Irmin Roberts' Camera Lens

Origin
Irmin Roberts was a special effects artist and camera operator who created the dolly zoom effect. In it, the camera focus zooms in on the subject while it is physically dollied (moved) away. This technique is commonly used to create a sense of falling away from reality or coming to a realization. Roberts most famously used this effect in Alfred Hitchcock’s Vertigo.

Effects
Used during the filming of Hitchcock's film Vertigo, looking through it at someone and twisting it causes them to experience extreme acrophobia.