7 Types of Camera Movement

To make the most of the visuals in your film, try to schedule more time on creating a shot list during pre-production. This will allow you to do shot tests and hire out any specialist equipment you need before filming begins.  (If you need a shot list template, we’ve got you covered.)

Below you can find a list of 7 common types of camera movement, with detail on how each adds dramatic value to a scene.  We’ll also provide an example of how this camera movement was used in a classic film to enhance the cinematography.

1. Zoom

A zoom is when you change the focal length of a zoom lens. You can zoom in or out of a shot. The zoom alone is rarely used in contemporary filmmaking but a more popular movement is the dolly zoom. This requires you to zoom whilst moving on a dolly track, which in turn creates a distorted effect.

2. Pan or Tilt

A pan occurs when the camera pivots left or right horizontally. Tilt is when the camera moves up or down vertically. These types of camera movement can be done either mounted on a tripod or handheld. The use of a pan or tilt allows you to reveal new information in real-time, without cutting away. A pedestal shot is similar to tilt and pan but is only used when referring to a TV broadcast camera.

3. Dolly or Track

A tracking shot occurs when a camera is mounted to a dolly and is pushed along a track. The names are used interchangeably. The use of a track allows the dolly to move smoothly much as if it was on train tracks. A dolly track can move forwards, or side to side (crabbing). The track can also be laid out in any length or shape.

4. Steadicam

The Steadicam is a camera stabilization mount invented in the 1970s. The use of Steadicam creates the feeling of being handheld but with the stability of a tripod. It allows the camera operator to move in and out of scenes with ease. This creates a smooth flow like movement which is why Steadicam shots are often used in dream and fantasy sequences.

5. Handheld

A handheld camera shot is simply when the camera is operated from the hand. It’s often used in documentary or home-style videos and gives an unstable effect. Often films will cut to a handheld movement during an action scene. The use of handheld has been used more frequently in modern filmmaking with the increased quality of digital cameras. If you are currently working on your own film project, check out our library of free production templates.

6. Crane or Jib

A crane shot is created by attaching a camera to the arm of a crane allowing the camera to be raised or lowered. It’s often used to create a high angle shot that looks down onto a scene or gives details to a new location. A Jib is smaller than a crane but effectively creates a similar movement. As such the words crane and jib are often used interchangeably.

7. Aerial

Most aerial shots used to be captured from a plane or helicopter, but they are now usually shot using remote-controlled aerial drones. Aerial shots give a more dramatic and kinetic perspective than static wide shots do. Often this is used in the opening of films to show the setting. It can also be used to reveal something that could only be fully seen from a height. Unlike other types of camera movement, an aerial shot can provide you with a full 360 view of a scene.

What types of camera movement you use is unique to every scene and story. Next time you make a film consider being more experimental with your cinematography choices. Here at SetHero, we can help you manage and organize your film projects, for starters we have a library of free production templates.