Re: Are ND grads only used for static shots?

You've got to remember that many, if not most, of the posters here are relatively inexperienced and may lack your skills. Beginning shooters often discover to their dismay that free use of the zoom produces unwanted results.

As a general rule, for dramatic presentations, zooms do look quite out of place. They break us away from the story by drawing too much attention to themselves. Certainly they do work for certain scenes, such as the Hong Kong "Kung Fu" look such as is seen in Kill Bill 2, or fast-paced, quick-cut "music video" type films. You're unlikely to find them in a dialog scene in something like the "Soprano's."

As discussed above, very slow zooms can work for standard dramas as can subtle zooms hidden within other camera moves.

As for the time machine, I remember quite well my first zoom lens which I purchased for my Bolex. I was thrilled and exuberantly zoomed away on the very next commercial I shot. The results were dreadful because I lacked the skills to use it properly.

Best regards,
Leo
Director/Cinematographer
Southeast USA