IndieSnap! Flex Track System Review (Picture and Footage)

H

Huy Vu

Veteran
Indie-Snap Flex-Track Dolly Review​
I’ve been in the market for a dolly for a while now, and while there are quite a few very good models out there from indie-filmmakers none of them does everything that I want at a price that I can afford. For a budget of $500 or less, I wanted something that can handle both straight and curve tracks, WITH tracks included. That’s why I was very excited to hear about the new Flex-track system from Indienap!. For $520 it’s supposed to be able to run not only curved and straight track, but ANY configuration that you can come up with thanks to the rubber track system. After spending some time with it in preparation for an upcoming project, I’m back to give you guys the rundown on my experiences with the system.
Before I continue, I would just like to give a shout-out to Todd Poirier from Indiesnap! This guy really cares about his customer. When there was a few shipping issues with UPS, Todd was right on top of it and kept in touch with me constantly via email. He always responded quickly to my questions and is genuinely committed to make sure I’m satisfied with the product. When this guy says “Satisfaction Guaranteed,” he really means it. I would buy again from him any time.
What’s Included
The Flex-track consists of a tripod dolly that has been modified with four wheels on each leg (12 totals) and 30 ft (two 15 ft runs) of rubber tracks. The tripod dolly looks very sleek with black wheels and black finished; this thing does not look like a DIY project at all, which is a big plus. The rubber track is about an inch in diameter, is very thick and firm so the wheels will not depress it when going over. It’s very flexible and can easily be twisted into any shape you want, but tough enough so that it’ll hold that shape. One problem I’ve found though is that after coiling the track for storage, the ends tend to bends, which means a problem for when you want to set up a straight track pattern. Todd recommends taping the end of the track down when doing straight run. U channels are included that go under the track to keep it perfectly straight, but I’ve found that the U channels are rather shallow, and it’s easy for the rubber track to pop out, especially if the ends are bend. Some tape on set would definitely help this situation.
Operation
I initially had a little trouble putting the tripod on to the tripod dolly, as you have to manually align the 3 clamps that hold the tripod leg in place. It’s a rather tricky process at first and takes a few minutes but after I got the tripod on I was able to get it on and off the dolly fairly quickly. Laying the tracks down may also take you a few minutes as you have to roll the dolly over it a few times and make minor adjustments to the track alignment so that the wheels will not pop off the track. As I got better at it, I was able to do this faster as well.
When I got everything ready and start shooting indoor test footages, my first few thoughts were “Whoa!” Within 10 minutes I was able to get some good (not quite perfect, but definitely usable footage). With any tool, it takes practice to get good results, and the Flex-Track is no different. The challenge with this type of one-operator dolly is that you have to both push the dolly and control the camera at the same time. A lot of the stumbles at first came from the dolly bumping into my foot as I move and jerky panning. With the A1, I found that the best way is to stand inside the two tracks and adjust the LCD so that I can see from the side of the camera. The wheels themselves roll smooth as silk over the rubber track with no noticeable bumps (assuming track is correctly configured), and it’s just a pleasure to use.
So the Flex-Track performs superbly indoor with a fairly smooth surface (my apartment’s carpet), but how does it fare outside? As it turns out, almost as good. I did testing on a variety of surfaces, from smooth stones to concrete tiles, and the wheels continue to move smoothly over the track (see sample footage). Surfaces that are rocky or really bumpy will not accommodate the Flex-Track, and neither will grassy area. But I think for most outdoor use it’s good, and if you really need it in a bumpy place, the included U-channels have holes pre-drilled into them so you can screw it on to a wooden board as a shim.
The main advantage of the system, of course, is that it’s incredibly portable. Everything (tracks, dolly etc.) fit into a nice carrying case (included) and you can carry it around easily. Still not a light setup, but certainly much easier to lug around than long sets of tracks and dolly platforms. And it’ll accommodate smaller spaces that a larger dolly might not be able to fit. And with 15 ft of track to start with, you’re good to go for most situations. I would like to see Todd comes up with a system to extend the length of the track though should we need it. Right now there’s a 15 ft. and 25 ft. options available but I would like to be able to purchase new track and attach them to my current ones without sacrificing the flexibility of the system.

