I shoot with the Panasonic GH3/GH2 cameras. My current slider does not perform up to my expectations; it is a slider in the truest sense, meaning it doesn't have bearings/rollers. I just cannot get consistently smooth moves with it. Thus I'm looking for something else. Any recommendations? I'd like to keep this under $500. I was looking at this one:
Varavon Slide Cam Lite 800 (32") VASC-SLLITE800 B&H Photo

Have you searched for the Igus slider? Very good and cheaper.

I have a Konovo K3, which I've been pretty happy with. But recently I tried a friends Igus and its very different. It slows to a stop a lot quicker, but when controlled by hand I found it buttery smooth! The design of the Konovo unfortunately gathers dirt and grit which makes the slide feel less smooth (although not to the extent it appears in the footage). The Konovo range has great adjustable feet though!

Gently used, the Cinevate can be found for about $500

Amazon.com: Cinevate CILTAT1003 Atlas 10 FLT - 26-Inch LTS with Regular Ball Feet (Black): Camera & Photo (http://www.amazon.com/Cinevate-CILTAT1003-Atlas-10-FLT/dp/B006DY3C6G/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_S_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=U98D4VGZWOSD&coliid=IJD995XADIOLE)

I haven't used it, but cinevate makes good products. They have the duzi which is smaller and cheaper than the atlas. Made for run and gun situations.


Duzi Camera Slider (http://www.cinevate.com/store2/camera-movement/duzi-camera-slider.html#sthash.tQAy7q0Z.dpbs)

duplicate post

I have a Konova K3 slider as well and I like it enough. I don't have experience with other sliders but it's pretty smooth and for the price, there's nothing else out there. I just have issues with smoothness sometimes and adjusting friction.

Kesler Pocket Dolly. Awesome.

Cinevate Pegasus - Awesome.

I have both and can't complain about either. I would like to get the motors for the pocket dolly for unmanned repeatable moves.

Unfortunately, neither are within your proposed budget. Before these I have the Igus slider (TERRIBLE!!! No bearings and kept having sticky moments) and some other slider I can't remember the name of. In the end I'd wasted money on two cheap products so ended up spending what I should have done in the first place (I'd have saved money by buying higher quality the first time).

As mentioned above, the Cinevate Atlas is also a great slider. I've used one but don't own it.

I love the DP Sliders, both the Standard and Mantis, but to be totally honest, I have not used any other sliders. The tough thing about buying online is not being able to get your hands on the gear and compare it side by side with other gear.

The Varavon slider at B&H might work great and if you don't like it, at least you can send it back to B&H and only be out the shipping. You could always make a trip down to B&H and try out the sliders they sell first hand so you don't end up sending back two or three until you find the one you like, but that's just me...always looking for an excuse to go to NYC and B&H. ;-)

Back to the DP Slider. If you do not need to slider on the floor or ground, I would go with the Standard 720, which is about $375. If you do need to slide on the floor, ground or any uneven surface, the Mantis 720 is the way to go, about $575.
DP Slider (http://dpslider.mybigcommerce.com/)

Here is a video we made about the DP Slider Mantis
Von Films - MantisAndPrimeVon.mp4 (http://vonweddingfilms.wistia.com/medias/51863d508f)

This new product called the Kamerar Big Slider looks promising:

Photography and Cinema - Store Kamerar BIG Slider (http://www.photographyandcinema.com/collections/video-sliders/products/pnc-big-slider)

Just ordered one. Shipping to the UK is £75. I've had customs bills on other stuff from them in the past as well so its not as affordable as it first looks but P&C products are normally pretty good.

Pete

Two Konovas k3s... sometimes need to adjust but pretty stable and smooth

Kamerar Big Slider arrived today. Pretty good service, ordered Monday, delivered Thursday all the way from Shanghai.

Nice solid bit of kit and a step up from my DIY botches.

You know what a brain teaser it can be to get vertical reveals? Especially if using a full size camcorder rather than a dSLR. Well I dug out an old Manfrotto 322 RC2 heavy duty pistol grip. Works a treat as it gives enough clearance from the slider and tripod. Just ordered an extra plate for it called the 322RA as its more versatile still if you have these plates on both the possible mounting points on the grip rather than having to change one over.

Manfrotto 322RA Additional Camera Plate Adapter For: Amazon.co.uk: Camera & Photo (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Manfrotto-322RA-Additional-Camera-Adapter/dp/B000KZ6TZ0)

The head itself:

Manfrotto 322RC2 Heavy Duty Grip Ball Head: Amazon.co.uk: Electronics (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Manfrotto-322RC2-Heavy-Duty-Grip/dp/B000JLK5PK/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1379587498&sr=1-1&keywords=manfrotto+322rc2)

Pete

I should clarify that the head I linked to goes on top of the sliders rail, and it is not the means of attaching the slider to a tripod

Pete

Konova K3 here too. Like mine.

