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  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

Difference between Dolly Tracks

Upon further reading I found this hidden in the Matthews website:

"Matthews manufactures two types of track for your consumer pleasure: Heavy Wall Track and Stainless Steel Track. Both are manufactured from 1-1/2" diameter steel tubing. Heavy Wall Track, being slightly less in price than Stainless Steel Track, has a chrome plating to protect it from negative environmental effects. Stainless Steel Track is impervious to the elements because of its stainless steel quality."


"for your consumer pleasure" :)

So anyway, does anyone know which kind is the industry standard?
 
The industry standard is referred to as the inner width of the tracks which is 24.5"

I found that the best tracks in the market are manufactured by an industry veteran with an extensive experience as dolly operator (pushing dollies) for 23 years, so I trust his experience to give him what He needed to make the best tracks available today.

This is what I'm getting hands down www.GItrack.com


Hope it helps you make your decision.

BTW, Gil is a wryly great guy, so e-mail him with any question and mention my name hopfully it would give you a better price.

Ciao,

KETCH ROSSI
www.KETCHFRAME.com
 
KETCH ROSSI said:
The industry standard is referred to as the inner width of the tracks which is 24.5"
Click to expand...

The standard track width is actually 62 cm. That's more like 24.41". :nerd:
 
The GI track is AWESOME!!!!! I got to rind on some in NYC last year and it was the best track I have ever used. I believe he also owns www.dollytrack.com
 
Mike Prevette said:
The GI track is AWESOME!!!!! I got to rind on some in NYC last year and it was the best track I have ever used. I believe he also owns www.dollytrack.com
Click to expand...

Mike, that is the same company and I'm glad you also think that this tracks are great, I researched all make and models form Heavy Wall to stainless steel and composite aluminum but this are by far the best built and designed.

I know they will last a long time and also make every dolly shot a suit one.

Ciao,

KETCH ROSSI
 
Thanks a bunch. I will contact him and definitely mention you! The track does look awesome, now lets hope it's cheaper than B&H's Matthews prices.
 
TheThe said:
Thanks a bunch. I will contact him and definitely mention you! The track does look awesome, now lets hope it's cheaper than B&H's Matthews prices.
Click to expand...

Sorry TheThe but now you are asking to much, it is like wanting a Ferrari at Fiat prices.

This tracks are well priced for the high quality but you can not get them at B&H prices, first because B&H/Matthews tracks are the Heavy Walls ones and not even the stainless steel ones which go for about double that of the ones now listed, the stainless steel tracks are no longer listed as the price of the stainless steel is continously in the rise.

I personally will stay away from the Heavy wall tracks as the chroming tends to pill off with use, and they just are a cheap version of tracks.

So in the price range of good stainless steel tracks like the ones sold by Matthews GItracks wins hands down because of their modern and smart design, with added strength and a very smooth ride with additional covered removable PVC plastic tubing.

BTW, I know personally Bob and Ed at MSE and like them as well as I like several of their products as the ROUND-D-ROUND, Bazooka etc. but for tracks Gil at www.GItrack.com has the absolute best, make sure to contact him before buying any cheap tracks.

Ciao,

KETCH ROSSI
Ciao,

KETCH ROSSI
 
KETCH ROSSI said:
... first because B&H/Matthews tracks are the Heavy Walls ones and not even the stainless steel ones which go for about double that of the ones now listed, the stainless steel tracks are no longer listed as the price of the stainless steel is continously in the rise.
Click to expand...

Sorry, but this is wrong.

I just got quoted the stainless steel version from them and it is not double the price. They don't list the stainless steel version on the web site but they do carry it. The item number is "MATSSS8" and they go for $555 each for the 8-foot straight section. This is an amazingly fantastic price if you ask me (but maybe I might be getting this price because I am ordering a large quantity of stuff...)

By the way, here's an interesting trivia fact that I learned today: B&H was the complete and exclusive supplier to the Al Jazeera (spelling?) network when they bought everything... that is a lot of gear!
 
TheThe said:
Sorry, but this is wrong.

I just got quoted the stainless steel version from them and it is not double the price. They don't list the stainless steel version on the web site but they do carry it. The item number is "MATSSS8" and they go for $555 each for the 8-foot straight section. This is an amazingly fantastic price if you ask me (but maybe I might be getting this price because I am ordering a large quantity of stuff...)

No I'm not wrong as you can get Heavy wall tracks in 8' sections for about $300, so as you see the stainless steel ones are almost double the price.

Any way I prefer to pay more but get the absolute best, and not be sorry later that I got something else just because it was cheaper.

Please understand that this are my opinions and suggestions based on personal experience that trying to save money wile buying something just because is cheaper never pays off as I always end up selling it to buy the good staff at the end.

As I'm buying everything for my new production company with 3 cameras I have done extensive research since 2005 when RED was first announced and since then I kept on buying my gear as I found what worked for me, also I found useless to buy hold technology like the stainless steel track design, also pointed out by Gil.

I intent just to share my knowledge of products and share the info.

We also some times would love to have what we know is best but can't afford it so we get the closest think to it, I have done this my all life, fortunately I don't any more, as it has costed me always more at the end.


At the end of the day heavy wall and stainless steel tracks have been and will be around for well working hard on many sets, as is the case for HD and HDV cameras, but I choose to go with RED.

Ciao,

KETCH ROSSI
Click to expand...
 
KETCH ROSSI said:
No I'm not wrong as you can get Heavy wall tracks in 8' sections for about $300,
Click to expand...

I apologize. I didn't realize you could buy heavy wall track at that price (B&H lists it at 460 something). Are these used prices? Or an off brand? (Just curious.)

KETCH ROSSI said:
Any way I prefer to pay more but get the absolute best, and not be sorry later that I got something else just because it was cheaper.
Click to expand...

I completely agree! I also wanted to thank you for letting me know about GI track. That is what I hoped I would learn from this thread. I honestly thought Matthews was as good as one needed to get. I already emailed Gil asking him for a quote. I promise that if it is anywhere within my reach I will buy it. But if it comes back as a Panavision price I may have to go with the stainless steel until I can latter replace it with the GI. Sometimes budgets do dictate what you can do, and if I go out of line in this category I will be forced to skimp somewhere else where it might matter more.
 
TheThe said:
I apologize. I didn't realize you could buy heavy wall track at that price (B&H lists it at 460 something). Are these used prices? Or an off brand? (Just curious.)



I completely agree! I also wanted to thank you for letting me know about GI track. That is what I hoped I would learn from this thread. I honestly thought Matthews was as good as one needed to get. I already emailed Gil asking him for a quote. I promise that if it is anywhere within my reach I will buy it. But if it comes back as a Panavision price I may have to go with the stainless steel until I can latter replace it with the GI. Sometimes budgets do dictate what you can do, and if I go out of line in this category I will be forced to skimp somewhere else where it might matter more.
Click to expand...


Hey TheThe,

actually I don't know for sure of their material composition and it is not from B&H it is from this company:

http://www.cinemagadgets.com/dollies-tracks-dolly-tracks-c-73_89.html

but the $300 price is for the 6', the 8' is $338, again even if it is likely one third the price of GItracks, I will still go with GItracks as they are designed incredibly well and in a modern smart way friendly to both the grip, the pusher and the dolly.


Ciao,

KETCH ROSSI
 
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