Camera movement atlas
On the left the diagram (from above or from the side), on the right the camera’s view. Notice which moves change perspective (the background shifts relative to the subject) and which only turn the view.
Camera movement atlas
How to use the tool
- Choose a move. The diagram shows the camera’s path (dashed line) and its field of view.
- Play or pause the animation, or use the slider to set any point in the move.
- Watch the trees at different distances — parallax tells you whether the camera is physically moving.
Every control also works from the keyboard: Tab moves between groups, the arrow keys change the choice within a group. If reduced motion is switched on in your system, animations don’t start by themselves.
What it tells you
Rotating vs. travelling
A pan or a tilt only rotates the camera — the relative positions of objects in the frame don’t change. A dolly, truck, pedestal, arc or crane moves the camera — nearer objects move faster than distant ones (parallax). It is parallax that gives the picture depth.
Dolly vs. zoom
A zoom enlarges the crop, but the perspective stays the same — the background grows just as much as the subject. When you dolly towards the subject, the subject grows faster than the background. Combining the two in opposite directions gives the well-known ‘dolly zoom’.
Last checked: . The tool runs entirely in your browser and sends nothing anywhere.