Cool Camera Dolly +

[Tom Daigon]

Hi Red Users
I just purchased the new design of the Axis Dolly. Its really quite amazing. It is a trackless (or track) dolly system that can function as a ...
1. Table top dolly with ability to mount fluid head
2. Floor dolly with tripod and camera mounter for trackless or track moves
3. Jib dolly for my EZ FX jib ...aloowing me to make dolly moves with jib or just relocate it.
The version I bought is the NEW and IMPROVED design which is different from the model shown at the website.
I am very excited about the variety of applications I can get from this well designed piece of equipment.
I thought it might interest you. Here are some pix...
Tom Daigon
Avid DS / FCP Editor
www.hdshotsandcuts.com

 

[Rich Schaefer]

Looks very cool. How much $?

The link is not working.

Thanks for sharing!
Rich

 

[Tom Daigon]

The link to the product is www.axisdolly.com. Remember, the product on the site is not the updated version I posted the pictures of. But they are similar in some ways.
FYI the other link is fixed.It is to my site.

 

[Luis Ortiz]

I think they were working on a dolly with a seat on it. You know anything about this?

 

[Tom Daigon]

I think they were working on a dolly with a seat on it. You know anything about this?

I know that the T bar for pushing the unit was available, but I dont know what the status of the seat is. If you go to the site you can send an email to Seth.

 

[Jamison Stark]

I had been interested in the Axis Dolly also but recently became concerned after this strongly negative review. I'll be interested to hear if your experiences are different.

I used to own the Axis Dolly. Let me tell you about that thing. It is BIG and HEAVY, built like a brick-you-know-what, and impossible to use on a table. The pneumatic tires he sells for it are utterly worthless, as they are not sufficiently round and it just wobbled from side-to-side. I sold it right away.

 

[Tom Daigon]

I had been interested in the Axis Dolly also but recently became concerned after this strongly negative review. I'll be interested to hear if your experiences are different.

Understandable. Ive seen about 3 very positive reviews in my searching on the web. Maybe a call to Seth would be a good idea. I will have it in about a week or so. My use maybe different then the bad reviewer (Canon 5D and EX3) so who knows?
This is the review that motivated me to find out more...(this is the previous model from the one I will be getting)

http://www.dv.com/article/15536

 

[Barry Gregg]

The great thing about the Axis is that it works as a tripod dolly (floor and track) and a tabletop dolly. We've used it on a smooth floor and on track. The downside is that you have to walk beside it and that makes it tough to operate, especially with the dolly on track. It is very small and can easily be added to a small kit.

 

[Maz Mawlawi]

I had been interested in the Axis Dolly also but recently became concerned after this strongly negative review. I'll be interested to hear if your experiences are different.

I have the original axis dolly and it works like a charm....I do have to agree that the pneumatic wheels are worthless...but as a table dolly it works perfectly. And it actually works pretty decently as a standard dolly (I use it on tracks as I get better results.)

By the way Tom ...what is "new and improved" about it?....did Seth tell you what enhancement he made?

As far as them working on a seat for the dolly...well...they've been saying that for over two years...so I am not sure they are still working on it or not... ;-)

 

[Tom Daigon]

Thanks Maz and Barry. Its always good to hear positive feedback.
Maz, here are the updates straight from the horses mouth...

· Degree plates (as we discussed) are now below the dolly body which protects them from damage, and are now in color
· Ends of legs are flat with a notch indicator to show what degree/position the casters are in
· Pointers are no longer attached to the casters as they had a very sharp point that could cut the skin if handled improperly, and the tip was prone to chipping
· Securing knobs used to attach the legs to the body were replaced with low profile carriage bolts which are stronger than knobs, and locks the carriage bolt in place with square holes instead of round for easier tightening
· The casters are now made from solid steel and the thread is created in the caster body. They used to be made from aluminum and used a steel thread insert which over time could get damaged.
· The leg ends closest to the body of the dolly are now shaped in more of a rounded “V” shape rather than a round end to cut down on overall weight slightly.
· Bearings on wheels have been upgraded
· Casters are now each a different color to indicate which leg they should be attached to
· A letter (A, B & C) have been stamped into each leg to indicate which leg is which
· Removed holes for mini bungees as they didn’t help secure the tripod
· The dolly body now has many position squares cut in/near it’s center to secure future accessories

 

[Seth Wise]

Hello everyone. I'm the designer of the Axis Dolly, and I thought I'd chime in on the conversation to answer any questions anyone may have. I welcome and encourage any negative and positive feedback as that's how the Axis Dolly has become what it is today. I encourage anyone that has an Axis Dolly to post what they think. User feedback is always the best indicator of a product.

