Slider length

If you can afford the extra size, then I say go 24". You can always use less of the longer one, but once you reach the end of the 14 you don't have any more to go. Just how I'd look at it.
 
It takes very little movement to get a nice effect. Being on your own, you don't want to carry any more than necessary. To help you decide, set up a scene and drag the camera across a table top on a towel and see what 14" and 24" offer you.
 
I hauled a 24” rhino slider for a day at a trade show/conference recently with a c100. Wasnt too bad. This was on my little Sachtler DV4 tripod. With a beefier tripod (FSB6 or something) would have been even better probably, but even with the setup I had the slider didn’t tilt from the weight when at the cam was at the ends. I would go as long as you can without having to support the ends.
 
Thanks, guys. As advised I'll try the cam on towel test and see how that goes. I have a feeling 24" may be the way to go if I want a 5-6 second shot?
 
Run the test and let us know what you think. I'd like to hear what you decide. It really depends on the lens and scene composition.
 
No matter which, be sure to subtract the camera mount length from your slider move length to figure your actual total move length.
 
I second the advice to get longer. May be harder to transport etc, but when you are there shooting, you have the length when you need it.
 
Never used or seen an Edelkrone in person. . .doesn't that design (where the slider moves as you slide to give you extra length) cause even more problems when the camera is at the end? Seems like it would sag without a really really beefy tripod head.
 
I have a 3ft motorized slider and a 13" Edelkrone clone (proaim spark) that can travel 18"... And the spark is the slider that I grab on the way out the door...the 3' slider takes a lot of effort to set up... The spark is light and convenient to use....so it gets used more often. And I have a mini 6" slider that works great with my smartphone...
 
It's best used with its legs on a flat base (table, ground, etc.) like any slider.

Using one tripod in the middle is going to produce issues with anything...you need those ends supported.

But with a small and light camera it's probably not as noticeable.
 
@NorBro: You can use the "Konova Tripod Stability Arm for Slider" to stabilize a longer slider on a single tripod...but it adds to the cost, complexity and time to setup your rig...and costs about $90us for a single arm (I use two for rock solid sliding).
 
I have devoted more brainwaves to camera movement than I care to admit; some have worked well, others have been scraped.

I would recommend that you get at least a 24" unit. Although a 24"+ unit really needs a support at each end. I use a tripod for one end and usually a light stand for the other. If I run other than level, I use a Mathews 5/8" male to female swivel on the light stand.

My own slider consists of a Kessler V1 slider with belt drive and I motorized it with a controller and gearmoter from Servocity. ServoCity is awesome for this stuff. This setup has proven to be extremely smooth, even for really slow movement, and has a unique feature; you can record the speed and duration of your desired movement. Once recorded, you can repeat the movement as needed. This allows you to concentrate on things other than the slider movement while shooting. Although it took some workshop time to do, it wasn't particularly difficult and cost a fraction of what the big fish charge for a good motorized unit. The controller has 3 unused channels, so I can record 3 more routines to memory or could add a motorized gimbal head and run all 4 channels simultaneously. See the attached photo. This setup works great except it takes some time to assemble and you have to pack some gear. It does have the benefit of being hands free. I love to use it, but it does collect some dust between uses.

I used to carry the slider all the time, but really wanted - needed camera movement with a quicker and easier setup, something I would use more. On a lark, I purchased a used Kessler Pocket Jib Traveler. This is a little different mindset than a slider and is a bit like operating a wet noodle, and don't plan on any larger cams. My handycam with a tiny video head reaches the rated weight capacity. But it is much more versatile than a slider (movement in any direction), sits on a tripod without extra support, is really quick to set up, relatively light and folds up small. For really perfect movement, it's the wrong tool. But for quick shots, you can improve your production values for sure. It can also give you some extra height or get that low shot when you need it. If you have bigger gear, there are plenty of more robust units out there, but they get bigger, more expensive and heavier really quick.

Grant
 

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I think for a one man band you really need something that doesnt need additional supports at each end. I mean, sure you COULD use one of those setups by yourself, but its quite cumbersome/unwieldy, and the time it takes to level and extend each support to the proper length every time you move may be too long depending on what youre shooting (e.g. groups of people who may move before you can shoot them).
 
Thanks, guys. So, in experience does a 24" slider need additional support on the ends? C100 would prob just have side and top handles +Canon 24-105 or 17-55...Josh, I know you said you got it to work but it was a little unsteady...
 
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scorsesefan said:
Thanks, guys. So, in experience does a 24" slider need additional support on the ends? C100 would prob just have side and top handles +Canon 24-105 or 17-55...Josh, I know you said you got it to work but it was a little unsteady...
Click to expand...

Depends. In this type of setup there are so many places that lack of rigidity sum into a wet noodle result. With a light field tripod + head + slider, I find the result pretty marginal, but useable in a pinch. And you may need to ballast your tripod depending on the load. Using a Kessler tripod with Hercules head works quite well, but that setup is nothing you want to pack unless you really have to. It's probably easier to pack a field tripod and light stand as has been discussed.
 
The Rhino I used was 24” and carbon fiber rails. With a c100/24-105 and bogen 500 series head on the slider I could see it sag a little at the ends but really couldnt see it in the footage.
 
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