DIY IndieSlider...

It seems like my bearings are either too loose, so every time I take the carriage off the rail, the bearings come loose, or too tight, so it doesn't slide well on the rail. I can't get them to a permanent happy medium.

Should tightening down all the way add a lot of drag on the carriage?

Any suggestions?
 
WildTrackDave said:
It seems like my bearings are either too loose, so every time I take the carriage off the rail, the bearings come loose, or too tight, so it doesn't slide well on the rail. I can't get them to a permanent happy medium.

Should tightening down all the way add a lot of drag on the carriage?

Any suggestions?
Click to expand...

Go grab the alignment PDF off my site and follow the directions:
http://www.zazaslider.com/support.html

You should be able to align your carriage and get the bolts tight so it stays put.
Let us know how you make out.
 
Well, I'm shooting with the 5DII and want something around what you've talked about (39" or so). I've made the ZaZa slider and gotten the feet from you, which all works amazingly well when I have just a couple extra minutes with setup time.

However, with the weddings and events I've shot over the past month, they've all required me to pick up and run with a handful of gear all at once (I'm shooting alone usually, and just graduated so can't really have an intern just yet!). The Atlas that they advertise on Cinevate seems like it would be a bit lighter (and would save my back a bit), but it also doesn't look like there's a way to mount it to a tripod and is more for tabletop work.

Any way I can get the best of both worlds?
 
Question about ZazaBasic length

Question about ZazaBasic length

Hey Zaza,

I've been thinking about getting the parts from Igus and building one of these, but it almost seems like buying the basic kit from you would be worth the extra 50 bucks or so. I don't even own a drill.

I have a question though - Is there any way to get the Zazaslider basic with a longer rail than 39 inches? I was gonna PM you about prices (would it just be $225 + however much extra the longer rail is?), but I figured more people might want to know. I like the idea of a 39" rail that mounts centered on a tripod, but I honestly think I would get more use out of just putting a couple blocks at each end and putting the blocks on a couple step stools or something. Would this work? It seems like it would.

Even though the feet look great, and having an extra pair of tripod legs would probably be useful in other ways, I can't justify spending an extra $150 on either when I almost always have the time to just set up the rail on a couple chairs or whatever. I'm not a wedding photographer or anything like that, just an independant film maker with time on his hands.
 
Edmond Dantes said:
Hey Zaza,

I've been thinking about getting the parts from Igus and building one of these, but it almost seems like buying the basic kit from you would be worth the extra 50 bucks or so. I don't even own a drill.

I have a question though - Is there any way to get the Zazaslider basic with a longer rail than 39 inches? I was gonna PM you about prices (would it just be $225 + however much extra the longer rail is?), but I figured more people might want to know. I like the idea of a 39" rail that mounts centered on a tripod, but I honestly think I would get more use out of just putting a couple blocks at each end and putting the blocks on a couple step stools or something. Would this work? It seems like it would.

Even though the feet look great, and having an extra pair of tripod legs would probably be useful in other ways, I can't justify spending an extra $150 on either when I almost always have the time to just set up the rail on a couple chairs or whatever. I'm not a wedding photographer or anything like that, just an independant film maker with time on his hands.
Click to expand...

I build all kinds of custom sliders for people... just email me directly and I'll be glad to quote you a cost.
zaza@zazaslider.com

Personally (I'm just an independent filmmaker too), I picked-up a Manfrotto 3046 tripod on eBay for $125.00 and pretty much leave the rail on there all the time. Since building my first slider, I haven't been to a shoot without it. When I want to move, I put my shoulder under the rail, stand-up and move....it's really easy.
 
digitalskylight said:
Well, I'm shooting with the 5DII and want something around what you've talked about (39" or so). I've made the ZaZa slider and gotten the feet from you, which all works amazingly well when I have just a couple extra minutes with setup time.

However, with the weddings and events I've shot over the past month, they've all required me to pick up and run with a handful of gear all at once (I'm shooting alone usually, and just graduated so can't really have an intern just yet!). The Atlas that they advertise on Cinevate seems like it would be a bit lighter (and would save my back a bit), but it also doesn't look like there's a way to mount it to a tripod and is more for tabletop work.

Any way I can get the best of both worlds?
Click to expand...

See my post above....^^^^^^

"Personally (I'm just an independent filmmaker too), I picked-up a Manfrotto 3046 tripod on eBay for $125.00 and pretty much leave the rail on there all the time. Since building my first slider, I haven't been to a shoot without it. When I want to move, I put my shoulder under the rail, stand-up and move....it's really easy."
 
Is there anything I should know about using the zazaslider with a Manfrotto 190XPROB? Any threading size issues?
 
semajha said:
Is there anything I should know about using the zazaslider with a Manfrotto 190XPROB? Any threading size issues?
Click to expand...

You're all set... no problems.... I use the same tripod.
It's a standard 3/8"-16 bolt on that tripod.
Go forth & slide!
 
One more question... Does it matter which way you drill the hole? I know when it comes to tapping, you should tap from the bottom to up, but what about simply drilling? I apologize for the noobtacular question but I just wanna make sure I get this right.

Oh and has anyone had trouble tapping these holes? One thing I'm worried about, is tapping/threading it crooked or not getting it completely centered.
 
semajha said:
One more question... Does it matter which way you drill the hole? I know when it comes to tapping, you should tap from the bottom to up, but what about simply drilling? I apologize for the noobtacular question but I just wanna make sure I get this right.
Click to expand...

I'd drill from the top down.... there's a nice center line on the rail and will assure you that you've drilled in the middle of the rail. Doesn't matter which way you tap, but I tap from the bottom. Same goes for the carriage plate.
 
Zaza I ordered a slider from you and I used it again today, If I tighten the allen bolts up its to stiff to slide, what the heck? If I loosen the bolts its very jiggling and I get a bumpy slide even still I feel a lot of friction while sliding please advise how to fix it.
 
JL_Media said:
Zaza I ordered a slider from you and I used it again today, If I tighten the allen bolts up its to stiff to slide, what the heck? If I loosen the bolts its very jiggling and I get a bumpy slide even still I feel a lot of friction while sliding please advise how to fix it.
Click to expand...

I had that exact same problem! I pretty much had to keep tweaking it to a perfect spot that was right in the happy medium, not too loose but not too tight to slide ("Oh, that's too tight. A little less. Now it's too loose, a little more. Too much, etc...")

Now it seems to be in a good position, but I try not to bump it or take the carriage off as much as possible, because I'm afraid the screws will come too loose again.

Good luck!

BTW, I realize that part in the parenthesis can be taken "the wrong way" :huh:
 
I think it's time to upgrade/source a better improved slider with roller bearing for smoother operation like the dpslider.com. You should get on it Joe.
 
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