IndiSlider - Durability and Usefulness?

A

armadillo

Well-known member
Hi, everyone. I was just soliciting opinions and experience with the IndiSlider, as I was thinking about getting the 36" version.

Has anyone had issues with durability or maintenance? Have they gotten a grain of sand in there that ruined the whole thing? Or is it a warhorse?

Also, have people purchased it to find that it became obsolete in their kit a few months down the road? Or did they buy it 6 years ago and still whip it out regularly?

And also, with regards to their "fluid tripod head", does it stack up to a true fluid head like the Bogens, or is it some quasi-fluid version that is somewhere between a real fluid head and a Wal Mart head?

Thanks
 
Indisliderpro

Indisliderpro

The slider is pretty cool. I purchased one about two weeks ago and have used it on two commercial promotion shoots with a Panasonic SDX900. The set up time is so much faster than traditional track and dolly and its pretty darn smooth. I was panning and sliding at the same time with only about ten minutes of practice. This camera is a full size DVCPro and it weighs 19 pounds. I had to put two light stands on each end of the slider to keep it on the ball head mount. The tripod had no problem it was the 100 mm bowl that couldn't handle the heavy load at the end of the slider. I would probably still use the extra stands with a smaller camera for piece of mind and with this setup it was rock solid. I have two more shoots this week and the slider will be a big part of them. For the price its amazing. I've used track and dolly and love the effect but hate the setup. This is a great alternative. As for the build quality its a pretty simple device. It's not to heavy around 17 pounds and fits in a Miller softside case. All in all I'm happy with it.
Here is what the setup looked like on one shoot last week. Hope this info helps you.
medium.jpg
 
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Erik Naso said:
The slider is pretty cool. I purchased one about two weeks ago and have used it on two commercial promotion shoots with a Panasonic SDX900. The set up time is so much faster than traditional track and dolly and its pretty darn smooth. I was panning and sliding at the same time with only about ten minutes of practice. This camera is a full size DVCPro and it weighs 19 pounds. I had to put two light stands on each end of the slider to keep it on the ball head mount. The tripod had no problem it was the 100 mm bowl that couldn't handle the heavy load at the end of the slider. I would probably still use the extra stands with a smaller camera for piece of mind and with this setup it was rock solid. I have two more shoots this week and the slider will be a big part of them. For the price its amazing. I've used track and dolly and love the effect but hate the setup. This is a great alternative. As for the build quality its a pretty simple device. It's not to heavy around 17 pounds and fits in a Miller softside case. All in all I'm happy with it.
Here is what the setup looked like on one shoot last week. Hope this info helps you.
100151853.AIc1mTos.IndieSliderPro_DVCPRO50.jpg
Click to expand...

Thanks for the reply. That's good to hear. I couldn't open the picture link, though.
 
I picked up a 36" indiSLider Pro and since Tim lives not to far away, he was nice enough to drop it off at my house.
We spent about ten minutes going over everything and about two hours shooting the breeze about everything else under the sun. But that's Tim. :)

Anyway, Tim said maintenance is pretty simple. Just wipe the rails down with whatever you use to clean your camera lenses.
The indiSlider is a dry piece of gear so you don't need to oil it or anything like that.

Like any piece of gear, the more you use it, the better you get. But it was silky smooth when we had it set up.

Tim suggests hanging a sandbag or two below the indiSlider especially with a heavier camera on the 36" to prevent the tripod from tipping.

Tim brought along the fluid head as well for me to see. It is a fluid head but just a basic model, certainly not like a Cartoni or anything like that.
But the purpose of the indiSlider is to slide. So, if you want to do a lot of panning and tilting, while the head will work fine I'm sure, you might want to use something else.
I have a 503 on my indiSlider that worked just fine.

I can't wait to get out and start using it.
 
There was a thread not too long ago about this thing. While it seems like a great product, I think the balance is the biggest problem. n8ture mentions sandbags... Erik shows his setup using light stands. I think it's a great piece! However, I've seen some great setups using PVC dollies as well.

Personally, I'd go for something like the CamTram system... but that's because I'm more versatility over function. It's definitely not the cheapest option.

If you want to take the plunge. The indiSlider should do the trick if you want to take the time to do all the support options. Just don't forget your other indie options like those inexpensive PVC dollies.
 
I have an IndiSlider and the part where you screw the tripod onto it stripped, so it no longer screws in. But! The device worked wonderfully for an entire feature film shoot, and a couple shorts as well.
 
Thanks for the input everyone.

Since most of the footage I see online has one indislider shot cross-dissolving into another while still in motion, I was wondering if anyone had any opinions or experience with bringing the indislider to a smooth stop on a dolly shot.

Also, with the 36" track, is it actually 36" of motion or is it a smaller amount?
 
Well, thanks for all the information. I think it would be a very practical, useful and convenient accessory for my purposes... If it didn't require extra stands at both ends of the slider or a ton of sandbags and an engineering degree. If I could just set my tripod up and have that be that, I'd be all over this...
 
Tm set up my 36" IndiSlider on my driveway with my HVX200. I could slide it all the way from end to end with no sag and no sandbags.

The sandbags are for security. If you have a big camera off axis it could make the tripod unstable. If you have a small camera it's not so much an issue. It's just a matter of insurance if you will.

Same thing for the stands. A heavy camera will put strain your head to the max because it's so far off center of the head.

Again, if you have a lighter camera, it's not so much a big deal.

Tim and I were moving the HVX all over the slider with no tipping and not sagging.
I'd use the sandbags in the field for my piece of mind is all.

You can mount the camera sideways on the slider to push in without a problem.
 
n8ture said:
Tm set up my 36" IndiSlider on my driveway with my HVX200. I could slide it all the way from end to end with no sag and no sandbags.

The sandbags are for security. If you have a big camera off axis it could make the tripod unstable. If you have a small camera it's not so much an issue. It's just a matter of insurance if you will.

Same thing for the stands. A heavy camera will put strain your head to the max because it's so far off center of the head.

Again, if you have a lighter camera, it's not so much a big deal.

Tim and I were moving the HVX all over the slider with no tipping and not sagging.
I'd use the sandbags in the field for my piece of mind is all.

You can mount the camera sideways on the slider to push in without a problem.
Click to expand...

N8ture,

Mind if I ask how the Indislider has treated you for things like slow pushes that come to a gradual stop, with the scene continuing? I really haven't been able to find much Indislider footage where the camera move comes to an end.
 
I believe with any new tool you need practice to make it work right. You can’t expect the slider to work perfect for you. You need to perfect it. As for pushes and pans it’s possible to do but you have to practice the moves plus a good head is a must. I used the stands because I was using a 19 pound broadcast DVCpro camera. For the price it’s a bargain for what it can do.
 
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