Overall Impression
I’ve never realized how much a dolly can do in term of opening up new creative possibilities. With the Flex-Track I was able to get some very dynamic shots that greatly enhanced the production values of the film. The system certainly has some flaws, mainly difficult to set up straight runs and micromanagement of track alignments, but at this price, it’s simply a great value for any filmmakers who are looking to stage more unique shots. In fact, after seeing some of the shots that the Flex-Track can do, I’m going to incorporate these moves into my film and start planning more organic blockings than I thought was possible.
Another important factor for me is the level of customer service. We’re all afraid of dropping money on a bum product that doesn’t do what we want and getting stuck with it. Todd stands firmly behind all of his products and he always provides excellent service and support if I need it. Like you, I don’t have a lot of money to spend on equipment and I’m always looking for the best bang for the buck. I believed I’ve found one in the Flex-Track system. I don’t work for Indiesnap! nor am I being paid to write this review. I simply want to share my experience with my fellow filmmakers to hopefully help you guys make an informed decision.



Pictures
Dolly Setup

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Flex Track

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Wheels

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Tripod Dolly
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Clamp
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U-Channel
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Bag
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Footage
DISCLAIMER: I shot these footages after spending less than a day with the Flex-Track. Any mistakes that are evident are my poor dollying skill (is that even a word?) and not the fault of the dolly itself. With practice I believe the system is capable of producing much better footages than this.



http://youngsterproduction.com/videos/Dolly%20Test.mov

UPDATE: After using this dolly on my short film The Girl from Yesterday, I'm absolutely confident that it can produce amazing results with some practice. The trailer for the film has quite a few dolly shots using the Flex Track, you can either see it on Youtube or check out a 720p version in this thread

http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?t=114036
 
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Very thorough review. I'm liking the footage as well. It seems slightly (most people probably wouldn't care) jerky. Is that because of your operation or something in the rubber track? Out of curiosity, what kind of project were you using this on?
 
Flex track review

Flex track review

jstunzi said:
It seems slightly (most people probably wouldn't care) jerky.
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With proper setup you can get great results.

I also have this kit. Jade8473 is right. I believe you would be satisfied with the results of this very reasonably priced flex track system. Just remember like anything else its in how you use it. I have played around with mine and there is a way you can positon the tracks to prevent any jerking. My only beef is the delivery method that Todd uses to be honest. I too had a major delay in my shipment. My initial order was for the hard set Curve Track System, but it got lost in transit. I was told that it was returned to sender in the end so he sent me the upgraded curve track system instead. I did have to reschedule a shoot because of this. The method in which he shipped the initial curved tracks were through a Canadian delivery company that does not issue a tracking # to the client. If you order the system definitely demand Fed Ex, or UPS only. Other than the horible delivery time I love his products and believe more of us Users can benefit from his low priced semi pro gear.

I am currently awaiting my pocket dolly system now.

Hey Jade8473,

I found a wonderful way to transport the flex tracks with SUPPORTS (The supports are alittle long which is good, but fit alittle too snug in the travel bag Todd supplies). I just brought a hard cased golf bag. It was recommmended to me from a fellow DVXUser. It works great for tripods and any streight metal gear.
 
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jstunzi said:
Very thorough review. I'm liking the footage as well. It seems slightly (most people probably wouldn't care) jerky. Is that because of your operation or something in the rubber track? Out of curiosity, what kind of project were you using this on?
Click to expand...

The jerky parts were because of poor operation, definitely not anything on the dolly part. It's pretty difficult to push it smoothly and pan the camera at the same time to keep your subject in frame, something that you'll defintely have to put some practice time in. Another part of it is that I'm really pressed for space in my apartment. If you look at the first shot in the footage, you can see the amount of space that I have to work with. The dolly and track setup pretty much fills up the left side of the room, leaving no space for me to operate it. The last shot where I went around the table was the jerkiest, and that's the reason why.

I'm planning to shoot a romantic comedy starting next week. Pretty much all the stuff in the footage has absolutely nothing to do with the story except that they're shots that I was hoping to be able to do. Which is why it's so cool when I realized "Hey, it works!" and it looks exactly like what I've imagined.
 
