I'm not sure what you mean by linking the two, that's what you see here. I experimented for awhile getting the dolly speed and the zoom speed close to being in sync.

sorry Andrew,

what I mean is a more smoother transition between the zoom and the pullback. It's like the CGI 'fake' DOF - only for real! By allowing the camera to be moved to a position closer or away from a subject and yet maintain the exact (or almost the) same framing/sharpness of the background. The foreground/midground has a heightened movement, the background remains within the same perpetual frame/scale - albeit with the additional cloud movement.

From what I see (and it is all great), your zoom and camera motion is linear. What I am asking is - can this be done in a more logarithmic motion? Maybe what I am asking for is a great challenge - but its a question I am curious to know if it can be done without CGI? I've watched a few manga and anime, and this seems to be a predominant animation effect, it would be great to able able to do this for real ;-)

I hope I've made my thoughts clear and not something to distract from your test? Bugger, I need to make one of these rigs too just to see what can be done!!!

nice one Andrew - please forgive me for a complex question...

I see what you mean. I don't think the logarithmic movement would be too hard, since both motors are capable of software control but that's a little bit beyond my capabilities, and a system like that would exaggerate the imprecision of the pvc dolly. Could be done though!

I don't think so, since there would be no perspective change.