Rick Burnett
Section Moderator
I leave mine on since I have one rail. I carry it around in a Pelican case that I adjusted the foam inside for the perfect fit.
DIY IndieSlider...
- Thread starter ZazaCast
- Start date
It is a grip action ball mount. I am not sure about the brand as I purchased it in combination with the tripod and pan/tilt head from DMKFoto.com. I paid around $120. I will PM you with the link.
EDIT: It looks like they do carry the Grip Head by itself for around $50.
Hi all,
I'm new here, I would like to thank Zazacast for coming up with the zazaslider. It's really a great tool to have for film making.
Please view my very first video made with a zazaslider and Filmtools gripper 3025. I'm still learning film making, so I hope you like it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_toemyVEB4Y
Thanks!
I'm new here, I would like to thank Zazacast for coming up with the zazaslider. It's really a great tool to have for film making.
Please view my very first video made with a zazaslider and Filmtools gripper 3025. I'm still learning film making, so I hope you like it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_toemyVEB4Y
Thanks!
JoeJITSU
Veteran
Thanks I just ordered this head as well.Just finished building my DIY slider with IGUS parts.
Here is the end result:
I mounted the 16-60 1 meter slider rail on a heavy duty three way pan/tilt head using a modified quick release base plate. On the base plate I replaced the original thumb screw with a longer bolt that threads into the rail and is also secured on the other side with a locking nut. The pan/tilt head is then mounted onto a heavy duty tripod. I chose to mount the rail onto the head rather than directly onto the tripod so I could use the pan/tilt head to manipulate the rail angle for different shots.
On the carriage, I attached a grip style ball head that can go from full vertical to completely horizontal (and any angle in between) with just one trigger release.
Initially I had attempted to use an older generic light-duty tripod with an all plastic pan/tilt head but the head "wobbled" with even just the bare carriage sliding from end to end. On the other hand the new heavier duty tripod and metal pan/tilt head that I used are ROCK solid even with the fully weighted slider at multiple angles.
With this combo I am able to go from normal horizontal to full 90 degrees vertical within seconds. The vertical slides can generate shots like a "mini-crane". The built in bubble levels in both heads make the setup very straightforward.
Is the 701 one head strong enough to hold a DSLR with a light and mic, and a shoulder mount ?
Currently have the 503 but looking to downsize for the slider, just don't want to sell and acquire gear and not have it work properly. What other heads are ppl here using ?
Currently have the 503 but looking to downsize for the slider, just don't want to sell and acquire gear and not have it work properly. What other heads are ppl here using ?
Chris Light
Veteran
are you going to have your shoulder mount ON the slider with all the other gear?
More then likely, yes. Because I have it all set up with quick releases, just want to keep it all together.
If that photo aint proof zaza, i don't know what is
Good to know that it will hold the weight securely and offer full control on pans/tilts
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Such a great thread, thank you so much for all of the good info! I put in an order request last night to igus for a ws 16-60 700mm plus 100mm carriage...i'm wondering if I should opt for the 14-40? Here is what I'll be using this for:
1.) This will be my travel slider so it needs to be super portable and light. I'll be taking it skiing/hiking and on planes so it needs to strap to my backpack nicely without being too heavy on top of all my other gear in the pack
2.) I'll be using a Canon T2i with only a few pounds of total weight with accessories
3.) Definitely am going to need to purchase one of those head adapters that tilt to allow for cool mini crane shots!
let me know what you think, all input is greatly appreciated, thanks again!
1.) This will be my travel slider so it needs to be super portable and light. I'll be taking it skiing/hiking and on planes so it needs to strap to my backpack nicely without being too heavy on top of all my other gear in the pack
2.) I'll be using a Canon T2i with only a few pounds of total weight with accessories
3.) Definitely am going to need to purchase one of those head adapters that tilt to allow for cool mini crane shots!
let me know what you think, all input is greatly appreciated, thanks again!
ZazaCast
Major Contributor
For your needs... I'd say the 10-40mm rail would be best. :happy:
I've read through ALL 237 pages over the course of a few days while I wait for my IGUS rails to arrive. The sales lady at IGUS was extremely pleasant to deal with, and they had mine delivered within the week, just in time for tomorrow's shoot. It arrived this afternoon. I spent a good hour building it up. Pictures below are my mods, mostly out of necessity.