I use to have a Konova k3. Hated that thing. Now I have Kessler Stealth and it's so much nicer. The tension knob is a big add on.

I would say look into the Cinevate Duzi.

What didn't you like about the K3 Victor?

The Kamerar I have is 39" end to end.

You know how tricky it can be to keep the longer sliders stable when on one tripod and how messy it gets if you try to put a slider on two tripods or lightstands.

Well I've been using a single tripod plus a Manfrotto Heavy Duty Flexible Arm with one end screwed into the slider towards one end and the other inserted into a Manfrotto Superclamp and then that end clamped onto a tripod leg. Works a treat.

Heavy Duty Flexible Arm 520mm 237HD - Arms | Manfrotto (http://www.manfrotto.co.uk/heavy-duty-flexible-arm-520mm)

Super Clamp Without Stud 035 - Super Clamps | Manfrotto (http://www.manfrotto.co.uk/super-clamp-without-stud)

Pete

I use to have a Konova k3. Hated that thing.

Same here but have a k2 from konova, it arrived with play on the sled, couldn't get a smooth slide out of it, contacted the supplier and they told me how to adjust but it didn't work on mine. Then they suggest to send the sled only back to them and after they receive it I get a replacement sled, only thing is they are located in Korea so the sending costs to there are for me. Now I use the konova as a clothes rack, works very well...

It's actually the worst kind of service I have encountered until now, they have received a video clearly showing the problem, they should just send me a replacement sled, no questions asked.

Same here but have a k2 from konova, it arrived with play on the sled, couldn't get a smooth slide out of it, contacted the supplier and they told me how to adjust but it didn't work on mine. Then they suggest to send the sled only back to them and after they receive it I get a replacement sled, only thing is they are located in Korea so the sending costs to there are for me. Now I use the konova as a clothes rack, works very well...

It's actually the worst kind of service I have encountered until now, they have received a video clearly showing the problem, they should just send me a replacement sled, no questions asked.

Exactly Noa. You know it's a terrible product when the manufacturer sent tools to fix it in the packaging.

So the first problem you're gonna notice with Konova is that every small ding and scratches inside the slider will totally stopped you during a move. If you put a head on there like manfrotto 701, you'll see that the head shakes around. Why? because the 3/8th screw on the konova is just resting on metal. There's nothing to secure it.

I mean these problems you can deal with. But what pissed me off the most is when the Konova kept derailing. The final straw is when the brake totally stripped off. I just said F*ck this, order a replacement part and sold it to a friend of mine.

I order the Kessler Stealth the next day. It has some problems right now, but totally useable. The customer service from Kessler is totally worth the price.

However, I would really recommend maybe trying out Cinevate Duzi. If I was doing it all over again, that's probably the one I get.

I like Edelkrone's slider plus design, seems to be very portable but a bit expensive, the cinevate duzi does seem well build.

I like Edelkrone's slider plus design, seems to be very portable but a bit expensive, the cinevate duzi does seem well build.

My friend has it. It's an awesome slider. It's portable and slide smoothly, but it has some stability issues.

really? does it not allow smooth glides or is it an issue with too heavy camera's?

really? does it not allow smooth glides or is it an issue with too heavy camera's?

I remember when I used it that there's just a slight hiccup when going over the center. However it is extremely smooth and really easy to use. I wouldn't trust it with really heavy cameras.

I've got a Glidetrack, with a Manfrotto 502 head, seems ok but i really need to practise more with it, i dont always get smooth slider shots as i would like.

I have the Konova K5 & love the thing. I get super smooth one take slides. If you have the money the Kessler Stealth is great but personally I'd buy the K5 over & over. Konova is a bit of a dust magnet but at the start of a shoot I swipe the rails clean with included wipers and it's smooth.

Kamerar Big Slider arrived today. Pretty good service, ordered Monday, delivered Thursday all the way from Shanghai.

Nice solid bit of kit and a step up from my DIY botches.

Pete

Pete,

I've been seriously considering this slider. Seems you've had some time with it now, got any thoughts on quality, performance, hits or misses?

Bob

What can I say about a slider :- )

Its solidly built without being heavy and is smooth in operation. Its not too short to be limiting and not too long to be unstable. The wide track helps with heavier gear.

I particularly like the way the feet operate. They can be sprung out in pairs in a split second and the design works well for improvising such as placing the slider on the top of two high-back chairs for a chest-level sliding shot.

Possible miss I guess would be the lack of a motor, though one could be improvised. But motors introduce another level of complexity including weight, transportation, noise, setup time, vulnerability to damage, etc, as well as adding to the cost.

