Dolly Tracking Tips

J

jwflowersii

Member
I'm been playing around with a dolly setup on some pneumatic tires, and I've achieved a somewhat stable platform for the shot. The only question I have is what is the best way to track the subject and maintain them in their position. Is there any tips that you guys can give me. I've managed to hold them pretty good in the frame but it still seems somewhat jerky as the dolly moves and I'm panning up and down and left to right to track the subject.

Thanks for any tips guys and girls,
John
 
Are you riding on the platform or walking beside it? It is almost impossible to get good shots walking beside the dolly. I went though this myself, and it was really frustrating until I realized I could just hop on, and everything was great. Have someone else push while you ride.
 
Yeah, I have a dolly grip and I'm riding on the platform. I also have a Sachtler FS6B Fluid Head. We maintain a good slow speed with the dolly, it's just panning that seems to be the issue. I have the resistance set to it's highest. I guess it just takes practice.

Thanks again guys,
John

P.S. If you guys want I can post some footage and you guys can critique it.
 
jwflowersii said:
Yeah, I have a dolly grip and I'm riding on the platform. I also have a Sachtler FS6B Fluid Head. We maintain a good slow speed with the dolly, it's just panning that seems to be the issue. I have the resistance set to it's highest. I guess it just takes practice.

Thanks again guys,
John

P.S. If you guys want I can post some footage and you guys can critique it.
Click to expand...

I would be more than happy to offer my 2 cents on it.
 
I hate to say it, but it seems like the best advice for you may just be practice practice practice! I had the hardest time doing shots where we would track in front of the subject and the subject was supposed to stay in the same part of the frame as we tracked. I thought it was pretty much impossible, but after doing it for a while, somehow I finally got it. The clip might show some other problems though...we'll see I guess.
 
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