Pan, Tilt, Zoom

Pan

A pan shot is made when you rotate camera to the left or right, at the same time, the camera mount remains still.

A pan shot is especially good at:

Revealing an entire environment
Revealing the spatial relation between character and environment
Introducing multi objects in close up
Simulating subjective view

Tilt

A tilt shot is made when you rotate camera up or down, at the same time, the camera mount remains still.

A tilt shot has similar function as pan, but is used less often.

Zoom

Magnify or reduce subject by changing lens focal length. In perspective terms, it has no difference from zooming in or out a picture in Adobe PhotoShop.

In general, you can’t use zoom to simulate subjective view. But it’s perfectly OK to use it in these situations:

You are not telling a story. For instance, in a corporate video, you can certainly zoom in to a product to introduce it in more details.

Simulate a psychological process. In a love story, a shot zooming in to a girl’s face reflects her partner’s mental desire, but not necessarily means he actually moves towards her.

Note: Of course you can combine tracking, zoom, pan, tilt, and get a complex shot if you can handle it.

Video Editing Glossary & Terms

180° Line
Video Capture or Digitize
Video Footage & Video Clip
Continuity Editing
Cut, Jump Cut & Cutaway
Cut Off
Video Frames
Log Sheet or Movie Shot List
Film & Video Montage
NG
Video Shot & Take
Sequence & Movie Scene
Time Code
Video Transitions
Dissolve, Wipe, Fade
Tracking Shot
Close up & Extreme close up
Long shot
Medium Shot
Two Shot
Video Editor

Pan, Tilt, Zoom - Video Editing Glossary & Terms

Pan, Tilt, Zoom