Camera animation with local curves Controlling IPO curves for camera animation is quite challenging for me. I often want to dolly the camera closer to an object but in the f-curve editor I end up needing to control two separate curves for this move (usually x and y). I have noticed that I can get a very nice single z-curve for this move if I parent the camera to another object (this makes all the curves for the child local), but here's the part I can't seem to solve:

I would like the parent object to follow the camera location, so that the pivot point for the camera rotation would always stay the same. At the moment the rotation pivot changes based on the locational relationship between the camera and the parent object. I know this creates a loop in the parent relationship and that's why I can't seem to solve it. I tried to do the parenting with two "child of" constraints so that the camera would follow only the rotation of the cube and the cube would follow only the location of the camera, but that setup doesn't update "live" but only after I move the playhead, which makes accurate editing very difficult.

Is there any way of getting to enjoy local animation curves for the camera while keeping the pivot point of it consistent?

Edit:
I attached a file which demonstrates a nice single curve for the camera dolly. This is the setup I would like to use if only there would be a way to keep the pivot point consistent:
http://we.tl/2VtpIqdKo8
You could use the Follow Path constraint to do it the way you want.

Here is the procedure:


First, create a Bezier Curve, and place it along the object's local Z axis (in your exemple, the Cube).
Next, reset the camera position (ALT G)
Then add a Follow Path constraint to the camera, select the "BezierCurve" for the Target, and tick Follow Curve, as well as Fixed Position. Choose -Z "Forward axis" and Y for "Up axis".
Finally, parent the curve to the object.




The camera is now dependant of the position and rotation of the object (the cube), but you keep the ability to rotate the camera freely, while the animation curve is a single control: the Offset setting in the Follow Path constraint panel of the camera.

And, even better, when you reset the rotation of the camera, it should always points towards the object!

Here is the result: