• Location: The Moon
  • Joined: May 18, 2011

Topic: Using Rails To Create Smooth Camera Motions, Good Idea?

For my new video I basically want to have the camera circle the room. To create a fluent motion I was thinking of putting the camera on top of one of those empty trains (flat plat with wheels) and moving it along the tracks a small bit at a time. Now before I start borrowing the trains sets from my friend (I don't have them), I want to know if this is a good idea, and if maybe any of you have done it before (possibly with a video link or pictures).

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Keesret's Website

  • Location: Middle Zealand
  • Joined: July 6, 2011

Re: Using Rails To Create Smooth Camera Motions, Good Idea?

I know it's been done many times before for some very good films, it seems to work well enough. I've never tried it myself, although I may for my next film.

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7340/16345454720_e04c98539a.jpg
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  • Location: Tokyo, Japan
  • Joined: December 27, 2008

Re: Using Rails To Create Smooth Camera Motions, Good Idea?

Keesret wrote:

I want to know if this is a good idea

There's only one way to find out!

I know people have done it before and it's turned out pretty well. But the only way to work out if you can pull it off with your equipment is to try it out yourself.

https://i.imgur.com/1JxY79v.png

Hazzat's Website

  • Location: atx
  • Joined: December 16, 2010

Re: Using Rails To Create Smooth Camera Motions, Good Idea?

I don't know how well it would work but it sounds a helluva lot better than any other way I can think of doing camera pans. (I would know, my upcoming film involves lots of those, and it's super hard to make a continuous motion without a path for to guide the camera.

http://topitmunkeydog.tumblr.com/tagged/frames

topit's Website

  • Location: The Moon
  • Joined: May 18, 2011

Re: Using Rails To Create Smooth Camera Motions, Good Idea?

Thanks for all the answers! It looks like I'm doing this (and going to waste hours on a ten second shot).

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Keesret's Website

  • Location: New Jersey
  • Joined: March 22, 2012

Re: Using Rails To Create Smooth Camera Motions, Good Idea?

It is a good idea.  You can execute some nice "The Matrix" style filming.  By the way, it's not a waste of hours if the ten seconds of video is worthwhile.  I spent 1 1/2 hours just building a set, and a lot of time planning the shots, just for a six second cut in my first brickfilm.

https://vimeo.com/channels/holdingourown      http://holding-our-own.tumblr.com

"None practice tolerance less frequently than those who most loudly preach it."

HoldingOurOwn's Website

  • Location: in nowhere.
  • Joined: January 2, 2009

Re: Using Rails To Create Smooth Camera Motions, Good Idea?

If you simply want the whole room to rotate, then depending on the size of the set, I'd suggest putting the whole set on a rotating brick. I've done that in the past and worked way better then trying to have the camera circle around the set.
A piece like this:
http://i.ebayimg.com/t/LEGO-20-x-Technic-2-x-2-Plate-Rotating-Turntable-Get-FREE-Shipping-/00/$(KGrHqYOKkYE3RnBYMZ1BN+HzHk(Ig~~_35.JPG

http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/olsonstudios/legos/bim_sig.png
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