Getting a Slider

[Tom Lowe]

Hehe. Bobsled. That looks good. Got any more pics of that, Bob? I'd like to see how it's supported, etc.

[Bob Franco]

Hey Tom,

Here's a pic of a setup I did at the beach. I'm using two inexpensive Bogen tripods. They look a little on the light side but as I said, I used those tripods for years with a twenty pound plus BetaCam and they also easily support a RED. You can use bigger tripods with 100mm half balls for easy leveling that will support more weight. The advantage of the small Bogen tripods is that they have an adjustable center post for fine tuning the rails to get them level.
Here's a video of the BobSled in action.
http://web.mac.com/bob8851/Camhandle/Mark_II_rail.html
Eight foot length, all move done by hand with some 60fps shots. The system is very stable. I've made about 10 different versions to arrive at this one. RED and 5D footage coming soon!

[Rich Schaefer]

Some of you guys are heading towards a ladder-cam in your designs. Good job BTW!

[Kim Frank]

First time I heard about sliders in this post... So thank you.
Does anyone have experience setting a slider up in a car int. Shoot?
Must look beautiful to "dolly" from the front to the back or from side to side.
Would that be possible?

[Bob Franco]

With the BobSled you don't have to use tripods. You can place the rails on the ground or any solid support at each end. With windows rolled down and a short enough camera, you can dolly right through a car from one side to the other.

[Von Thomas]

I'm not sure if this has been mentioned, but the is an awesome slider/dolly rig.

http://www.cineped.com/

I'm shooting a product shot for them on Tuesday in a studio near Fairfax and Beverly. If anyone wants to swing by, and look in, I'll be putting the rig through it's paces and photographing it. I believe it will be outfitted with an O'Connor head and RED.

PM or call if you want to check it out.

[Jarred Land]

Hey Tom,

Here's a pic of a setup I did ....

that is awesome Bob.. i love seeing stuff like your rig, and seeing it works so well in action.. Love the skateboard wheels.. there is something about the feel of the urethane rolling that just feels better to me than little bearings.... i'll use them any chance i can get :

[Evin Grant]

I used the 8 Ball Slider today on shoot. It's fantastic! quieter than all the other sliders I've used except the Silent Cat, which it pretty well matches. The fluid drag setting also works really well for those slow moves, it has very little stiction.


Here's a little iPhone video...
http://www.evingrant.com/flicks/8BallV2.mov

[Michael Lindsay]

Hi Evin

How does the 'fluid drag' drag work on the 8-ball?

thanks

Michael L

[christopher witzke]

that is awesome Bob.. i love seeing stuff like your rig, and seeing it works so well in action.. Love the skateboard wheels.. there is something about the feel of the urethane rolling that just feels better to me than little bearings.... i'll use them any chance i can get :

My god Jerred... That 2nd slider looks like it was designed by Harley Earl.... Very sexy!

y problem with sliders has become that I almost always have to use one now... I'm spoiled by the movement. Not big, quick slides... but very slight slides. Just enough to convey that 3D feel of the room, set, or product/talent.

I would love to see Gearnex produce one!

Great thread guys!