I'm looking for recommendations for a slider for the FS700 and 7Q. I'm thinking about Kessler Stealth, this has a 15 pound limit so it should be fine there. Wondering if the 3 ft can be supported with a single tripod? Obviously a Dana Dolly is a different kind of setup, what do people prefer? Anything else out there worth looking at?
Slider for FS700 + 7Q?
- Thread starter zen75
- Start date
I thought the new SliderPLUS PRO looked pretty interesting. Apparently can support over 20lbs.
For most of my stuff, I use the Dana Dolly. Takes up a little more space but it's so smooth, travels farther, and properly supports head+cam+recorder+Vmount+etc.
A bit on the spendy said, but I've had a hands on with the Trost slider, www.trostmotion.com, and the thing is rock solid. Incredibly well engineered. Their cuff+puck locking system for the feet is brilliant. Recently used one for a shoot and it's remarkable how fast you can pop the slider on/off the tripod. The system even allows you to mount a second slider onto the carriage of another, opening up doors for some pretty crazy shots. It lacks the motors and gizmos lots of other sliders have now, but it does its job well.
For most of my stuff, I use the Dana Dolly. Takes up a little more space but it's so smooth, travels farther, and properly supports head+cam+recorder+Vmount+etc.
A bit on the spendy said, but I've had a hands on with the Trost slider, www.trostmotion.com, and the thing is rock solid. Incredibly well engineered. Their cuff+puck locking system for the feet is brilliant. Recently used one for a shoot and it's remarkable how fast you can pop the slider on/off the tripod. The system even allows you to mount a second slider onto the carriage of another, opening up doors for some pretty crazy shots. It lacks the motors and gizmos lots of other sliders have now, but it does its job well.
sunnyjimfilms
Well-known member
I'd be interested to see what you make of it. I'm slightly confused as to how it mounts on tripod mind. Which size did you go for?
I will keep you posted on the matter. Ive used their sliders before (first version) thou it wasn't perfect and was made for lighter cameras it actually worked pretty good. You just need to tighten it down good on the tripod and adjust the legs so that they are fairly wide and angled with the legs. One thing you could notice from the old one was that it made a small bend from one side to the other but I guess it was to be expected since yeah it was made for lighter cameras.
I went for the large since it fits my rollerbag.
I went for the large since it fits my rollerbag.
paulcurtis
Veteran
For larger places i use an inline dolly, much like the Dana.
For smaller places i have a Konova K7, this is a standard style slider, it's the biggest they do in terms of size and weight and it's pretty robust. However i feel that the design of these sliders is mostly wrong. By the time you pop a head on the slider *and* a camera rig then the centre of gravity is way too high. I've been playing at modifying the plate on the K7 to allow some parts to be underslung, like the battery and additional weight to bring the centre down.
Having said that i have used the K7 a lot and successfully with a rigged 700 and O7Q. It has a crank handle and also motorised bits (not that i've tried those yet). Even if you don't use the crank having that weight there helps movement.
But if i was to do it all again i would look for something that had a wider rails, like the trost or the ditto one i see advertised. I think stability is one of the most overlooked aspects of these things, especially in our weight category.
cheers
Paul
For smaller places i have a Konova K7, this is a standard style slider, it's the biggest they do in terms of size and weight and it's pretty robust. However i feel that the design of these sliders is mostly wrong. By the time you pop a head on the slider *and* a camera rig then the centre of gravity is way too high. I've been playing at modifying the plate on the K7 to allow some parts to be underslung, like the battery and additional weight to bring the centre down.
Having said that i have used the K7 a lot and successfully with a rigged 700 and O7Q. It has a crank handle and also motorised bits (not that i've tried those yet). Even if you don't use the crank having that weight there helps movement.
But if i was to do it all again i would look for something that had a wider rails, like the trost or the ditto one i see advertised. I think stability is one of the most overlooked aspects of these things, especially in our weight category.
cheers
Paul
Obviously Dana dolly is the best, but they're huge and expensive.
