Here is a prototype slider that I am working on - very industrial strength and capable of being mounted upside down with a lot of weight. I've been curious about these for a while but I have not found many that are long enough or strong enough for what I plan to use it for. I have a dolly but I find it too hard to move around quickly. I plan to make a 6' and 10' version to be supported by 2 tripods and some brackets/clamps for other supports. Would a slider of this type be something anyone would be interested in? Do you think there is a market?

http://www.tampahighdef.com/slider/index.html

Thanks,

Bryan

The problem with long sliders is that you could only use them sideways. Lengthwise, the rail would most likely be viewed in the footage after short distance.

Looks cool though!

Mike

Mike,

I see your point on the sideways limitation. Perhaps I will concentrate on the 6' version to be more versatile. It could be supported by 2 average tripods. I was thinking that size would be be ideal to mount to the bed rail of my pickup truck. Drive up, clip on the camera, and shoot in seconds. I want to create some unique mount options like that other than just tripods alone.

Hi Bryan,

I would definatly be interested in buying one, if you can garantuee very smooth sliding. And maybe controllable friction, so one can 'choose' the sliding speed...

Indifocus has a similar setup, they have a 36 inch version. Do you plan on making a longer one?


Anyway, very much interested, yes!

6' (feet) = 72" (inches)

6' (feet) = 72" (inches)



Thanks George!

Hello All,

I agree with using long sliders only sideways, never forget the option of rising the camera (which ofcourse will create an instability!)
A slider is a great tool, with great options! Years ago (1995) the thought of the slider gave me the idea for my TrussDollySystem: for having a slider with more rigging-options than just the sliderbase: take a look at www.solidgripsystems.eu/tds.htm

Good luck,

Onno, keygrip, amsterdam, Holland

Onno, that is some serious equipment with major overhead spanning range!

Eugene, I agree smooth is very key. The bearings can be adjusted for overall tightness on the rail by turning them slightly (but not quickly) so I am working to figure out the best option for fine tuning friction control. It takes a lot of practice to push a slider smoothly, just as it does to turn a fluid head smoothly. It would also be nice to figure out a mechanical solution for movement too, possibly motorized, that facilitates "constant" speed movement.

Plenty of servos, motors and such at ServoCity ;-) they also have a complete pan/tilt camerarig. How would you drive the sled?

George/

Regarding adding a motor to your slider: your camera will have an inertia of its weight. a motor will need to compensate that, let alone the drivebelt/rope. So a motorisation will need to be very smart and intelligent to measure and calcultate its speed in contradiction with power. A direct driven motor will be a good option but then again; the start and stop will never be as fluid as a grip could do!

I am working on an update of my motorasation with distance control and emergency-stops. It is a piece of fun!

Good Luck,

Onno Perdijk
KeyGrip
SolidGripSystems
Amsterdam
Holland

I added a camera mount and end plates to it. Working on friction control now. I will attempt some test footage over the weekend.

http://www.tampahighdef.com/slider/index.html

Thanks,

Bryan

Nice work Bryan.
Are you machining the parts yourself or are you starting with some "off the shelf" components and going from there?
Also, if you decide to market this do you have a rough idea of what you might charge?

id be interested in a price too =)

I don't know a potential price yet but will in a probably a couple of weeks once I add up all the components and time and labor/milling/parts involved. I see 2 markets for this type of thing. You see cinema type sliders out there in the 3K+ range (or for rent only) and you see Indie type sliders out there in the sub 1K range. I don't know of any in the lower price end that go 6' long like I want. I guess that is what I am aiming for at least. Definitely using some prefab parts. If you search enough out there, you can find some mechanical slider options at various price points out there but the devil is in the details on these things - easy tripod mount, mount plate for the camera/heads, friction control, options to mount a number of ways, potential for motorized options, etc. At this point I am brainstorming a lot and trying different ideas.

My goal is to create something a little longer than what I have found, very sturdy and durable, yet smooth and quiet enough, with several add-on options. And it very much helps I know a mechanical engineer with a machine shop to help me design it, especially the details....

Hi Brian,

nice work. Just realize I'm following this thread with much attention. Keep us posted!




