Good camera work/movement

[Paintbrush Poltergeist]

Here's the current level that I'm at in regards to camera movement.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_6vMkmKnLs

As you can see, the camera is a little static and only really travels in lines, forwards and backwards.

Does anybody have any advice on how to create those fancy panning and moving effects with cameras or general tips?

[Pte Jack]

Create an animated Camera then pose it like a regular model by pinning movement to time on the timeline. All Camera controls can be controled and are usable this way.

[Paintbrush Poltergeist]

Originally posted by Pte Jack:

Create an animated Camera then pose it like a regular model by pinning movement to time on the timeline. All Camera controls can be controled and are usable this way.

I know how to do that, but I don't understand how to make the movements streamlined.
For instance, if I try and make the camera do a sort of loop from the front of a model, around the models side and then towards to back, I position the camera where it's meant to be in all those positions but it doesn't glide from one to the other.

I can't put it into words very well.

[Pte Jack]

Here are 3 videos I did quite a while ago, they may help you get some of the basics down..

http://youtu.be/zgpRnBs0lCQ

http://youtu.be/bIi34xf-Vao

http://youtu.be/jL7A5mfPF6s

[Paintbrush Poltergeist]

Originally posted by Pte Jack:

Here are 3 videos I did quite a while ago, they may help you get some of the basics down..

http://youtu.be/zgpRnBs0lCQ

http://youtu.be/bIi34xf-Vao

http://youtu.be/jL7A5mfPF6s

Thank you so much. The first video has already helped. I didn't know about the holding ALT + LMB with cameras.

[raptornx01]

You can also use the graph editor. move the camera to the first position while in the graph and it'll make a keyframe. then move the playhead to the where the camera will stop. and move the camera to the final position. it'll automatically move the camera during that time. and you can adjust the curves to fine tune the movement, even add additional keys inbwteen to change the movement.

another fancy camera trick is a rack zoom/dolly zoom which is you move the camera toward or away from the model, then animate the field of view trying to keep the model the same distance/size on screen. what this does is cause the model to be stationary, but the background moves forward or away.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NB4bikrNzMk

[Paintbrush Poltergeist]

Originally posted by raptornx01:

You can also use the graph editor. move the camera to the first position while in the graph and it'll make a keyframe. then move the playhead to the where the camera will stop. and move the camera to the final position. it'll automatically move the camera during that time. and you can adjust the curves to fine tune the movement, even add additional keys inbwteen to change the movement.

another fancy camera trick is a rack zoom/dolly zoom which is you move the camera toward or away from the model, then animate the field of view trying to keep the model the same distance/size on screen. what this does is cause the model to be stationary, but the background moves forward or away.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NB4bikrNzMk

Adjust the curves how?

[Paintbrush Poltergeist]

I've tried using the methods in one of the linked videos in order to have a camera rotate around a still character but I'm having problems.

If I make the start frame so it's at the front of the character, then have the cameras end frame after it's made a full rotation using ALT+LMB, the clip just moves backwards. I've tried adding key frames but then the camera zooms out weirdly.