For a smaller, portable dolly, I highly recommend the new Glidetrack carriages. They are excellent and slide without a hitch since they are wheel based. I got the cheaper "HD" carriage and it works so well. I already and an Igus 60 track, so it was cheaper since I just had to buy the carriage.
http://www.glidetrack.com
For a smaller, portable dolly, I highly recommend the new Glidetrack carriages. They are excellent and slide without a hitch since they are wheel based. I got the cheaper "HD" carriage and it works so well. I already and an Igus 60 track, so it was cheaper since I just had to buy the carriage.
http://www.glidetrack.com
Cineslider all the way!
Cineslider all the way!
I LOVE my Kessler cineslider 5', parallax and oracle controller with the various motors. It's SOOOOOO smooth compared to the other sliders I've used. I also own a Glidetrack (original HD) and that was so jerky I hardly ever used it.
The cineslider is great for heavier setups too - heres a couple of pics with FS700 and O7Q + rails and matte box on it
The cineslider is so well built and has the rails protected from bumps and knocks which can affect the smooth running.
I went with the motors and oracle controller as I can get repeatable and ultra-smooth moves with ramping. I found that doing moves by hand almost always results in a bit of jerkiness here and there or certainly a non-uniform rate of movement.
Yes it's a fair bit more expensive than some of the other solutions out there but I think it's worth it.
I'd highly recommend the Kessler kit.
Paul.
Cineslider all the way!
I LOVE my Kessler cineslider 5', parallax and oracle controller with the various motors. It's SOOOOOO smooth compared to the other sliders I've used. I also own a Glidetrack (original HD) and that was so jerky I hardly ever used it.
The cineslider is great for heavier setups too - heres a couple of pics with FS700 and O7Q + rails and matte box on it
The cineslider is so well built and has the rails protected from bumps and knocks which can affect the smooth running.
I went with the motors and oracle controller as I can get repeatable and ultra-smooth moves with ramping. I found that doing moves by hand almost always results in a bit of jerkiness here and there or certainly a non-uniform rate of movement.
Yes it's a fair bit more expensive than some of the other solutions out there but I think it's worth it.
I'd highly recommend the Kessler kit.
Paul.
I am buying in to this kickstarter program. Looks fantastic and covers a lot of needs.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/jj1/axis360-modular-motion-control-for-cameras
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/jj1/axis360-modular-motion-control-for-cameras
slipstrea808
Well-known member
Working from a rental house I have experience with numerous ones. Kessler ones are good on the low end. BUT the belt can be an issue as it isn't perfectly smooth. Though if you get the CineDrive (it is sitting right beside me) the belt is needed. But far from cheap. I'd avoid it for now.
Entry level to the higher end stuff is the Dana Dolly. Anything above that there is no point on really commenting as it is all not really overkill but it is just a bit better for usually exponentially better costs.
Good thing of the Dana Dolly is that it is only about a grand. VERY smooth. Just good skateboard bearings is what it has haha. But you can yous varying lengths of pipe. The pipe is not expensive. Get the thicker Schedule 80 pipe. It is a few dollars more but does not sag in the middle so it is VERY worth it. Get some rising roller or non roller stands for the ends. They will be ~$300 ea. You can use them for lots of other stuff. Do not cheap out on the stands. One day you might need to support an Optimo 24-290 or an Alura. It can handle it all. It even has a small bracket to resist sagging in the middle that you prop up with another stand.
By any far... I love that thing! It is VERY worth it. It wont go out of style and you can handle whatever you throw at it until you are getting in the BIG stuff.n It doesn't cost that much either. The ability to do a 7' slide is awesome. That big slider looks impressive to clients as well. It isn't the best for small spaces but it is stable. Whatever you do don't cheap out and shoot yourself in the foot. Don't "but twice". I see that happen too much. Good luck!
Entry level to the higher end stuff is the Dana Dolly. Anything above that there is no point on really commenting as it is all not really overkill but it is just a bit better for usually exponentially better costs.
