Got to Play with the Cinevate Hedron Slider Today

T

TheDingo

Veteran
I finally got to play with the Cinevate Hedron slider today at the Vistek Pro-Fusion Video Show in Toronto, and I think I've found my next slider. I think what impressed me most was how quiet and how solid this slider is.

This $800 slider weighs 5 lbs ( 2 foot track model ) yet is made to handle up to a 100 lb camera package. It's whisper quiet when in motion and has a $400 fly-wheel option that makes for very smooth starts and stops.

Cinvate also has motion control options for this slider that can be programmed via a custom iPad app.

Dennis Wood, the president of Cinevate, also mentioned that a parallax option is currently in development, and that you can special order track up to 12 feet in length directly from Cinevate.

 
I have been eyeing Danny Dodge's CineRails product.

http://www.cinerails.com/category-s/1822.htm

He funded this with Kickstarter.

I corresponded with him a while back and he indicated that after more than 1 year of fairly heavy use, the parts continue to pop in place with no uneven movement.

Cinerails at $349 is a pretty good price relative to $850 if it turns out you only need horizontal displacement.
 
I wonder what the relative usefullness is for a slider that goes horizontally and vertically?

Seems to me your cost goes way up if you need vertical displacement capability i.e. you might figure you need a motor drive.

When do you go away from sliders for vertical displacement and go to a crane/jib (the negative here being you probably need a lot more setup time? One argument against that is that I have seen representations that some cranes/jibs are relatively easy to set up.
 
kwkeirstead said:
Cinerails at $349 is a pretty good price relative to $850 if it turns out you only need horizontal displacement.
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Interesting product that looks like it might be extremely useful, but it's a dolly as opposed to a heavy-duty slider.

i.e. the slider is more compact, sets up in 30 seconds, and features silent precision movement ( at least this new Cinevate one does )
 
Michael Thames said:
This looks like a much better slider than the Cinevete...... I have one and it's an amazing piece of kit.
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It's cheaper than the Cinevate with the fly-wheel, and I like the idea of the rails being extendable.

I would have to play with one before I could comment on how it compares to the Cinevate slider. What impressed me most about the Cinevate slider was that it was close to dead-silent when the camera was moving, and how smooth and solid it felt. ( being able to handle a 100 lb camera package means it's a pretty robust design )
 
I really liked Cam Motion's design for their Radian wireless HDMI kit, so I'd definitely like to hear any first-hand feedback on their Shark Slider.
 
Yes, the extendable legs come in real handy, all in a small bag. It's relatively light weight. As far as strength goes, I don't know the specs on the Shark, but it seems to handle a decked out 5D3 just fine, haven't tried it with my C100 yet , but I will. It doesn't seem like weight is a problem however. I think the height and balance are more of an issue for any slider. The joints in the CF rods are absolutely seamless....... as far as any noise goes, I never notice any from the Shark.

I control everything with the flywheel, with just one finger, it's actually much smoother way to get a jerk free slide than even one with a hand crank. With the Cinevete I don't see how you could do that with their flywheel design. I shot one video (classical music) using the Shark for an hour and a half....... if I had to go back and forth with my hand on the camera for that long i would have needed therapy...... one finger on the flywheel was effortless.

I've rarely been so impressed with a product like this, everything in the video was accurate nothing was a surprise or let down after I received the Shark. I was lucky to get the last one in stock before the new shipment and the price increase.

 
Michael, thanks for your input. I was aware of the Shark but was hesitant because of the build-quality and rated capacity. I can see now that most people are very pleased with the build quality and performance of the Shark Slider, however, I've only ever seen (from you included) DSLR cameras mounted on it. My C100 rig is generally between 6 and 10 pounds, plus about a 4-5lb video head. Could anyone comment on or test the performance of the Shark with that kind of weight mounted on it? Particularly the flex in the middle of the rails when table mounted, and the flex on the ends when on a tripod.

The Cinevate looks wonderfully solid, but it would be nice to have something lighter that I can travel with and move around more quickly with. Thanks.
 
Nate Haustein said:
Michael, thanks for your input. I was aware of the Shark but was hesitant because of the build-quality and rated capacity. I can see now that most people are very pleased with the build quality and performance of the Shark Slider, however, I've only ever seen (from you included) DSLR cameras mounted on it. My C100 rig is generally between 6 and 10 pounds, plus about a 4-5lb video head. Could anyone comment on or test the performance of the Shark with that kind of weight mounted on it? Particularly the flex in the middle of the rails when table mounted, and the flex on the ends when on a tripod.

