Dollys/Sliders for the FS-100

Just curious, what problems were you getting with the Konova from the weight? I have an IGUS but I am having problems with it with the FS100 if I want to tilt the camera. Since the center of gravity shifts so much due to the length of the camera, the rotational twist on the carriage causes drag for me.
 
Currently using the PB Pocket Dolly full size for length instead of the traveler version.

Works great only gripe is it's less than mobile since I can't just use a tripod in the middle.
Its best used with tripod/stands on both corners. However if you are just using it on
terrain it's set and use.

Only notable issue was the first one I was sent had a bad wobble. I spoke with their
customer support and was sent a replacement shortly after. No problems now.
It holds the weight without problems. Obviously much of this comes down to how
you are supporting this product on each sides.

*On a side note looking at purchasing this:
http://www.digitaljuice.com/products/products.asp?pid=2012
To make setup much faster.
 
Regarding the konova, I had it set up on a ball head over the carriage and the camera's dimensions + uneven weight distribution made it far too unstable. Especially if I had the camera on rails with a follow focus and matte box. It just get's too front heavy and it tilts the slider forward even when secured to stands, it's just a little too unstable for my particular taste

I'm curious to hear that it works well for you on the pocket dolly. Are you using the camera bare bones or rigged up?
 
Michael,

In most cases I am using my camera toned down. In fact my Zacuto universal baseplate has a
manfrotto plate on it which allows my camera to strip away the follow focus and mattebox etc.
for a much lighter setup for the pocket dolly.

In the times that I have used the unit I have not done any rigorous focus pulls or moves that
required much more than the camera and old manfrotto head.

Currently like I linked to in the previous comment I will be looking to invest in that QR setup
and some C-Stands. In which I will use sandbags to fix wobbles from stand inadequacies.

I believe if I gear it up a bit my current setup (crap tripod and lightstand) wouldn't buckle.
However like I said already it's less than speedy for setup times currently. And on my last
shoot on a plantation across a couple miles...was heavy :)
 
Michael Solomon;2530349 [URL said:
http://www.longvalleyequip.com/dolly.php[/URL] and http://danadolly.com
Click to expand...

The Valley Looks to be the best plan

I thought long and hard - dolly or slider - first I made something similar to the dana

Hi hat and head just had too much leverage over narrow rails

The thing about floor track is that you can just drop your tripod on it

Solutions that involve taking your sticks apart just take too long on set .. IMO

ALso the more massive (heavy) the system - the more smooth it is

Of course floor track won't work in a ploughed field etc

My DIY version .. http://dslr4real.tv/index.php?option=com_zoo&task=item&item_id=101&Itemid=1

I have one advantage in that I own a van so can have a 2.5m track with no assembly..

Best

SMM
 
I recently purchased the Dana dolly directly from the manufacturer in Arizona. It's really a fantastic product and with the full rental kit, everything fits nicely into the Pelican case. The stands are sold separately, not necessary, but I needed them vs using tables or anything else around the house. It's super smooth and according to Mike, he's had a 100lb rig in 120 degree heat on the 8 ft bars for 5 hours before any sag set in. The center support should ellevaite that anyway. I'm using an AF100, probably under 50lbs total and have had no issues.
 
Floor track is great for long runs. A ladder dolly will get you 12 or so feet in a field. There are some for all budgets and I have been using a small Konova that fits in my tripod bag for short moves. Really like the Konova forth size and the money. My friend uses the Cinevate and likes it because it breaks down to rods and rigging that stows nicely for travel. These all have noise issues and some are better than others so remember the sound department when you choose.
 
Floor track will always need the extra time to be leveled etc, also can't do things that a slider could (go through a window, span a creek, etc.)

For the dana dolly if you use a bowl mount tripod just unscrew the bowl and move it over to the danadolly

I'm still hemming and hawing between the trolly and slider design =p

morgan_moore said:
The Valley Looks to be the best plan

I thought long and hard - dolly or slider - first I made something similar to the dana

Hi hat and head just had too much leverage over narrow rails

The thing about floor track is that you can just drop your tripod on it

Solutions that involve taking your sticks apart just take too long on set .. IMO

ALso the more massive (heavy) the system - the more smooth it is

Of course floor track won't work in a ploughed field etc

My DIY version .. http://dslr4real.tv/index.php?option=com_zoo&task=item&item_id=101&Itemid=1

I have one advantage in that I own a van so can have a 2.5m track with no assembly..

