Camera
How to easily create a dolly zoom effect using the DJI Air 2S drone
‘Disorienting’ and ‘bizarre’ are just a couple of the adjectives often used to describe the dolly zoom effect. Sometimes called ‘the Vertigo effect’, it debuted in Alfred Hitchcock’s 1958 film Vertigo. Back then, you needed a smooth track and steady zoom to pull this effect off, which can add a touch of suspense to a scene. Nowadays, it’s a bit simpler to achieve – especially if you happen to own a DJI Air 2S drone.
Back in 2018, DJI released the Mavic 2 Zoom, the first consumer-grade drone equipped with a zoom lens, which included a built-in dolly zoom function. The Air 2S doesn’t have a zoom lens, but it can zoom digitally and benefits from a higher resolution, 1″-type sensor. Although it doesn’t include the automatic dolly zoom found on the Mavic 2 Zoom, it’s pretty easy to replicate the effect on your own.
‘Disorienting’ and ‘bizarre’ are just a couple of the adjectives used to describe the dolly zoom effect.
Because the Air 2S uses a digital zoom, there’s some impact on the overall quality of the video when doing this. But it’s still pretty neat to be able to create a dolly zoom effect on a drone that retails for just under $1,000. For comparison, the Mavic 2 Zoom starts at $1,349 and features a 1/2.3″ CMOS sensor, making it less attractive overall, for many people.
The most straightforward way to zoom in and out on the Air 2S is by tapping on the ‘1x’ button on the center right-hand side of the DJI fly app. However, this jumps directly to 2x, 3x and 4x zoom. It’s imprecise if you’re trying to do a dolly zoom.
Alternately, you can execute a smooth zoom by sliding your finger up and down the digital dial (above, next to the red record button). However, if you’re trying to create a dolly zoom effect, it’s pretty awkward to do this while simultaneously maneuvering the joysticks on the controller to manage the drone’s movement.
So, how do we create a dolly zoom?
Thanks to a tip from filmmaker Chip Eberhart, there’s an easier and more effective way to achieve smooth dolly zoom footage with the Air 2S that nobody seems to talk about.
Instead of attempting to maneuver your joysticks while simultaneously scrolling up and down on your smartphone’s screen, you do the following: press and hold the ‘Fn’ button, located on the upper-left-hand corner of the remote and dial the gimbal wheel, located directly above and on top of the remote, to the right.
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| Use your left hand to press down on the ‘Fn’ button with your thumb, and use your index finger on the gimbal wheel, above, to zoom in and out. |
At the same time you’re doing this, fly your Air 2S in a backward direction. You’re essentially zooming in on a subject while flying in the opposite direction, pulling the background to the forefront.
Unfortunately, DJI’s Cine mode doesn’t work in this scenario, as the drone moves too slowly, and Sport mode makes it fly too quickly. Normal mode, which you can access on the front of the Air 2S’ remote, should be activated before you start recording.
I created this dolly zoom on the church after a little bit of practice.
When shooting a dolly zoom, it’s important to select a striking subject, such as a statue or building. You’ll want to position the drone at least 100 feet from your main point of interest. You can either hit the record button on the DJI Fly app or the remote, then press and hold down the ‘Fn’ button with your thumb while using your index finger to slowly roll the gimbal wheel to the right as you fly backward.
There are a couple of limitations to be aware of. First, as mentioned above, the Air 2S uses a digital zoom, so there’s some effect on the overall video quality. Second, the zoom function on the Air 2S only works at resolutions up to 4K/30p, so you won’t be able to use the beautiful 5.4K footage it produces.
It will take some trial and error to get it right, as you can see from my first clip in the article featuring the windmill compared to the final one of the church directly above. However, it’s pretty easy to create a dolly zoom clip that adds an element of excitement to a film or project with a little bit of practice.
| Logo: CP+ |
As we enter the second day of the CP+ trade show, we’d like to hear from you: are there any announcements that you think warrant a closer look?
Our editors Dale Baskin and Richard Butler are on location in Japan, and have already gone hands-on with Canon’s new V1 vlogging compact and the Sigma BF. However, there were several other announcements made during the show, which we’ve been covering throughout the week. We’ve started a thread in our forum to see if people have questions about these announcements that could be answered if we went to see them in person – if you have any, be sure to raise them over there.
