't know, but it seamed like syncing the dolly speed to zoom speed was near impossible. Anybody have successful experience with this shot?

[David Mullen ASC]

Takes a lot of practice, helps if the dolly grip can get a picture from the camera so that either the zoom operator or the dolly grip can stop when the other has stopped due to reaching the end of the track or zoom.