One node VS two node camera: Best uses

[Roland R. kahlenberg]

Two-nodes when I need/want to be more expressive with the camera. Then again, it’s a case of different strokes for different folks – so keep this in mind.

Cheers
RoRK

Intensive mocha & AE Training in Singapore and Other Dangerous Locations

Imagineer Systems (mocha) Certified Instructor
& Adobe After Effects CS6 ACE

[Jason Jantzen]

If I’m thinking correctly, one node uses rotation/orientation only and no POI, right? In that case, you could use a one node camera like most people use camera parented to null for planar motion only.

Jason Jantzen
vimeo.com/jasonj

[Tim Boknecht]

I’ve been setting keyframes for position and point of interest (keyboard shortcut A), then using the camera tools (C) to automatically create keyframes down the timeline.

Dave, could you upload a down-and-dirty example of this 2 null rig set up in a CS5 or earlier project?

Tim Boknecht
Media Producer
Bravo Productions

[Matthew Woods]

Interesting. I always use a one node camera when I want to imitate a tripod. Then the rotation controls work pretty much the same (although the gimbal may be different from a tripod) I also use a one node camera when I am doing planar moves where I don’t want the camera to rotate.

I always use a two node camera for complex moves where I want the camera’s position and orientation to animate independently. Especially when using 3d objects or element 3d. For example, if you want to move the camera around while always looking at one object in the scene, copy the position of the object to the point of interest of the camera. It gives a nice jib/crane like look. (Though much more powerful) You can animate the camera orientation from aiming at one object to another by copying their position to the point of interest. Often I will end up tweaking the exact poi, but copying positions is a good start. In order to make it smooth though, you usually have to go into 4 views and smooth out the bezier curves of the motion paths for both the camera, and the anchor point. If you want to track a moving object, pickwhip link the camera’s poi to the position of the object with an expression.

Hope that helps get started.

Point of interest can be really powerful if you learn how to use it well.

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