George Odell Posted May 6, 2013 Share Posted May 6, 2013 Is there a size/length of camera slider that seems to see the most use? I'd like to add one to my grip kit. Just wondering if one size gets asked for more than others. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member Stephen Williams Posted May 6, 2013 Premium Member Share Posted May 6, 2013 I find most commercially made are was too big, the one I use the most is about 30 inches long. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George Odell Posted May 7, 2013 Author Share Posted May 7, 2013 So less than 3'? I would have thought DP's would want something longer to allow for cutting in after the start of the move and out before it ends. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Desio Posted May 7, 2013 Share Posted May 7, 2013 I like to use a 4 to 6 foot slider, you are right George, it allows us to cut after the move and also cover a little more ground making the move IMO worthwhile. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George Odell Posted May 7, 2013 Author Share Posted May 7, 2013 Anyone used this CamTram system? Comes as a kit and you use your own (or borrowed) alumninum extension ladder as the track? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuart Brereton Posted May 8, 2013 Share Posted May 8, 2013 If I'm using an actual slider, then I prefer the 4ft version. More often though, I use my Dana Dolly system with either 5ft or 10ft steel tubes. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member Stephen Williams Posted May 8, 2013 Premium Member Share Posted May 8, 2013 So less than 3'? I would have thought DP's would want something longer to allow for cutting in after the start of the move and out before it end The larger the slider, the more space you need, so by being smaller & faster to set up it gets used more. 30 inches is about the most you can easily move the camera without physically moving. I will use a dolly if I want a big move. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Tyler Posted May 9, 2013 Share Posted May 9, 2013 A slider like the Dana Dolly allows you to choose different pipe if you need to work in a small space or need a long run. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew Kane Posted May 12, 2013 Share Posted May 12, 2013 I'm a huge fan of the cam-tram system. You can also build custom track out of unistrut. While I haven't used the higher end accessories, there are motors and such that you can use to expand it into a really useful kit. With the gear and the time, it can really do a lot of cool stuff. I find Dana Dollies are a bit faster to set up, and you can tuck them away in the truck. A key grip I know built one for very cheap, and rolls it around on the speed rail or on dolly track that's opened halfway. Used it to roll down the narrow aisle of an older jetliner the other day. It may not be able to do as much stuff as the cam tram, but it's a little more straightforward and flexible in a limited range of deployments. If you want a tripod mounted slider for small cameras, I'd build one off of McMaster Carr hardware--most of the retail options seem to be a big ripoff to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member Dino Giammattei Posted July 6, 2013 Premium Member Share Posted July 6, 2013 We have a five foot Kessler with motor and an Oracle controller at work. Having the motor really makes all the difference when using the full travel of the platform. I never could get consistent speed using the little crank. Before we got the motor, I would just manhandle the camera with my freakishly long orangoutang arms. (5'11" with a 6'3"wingspan). I have also come up with a way to mo-dino-fy (as I like to call it) the rig with a counter weight attached by cable to the platform for use in vertical and diagonal moves with great success. It takes the stress off the belts so they won't slip or be damaged. There goes the warrantee I guess. I understand that some sliders now come with this feature. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bradley Smith Posted March 5, 2014 Share Posted March 5, 2014 I use a short (30") Konova for slider shots. I like it because it is short enough to mount on a single tripod with a smaller camera, and also small enough to throw over my shoulder. As long as you have an object in the near field (critical for slider shots) you will get the effect you want. Also narrow DOF shots look great on a slider if you can get enough light on your subject to really open up the aperture. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dan green Posted March 6, 2014 Share Posted March 6, 2014 Yes you are right, short sliders are going good now days, easy to carry and to put on shoulder. I am also using a slider. I bought this purely on the recommendation of my friend, and I was not disappointed at all. Quality is great and the slide is very smooth. I was incredibly pleased when I took it out of the box because of the construction of the slider and the awesome carrying case it came in. http://www.flycamdslr.com/hdvs/CAMTREE-3ft-Linear-Camera-Slider-C-S3-4010-with-Level-Feet.