Crash zoom techniques

[Vincent Paul Tan]

Hi guys, this is my first post in this forum but for a while have been digesting a lot of the valuable information contributed by the members here regarding all aspects of filmmaking and gear. I recently have invested on a couple of cine cameras for myself and some gear and will be starting to put theory into real world application.

I am preparing to do a fun little shoot for a friend of mine who owns a gym and would like to incorporate some of these Spaghetti Western crash zoom that Tarantino uses now and then:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQROQ8NJ954

I am wondering, aside from manually whipping the zoom ring or by using a mechanical follow focus to achieve the crash zoom, are there any techniques with achieving a the effect with an electric motor? I am sure I could make it work manually but I'd just like to know if there's a device that allows for an instant focal length change from widest to longest to achieve the effect. I would be using a 3x zoom lens and Manfrotto fluid head (handheld crash zoom is pretty much out the window I think).


I also wonder what is the actual zoom lens that Tarantino use for the crash zoom for his movies.

Would appreciate any input.

Thank you

 

[Nick Gardner]

By hand is fine, microforce with the zap button, using a zoom stick. It's a pretty low tech effect achieved by just doing it by hand in the 70s. Not much to it.

Nick

 

[Marc Wielage]

Lots of rehearsal, practice, and experience will help.

 

[Vincent Paul Tan]

By hand is fine, microforce with the zap button, using a zoom stick. It's a pretty low tech effect achieved by just doing it by hand in the 70s. Not much to it.

Nick

Thanks for the input. Quickly checked out the microforce with the zap button but you're right, doing by hand is the best way. Especially since it's not gonna be something you'll be doing all the time

 

[Vincent Paul Tan]

Lots of rehearsal, practice, and experience will help.

Yes Definitely!

 

[Christopher A. Bell]

I’ve been shooting with servo zooms my whole career, and by hand is still about the best (looking) way to do a crash zoom “for camera”.