I'm looking for a way to mount the rail in a vertical position that's rock solid. I own a 3-axis tripod head (like in previous page) but found it wobbly and not up to professional standards. I would still need to get another 3-axis head. For now, I'm using the Manfrotto 577 PL mount and 701HDV head on horizontal only shots. I am thinking of making a 3/8 vertical angle brackets, but that's for another day.
Two 3/8-16 taps for double the holding strength, and as twist lock. I figure if I am going to make a new hole, I might as well use the pre-drilled hole too.
For the life of me, I cannot find those 3/8 nylon spacers everyone else seems to have. I checked three Home Depots but they do not have them. I ended up using 3/8-3/4 bolts and using a washer and nut as the spacer. Ugly, but works.
Thanks to Zaza for the parts and helpful advice throughout the thread. Now, finishing up the legs with 2x2 maple oak.
It arrived this afternoon. I spent a good hour building it up. Pictures below are my mods, mostly out of necessity.I'm looking for a way to mount the rail in a vertical position that's rock solid. I own a 3-axis tripod head (like in previous page) but found it wobbly and not up to professional standards. I would still need to get another 3-axis head. For now, I'm using the Manfrotto 577 PL mount and 701HDV head on horizontal only shots. I am thinking of making a 3/8 vertical angle brackets, but that's for another day.
Two 3/8-16 taps for double the holding strength, and as twist lock. I figure if I am going to make a new hole, I might as well use the pre-drilled hole too.
For the life of me, I cannot find those 3/8 nylon spacers everyone else seems to have. I checked three Home Depots but they do not have them. I ended up using 3/8-3/4 bolts and using a washer and nut as the spacer. Ugly, but works.
Thanks to Zaza for the parts and helpful advice throughout the thread. Now, finishing up the legs with 2x2 maple oak.
Canada parts are on backorders and they wont have any until at least next week so i ordered from US. Should be here by friday.
Thanks a lot for sharing Zazacast!
PS : does any one remember or still have their shipping PDF around to tell me the weight of each packacges or total.
Heres the weight of the 2 packages there sending me (carriage and rails):
9.01 lbs
13.00 lbs
isnt that a bit too heavy for the slider (WS-16-60-1000) and carriage (WW-16-60-10) even considering packing ???
Thanks a lot for sharing Zazacast!
PS : does any one remember or still have their shipping PDF around to tell me the weight of each packacges or total.
Heres the weight of the 2 packages there sending me (carriage and rails):
9.01 lbs
13.00 lbs
isnt that a bit too heavy for the slider (WS-16-60-1000) and carriage (WW-16-60-10) even considering packing ???
My latest slider mod:
I have been using my slider on a tripod but really wanted to be able to set it on the ground for really low angle shots. I didn't want to just set the bare rail on the ground and risk damaging the carriage blocks so I began to think of attaching some "feet". Height adjustable "feet" would be nice but I mainly wanted something simple, light, and cheap. Some of the available pre-made "slider feet" looked nice but were quite expensive.
A second issue that I had with my slider was that there is a bubble level on my tripod head for the left/right balance but nothing for front/back. The carriage has much less "binding" when the rail is level so I have been carrying a pocket level with me in my camera bag.
While wandering around at the hardware store it struck me. Why not use the actual pocket levels as the "feet"!?!?!
So by taking two short sections of L angled aluminum and bolting them to the ends of the slider rail and then mounting the pocket levels at either end I now have solved my two problems with one simple, lightweight, and inexpensive solution!!!
L angle aluminum ~$10 @ HomeDepot
Pocket Levels ~$4 each times 2 @ Harbor Freight
1/4-20 2 inch Bolts ~$.18 each times 4 @ HomeDepot
The pocket levels themselves have aluminum rails along the top and bottom. The bottom rails were drilled and tapped to accept 1/4-20 bolts. The top rails have a built-in magnetic strip and were drilled with a larger diameter bit and left untapped. The bolts pass through the L-angled aluminum, through the pocket level, and are then screwed into the bottom rail of the pocket level. The bolts are the perfect length and only minimal sanding was needed along the bottom rail to keep them flush.
I have been using my slider on a tripod but really wanted to be able to set it on the ground for really low angle shots. I didn't want to just set the bare rail on the ground and risk damaging the carriage blocks so I began to think of attaching some "feet". Height adjustable "feet" would be nice but I mainly wanted something simple, light, and cheap. Some of the available pre-made "slider feet" looked nice but were quite expensive.
A second issue that I had with my slider was that there is a bubble level on my tripod head for the left/right balance but nothing for front/back. The carriage has much less "binding" when the rail is level so I have been carrying a pocket level with me in my camera bag.
