DIY IndieSlider...
- Thread starter ZazaCast
- Start date
ZazaCast
Major Contributor
Check with user "Postmaster".... he's in Germany and had no problem getting the product.
multiple track sections?
multiple track sections?
Sorry if this was already talked about this the past 100 pages...
I am wondering if you can connect multiple sections of the rail/track together for a really long tracking shot. Obviously on the ground or something low to start with, not on a tripod. I'm guessing the tracks are made for that sort of thing originally?
Has anyone done this? Is there a noticeable bump in the footage where the tracks join?
Thanks
Eric
multiple track sections?
Sorry if this was already talked about this the past 100 pages...
I am wondering if you can connect multiple sections of the rail/track together for a really long tracking shot. Obviously on the ground or something low to start with, not on a tripod. I'm guessing the tracks are made for that sort of thing originally?
Has anyone done this? Is there a noticeable bump in the footage where the tracks join?
Thanks
Eric
Ryan E. Walters
Well-known member
So has anyone tried the 3000mm or 4000mm versions? (9')
ZazaCast
Major Contributor
I couldn't fit a 9' piece of rail in my car! :grin:
I'd love to see someone try this though. It might be difficult to dolly in or out and keep the rail out of the shot, but a 9' slider...excellent!:thumbsup:
Postmaster
Dark Side of the Camera
IGUS is a German company, so I had mine in 3 days.
They even called me a week later and asked me how I like it.
Nice guys there in the headquarter.
Maybe you should send them a mail at the German website.
Frank
Ok, this was a great thread and great find by Zaza, so I thought I would provide my input back on how I put mine together. Before I ordered mine, ZaZa mentioned they have a rail that is not drilled or tapped yet. It is a WS-16-60S . The benefit of buying the non drilled/tapped one is that when Igus drills the holes, they are kind of counter sunk, so you lose some threading when tapping it. Since I was going to tap it anyways I figured what the heck and went for the WS-16-60S model.
Attached are a few picts of mine put together. I mounted a short 2x4 piece on each end so I can put it right on the ground, or put it on the tripod with the tapped holes I put into it.
I attached the 2 x 4's to the slide with 1/4 lag bolts and fender washers. With the 2 x 4's attached, the slider will still slide off the rails for transport.
To keep the slider from falling off the end, I tapped the ends of the rails for 3/8" x 16, and got some rubber grommets from the hardware store, they were about .50 cents each, and put them on the ends with 3/8 and 1" bolts.
I wanted to try and have a consistent speed slide, so I pulled out the RC gear I had and hacked a servo to make it continuous turn. I tapped the side of the slider with a 3mm bolt, tied a piece of kevlar fishing line to it, and ran the other end to the servo.
I did not have a pulley to mount on the servo, so I made up a crude one as you can see in the picture. Also linked is a video of the results. I flip a switch, and away it goes.
If the slide does not seem perfectly smooth, I believe this is from my crude "square" pulley instead of a round one, I have a round one on order, and a higher torque servo.
Anyhow, just thought I would post some picts of my setup.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjRoC2cK0Vg
Oh, do you guys think the slide is too slow? This was as fast as this servo would run.
A bigger pully, and the new servo I have on order should run faster, the speed is adjustable via the Tx I use to control the servo.
Thanks to all of those who have shared their setups.
-- Scott
Attached are a few picts of mine put together. I mounted a short 2x4 piece on each end so I can put it right on the ground, or put it on the tripod with the tapped holes I put into it.
I attached the 2 x 4's to the slide with 1/4 lag bolts and fender washers. With the 2 x 4's attached, the slider will still slide off the rails for transport.
To keep the slider from falling off the end, I tapped the ends of the rails for 3/8" x 16, and got some rubber grommets from the hardware store, they were about .50 cents each, and put them on the ends with 3/8 and 1" bolts.
I wanted to try and have a consistent speed slide, so I pulled out the RC gear I had and hacked a servo to make it continuous turn. I tapped the side of the slider with a 3mm bolt, tied a piece of kevlar fishing line to it, and ran the other end to the servo.
I did not have a pulley to mount on the servo, so I made up a crude one as you can see in the picture. Also linked is a video of the results. I flip a switch, and away it goes.
If the slide does not seem perfectly smooth, I believe this is from my crude "square" pulley instead of a round one, I have a round one on order, and a higher torque servo.
