Dolly
The camera itself moves closer to or farther from the subject.
- What changes
- Perspective changes: foreground and background shift relative to one another.
- Try it
- Move straight forward or backward while keeping the lens angle unchanged.
VISUAL CAMERA LANGUAGE
Move it first. Name it later.
Camera terms are most useful after you understand the physical action. Record a path in the studio, then compare the detected beats with the guide below.
Truck
The camera travels sideways.
- What changes
- The subject stays at a similar distance while the background slides laterally.
- Try it
- Move left or right without turning the camera too much.
Pan / Tilt
The camera stays roughly in place and rotates.
- What changes
- Pan turns left or right; tilt looks up or down.
- Try it
- Keep your position still and move only the view direction.
Pedestal
The whole camera rises or falls.
- What changes
- The viewpoint changes height without pitching the lens.
- Try it
- Use Space or Shift to move vertically while holding the view steady.
Orbit
The camera travels around a subject while continuing to face it.
- What changes
- The subject remains anchored while its background and visible sides change.
- Try it
- Choose Subject mode, switch to subject lock, then move sideways.
Zoom
The camera position stays fixed while the field of view changes.
- What changes
- The frame tightens or widens without the perspective shift of a dolly.
- Try it
- Use [ or ] without moving the camera.
A move can contain several beats.
A real take may begin with a dolly, settle into a pan, then finish with a small zoom. The studio keeps these as adjacent reviewable segments instead of forcing one label onto the whole shot.
See complete paths on the examples page, or read how the classifier works.