Good thing of the Dana Dolly is that it is only about a grand. VERY smooth. Just good skateboard bearings is what it has haha. But you can yous varying lengths of pipe. The pipe is not expensive. Get the thicker Schedule 80 pipe. It is a few dollars more but does not sag in the middle so it is VERY worth it. Get some rising roller or non roller stands for the ends. They will be ~$300 ea. You can use them for lots of other stuff. Do not cheap out on the stands. One day you might need to support an Optimo 24-290 or an Alura. It can handle it all. It even has a small bracket to resist sagging in the middle that you prop up with another stand.
By any far... I love that thing! It is VERY worth it. It wont go out of style and you can handle whatever you throw at it until you are getting in the BIG stuff.n It doesn't cost that much either. The ability to do a 7' slide is awesome. That big slider looks impressive to clients as well. It isn't the best for small spaces but it is stable. Whatever you do don't cheap out and shoot yourself in the foot. Don't "but twice". I see that happen too much. Good luck!
Im rocking a Induro 314 a the moment
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/655210-REG/Induro_471_314_Carbon_8X_CT314_Tripod.html
And a Benro s6 video head on top of the slider.
cpreston
Veteran
I second Pgale's suggestion. I have the 3' cineslider and it can be supported on one tripod. Once you get the full set-up with the Parallax and motors, it opens up so many possibilities. The Dana Dolly is a smart piece of kit, but it is really a different beast. It has to be assembled and supported on both ends. The comparable Kessler product is the Shuttle Pod.
I've got the Stealth Slider from Kessler, standard length. Just to be safe i quickly attach two cheap, light monopods to the ends and extend them down to the ground when i use it on a tripod. (quicker than using two tripods, and it's still sturdy)
I recently got a more hefty tripod, and i still see a liiiiiitle bit of curving down when i slide the camera to the edges of the slider. Might be able to get away with setting it all on a single tripod, depending on how solid the tripod and the connection from the head to the camera is.
For me, i might still pull out the little mono pods for a bit of extra support. It's very close though. I see a tiny bit of bowing on the tripod alone.
I have this tripod.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/590171-REG/Manfrotto_545B_545B_Professional_Tripod_Legs.html
I recently got a more hefty tripod, and i still see a liiiiiitle bit of curving down when i slide the camera to the edges of the slider. Might be able to get away with setting it all on a single tripod, depending on how solid the tripod and the connection from the head to the camera is.
For me, i might still pull out the little mono pods for a bit of extra support. It's very close though. I see a tiny bit of bowing on the tripod alone.
I have this tripod.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/590171-REG/Manfrotto_545B_545B_Professional_Tripod_Legs.html
slipstrea808
Well-known member
If you go kessler use it with a heavier duty tripod legs and head. Use a bowl tripod and you can set it up at odd angles for good effect. Use sandbags for this of course. Make sure you get the wider legs if you are putting it on a table. You will want to avoid the wobbliness. Also don't use the silly hand crank. It is not smooth and gives you noticeable issues where the sliding motion isn't smooth. It speeds up and slows down. If you are using light stands to support the ends be careful. You can strip the 3/8" screw ends off of a light stand all to easy. I have a pile of them (read 10-15) that people have done that with. It also ruins the threads on the slider, too. Finally watch out that you do not hit the rails with anything. They dent easy. Those bumps are very noticeable in post.
If you pull all that off you will like the Kessler slider. Max size on it is hpx250, FS700, C300 range. Anything else can get "unwieldy" haha.
If you pull all that off you will like the Kessler slider. Max size on it is hpx250, FS700, C300 range. Anything else can get "unwieldy" haha.
I don't know what you experience is with the Kessler sliders or which one you're referring to but my cineslider and belt is super smooth. No issues what so ever.
I'd second that. I have the K pod and Hercules head too. Very sturdy although pretty chunky and quite heavy but it needs to be. I can run the cineslider anywhere from horizontal to vertical and the Elektradrive motors cope easily with an FS700 and lens. Plenty of torque. I removed the crank handle too and use the motor/oracle for every job, it's just so easy to get great, smooth results.