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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 :)

My DIY Timelapse Dolly...

Tom Lowe

Tom Lowe

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I finally finished my basic single-axis dolly designed for timelapse or regular cinema shooting. A local blacksmith helped me with the welding. In the above configuration, the dolly car is winched up the track by the Mumford stepper motor. It is capable of discrete "move-shoot-move" interval timelapse shooting. I slapped a 501 HDV head on the car, but with a nicer fluid head, the dolly should be quite useful for cinema shooting with cameras of any weight, though dolly-ins will be limited due to the track getting in the way of wide lenses. As you can see by the water jug hanging off one end, it's still a work in progress. :)

Here is a little video I made that includes a very short test of the dolly I shot last night at Joshua Tree.

http://www.vimeo.com/3101098

In the future I'd like to add a second stepper motor as a panning axis.
 
OOooooooohhh..... Me like. You gotta get pan and tilt control on there too! That's all kinds of bad-ass. :)
 
The test video looks fantastic. Must be great to see results like this!

The design looks nice and portable. Well done.

Did you make up the wheels sets or use an available brand?
 
I bought the "molly" dolly wheels from ebay. They are really nice. No need to reinvent the wheel. :)

Yeah, the results are really encouraging for me. I'm inspired to drag this sucker out to some more locations ASAP!

Dylan, I'm an open book. Just let me know if I can be of any help.
 
Tom, you're an animal! Congrats, and good luck! I can't wait to see this in IMAX so I can tell everyone I know you, I'll just leave out the reduser part :)
 
That looks fantastic! Still interested in what we discussed.
 
Those are excellent results, what a great project! What interval of time did that test shoot cover? Do you use the Canon remote intervalometer for exposures or something based off the stepper controller? [EDIT: never mind, I read up on the Mumford stepper- that is a nice setup.]

I tried (very casually) to make a motorized dolly for step and shoot applications using a toy motor and never got consistent step sizes, giving me jerky motion. Your test looks great, so clearly your motor is doing the job.
 
Very nice, Tom. And great footage as usual.
Ron Fricke would be impressed, I'm sure!
Cheers,
Harry
 
I think it's a better idea than Brian's dolly, imho. Do the joint seams cause any issues?
 
Damn, Tom! Just watched some more of your newer footage there (haven't taken a look at it in ages), and it just keeps getting better and better. Great stuff. And the dolly is pretty sick.
 
... wow
 
Brilliant...
 
Very nice, Tom. Motion makes such a difference and feel of space.

I can't wait to get my dolly out with a PL-converted EOS. :construction:
 
Great work. I can see why you don't want to sell it to Travel or Discovery Channel at their typical rates. Definitely hold out for more, you're stuff is unique, you'll be able to get it. At this point, your stuff is approaching fine art.

-shooter
 
Hey Tom,

I'm curious how your exposures are able to see the stars during the middle of the day? Can you explain? Thanks
 
Jonathan, this shot was done at 9pm at night, with a half-full moon.

Pawel, did you finish the PL-mount 50D??
 
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