How did they fake the zooms in this music video?
 

I want to do fast zoom effects for a project, but do not have a constant aperture lens that can do that, but I wonder if I could fake it when I saw this video do a zoom but it doesn't look like they use an actual zoom lens. They do it at 0:48 into the video:


But I am wondering how that faked zoom was done. I tried going through it frame by frame but was not able to on youtube so far. Do they zoom in post? But if they did, that would cause resolution loss? But maybe resolution loss for an effect is okay and no one will notice, if that's what they did?

Thanks for any advice on this! I really appreciate it!

Re: How did they fake the zooms in this music video?
 

If you have a zoom lens where the maximum aperture is limited by the focal length, such as a lens that has f/4-f/5.6 printed on it, then set the aperture for the smaller of the two numbers and it will be able to keep that aperture constant throughout the zoom range. In this example, set the lens for f/5.6 and it will be f/5.6 no matter the focal length. Problem solved.

Re: How did they fake the zooms in this music video?
 

Oh okay thanks. But the amount of light coming in still changes though. I think it's because the light is coming in at a slower right if the lens is longer, even if the aperture is the same setting throughout. It doesn't matter if the setting is the same throughout, if light cannot travel through lens as fast if it's longer?


But another thing is, my lenses are also not parfocal, and goes out of focus during the fast zoom, so I would still need to find a way to fake the zoom other than using a zoom lens, if I do not have any parfocal lenses, wouldn't I?

Re: How did they fake the zooms in this music video?
 

You are either incorrect about the light changing as you zoom, or you have the world's worst lens. If the maximum possible aperture when the lens is zoomed in is X, then the lens must be able to hold that same aperture when zoomed out.

Re: How did they fake the zooms in this music video?
 

It seems to me that the exposure changes during the zoom if I am at the same aperture, but I can keep trying. However, I still have the non-parfocal issue where it goes out of focus during the zoom as well though. This is why I thought doing the zoom with other effects, other than the lens is better perhaps.

Re: How did they fake the zooms in this music video?
 

Crash Zoom rears its ugly head. Good god man you've dwelling on this for as long as I can remember you posting here.

2019!
https://www.dvinfo.net/forum/open-dv...ml#post1948473

Re: How did they fake the zooms in this music video?
 

Oh yes, it's just now that I see this way of faking the zoom, I figure it's a game changer now that I was not aware of before.

Re: How did they fake the zooms in this music video?
 

Today I would just shoot in higher resolution and do it in editing. If your output is 1920x1080 shoot UHD. That video was clearly shot with many takes. It is film style not continuous video shoot so likely a fixed lens shot and two takes.

I shoot UHD these days but edit 1920x1080. This effect would be easy.

Re: How did they fake the zooms in this music video?
 

If it was up to me, I'd use a real lens and do a real snap zoom. The depth of field change that occurs from the changing optics will add to the effect in a way that can't be duplicated just by zooming out from a 4K or even 8K image. It's not the same thing at all.

Re: How did they fake the zooms in this music video?
 

It could still be faked in Resolve. However I do not think they used a zoom. I think it was multiple takes. Pure film style. Just synced just like the rest of the video.

Re: How did they fake the zooms in this music video?
 

Something could be done i post but it wouldn't look the same and it would take a ton more time and effort.

Re: How did they fake the zooms in this music video?
 

The closeup of Britney would not be too difficult to mask with Magic mask in Resolve and just put a little blur on the outside.

Re: How did they fake the zooms in this music video?
 

This is the approach. It is possible to be a lot more careful with the mask too.

Re: How did they fake the zooms in this music video?
 

First thing is try your zoom - I'm amazed after all the grief in the past three years you have had with it you still keep trying to use it.

Try the crash zoom at the full range of apertures, and then zoom in in the editor and try the zoom out in that. Then try it in 4K and see if that works better than 1080. See which looks best. You are going to talk about this for months when you could spend an hour trying these things out, sort it and move on.

If you have tried the techniques for crash zooms and they don't work for you, then maybe you should just buy a second hand lens that stays in focus!

