Hitchcock zoom effect & 35mm adapter

J

jerryrain

Well-known member
Any tip how to achieve Hitchcock zoom effect with 35mm adapter?
Since I have to pull dolly back, zoom camera in and pull focus on 35mm lens to focus on subject, but I only have 2 arms ;)
 
Hire a dolly grip and a 1st AC to pull focus... This kind of effect is not going to be achieved using only your two arms.
 
The Zoom just has to track for the most part. If the zoom doesn't track through the zoom range then it's going to be incredibly hard.
 
Trying to do this on a 35mm adapter is going to be pretty tortuous, especially if you're trying to use a push/pull/twist zoom lens like many still-camera lenses are. If you are using PL-mounted lenses it becomes 1,000,000,000 times easier.

For "Cold Calls," if I remember correctly we just ditched the adapter and did that shot with the raw lens and it was infinitely easier.
 
Just get a crappy lens that really breathes and you won't have to do anything but pull focus (JK). Aside from the fact that Hitchcock shot pretty flat back then, I am sure pulling this effect off even with today's crews isn't a one man job.
 
Or an even easier way, just use a prime lens and zoom in on the GG. Most adapters allow you to do that up to a point and not suffer a noticeable loss in sharpness.
 
Zooming in on the GG won't achieve the effect. Same as doing the zoom in post. The focal length (i.e. perspective) of the capturing lens has to change.
 
ASG said:
Zooming in on the GG won't achieve the effect. Same as doing the zoom in post. The focal length (i.e. perspective) of the capturing lens has to change.
Click to expand...

Wrong. I've tried this effect myself. It works. The reason zooming in post doesn't work is because you're not dollying. When you're dollying back or forward, you are changing the size of the subject and by zooming in at the same time you're keeping the subject the same size while compressing/extending the background, which combines to give you the Hitchcock zoom.
 
Last edited:
Huy Vu said:
Wrong. I've tried this effect myself. It works. The reason zooming in post doesn't work is because you're not dollying. When you're dollying back or forward, you are changing the size of the subject and by zooming in at the same time you're keeping the subject the same size while compressing/extending the background, which combines to give you the Hitchcock zoom.
Click to expand...

Very cool. Thanks for the tip!

You can do this with Nikon Zooms, 17-35, 28-70, 80-200. They all track. Your backfocus just need to be spot on.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top