As Tom mentioned I'm going to start updating the web site next week with new photos and descriptions.

The first thing I'd like to do is respond to the negative post by Stephen. I'm not sure what he means about the dolly not being suitable for work on a table. It is perfect for that use. I would welcome Stephen to chime in as I am curious what he is referring to. The only thing I can think of is when I originally designed the dolly, I had two versions: a full size version for use with tripods, and a small version for use with a camera head mounted directly to the dolly. Maybe Stephen purchased one of the full size dollies 3 years ago prior to redesigning the dolly so there is both the full size and small dolly in one unit.

Originally when I designed the pneumatic casters, they weren't as well balanced as they are now. Initially they were designed to be used outdoors for rolling over terrain, but weren't much use in-shot. Finding the best wheels for this solution was very difficult and we ended up having pneumatic wheels custom made. When the dolly was redesigned, the pneumatic casters were given a lot of thought and by way of testing many tires we found one that works well in-shot. I always tell people thinking about getting the pneumatic wheels that they are sensitive and take practice and finnesse to use. You can get great shots with the pneumatic casters, but if you can use the other options that I would go with those instead of the pneumatic casters as you will get great shots out of the box.

The Axis Dolly in full configuration for use with a tripod is heavy. About 33 pounds. It should be heavy as it's made from solid 1/2 inch thick aluminum. Also, the heavier and more solid the dolly, the smoother the movement will be naturally starting and ending a move. I often tell people that if you want to smooth out your moves it's even good to add more weight to the dolly. Put a sandbag on the middle of the dolly under the tripod. In mini configuration the dolly is about 14 pounds. Not terribly heavy. But still substantial so you don't feel you are playing with a toy. It is a very solid piece of equipment.

Now about the seat. I had originally had plans to make a seat system for the Axis Dolly about 2 years ago. About a year ago we started designing a seat system for it. The challenge has been designing a seat system that is up to the specifications and quality of the Axis Dolly, but also maintaining a relatively affordable price point. We've gone through 3 designs. 2 weren't up to the standards I want for the product. 1 was great but too expensive to make it an attractive option. I have found a 3rd party option that may work well, but I have to test it before I can give it a thumbs up. Worst case scenario, if it doesn't work, I'll be emailing owners of the Axis Dolly to see if they'll be interested in the ride-on seat at the price we'll need to offer it at.

Tom... when you get the dolly, give it your honest review. As I've already told you I look forward to speaking with you when you receive it. I am always looking for ways to make the Axis Dolly even more fully featured. Everyone else... I'm happy to answer any questions you have. Here, via email, or by phone. My telephone number is listed on the web site.

Also, I've done my best to make the Axis Dolly as fully featured and flexible a product as I can. It is not, of course, a one-size-fits-all solution. There may be a better dolly out there for your needs. I'm under no illusion that there are products out there that may fit your needs better, and if this is the case I'm not going to try and sell you on my product. I have several times suggested other products to potential customers who have called or emailed me with questions about the Axis Dolly. I do believe, however, that there are few, if any, that are as solidly built, fully featured and flexible. All I can, and will, do is answer your questions and address any concerns.

Thanks everyone for your interest in this thread.

Seth Wise
http://www.axisdolly.com

 

[Jamison Stark]

Hi Seth. Thanks for taking the time to join in the discussion and for sharing your unique insight.

 

[Seth Wise]

No problem. Another improvement that was made, that I failed to mention to Tom, is that the dolly body and legs now have chamfered edges which almost eliminates potential pinching of the skin. It is a 45 degree straight chamfer. It is not round, but for lack of a better term it "rounds" the edges.

 

[Danish P.V.]

Is it something like this?
http://pstechnik.de/en/skater.php

 

[Tom Daigon]

Yes, but those chamfered edges cost quite a bit more...and are only good on a table top ;-)