Best

SMM
Click to expand...
 
morgan_moore said:
The Valley Looks to be the best plan

I thought long and hard - dolly or slider - first I made something similar to the dana

Hi hat and head just had too much leverage over narrow rails

The thing about floor track is that you can just drop your tripod on it

Solutions that involve taking your sticks apart just take too long on set .. IMO

ALso the more massive (heavy) the system - the more smooth it is

Of course floor track won't work in a ploughed field etc

My DIY version .. http://dslr4real.tv/index.php?option=com_zoo&task=item&item_id=101&Itemid=1

I have one advantage in that I own a van so can have a 2.5m track with no assembly..

Best

SMM
Click to expand...

Whoa, love the slider shots in your link!
 
Want to build me one of those arms that mounts to the high hat? =p seems like a nifty addition and I haven't seen anything like it before

which high hat is that btw?
 
Michael Solomon said:
Floor track will always need the extra time to be leveled etc, also can't do things that a slider could (go through a window, span a creek, etc.)

For the dana dolly if you use a bowl mount tripod just unscrew the bowl and move it over to the danadolly

I'm still hemming and hawing between the trolly and slider design =p
Click to expand...

Please remember I built and abandoned a Dana style before building my floor version - maybe read something into that!

Leveling - that what I meant when I said my dolly could not be used in a ploughed field - Mine is mainly a tool to add interest to corporate interviews - generally flat-ish floor - of course I have the option to build some sort of support for the track in the future

'Just unscrew the bowl' - yep that takes a long time IMO

---

Really the Dana looks like a good tool and a Floor based system is a good tool too - they have different attributes and you must choose which system fits your shooting requirements .. or get both !

My main criteria is that I need to operate the (fully built) camera while it is on the system - I mean pull focus, pan tilt - to me a dolly move you generally need to do at least one of these things - and that requires a high level of rigidity that comes from the mass and track width of a floor based system

A little slider for a 5d like a glide track is a different proposition - not a bad one just different

----

MS

Its a miller high hat - actually the only cheap thing miller make!

---
Rick

Thanks - I try

S
 
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I use the indian branded ProAim Slider, and although people may just pass it off because of where it is made and how cheap it is, I still bought it and love it, I run it on 1 tripod with my FS100 and get great results from it (ill post some up soon), I am going to buy a second (cheap) tripod to help stable it off even more. I also intend on buying either the CineSlider from Kessler or a really long dolly.
 
I'm confused, is the digital juice slider IGUS or roller bearing?

Another reason I'm putting off the traditional floor dolly design is I keep thinking to low budget shoots where I don't have an AC/Grip accessible. There's no way really for me to push the dolly and operate the camera at the same time like I could with a slider/rail based system.

My logic is this - I would personally buy a slider, something I know I can use alot. Then on shoots where I'd be using an actual floor dolly, that usually means there's a budget to rent a real dolly and the support crew necessary to effectively operate it. When it comes down to it, I think that's the key factor. These floor dollys require the correct crew to use them effectively.


Postmaster said:
+1 for the DigitalJuice slider, I wonder why there is not more talking about it.
It´s very well made and the price is fine, for what it is.

http://www.digitaljuice.com/djtv/detail.aspx?sid=608

Frank
Click to expand...
 
Michael Solomon said:
Another reason I'm putting off the traditional floor dolly design is I keep thinking to low budget shoots where I don't have an AC/Grip accessible.
Click to expand...

I think we are going to have to agree to disagree - but levelling up a slider between two sets of sticks seems more of a two person job than chucking some track on the floor

As for operating - its an art - doubtless less - or at least shared - with a ride on dolly

SamMM
 
Really it depends so much on the shots you want to do and the build of the camera

No way something like the DJ would carry my FS plus monitor plus Vlock rig

Personally I thing de-building the camera - is such a PITA in terms of speed of operation

Of course if you don't have a built up camera - you don't have to de-build it

I (personally) would stick to track or consider a slider with a Bcam onboard a dslr or NEX, whatever andy not try any fancy shots like pulling focus, using a long, or panning

I find to operate really well I need my 3kg miller arrow head - I have a 501 too but it is just mudge and that just adds a big load to the system

--

When I bought a tripod I bought online .. and regret it.. it may be worth you going to a store, planning a 5 shot sequence , some statics, some slides, and seeing which is nicer to shoot with, dolly or slider - do it against the clock, alone

S
 
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