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Best SILENT Camera slider for sound shooting with RED

Richard Foster

Richard Foster

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For a feature I will be shooting all on practical locations I really like the idea of a camera slider with about 4 ft of track for ease and speed of set-up and small space required to do nice "dolly" moves. In all of your experience what is the QUIETEST and sturdiest (that is can support properly a RED MX with fluid head and monitor etc. @ about 35 lbs.)?

All feedback and experience in this area as always is much appreciated. Thanks
 
Richard,

Its a bit low tech but I made up a slider out of an old hi hat on a board with some wheel kits I found on Ebay... The trick I found is to use aluminum pipe not speedrail as the pipe comes in wall thicknesses of up to 1/4 " much stiffer than ordinary speedrail. I have 2 8' lengths of pipe attached to 2 boards which i can use on the ground or on apple boxes etc. There is some flex with the span with a fully loaded camera package but not much and certainly useable. I am amazed at how useful this has become for me. Recently on a shoot in a crowded cafeteria and the director wanted to have a little move to the shot. we moved a few trays out of the way an put the rig up on two cafeteria tables and there we were! Oh and its completely silent and smooooooth! [/ATTACH] hope that helps
 

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I've found the Dana Dolly to be very useful. Not traditional slider but very easy to set up and the fact that I can use standard pipe gives me the option of different length sliders all in one. Not that expensive to try.

Good luck
 
Its a bit low tech but I made up a slider out of an old hi hat on a board with some wheel kits I found on Ebay...
Click to expand...

I like the low tech! Set up an alternate configuration to hang the hihat on the bottom and run it across a couple truss rails... lots of thrifty possibilities here.
 
Jim Hoffman said:
I've found the Dana Dolly to be very useful. Not traditional slider but very easy to set up and the fact that I can use standard pipe gives me the option of different length sliders all in one. Not that expensive to try.

Good luck
Click to expand...

Yup I bought one and love it.
 
Thank you everyone for your feedback. I am looking into building myself or the Dana Dolly. They look great, and I can't see spending thousands when hundreds will accomplish the same goal.
 
Hello Richard and others,

When using heavy camera's on a track using regulat alu-tubes you really should consider the deflection (thus your level and always pushing the dolly uphill). You might find yourself using 1 inch plywood underneath the alu-tubes preventing them from bending.

Another thing with the commonly used V-positioned scateboardwheels in combination with a heavy camera and thus a heavy head with a heavy-pan-setting is the following: When panning the head you will also put a heavy force on the side wheels who will tend to crawl up on the track which will influence the liquidity of tracking.

Ofcourse I am biased on this since I am manufacturing a dolly + tracks which are exclusively made for this circumstances.. :-)

Good luck,

Onno Perdijk
KeyGrip / Manufacturer
www.solidgripsystems.eu
Amsterdam, Holland
 
Dana Dolly

Dana Dolly

I have had a 535 on my Dana Dolly, and it is a very heavy camera, and I have never had any problem with the wheels trying to ride up on the rails. I think that is a mis-statement. There are plenty of Red camera owners who use the Dana Dolly. If I had to guess, I would say 100 or more. So far no complaints, and we have recieved twenty or so notes of thanks and kudos on the product. People just don't write you a note of thanks if they are having trouble with the product, and I have had several people write notes or letters, and not just emails. I think that speaks volumes on how the product has been received.

The deflection in the pipe on a long run of 8 to 10 feet is easily solved by either using the dana dolly middle support, or just propping up the middle of the span with appleboxes or whatever is handy. It isn't that much of a problem, but yes it does occur with heavy cameras. I would estimate 1/2" deflection with schedule 80 pipe over 8 feet.

Yes Otto, I am biased also. I admire your products very much, but I also think our dolly design is pretty darn good, and we have taken a lot of time to keep the product affordable while maintaining a professional quality standard.

Mike Hall
www.danadolly.com
 
+1 for Dana Dolly. I've used other sliders but have found they would bind while sliding and panning unless you're spending a ton on a Klassen linear bed.

I've owned a Dana Dolly for about 6 months now and have had everything from Red/25-250HR/2575D Mitchell to F900R/1030B 100mm to DSLR/e-image 75mm head on it using aluminum pipe and it's been smooooth sailing.
 
best slider

best slider

The Dana dolly looks like a good one.

Ive used a bunch of different sliders and hands down the best one made (I believe) is a company in LA called "The siider" http://www.theslider.com/

This slider is just awesome in every way. (not cheap!)
 
Jim Hoffman said:
I've found the Dana Dolly to be very useful. Not traditional slider but very easy to set up and the fact that I can use standard pipe gives me the option of different length sliders all in one. Not that expensive to try.

Good luck
Click to expand...

+1 on the Dana Dolly. Silent and smooth.
 
Pawel Achtel said:
CamTram
Click to expand...

Pawel,

Do you own the camtram? And if so, how do you like it compared to others? One thing I'm concerned about is deflection on some of the slider options out there.

Thanks for any insights you might offer.
 
I've used a camtram since they first came out and it's a great piece of equipment. I found that, after much trial and error, that the best track for it is a fiberglass ladder. I bought an 8-16 foor extension ladder from home depot and separated the two pieces giving me a very lightweight and sturdy piece of track. Add a pair of adjustable sawhorses (craftsman, I think) and you can be up and running in about 5 minutes.

These days I mostly use my custom built slider.

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