Also, if you’ve seen something floating around that we’ve missed, be sure to let us know!
| Photo: studiocasper/E+ via Getty Images |
The first day of CP+ has come to a close, and while there were relatively few big announcements from major brands today, third-party lens manufacturers stepped up to fill the void. We already shared that Viltrox announced four new lenses and a Z-mount version of its AF 135mm F1.8 LAB lens. TTArtisan also revealed a retro-looking instant camera. On top of all that, though, Laowa, 7Artisans and Samyang all unveiled new lens offerings.
Details for the new Laowa, 7Artisans and Samyang lenses were essentially non-existent beyond the lens names. Laowa even went so far as to say this is just a sneak peek of what’s coming. The lenses apparently are on display at CP+, so we hope to gather more information in the coming days. For now, though, here’s what we know.
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According to its Instagram page, Laowa is announcing four new lenses. Those include the Ultima 12-120mm, 35mm F2.8 Tilt-Shift, 15mm F4.5 Wide Angle Macro, 8-15mm Fish Eye and Proteus Zoom. Of all those, we’ve only been able to find information on the first. A B&H listing for the Ultima 12-120mm T4.0 reveals that it is designed for Arri PL mount with coverage for Super35 sensors. It offers a 10x zoom range, a nine-blade iris, and cine-standard gearing. The B&H page only says Coming Soon, though, with no price or date listed.
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7Artistans will also soon offer four new lenses. Its Instagram page mentions the AF 25mm F1.8 (APS-C), AF 35mm F1.8 (APS-C), AF 50mm F1.8 (APS-C) and AF 35mm F1.8 (full-frame). However, it didn’t specify mounts or any other details.
Finally, Samyang isn’t left out of all the fun, either. Photos from the event show a 14-24mm F2.8 full-frame E-mount lens that bears the branding of both Schneider Kreuznach and Samyang. According to a sign detailing the lens, it’s the world’s first 14-24mm for E-mount that allows for front filters. The Nikkor Z 14-24mm F2.8 S accepts front filters but only via the hood. It appears that this Samyang lens features a filter thread on the lens itself. It supposedly offers a minimum focusing distance of 0.18m (7″) and weighs just 445g (15.7oz).
| Image: Viltrox |
Viltrox decided to go big at CP+ this year, announcing four brand-new lenses and a new mount option for its AF 135mm F1.8 LAB lens. In case that wasn’t enough, it also unveiled a camera battery charging case with a retro-looking design, which is the only item currently available for sale.
First up is the Viltrox AF 35mm F1.2 LAB FE, which, as the name gives away, is part of the new Viltrox Lab series of lenses. That lineup is the top tier of Viltrox lenses, meant to compete more directly with Sony’s G-Master lineup. Viltrox says that this lens is “revolutionizing the 35mm category,” promising precise autofocus and strong image quality. The wide aperture also makes it worthy of low-light situations. Next is the AF 85mm F1.4 Pro FE, which is part of the Pro series. Viltrox promises that it “redefines portrait photography with its sharp details and creamy bokeh.” Both lenses include FE in the names, so Sony users can expect even more options shortly.
The AF 50mm F2.0 Air is promised as a lightweight, compact option ideal for street and everyday photography. Viltrox didn’t specify which mounts it will be available for, but Digital Camera World says it will be coming to Sony FE and Nikon Z mounts. Viltrox also teased that it will be unveiling the AF 25mm F1.7 Air lens at some point today, providing no details beyond the name.
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| Image: Viltrox |
Unfortunately, not much information is available about the new lenses. What we do know is the names of each and, as a result, the different Viltrox lens lineups to which these lenses belong. The company also shared images from its CP+ booth on Instagram, which include some of the new offerings.
“This is the perfect venue to showcase our commitment to innovation and dedication to providing the tools photographers need to capture stunning images,” said Viltrox CEO, Daniel Dai. “We welcome attendees to visit our booth, and experience the future of photography.”
In addition to the new offerings, Viltrox announced that the AF 135mm F1.8 LAB is coming to Z-mount. This lens was announced back in November for Sony cameras. As a member of the Lab lineup, it offers a premium design, smooth bokeh and sharp performance.
Viltrox didn’t provide any pricing or availability information for any of the above lenses, but says it will “soon announce official release dates.”
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