Radio-Television-Film - Equipment Tip Sheets

To execute a smooth pan depends on what focal length you have your lens set to. Below is a chart from the American Cinematographers Manual that is adapted to reflect the focal lengths of the HVX lens.This can also be applied to other various lens as well.

Zoom 24P Pan Speed 30P Pan Speed

Z00/4.2mm 15 seconds 11 seconds

Z20/6mm 18 seconds 14 seconds

Z25/6.5mm 21 seconds 16 seconds

Z36/8mm 23 seconds 20 seconds

Z47/10mm 36 seconds 27 seconds

Z63/15mm 50 seconds 38 seconds

Z73/20mm 60 seconds 45 seconds

Z84/30mm 80 seconds 60 seconds

Z92/40mm 90 seconds 75 seconds

Z99/55mm 120 seconds 120 seconds

Example on how to read the chart:

If your setting is on Z25 and you want to pan 90 degrees without juddering or stuttering and you are shooting at 24P it will take you 21 seconds to execute the pan. Remember the general rule of thumb: Make sure that an object takes about seven seconds to cross the screen.That’s for shooting 24P or 25P.You can go faster if you are shooting 30P@Z25 you can pan the 90 degrees in 16 seconds @30P and it will be smooth.When shooting interlaced (or 50/60P) you can pan at any speed with no restrictions,but when shooting slower-frame-rate progressive you have to carefully monitor how fast you pan.

If you are at maximum telephoto you have to pan much,much slower than if you are shooting at wideangle. If you want a glass-smooth-90 degree pan, It will take two minutes to execute that pan @24P.