Best way for moving a camera

Moderators: Disciple, zlovatt

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ccf
Posts: 16
Joined: August 21st, 2008, 8:41 am

Hi guys:

Sometimes moving a camera in a comp is a little of pain.
I have tested some different ways, moving the camera itselft, parenting it to a null, parenting the point of interest of the camera to the position to a null, using the preset separate X,Y,Z in a null, and really sometimes is difficult to control different movements, does everybody knows a proved and easy way to control the 3 axis? , I have heard people parenting the camera to a null for the 3 axis, and this one to another master null, I know there are plenty of ways, but I´m looking for the one who offers the best results. Maybe using expressions for the 3 axis in a null would be possible ? or using an script or a preset ?

Thanks in advance for any idea or advice.

CCF
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Atomic
Posts: 157
Joined: April 30th, 2007, 5:55 am
Location: United States, Ohio

When I animate the camera, I select the camera layer and press the P-KEY and then hold shift and press the A-KEY. This brings up the position and point of interest parameters. I turn on the stop watch for both of them.

Then I just animate as normal, recording two keyframes for each move via the C-KEY. I find that if I don't record the point of interest, the camera is much more difficult to predict. I guess that is what the parenting to a null technique is all about, easier control. But if you just parent to a null, you loose some of the finess.(IMHO)

Typically I try to keep camera moves to as few key frames as possible. This is generally three keyframes (for each parameter). But if I need a hold in between, I end up with four to establish a move and hold it. Then to move on I use another three.
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ccf
Posts: 16
Joined: August 21st, 2008, 8:41 am

Atomic:

You are right. I do the same as you. One of the main problems using a camera for me, is the point of interest, when you orbit with a camera around an object, inmediately you think you did a wonderful job, fantastic, but when you review the thing, you realize is not as you think, because the camera rotate itselft at any point, mainly when is close to the object, so you have to retouch the point of interest, that´s a pain, I didn´t find another solution for this, just to retouch by hand, do you have an advice for this???

CCF
lam442
Posts: 1
Joined: September 18th, 2008, 11:55 am

Like you said there are many methods...proven? it really depend on your perspective. Here's a useful like over at mograph's forum :D

http://mograph.net/board/index.php?showtopic=8066
)orgen
Posts: 34
Joined: August 28th, 2006, 4:12 am

haven't tried out this yet...but looks interesting

http://www.videocopilot.net/tutorial/ad ... mera_tips/
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Disciple
Posts: 137
Joined: June 5th, 2004, 8:05 am
Location: Los Angeles, CA
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You guys do know you can get rid of the point of interest all together right?

context click on cam->transform->auto-orient set to none
ccf
Posts: 16
Joined: August 21st, 2008, 8:41 am

Disciple>

I will test it and later I will tell my results.

Thanks for your time and the other guys.

CCF
ccf
Posts: 16
Joined: August 21st, 2008, 8:41 am

Lam442:

Good link. Some advices to test. I will do, principally parenting the point of interest to the position to the camera itself, using the camera parented to one null for main movements and parenting this one to another null for master and turning off auto orient in the camera, and advice Disciple post it.

Regards
ccf
Posts: 16
Joined: August 21st, 2008, 8:41 am

Disciple:

Your advice to turn off the auto orientation of the camera has been excellent, because now my camera is always parented to my position, indeed working with the point of interest is in must of the cases a good pain.

Thank you very much

CCF
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