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Beth Love Posted January 20, 2015 Share Posted January 20, 2015 I'm a big fan of the Cineped 3.5' slider. The quad-pod base is a bit "clumsy" to adjust if you are moving fast, but it's all quite rugged. Otherwise, the dana dolly, in 6' length, is my go-to. With all slider systems, keeping them well maintained is key. Even on the lowest budget shows, I often have to rent my slider separately from a g&e package because of their upkeep. Rails that are chipped, dirty wheels, tiny misalignments... they can all ruin a shot. The fewer moving parts the better... or else your team must intimately know the gear to keep it running smoothly. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member Satsuki Murashige Posted February 10, 2015 Premium Member Share Posted February 10, 2015 I hate the Cineped, but that mostly has to do with the legs as Laura says. They are a horrible design and very slow to setup and move. I have a Kessler 3' Cineslider which is ok but not great for anything bigger than a C100. MYT Works makes a pretty decent one that is much lighter than the standard Mitchell based sliders. Of the large size, I've used the Original Slider and the Silent Cat, both of which can be temperamental if not kept immaculately clean. I find the simple Dana Dolly works the best for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael LaVoie Posted February 11, 2015 Share Posted February 11, 2015 I have liked the Matthews Floatcam. Also called the HD-DC Slider. It has a counter weight along the track that slides opposite the camera. So it can also be used as a jib arm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member Satsuki Murashige Posted February 11, 2015 Premium Member Share Posted February 11, 2015 Good call Michael. The older DC Slider works really well, will have to check out the HD version. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sanjay Sami Posted February 19, 2015 Share Posted February 19, 2015 The Ronford-Baker sliders are really good. Very rugged and require minimum maintenance . They are available in different sizes and will take anything from Canon 5D to IMAX cameras. Highly recommended. http://www.ronfordbaker.co.uk/products/sliders/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member Mark Kenfield Posted February 23, 2015 Premium Member Share Posted February 23, 2015 I use the Cinevate Atlas 200. Which is a beefy bastard that runs on chromed steel rod. The advantage of that is you can change the length of the slider by simply having longer or shorter lengths of rail (a really useful feature). I keep the slider mounted to 4' of rail so that it fits nicely in a Pelican 1750 for easy transportation. But I also keep a set of 8' rails for shots that require a more substantial movement (or more commonly these days, for use as a quickly set up overhead rig for the camera or jib). The Cinevate runs on sealed ball bearings, so the movement is exceptionally smooth, but that comes at the cost of some noise during faster moves. It's a trade-off I don't mind making for the versatility that the slider offers - but it is still a tradeoff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sanjay Sami Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 The Cinevate sliders look good, but don't look like they can be mounted on a dolly. Also, there does not appear to be a Mitchell mount or 150mm bowl option. Its only 100mm bowl. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sanjay Sami Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 I was looking at the wrong product. They have Mitchell mounts for the Atlas 200. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member Mark Kenfield Posted February 24, 2015 Premium Member Share Posted February 24, 2015 Yeah, you'd need to fabricate some sort of undercarriage to mount the Cinevate on a dolly. Wouldn't be complex, but whether it's worth the time and effort though I don't know. Being able to switch between 100mm, 150mm and Mitchell bases is a handy feature. But I think it's being able to convert mine into an overhead rig for tabletop work in just 5 minutes or so that's a real boon. It's just so quick to do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Cruxifield Posted March 12, 2015 Share Posted March 12, 2015 I have a 12 ft slider that comes with 2 4ft rails and one 2ft rail. For Sale Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Philipp Kunzli Posted March 18, 2015 Share Posted March 18, 2015 To be honest. In my opinion it really depends on the situation and the project. In some situations I really love having the 3ft Silent cat slider on a tripod or the dolly and just making some tiny adjustments. On the other hand sometimes it's nice to have a 6ft one and make some small traveling. The same time, in my opinion there is no slider travelling as smooth and gentle as one of a dolly. But It might also be that's not what that project is going for... My advice... Just rent one. There are so many out there and you get for every project the right thing... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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