Re: How did they fake the zooms in this music video?
 

Seeing is believing, so please produce a demonstration shot of your own to show us how it would look. :-)
And while you're at it, please keep track of the time it takes.

Re: How did they fake the zooms in this music video?
 

Or just borrow a lens for a day.

Re: How did they fake the zooms in this music video?
 

ah - but I seem to remember Ryan lives is the middle of nowhere and there are no rental houses, nor friends who own anything worth borrowing and for some reason distant rental suppliers don't rent to his area. Ryan's non-parfocal lens has driven him mad for years and he's been replacing it for the same period because in the past he has wanted to crash zoom, and nothing has changed since the last topic. He knows the answers, we've done it all before. He's had new lens, different cameras and even physical movements being considered and he's asked the same question again.

Re: How did they fake the zooms in this music video?
 

You are wrong and right :) It was shot in multiple takes, 3 to be exact, first take was the close up of Britney, then a 3 frame crash zoom and then it cuts to the wide angle shot. It happens so fast that it looks like a continuous shot but it isn't.

Re: How did they fake the zooms in this music video?
 

Okay thanks. I have tried zooming on the lens and it goes out of focus during the zoom. I could buy a second hand lens rather than try to fake it with a few shots in post, but wonder if it's worth if the post effect will work, like it did in the music video?

Re: How did they fake the zooms in this music video?
 

Okay thank, you very much! Do you know if the 3 frame crash zoom was done in the lens, or in post by any chance?

Re: How did they fake the zooms in this music video?
 

It looked like it was done in the lens though I think you can get away with a zoom in post with some added motion blur since it is only 3 frames. When I came across your thread I found it interesting enough to have a look myself and downloaded the video to go through the transition frame by frame in post as that is the only way to see what is going on. Is it "legal" to download YT video's, probably not, but since this is for educational purposes only I don't really care. I'm not going to tell you how I downloaded it but it's pretty easy and doesn't even require installing anything on your pc, google is your friend in this case :)

Re: How did they fake the zooms in this music video?
 

As you say hard to judge on the Tube so I downloaded it.

It's not just a crash zoom out on one continuous take. Two takes are involved. There is a CUT, a jump cut at that, not even close to a match frame cut one frame before a crash out zoom of two frames. The quality of the jump frame directly after the cut is of considerably lower quality than the frame before the cut. To me, it looks like the editor zoomed in to about 70% on the second take and then one frame later crash zoomed two frames back to the full-res wide shot.

With a jump cut like that and a two frame crash out any quality loss is pretty immaterial as it's all over before the eye can absorb any detail. So not too much noticeable quality loss for the viewer. But it is there!

This is how I forensically investigate any video effect if I want to recreate something like it or to learn somene else's tricks and techniques. Like hiding cuts with wipes etc.

Chris Young

Re: How did they fake the zooms in this music video?
 

If you look at the position and the posture of the dancers in each take there are some noticeable differences which made me think it was done in 3 takes but the download sample is of lower resolution so harder to judge but anyway looks pretty easy to replicate during a shoot.

Re: How did they fake the zooms in this music video?
 

Oh okay thanks. I couldn't download the video to observe it frame by frame, because the video was too long I was told by google sources, however, I put a camera on a tripod and recorded the video, by aiming the camera at my screen.

I then went through it frame by frame and I see what you mean. 3 takes with jump cuts during the zoom. Thanks!

I could do that for a zoom effect, but worried about resolution loss, since I was always told never zoom in, in post, especially 70%. But like it was said, so quick that maybe it will not be noticeable.

Re: How did they fake the zooms in this music video?
 

Remember - never believe what people tell you, until you prove it yourself. When people shot for DVD in SD, many had these new fangled 1080 cameras, and discovered they could zoom quite a way before they saw the difference. Now we have 1080 up against 4K - same old problem. Why not experiment and see if your eye can detect the quality of three frames of lower res in the stream. My guess is probably not!

Re: How did they fake the zooms in this music video?
 