I don't know a potential price yet but will in a probably a couple of weeks once I add up all the components and time and labor/milling/parts involved. I see 2 markets for this type of thing. You see cinema type sliders out there in the 3K+ range (or for rent only) and you see Indie type sliders out there in the sub 1K range. I don't know of any in the lower price end that go 6' long like I want. I guess that is what I am aiming for at least. Definitely using some prefab parts. If you search enough out there, you can find some mechanical slider options at various price points out there but the devil is in the details on these things - easy tripod mount, mount plate for the camera/heads, friction control, options to mount a number of ways, potential for motorized options, etc. At this point I am brainstorming a lot and trying different ideas.

My goal is to create something a little longer than what I have found, very sturdy and durable, yet smooth and quiet enough, with several add-on options. And it very much helps I know a mechanical engineer with a machine shop to help me design it, especially the details....

For the camera and tripod mounts, here is what I am thinking:

Camera mount (5"x6" 3/8" aluminum mount plate with at least 4 pre drilled 3/8" threaded holes and a 3/8" stud for easy mounting to the ball head of your choice). I think 3/8" is the standard for most quality tripod heads. What kind of camera mounts would you want to use besides something like this? I have seen other sliders that come with a mount that looks like it could also accommodate a heavier film camera but I have no idea what the standards are for that. Does anyone have a suggestion?

Tripod mounts (Two 2-1/4" by 3/4" round aluminum pre-drilled with a 3/8" threads which you could mount on your tripod and bolt down from the slider onto the tripod for maximum stability and easy adjustment). Very similar to this Bogen converter plate:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/5408-REG/Bogen_Manfrotto_3154_3154_Converter_Plate_to.html

I would be very interested in a slider solution. I played with "the original slider" at a Canon booth at NAB and emailed them for prices, but I have a feeling they're very very expensive.

http://www.theslider.com/3foot.html

Please keep us posted!

More versatile than a slider and cheaper too.

www.camtramsystems.com

Hi Bryan,

Who's your slider coming along? Any idea when I could eventually buy one...?

Eugene,

I've been away from this project for a little while but plan to rejuvenate it soon. I am not happy with the friction control and need to go back to the drawing board a bit on that. I was trying a spring loaded teflon screw and it did not offer smooth enough resistance. Once I figure that part out I will probably be a lot closer.

Bryan

Hey Bryan,

Do you really feel a friction control is needed? I recently purchased the same slider/rail (I got the 35 as well with 40" of rail), and from the little I've been playing with it, it seems that there's just enough friction for it to move pretty smoothly.

- Frank.

Frank,

I think it is needed at least to lock it down and make it complete. With my 35mm adapter and lens on it, it adds a lot of weight and I would need it with that. I am thinking a "rolling" friction wheel to put on the outside of the rail and be adjustable. I was just at a hobby store this morning and there are rubber wheels of many sizes that may work well. I just need to figure a way to screw one on and make it smoothly adjustable with a small clutch or something similar. You can certainly DIY on this at about $40/foot for the rail and $85 for the 3 bearing slide/$115 for the 4 bearing. 3 bearing works fine. I am finding that the labor to make a nice elevated mount, end caps, and control are significant additional cost factors. Cost of making a 6 foot model would be about $360 for all the rail/mount/screws hardware + the labor of making the mounts/end caps/friction control which adds up. If I were to sell something like this in a 6' model, given limited market for it, it would have to at least be in the $999+ range.

Frank,

I think it is needed at least to lock it down and make it complete. With my 35mm adapter and lens on it, it adds a lot of weight and I would need it with that. I am thinking a "rolling" friction wheel to put on the outside of the rail and be adjustable. I was just at a hobby store this morning and there are rubber wheels of many sizes that may work well. I just need to figure a way to screw one on and make it smoothly adjustable with a small clutch or something similar. You can certainly DIY on this at about $40/foot for the rail and $85 for the 3 bearing slide/$115 for the 4 bearing. 3 bearing works fine. I am finding that the labor to make a nice elevated mount, end caps, and control are significant additional cost factors. Cost of making a 6 foot model would be about $360 for all the rail/mount/screws hardware + the labor of making the mounts/end caps/friction control which adds up. If I were to sell something like this in a 6' model, given limited market for it, it would have to at least be in the $999+ range.



I'd be interested in buying one for 999$..