Dolly zoom

What it is

The camera dollies one way while the lens zooms the other; the subject holds its size while the background stretches or compresses.

When to use it

Realisation or dread happens in the space itself: the person holds, the world becomes unreliable.

When not to

A routine approach; repeated use turns it into a gimmick.

Often confused with

• Push in

  In a push in the subject grows as the perspective shifts.

• Zoom

  A zoom only enlarges the image without moving.

Common generation mistakes

• SymptomThe subject also changes size, or the background is just stretched.

  FixState opposite camera travel and zoom, the subject the same size at both ends, the background perspective clearly changing.

Combinations Rolin checks

• Auto-fixed

  A tripod can only pan, tilt, zoom or stay static

  Rolin will: Support → Dolly