The Cinevate looks wonderfully solid, but it would be nice to have something lighter that I can travel with and move around more quickly with. Thanks.
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Nate, I've got some shoots coming up soon, I'll stick the C100 on it and report back to you.... but, from my experience with the 5D3 I really don't think the weight of the C100 will be an issue. As I said I think it's a height and balance issue not an extra few pounds. The rod connectors are very well made, precision tight threads. The only issue for me was I thought for sure I would feel a bump over the connectors, but to my complete surprise there was not even a hint of a bump.... silky smooth.

Once you have it set up right.... one finger on the flywheel is all you need to control it. I think if you actually move the camera with your hand you will risk it being a bit shaky compared to just turning the flywheel...... think of it like the glass "track pad" on a Macbook.
 
Ive used the shark slider and one thing i dislike about it is it has so much parts. Setting it up and cleaning it up can be a pain.

im currently using the syrp magic crapet. Solid, easy to replace parts and fast set up.
 
dcloud said:
Ive used the shark slider and one thing i dislike about it is it has so much parts. Setting it up and cleaning it up can be a pain.

im currently using the syrp magic crapet. Solid, easy to replace parts and fast set up.
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The "syrup" isn't really the same thing is it........ no flywheel? The flywheel makes all the difference!

I guess I don't know what you are talking about when you say the "Shark" isn't a fast set up. I have mine in the bag, I take it out put my head on it, attach the camera and I'm ready to go. If I want the longer rails it really isn't that much to attach them..... most of the time I use it without the rails but it's really nice to have them when you need them in one very light shoulder bag.

As far as cleaning it...... never had to do that. However, if I were using it out in the desert or jungle where there is a lot of dirt maybe I'd get a cheaper one for that.
 
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Spartacus said:
Fast, light, smooth, avordable: Cinevate DUZI.
But no flywheel so tricky to get smooth sloooow moves.
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For some strange reason Cinevate charges double for the one with the flywheel...... go figure! Perhaps they miss calculated, and didn't figure slider geniuses like you into the equation.
 
I like the modular lengths of the shark. The Duzi would be great but I don't think it's quite long enough for every situation. I also really like the flywheel on the Shark. However, with a video head like a 502HD or a 501HDV it looks like it might make contact with the flywheel that overhangs the track. Also, when using the shark center mounted is there significant flex at the ends?
 
Nate Haustein said:
I like the modular lengths of the shark. The Duzi would be great but I don't think it's quite long enough for every situation. I also really like the flywheel on the Shark. However, with a video head like a 502HD or a 501HDV it looks like it might make contact with the flywheel that overhangs the track. Also, when using the shark center mounted is there significant flex at the ends?
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I thought about that too. I re-read the specs on the Shark and looks like the load is 15 pounds without the extensions, and 11 pounds with the extensions. The C100 with everything is 4 lbs so the Shark should be able to handle a decked out C100 no problem. One easy solution is if you want to use the extensions with a very heavy camera then use a tripod for the center and a light stand on each end. I do mostly indoor shots, inside concert halls and churches for classical music, as well as product videos, I have time and the space to set up the Shark well in advance for the extensions. If you are out running and gunning spontaneously then forget about the extensions..... or just get a cheapo slider for that stuff.

The fingertip flywheel control really does make a difference in the control and feel. If you need the extra load capacity then maybe get the Cenevate, but you don't get the flywheel control, and the added extensions, plus the Cenevate is more expensive.
 
Oh I forgot to answer your question Nate. No I didn't feel any flex on the ends on the smaller set up. With the extensions I've never mounted it in the center on a tripod..... come to think of it you can't mount it in the center with the extensions. The tripod mounts about a third of the way and then you just use a light stand..... you still can put two light stands on each end but perhaps on the end near the tripod you don't really need it.
 
Nate Haustein said:
Michael, thanks for your input. I was aware of the Shark but was hesitant because of the build-quality and rated capacity. I can see now that most people are very pleased with the build quality and performance of the Shark Slider, however, I've only ever seen (from you included) DSLR cameras mounted on it. My C100 rig is generally between 6 and 10 pounds, plus about a 4-5lb video head. Could anyone comment on or test the performance of the Shark with that kind of weight mounted on it? Particularly the flex in the middle of the rails when table mounted, and the flex on the ends when on a tripod.

The Cinevate looks wonderfully solid, but it would be nice to have something lighter that I can travel with and move around more quickly with. Thanks.
Click to expand...
I use the Shark Slider with a fs700/odyssey 7q combo with a 503 head. It is extremely smooth.
 
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