GH2 DSLR Sliders

J

Jim Simon

Veteran
I have a shoot coming up for a new (and important) client next week and I'd like to up the production value a bit by using a slider on some select shots. But I'm only just starting to look into this, so I know very little.

What make/model slider do you guys like for your GH2? Anything I should stay away from?
 
Go with Kessler, get Philip bloom model. If you need higher weight capacity get the Kessler cineslider. Length is the next question. I find 3 ft ideal as compromise for getting the most flexible range yet not too tough to maneuver with. If you can, get the Hercules head since you can mount the slider to a 100mm tripod and makes the slider that much more flexible for angles levels etc. the kesslers are all ball bearrings and allow upgrades like motors for motion control and you won't find anything smoother out there that I know of for the price. Better yet find a used one but make sure it's smooth before you buy.
 
If you're looking for something budget I've just recently discovered the Konova... I haven't used one personally so maybe someone who has can vouch for it, but it looks like a good piece of kit for the price, with the ability to add on accessories like a motor or hand crank... seems like a good one for the odd shot here and there?
 
From my experieces with my Igus flavored one, and from what I have read, it won't be as much which one, as it will be how well you are at sliding with it. A constant speed of motion is a lot harder than it looks like to accomplish. I bought a 39" (1M) and my "throw" for lack of a better term is far shorter than that. Take your hand and move it as if you are sliding and try to keep it exactly the same speed for a length of 3'. Not so hard right ??? Now put something in front of your hand and try pushing it along a table. Once you start your slide, there is no stopping or turning back. It has to be smooth and at a constant rate of speed to make it look like the slides you have seen. If you get a slider before your gig, Great !!! I just wouldn't base my entire production around it, at least not the first time out of the box.

Good luck !!!
 
Yes absolutely correct. You'll want as much practice time as possible. The biggest difference between sliders is plastic to rail or ball bearing wheels on rail. Obviously ball bearing wheels are better and easier to get a good slide unless you have a motor. But they're more expensive. To get the best consistent slide adding a motor is key.
 
wbrock001 said:
The biggest difference between sliders is plastic to rail or ball bearing wheels on rail. Obviously ball bearing wheels are better and easier to get a good slide unless you have a motor. But they're more expensive. To get the best consistent slide adding a motor is key.
Click to expand...

Not true... actually a bit of resistance is a good thing. It's VERY hard to start (and stop) a smooth slide if the carriage moves too easily. The tough thing about using a crank or motor is that you can't do any cool compound moves like slide-pan-tilt. Sometimes, less IS more.

Everything you've ever wanted to know about sliders...including how to build your own!
http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?145701-DIY-IndieSlider

Good luck on your quest! :beer:
 
Sorry, I didn't discuss that...the Kessler PB model and cineslider have built in damping. But with a motor, no damping is necessary.

ZazaCast said:
Not true... actually a bit of resistance is a good thing. It's VERY hard to start (and stop) a smooth slide if the carriage moves too easily. The tough thing about using a crank or motor is that you can't do any cool compound moves like slide-pan-tilt. Sometimes, less IS more.

Everything you've ever wanted to know about sliders...including how to build your own!
http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?145701-DIY-IndieSlider

Good luck on your quest! :beer:
Click to expand...
 
Hey Zaza! Look at what you started! Amazing what's happened in a couple of years. Zaza is right. Stick to manual motion sliders and get good at it! Push or pull at the carriage and NOT on the camera and most of your moves will be smoother. if you use a slider with friction bearings, grease the rails lightly with Vaseline ( not silicone grease) . Finally, I'm getting a lot of mileage from my new 12" by adding a pan motion, which actually seems to smoothen the dolly. This person's been paying close attention to the DVXUser Slider Thread- obviously :)
http://www.digitaljuice.com/products/products.asp?pid=1900
 
I love my Konova K3, I started with an Opteka and I recommend staying away from those. The Opteka does work ok with a lot of practice, The Konova is as smooth as butter right out the box.
 
dannyjl said:
You didn't mention your budget
Click to expand...

Good point. Funds are tight so I'm not looking for anything high end. But the two factors I'm looking for are lightweight and speed of assembly. I need to be able to take the camera off the tripod, add the slider to the tripod, then add the camera to the slider in 30 seconds or less, with the reverse also true. That means any slider I choose will need to mount to the quickrelease plate of my tripod of choice, and accept the same quickrelease plate on top for the camera itself.
 
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One thing I'm reading about is the noise some sliders make. I need one that's dead silent as I do record audio with the built-in GH2 mics.

Any thoughts on that?
 
Here's another snag I thought of. How do I get the slider to accept the same quickrelease plate my tripod head uses, without actually buying a second tripod head for the slider?

Is such a thing even possible?
 
Just bought the Kessler Pocket Dolly and added to it the outriggers and a Manfrotto head that they offer. We used it two weeks in a row for two corporate films. I will be able to post a link to the first pretty soon but I can tell you now that we incorporated lots of slider shots and the Kessler rocked. The perspective that the DP had, having previously used dollys on bearings or wheels, is that the belt in the kessler gives the needed resistance to do steady movements and start/stops. I am sure the Bloom model is great but for that price, i have the outriggers, a case and a useable head.

FYI, whether centered on a dolly, balanced on a dolly and light stand or on the ground, it was easy peasy to grab great shots.
 
i built this out of necessity a few months ago and it ended up providing as good or better slide action than ANY slider ive used at any price.
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects...he-fixed-component-sub-200-camera-sl?ref=live

it failed on kickstarter partly because the carriage isnt locked onto the rails - which is a valid complaint. but if your uses call for quick and easy you CANT BEAT IT. watch the video. the motion is great. it's solid as heck and it will accept heads and quick release plates.

here is another clip of a "compound move" which can cause many typical (especially igus type) sliders to bind up and skip:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUGmkcpxcGI&list=UUU3awgmoTZc3tBiJv4qzz9Q&index=1&feature=plcp

people asked me if i was going to produce them even if the kickstarter project didnt fund. and i probably will if i get enough requests...
 
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