Very low (ground hugging) SLIDER options or underslung?

[Donald MJ Anderson]

Looking at sliders.

Was trying to figure out the best option for to get the camera really low to the ground. Then I was thinking about underslung options.

The goal is to have the lens as low as I can.

Do any of you guys have experience with models that is very low or can have the camera underslung?

Thanks

 

[Josh Wilkinson]

Most sliders can be underslung fairly well.

I'd say your best bet is a Dana Dolly with the camera underslung on some appleboxes. You'll be able to skim the dirt.

 

[Scott Balkum]

The Kessler Shuttle Dolly can be underslung easily and can be motion controlled.

 

[Michael Lindsay]

The normal way we do this is with a F7 head and a underslung slider (we use a ronfordbaker but GFM sliders are really worth a look).. but interestingly the lowest you can go is with the camera up side down as the optical centre is really near the top of the camera.

 

[Nick Gardner]

Low angle prism will get you at or below ground level.

Nick

 

[Karl Kim]

There is also this ; )
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70SXO_ftzzE
This switches to low mode in seconds- the brake will even work in low mode. Telescopic speedrail legs- for ground hugging shots can use short pieces of speedrail of course. Super easy grip solution. Easily supports 200 lbs.

Finally getting back to the slider- I have a couple of brand new "low rider" sliders I'm putting up for sale now- to help offset cost of prototyping new stuff. Also have 100mm and 75mm bowl adapters in stock. The 150mm will be in stock in a couple of weeks (finally). It'll be cheaper than the Kessler Shuttle WITH telescopic speed rail legs and aluminum rails.
Can reach me direct at: karlkimdp@gmail.com
k2camera.com

Low Rider, with brake

 

[David Battistella]

Hey Karl,

Nice simple design. Why did you end up casting your own wheels?

David

 

[Karl Kim]

For simplicity. Like train wheels the flanges keep it on track and give a surface to press against for a simple brake. Wheels are soft, with a durometer rating of 80a. It makes it easy to simply flip the sled over for low mode shots, and invert upright in post. Having an F7 type head would be ideal.

The current Low Rider design works great with 100mm bowl heads, and I'm guessing will be fine with 150mm bowl heads. In native Mitchell mount the "sides" are too high for O'Connor 2575 size heads (they are very wide obviously) so I"m going to prototype a model that doesn't sit as low for clearance with virtually all heads in Mitchell mount. The brake mounting will be a different design, for clearance reasons.

I'll be selling portable "knock down" rails and will list on the website as soon as one part gets finalized.
Best,
Karl

 

[Hal Long]

The Duti Dolly is super low. If you use a sand bag and no head you can get very low. We did shots under a car with that set-up last fall on Amira. Low-angle prism also works great if you simply are looking to get low shots. Underslung off a slider, Dana or ladder slider can also work well. If you have a dolly, it's hard to beat the Lambda head in underslung mode with an off-set.

 

[Phil Holland]

I use the Dana Dolly underslung pretty often.