Anyhow, just thought I would post some picts of my setup.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjRoC2cK0Vg
Oh, do you guys think the slide is too slow? This was as fast as this servo would run.
A bigger pully, and the new servo I have on order should run faster, the speed is adjustable via the Tx I use to control the servo.
Thanks to all of those who have shared their setups.
-- Scott
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The speed is good. The really, really big challenge with this kind of motorized system is the noise. Man, that thing is loud. There's no way it could be used anywhere near dialog.
Thanks for the feedback.
Agreed with the noise, there is a lot of whine right now as it was a really cheap low torque servo, and the pulley is not round, so you can hear the "surging". Also it being so low to the hard tile floor just amplified the sound. It did not sound that loud when I had it up on a tripod, or sitting on a carpeted floor which absorbed the sound more.
I thought I'd throw it out there, for me it will be fine as I will mostly be shooting music video type stuff which will have it's own separate audio track. I will also be shooting 2 cameras for videos, so this will allow me to run one camera, and start a remote slide on another one.
Postmaster
Dark Side of the Camera
I just ordered WS-20-80 & WW-20-80-15 = 20mm Bearing Size and 150mm shuttle length (basically a 6" long shuttle rather than 4") and I ordered a 1,200mm rail (for a little more slide but still portable at just under 4ft.) total before shipping was $241.49
I want to purchase a tripod base dedicated just for this - does anyone have any suggestions - ideally one that is very stable, has a spreader to attach sandbags and can go fairly low. I probably don't need a lot of height - I would say 4-5 feet would be as high as I would ever take it but it would also be nice to take it down to a foot or two when needed.
I want to purchase a tripod base dedicated just for this - does anyone have any suggestions - ideally one that is very stable, has a spreader to attach sandbags and can go fairly low. I probably don't need a lot of height - I would say 4-5 feet would be as high as I would ever take it but it would also be nice to take it down to a foot or two when needed.
ZazaCast
Major Contributor
That will be one massive slider you'll have there.
I use a Bogen 3046. You can pick them up on eBay for around $125.00. They don't go as low as you're look to go, but then again, that's what the end block are for. It has a spreader where I attach 5lb. ankle weights....3 of them do the trick. (you might need more) It also cranks up for quick adjustment.
Pictures here: http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/album.php?albumid=214&pictureid=1754
ClarkPeters
Member
Has anyone tried the igus rail tilted on its edge? (Picture screwing the rail to a wall.)This would load the rail in its stiffest direction (and help with a particular project I have). I am a little concerned about the bearings binding. Thanks.
Pete
Pete
Postmaster
Dark Side of the Camera
I tried it both, horizontal and vertical.
Holds up pretty good to a 25 lbs rig (thou I have the strongest version they sell). The rails and bearings are made for much more abuse than you can ever trow at them with any camera. As you can see on the pictures 3 posts up I´m a real big guy and I can even stand on it.
Frank
Holds up pretty good to a 25 lbs rig (thou I have the strongest version they sell). The rails and bearings are made for much more abuse than you can ever trow at them with any camera. As you can see on the pictures 3 posts up I´m a real big guy and I can even stand on it.
Frank
I just picked up a bunch of Bogen Quick Stack 1051BAC & 1052BAC Light Stands today. Really well designed, very lightweight and cheap $60/$70. I might try using two of these or one plus a tripod for the slider.
The 1051's are unbelievably small and light and the 1052's are still far more portable than any other light stands I have.
One thing I like about them is the leg spreaders are low - you can set it up where they touch the ground making it easier to use sandbags which might work fine with this slider.
The 1051's are unbelievably small and light and the 1052's are still far more portable than any other light stands I have.
One thing I like about them is the leg spreaders are low - you can set it up where they touch the ground making it easier to use sandbags which might work fine with this slider.
If you want to do push-ins/pull outs try buying one of these instead of a high hat:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ntt=sanford+davis+display&N=0&InitialSearch=yes
This gets you over the ends of a 1 meter rail without having your endscrews or rail showing with many lenses.
It works a dream with my 5D. No problems pushing or pulling with it.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ntt=sanford+davis+display&N=0&InitialSearch=yes
This gets you over the ends of a 1 meter rail without having your endscrews or rail showing with many lenses.
It works a dream with my 5D. No problems pushing or pulling with it.