What is a Camera Dolly?

A camera dolly is a specialised piece of film-making and television production equipment design to create smooth camera movements (cinematic techniques). The camera is mounted to the dolly and the camera operator and focus puller or camera assistant usually ride on the dolly to operate the camera. The dolly grip is the dedicated technician trained to operate the dolly.

Types
Studio dolly's are large, stable and can feature hydraulics. These are the first choice for studio, backlot and location shoots when using professional cameras. A studio dolly usually needs a specialised operator called a 'dolly grip', and many are built for the operator to ride on the dolly with the camera.

Lightweight dolly systems are more simple, affordable and are best used with lighter-weight cameras. Lightweight systems are usually favoured by independent filmmakers and students because they are easier to carry and operate. These dollies support only the camera, and the operator needs to move alongside. Some lightweight dollies are small enough to be carried in a backpack.

Left: Studio dolly - Right: Lightweight dolly

There are many films in which the 'dolly shot' is used, as it creates a steady camera angle. These are also known as tracking shots, as the camera follows a character or object during a scene in a smooth and paced direction to create a neat finish. I recently discovered this shot from The Avengers, which was filmed with a camera dolly. 

In this scene, Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) is being chased by The Hulk (Mark Ruffalo). Whilst running through a tight narrow space, a camera dolly moves in a backwards motion within synchronicity to the character. This shot has also been slowed down to emphasise all of the explosions and scenery behind Black Widow. As a camera dolly has been used, the footage is much clearer that what it would've been if a hand-held camera was used.

There are many films and television productions that have used a camera dolly as it ensures a steady motioned shot which can be edited however many ways, and it makes it a lot easier as it is so still.


Cheerio. :o)

- Olivia.


https://vimeo.com/40689260 - accessed on 7th-May-2014
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camera_dolly - accessed on 7th-May-2014
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2tffnWvaFkI - accessed on 18th-May-2014
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KBp9bw3iPw - accessed on 18th-May-2014