Oh okay, thanks. However the final output is going to be 4K so if I zoom into 4K footage will it be a problem of the final output is still 4k?

Re: How did they fake the zooms in this music video?
 

Oh okay, thanks. However the final output is going to be 4K so if I zoom into 4K footage will it be a problem of the final output is still 4K?

Re: How did they fake the zooms in this music video?
 

Oh no! "I was told..."

What do you mean the video was too long to download? There are plenty of sites where you can download Youtube or at very least use a free screen capture program.

What others have said is true. They're doing some combination of cuts from multiple takes and/or digital zooms in post. You should be able see this for yourself.

Re: How did they fake the zooms in this music video?
 

Okay thanks. I can zoom in post then, but will the resolution loss be a problem if the final output of the project is 4K, but it zooms into 1080 for some very quick shots?

Re: How did they fake the zooms in this music video?
 

Depends on what you're filming. For a music video punching in for a second will be too quick for your brain to recognize the drop in quality. Youtubers commonly use digital zooms and jump cuts. This is because creating entertaining content is more important . Once you gain a following you can always improve your production quality.

Re: How did they fake the zooms in this music video?
 

The mantra for doing these things on a production is test, test, test.

It's probably quicker to do it using a zoom lens, it seems the video was shot on 35mm, using an Arri 35mm III, so a zoom wouldn't be big a deal. They may have gone for the best performances at either end of the crash zoom, so the editor cut in the middle. With a motorised zoom, the speed will be consistent from take to take.

Re: How did they fake the zooms in this music video?
 

Just watch the video I referred to and time him doing it. That is how long it takes in Resolve. There are lots of other videos showing this.

Re: How did they fake the zooms in this music video?
 

Re: How did they fake the zooms in this music video?
 

That's a expensive investment to only create a 3 frame transition :)

Re: How did they fake the zooms in this music video?
 

I posted as a bit of a joke. The reviewer admits it has limited range and is very heavy. I like his sense of humor he makes me laugh.

Re: How did they fake the zooms in this music video?
 

The effect shown on that video is comical and looks absolutely ridiculous. Furthermore, it does not incorporate any kind of snap zoom effect, which is what the OP is looking for.

Re: How did they fake the zooms in this music video?
 

Snap zooms are easy in post as I am sure you know. Or do you. Your comments were on creating shallow depth of field during this zoom to emulate the optical zoom ramping. How much of the effect is used is up to you. It can be key framed to the effect, altered as the zoom progresses. The video was showing how to do this no attempt at fine tuning for any particular situation. Was a demonstration of magic mask to isolate and work on mask or outside mask.

As we have seen in this case it was in fact several fixed lens shots. Classic film style and a short zoom as Noa found. Very short movement that could also be done in post. But the main effect was fixed shots so no issue of changes in depth of field anyway.

Re: How did they fake the zooms in this music video?
 

In the Britney Spears video I'm not sure if people were talking about was when I watched it closer it looked like they either had filter with a mask or the added it in post to blur out everyone except Britney. It doesn't look like they used a shallow dof that most people use today with full frame cameras to isolate the subject. Most of the fast zooms seemed like zoom transitions from wide to closeup camera. Not sure the point of creating this thread because its not hard to achieve.

People have criticized this music video because they dressed up Britney to look like a school girl. Fun fact that some people don't know she was actually 16 years old and in high school when she filmed it.

Speaking of young I ran into this music video the other day. She's 8 years old! She really kills this song and they did a nice job on the video despite the excessive shaky cam. I only realized rewatching a second time that it must have been recorded in studio and lip synced to it in the garage. Well almost all videos do that.

Re: How did they fake the zooms in this music video?
 

No, I don;t know that. Please show us some examples of your snap zooms that were done in post, with a realistic change in DoF. Looking forward to seeing them.

Re: How did they fake the zooms in this music video?
 

No I am not going to do that Doug. Pete seems to agree that it is not difficult. Whatever I produce you will criticize so why would I both when we have found out something you do not know.