How long should a slider / glider track be?

D

Deer Film

Well-known member
Hi. I would like to know how long a useful slider track should be? I was watching a sports show yesterday, and they were using some sort of slider to move their camera. It did not look to be a long track, and they were able to give the video a nice effect of panning. I am guessing it was around 3 foot? That would be easier to move around then a 8 footer. The sports show was fast paced and each clip was around 3 seconds each.

What length of track is more useful for you?
Thanks
 
depends on the shot, but id imagine anything less than 3 feet would have limited use outside of product beauty shots. anything more than 4 to 6 may be better and more practically served by a standard dolly...
 
Yea, it really depends on your needs. If you wanna be able to move fast and get simple shots in, then around 3 feet is optimal. Any longer, and you need to start looking into track and dolly type devices.
A 3 foot slider, is about the size of ski poles or walking sticks. You can strap it to your bag without it hitting the ground or scraping the ceiling.
You can swing you arm that distance, comfortably gliding your camera across.
 
I carry 2 rails... one 1000mm(~39" - 3 feet of slide) and the other 700mm(~27" - 2 feet of slide)... and use the one I need. If I had to choose one...it would be the 3-footer.
With the feet I developed, the smaller rail can pop off the tripod and become a shouldermount or low-angle slider... comes in handy on some shoots.
 
I have 3 feet and I think it's the perfect length. Great for travel and for shooting events like wedding. Any longer and it could tip over my tripod.
 
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