DVX100Shooter said:
How much does this run and where can you order it from? Can you use any tripod with the dolly? I have a Cartoni.
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The track is 15ft long (there are 2 15 ft segments for a total of 30ft). indiesnap.com is selling them. Any tripod can go on that dolly.
 
i got this dolly system around the same time as jade. i have a question for you guys that have it. is there anything we can use to get longer tracks???? seems like Lowes or home depot should have something right???

it works good but i really wish i woulda bought the longer track. my cheap a$$, lol.

jade that footage does seem a little jerky for some reason. i was able to get some smoother shots when i tested it out. where you using the metal things that came with the tracks?
 
FilmBoy77 said:
jade that footage does seem a little jerky for some reason. i was able to get some smoother shots when i tested it out. where you using the metal things that came with the tracks?
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It's not the track, it's the panning. If you'll notice all the jerkiness occurs when the camera pan to keep the subject in frame. The dolly itself glides over the track very smoothly but the challenge is to pan the tripod while pushing the dolly at the same time. It's not the dolly or the tripod's fault; I have a fairly decent head (the 516) and I still couldn't do it. Give this a try and you'll see what I mean. It's very difficult without a dedicated operator. I've pretty much stopped trying to do this and just concentrate on setting up the dolly so that the natural shape of the track does the move I need.

The U-channels are in my opinion useless. They're too shallow and the tracks keep popping out. It takes too long to set up as well. If I need a straight run I simply set the track to a straight configuration, and this works pretty well, as you'll see once the post the new footage up.
 
Guys never waste your money on the one Jad874 got see the inside of the flex track that comes with that is empty so it means if u put pressure on it it can bend and then it will not be good to use but the one that I bought is SOLD Rubber made for the track dolly and the inside is not empty it is sold rubber but very flexable and I seen that he sell the flex track by itself too.
 
mullah said:
Guys never waste your money on the one Jad874 got see the inside of the flex track that comes with that is empty so it means if u put pressure on it it can bend and then it will not be good to use but the one that I bought is SOLD Rubber made for the track dolly and the inside is not empty it is sold rubber but very flexable and I seen that he sell the flex track by itself too.
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With all due respect mullah, the Flex Track system is as solid as they come. I put nearly 30lbs of equipment on top of it, including sand bags and the track never depresses and performed like a champ over all the terrain that I used it for. I don't have any experience with the system you recommend so I won't comment on it. I will be putting an even heavier rig on the Flex Track for my next film, with a full rod system, 35mm adapter, mattebox etc. and I have no doubt whatsoever that the system will work well. It is certainly not "junk." If you had a bad system, simply contact Todd at Indie Snap and he'll make it right.

All the dolly shots in my film The Girl from Yesterday was shot using the Flex Track. I think they speak for themselves. You can see the film here. There are also plenty of dolly examples in the film trailer, available both on Youtube and in 720p so you can see for yourself.

http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?t=114036

I just want to emphasize, AGAIN, that I do not work for Indie Snap nor am I getting paid in anyway to promote the product. Todd treated me very well as a customer and he sells a good product at a reasonable price. I'm simply trying to offer a balance view point based on my experience with the system.
 
i have a buddy who used it for a film.. he said it was great... ill take his word for it after seeing the results in his feature.
 
Huy Vu wrote:
"Before I continue, I would just like to give a shout-out to Todd Poirier from Indiesnap! This guy really cares about his customer. When there was a few shipping issues with UPS, Todd was right on top of it and kept in touch with me constantly via email. He always responded quickly to my questions and is genuinely committed to make sure I’m satisfied with the product. When this guy says “Satisfaction Guaranteed,” he really means it. I would buy again from him any time".

Well, I would NEVER buy from this guy again. Order my dolly six month ago but have not seen any product or my money sins. Have email him many times and he autoreply with a "I will take care of this as soon as possible". He just doesn't care. This is a really nice guy...
 
how hard is it to set up the track, as the dolly itself doesnt have an articulating arm, it would seem to me that setting up the track at the proper distance would take a while?
 
Jason Miller said:
how hard is it to set up the track, as the dolly itself doesnt have an articulating arm, it would seem to me that setting up the track at the proper distance would take a while?
Click to expand...

Not really. It just takes a bit of practice. Simply set the track down, roll the dolly a few times to make sure that it doesn't derail, mount the tripod and it'll work. Takes about a minute each time.
 
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