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“bolex lens transition”
i’m trying to recreate a “bolex lens transition” in fcp.
i call it that because i don’t know how else to describe it. but for those of you who used a bolex, you’d remember that you could change lenses while shooting, which would create a cool transition in which you’d see for a split second the lens moving out, a flash of black, and the new lens moving in. it was an interesting way to transition from a close-up to a wide without having to cut the camera.
if anyone can think of how to re-create this in fcp, please let me know (and yes, i am very new to final cut…)
here’s a picture of a bolex with multiple lenses which might help clarify what i’m talking about: https://www.movie-camera.it/Fotografie/bolexH8.jpg
thanks!
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8 Replies
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Never heard of a ‘plug-in’ that recreates that. Why not just build one yourself in AE?
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I would try splitting the clip, then a short dissolve to the same shot but with blur added. At the same time, keyframe move the image off screen right to left. On another layer do a move in from left to right with blur of the closer shot and then dissolve out the blur to sharp normal framed new shot. Might be worth adding a slight vignette to the edges of frame during the transition as well. If you are really game, a slight keyframed resize of the blurred moving shots might help.
Add some clunk sound effects (maybe record an old Bolex) and Bob’s your Aunty.
Might be a bit of a fiddle and anyone younger than 40 might not get it but could be fun.
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i figured it out. thanks.
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[athunt] “i figured it out. thanks.”
Do share.
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i did something similar to what you suggested.
i split the clip where the effect started. there i defocused it slightly and also scaled it a bit smaller to give the impression that the lens was disengaged (i did this with a straight cut rather than a dissolve). over the defocused clip i placed a circular matte that a few frames later rotated out of frame to simulate the lens being moved out of place (which also created the vignette look), with another circular matte moving into place a few frames later revealing the new shot (which was also scaled back slighty & defouced). a couple frames later that image popped back into focus and 100% scale.
what i didn’t do was move the actual image, as from my recollection the image didn’t move when you changed a lens on a bolex.
i have a small quicktime if you’re interested in seeing it https://s239.photobucket.com/albums/ff86/athunt/?action=view¤t=lenschangetest2.flvthanks again.
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My recollection from old cameras like the Bolex was that the image moved off with the lens rotate.
Keeping the image in frame is probably easier on the eye. It is more like video lenses changing over to a doubler.
Thanks for sharing.
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Over the years I have seen this effect several times in raw newreel film I’ve been cutting. I call it a lens turret change. Before zooms, many types of motion picture cameras had 2, 3, 4 and even 5 lens turrets. Some could change while filming.
I wanted to send you an example but failed to find one through Google search.
So I went to the website of the US Holocaust Memorial Museum which has footage in which I specifically remember see lens turret changes. Sure enough I found one for you. It’s in sound film of the Nuremberg Trials where it can’t be cut out without losing a word or two from the sound track.
https://resources.ushmm.org/film/search/index.php
then search for:
RG-60.2982
play about 10 seconds into the clip and there it is.
– Larry Asbell
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wow! fantastic larry. i think i’ll have to give something like that a try.
thanks so much!andrew
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