While wandering around at the hardware store it struck me. Why not use the actual pocket levels as the "feet"!?!?!
So by taking two short sections of L angled aluminum and bolting them to the ends of the slider rail and then mounting the pocket levels at either end I now have solved my two problems with one simple, lightweight, and inexpensive solution!!!
L angle aluminum ~$10 @ HomeDepot
Pocket Levels ~$4 each times 2 @ Harbor Freight
1/4-20 2 inch Bolts ~$.18 each times 4 @ HomeDepot
The pocket levels themselves have aluminum rails along the top and bottom. The bottom rails were drilled and tapped to accept 1/4-20 bolts. The top rails have a built-in magnetic strip and were drilled with a larger diameter bit and left untapped. The bolts pass through the L-angled aluminum, through the pocket level, and are then screwed into the bottom rail of the pocket level. The bolts are the perfect length and only minimal sanding was needed along the bottom rail to keep them flush.
Chris Light
Veteran
a level. as feet. that's friggin awesome haha...seriously, that's a good idea.
ZazaCast
Major Contributor
NEW ZazaBasic Feet!
NEW ZazaBasic Feet!
People have asked for a cheaper end-stop/support solution…so here’s what I came up with….and it works great!
These will work great for any slider project out there.
The NEW ZazaBasic Feet
- Fits 40mm-80mm widths of rail when end mounting
- Fits ANY rail, from any manufacturer when top mounting
- Rubber knob acts as a bumper at each end of the slider
- PVC, non-slip adjustable feet for easy leveling
- Easily upgradable to the full ZazaSlider Feet
- Solid support for your DIY project
- Inexpensive ($100/pair)
For quick on & off, top mount the rail. All you have to do is drill a 25/64” hole ¾” from each end of the rail (or where ever you’d like)
and you’re ready to go. Again, keep in mind, these will work with ANY rail out there… or even the slider you already own and you want a little more flexibility.
Side mount to the rail for solid support. Place the rubber knob in the hole you made for the top mount and it again acts as a bumper.
This mount method gives you access to the center 3/8”-16 threaded hole and can be used for attaching two tripods or anything else you can think of.
Now… one thing that always seems to bug me is when you buy some new gear and after awhile, you find you need to upgrade, BUT there’s
no upgrade path and you have to spring for the new stuff…and bite the bullet on your previous investment.
So, the new ZazaBasic Feet can be upgraded to the ZazaSlider Feet buy purchasing a pair of the adjustable, sliding feet! (available soon)
On the same note…all future ZazaSlider Feet will come with the newly designed center bar. I will also offer a ‘knob kit’, so those who buy the
ZazaSlider Feet can use them in either configuration.
Everything will be up on www.zazaslider.com/products.html next week.
Happy Sliding!
:happy:
NEW ZazaBasic Feet!
People have asked for a cheaper end-stop/support solution…so here’s what I came up with….and it works great!
These will work great for any slider project out there.
The NEW ZazaBasic Feet
- Fits 40mm-80mm widths of rail when end mounting
- Fits ANY rail, from any manufacturer when top mounting
- Rubber knob acts as a bumper at each end of the slider
- PVC, non-slip adjustable feet for easy leveling
- Easily upgradable to the full ZazaSlider Feet
- Solid support for your DIY project
- Inexpensive ($100/pair)
For quick on & off, top mount the rail. All you have to do is drill a 25/64” hole ¾” from each end of the rail (or where ever you’d like)
and you’re ready to go. Again, keep in mind, these will work with ANY rail out there… or even the slider you already own and you want a little more flexibility.
Side mount to the rail for solid support. Place the rubber knob in the hole you made for the top mount and it again acts as a bumper.
This mount method gives you access to the center 3/8”-16 threaded hole and can be used for attaching two tripods or anything else you can think of.
Now… one thing that always seems to bug me is when you buy some new gear and after awhile, you find you need to upgrade, BUT there’s
no upgrade path and you have to spring for the new stuff…and bite the bullet on your previous investment.
So, the new ZazaBasic Feet can be upgraded to the ZazaSlider Feet buy purchasing a pair of the adjustable, sliding feet! (available soon)
On the same note…all future ZazaSlider Feet will come with the newly designed center bar. I will also offer a ‘knob kit’, so those who buy the
ZazaSlider Feet can use them in either configuration.
Everything will be up on www.zazaslider.com/products.html next week.
Happy Sliding!
:happy:
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