Method of retaining the same camera position for shot two in a one shot transition?

[Lee M]

I am close to pulling the trigger on a cinedrive motion control system with shuttle pod track but the inability for the track to curve is my biggest issue right now since I need to do a shot that curves around the set. So essentially I am thinking I would have to move the cinedrive track for each shot yet figure out a way to retain the same finish position from the previous shot if that makes any sense. Perhaps some precise measuring tools and trial and error to line up the next shot where the previous one finished?

Update: Maybe I can attached a few laser range finders to the camera noting the distances from the floor, walls, etc, and even draw a little dot on the floor/walls where the laser stops at the previous shot then lining it up for the 2nd shot? Seems kind of logical but maybe someone with experience knows a better method?

This would apply to tripod / standard track setup or other camera setups as well not just the cinedrive so I am posting it here instead of my cinedrive thread.

 

[paulherrin]

you probably will also want to use a frame overlay feature on your monitor

 

[Lee M]

I can't find any info on the web on frame overlay although I see how it would help. I have the redtouch 7" as well as a atomos shogun, do either of these have that feature? Where can I find more information on this, perhaps there is another term I can google?

 

[Marc Hutchings]

i think you'd need smallhd

 

[Lee M]

I guess smallhd calls it image overlay, very interesting, surprised the shogun doesn't do this even with the higher price point. Are there any alternatives such as an iphone app or any other methods? Hardly even use my shogun monitor, rather not buy another monitor just for this.

 

[Chad Lancaster]

There are possible ways to do it but would take some engineering. If you found a way to attach another wheel to the dolly and then use the cinedrive slide motor belt to drive then it could in theory do curves.

 

[Jon D Kline]

Can you shoot 10% or so wider and give post production some room to work with? It's hard to imagine being accurate on the mark with height/angle/focus breathing/etc. 100% no matter what. If there are people in the frame it gets even less likely.

You could literally use tracing paper if you want the 10-cent image overlay XD