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Motorised Slider: Alternatives to Kessler?

C

C Barker

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Hi there,

My DP has been using a Glidetrack Hybrid HD slider with the Scarlet and while the results we have achieved with this combination have mostly been satisfactory I am now considering upgrading to a motorised slider to (hopefully) achieve perfectly smooth and even results every time.

I have looked around and it appears that the Kessler Pocket Dolly or Phillip Bloom models may be the best options but I am wondering if there are any models I may have overlooked that may be better or in a lower price range?

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
 
In my opinion, the pocketdolly/PB are too narrow, built for DSLR use, not for an EPIC/SCARLET. If looking at Kessler, consider a Cineslider or a shuttle pod. Will you be using the analog or the digital (CineDrive) motion control?
 
hi Russ,
interested in your experience with the Dynamic Perception gear with your Epic.
What sort of set-ups and lengths gear wise have you been running?
How is the performance under the weight of an Epic?
How easy and intuitive do you find the MX3 motion controller to be?
Are you willing for 3 axis control like Kessler's Cinedrive system delivers?

cheers!
wes
 
I've got a couple Kessler products. DSLR grade - not RED worthy IMHO
 
been using Kessler stuff for years now and yeah pocket dolly or stealth are not for heavy stuff fur sure, specially if the balance point is high up... but cineslider od shuttle pod mini or regular are awesome. cinedrive is awesome but if you mostly shoot live stuff,... you should go with analog for now until joystick for cinedrive is available (its coming).
the analog stuff is awesome for a quick setup and adjustments like dampening, speed,...
 
WesG said:
Josh, what gear are u using? Can u elaborate?

The cine slider looks good chad but the shuttle pod mini provides more options and is travel friendly
Click to expand...

Even with a stripped down Epic/Scarlet, the shuttle pod mini, in my opinion, doesn't support the camera enough. Go with a shuttle pod (sold in 4 foot sections). You'll be much happier.
 
Chris McKechnie said:
Even with a stripped down Epic/Scarlet, the shuttle pod mini, in my opinion, doesn't support the camera enough. Go with a shuttle pod (sold in 4 foot sections). You'll be much happier.
Click to expand...

interesting to hear Chris, thx. Stated weight capacity of the mini is 15lbs and striipped down epic with support gear (head etc) should come in comfortably under that.

Unfortunately I have no way of seeing all this gear in the flesh so it's difficult to know how everything is going to perform. Really relying on users feedback here
 
WesG said:
hi Russ,
interested in your experience with the Dynamic Perception gear with your Epic.
What sort of set-ups and lengths gear wise have you been running?
How is the performance under the weight of an Epic?
How easy and intuitive do you find the MX3 motion controller to be?
Are you willing for 3 axis control like Kessler's Cinedrive system delivers?

cheers!
wes
Click to expand...

Basically put a Gitzo ball head that had a pan function on the dolly part and a quick release on the bottom of the Epic and mounted it to the Dynamic P. The camera is pretty lightened up… just the touch screen side handle and batt in the side handle and my Duclosed Leicas. So a very basic pkg.. I have the AT-2 controller joy stick and use the 42.13 motor so I can get some speed….well at least go faster. I have used it with out a motor which works pretty well but the control you can get with the motor is really the ticket.
The feathering of the AT-2 controller is great for acceleration and decelerating the rig. Im using 40" setup most of the time and have used the extra 20" tubes for a total of 60" but made sure I had some support in the middle with the cross supports in place also.
Works great but the biggest issue how narrow the track is for this kind of use. You really want to make sure the track is centered over the supports on each end. Ether tripods or C stands.
Sorry I can post anything its all for a major doco company…NG…. so its all theirs…
Im going to shoot a little maybe next week that I might be able to post if anyone is interested???

Look Ill be honest, its a great little setup and very portable. I like it because I can use it for my time laps and have a small slider moco setup for my Epic if I don't want to take a slider all the way up a mountain its really right at its limit when you use the Epic and add the extra 20" tubes. Not so much because its going to snap or anything like that. Its just not a very wide track when you start to put larger amounts of weight over the weight of a 5D and still glass on it. Now if they made the same setup only about 3 to 4 inches wider.. Shizam…
I hear they are very close to having a pan tilt setup also so I will be keeping close tabs on Dynamic Preceptions to see when that comes out.
I hope this helps.
 
Uros Zuraj said:
cinedrive is awesome but if you mostly shoot live stuff,... you should go with analog for now until joystick for cinedrive is available (its coming).
the analog stuff is awesome for a quick setup and adjustments like dampening, speed,...
Click to expand...

Thanks for this. Can u point us to any info on plans to bring cinedrive to the analogue system?? Sounds like a great addition and hopefully cheaper than the digital options

Cheers
 
Just to clarify what Uros mentioned. The joystick / analogue controls are coming for the CineDrive system. There are not changes coming to the Oracle / elektraDRIVE system that will let it interface with CineDrive.

We are working on prototypes for the CineDrive controls (joystick, jog wheel, focus wheel) that we plan on showing at NAB this year, with production coming soon after.
 
Chris - given that you support iPads couldn't you have an onscreen 'joystick' that would give users proportional jog capability (or do you already have that)? I just ordered a 3' Cineslider and Cinedrive... I thought I recalled some sort of jog capability from one of the videos.
 
David Kuhn said:
Chris - given that you support iPads couldn't you have an onscreen 'joystick' that would give users proportional jog capability (or do you already have that)? I just ordered a 3' Cineslider and Cinedrive... I thought I recalled some sort of jog capability from one of the videos.
Click to expand...

Yes, the initial release of the iPad analog control panel is currently in dev testing for the next kOS® for iPad release, which should submitted to Apple in the next couple weeks.
 
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