Pete

What can I say about a slider :- )

Its solidly built without being heavy and is smooth in operation. Its not too short to be limiting and not too long to be unstable. The wide track helps with heavier gear.

I particularly like the way the feet operate. They can be sprung out in pairs in a split second and the design works well for improvising such as placing the slider on the top of two high-back chairs for a chest-level sliding shot.

Possible miss I guess would be the lack of a motor, though one could be improvised. But motors introduce another level of complexity including weight, transportation, noise, setup time, vulnerability to damage, etc, as well as adding to the cost.

Pete

I ordered one. It should be here by the end of the week. One of the reasons I went for this one is that it looks like it would lend itself well to adding a motor. I've never used a slider but, I have done a few timelapses and it seems a motor control is almost mandatory for them.

Bob

I just visited Kamerar headquarters yesterday. Had no idea that they're in my hometown. Anyway, I was pretty impress with their products. The big Kamerar sliders was only $200 but it performs almost as well as my Kessler.

Well, I've got a 1.2m Konova, a 2ft Cinevate Atlas FLT and a 2ft Edelkrone slider.

Konova 1.2m -- I don't take this to weddings. That sort of length might be nice to have, but I know I don't need it.

I've had it for years but haven't used it much, and have no real problems with it.

Cinevate Atlas -- basically, an excellent slider, though I have had problems with it. It's a "classic" sort of wedding slider, I think -- centre mount it on a tripod, or whack it on the ground or furniture. Pretty lightweight, durable, smooth. Not motorisable, if that matters to you. Only real problems I've had I think are due to the fact that my gear takes a lot of punishment. Problems: (1) not a good idea to frequently take fluid head off and and put it back on again; better to leave it on permanently -- I've had problems with the screw getting bent if the fluid head isn't threaded on properly; (2) mine now only slides properly in one direction, because over time I've had some gunk collect in the bearings. I can fix the problem if I take the thing apart and tighten the appropriate screw so that the carriage grips the rails properly, but then it seems to go bad again after a while.

Edelkrone -- wonderful, but with a lot of design features that make you go, "What were they thinking?!" I'm currently trading in my version 1 for a version 2.

Advantages: very compact. I've taken it overseas, and been very glad of the size; carried it on as cabin luggage. Also is motorisable. When the "target module" for the Edelkrone comes out, I'll probably get that.

Disadvantages... Firstly, that little bump in the middle. Now, Edelkrone is aware of the problem and has some videos on their site about how to fix. I'm not sure the problem entirely goes away though. It's "smooth enough" but not perfectly smooth... Hopefully v2 is better. Secondly, the rust -- some of the parts aren't designed for outdoor conditions, and rust very easily. Thirdly, the fact you can't easily place it on grass -- the grass blades interfered with the sliding action. Also, the feet of the slider fairly easily unscrew and get lost, and then you need to spend $50 for a replacement kit. Fourthly, the locking mechanism for the carriage means that you can only lock it in the centre position. It's also a somewhat silly lock -- easy to push it all the way up or all the way down, and then it becomes difficult to get your finger in to get the lock moving again.

Another slider I can recommend, though it might be hard to find -- the brand is called "Skier". I think it's very cheap. But it's also very compact (1ft long) and very smooth.

Main advice: I think whatever you get should have roller bearings.

I just visited Kamerar headquarters yesterday.

Eventhough it has no rollerbearings their SD-1 Slider Dolly looks very interesting at 149 dollar only.

It would appear that this slider for sale in UK under the brand Koolertron is exactly the same as Kamerar.

Whats more, they are very similar to a few other cheap brands. Basically the rails and carriage is bought from the same manufacturer called Igus.

Incidentally, Igus realised what these components were being used for and have been selling these components on Amazon directly.

Yea, no feet or end stoppers, but the slide is there if you are in any way handy.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/igus-UK-W10-40-system-carriage/dp/B0045DDMH6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1381304065&sr=8-1&keywords=igus

It would appear that this slider for sale in UK under the brand Koolertron is exactly the same as Kamerar.

Whats more, they are very similar to a few other cheap brands. Basically the rails and carriage is bought from the same manufacturer called Igus.

Incidentally, Igus realised what these components were being used for and have been selling these components on Amazon directly.

Yea, no feet or end stoppers, but the slide is there if you are in any way handy.

W10-40 system plus carriage: Amazon.co.uk: Electronics (http://www.amazon.co.uk/igus-UK-W10-40-system-carriage/dp/B0045DDMH6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1381304065&sr=8-1&keywords=igus)Igus make components for conveyor belts used in food factories. A few years ago someone published details of a DIY project using the Igus track for a camera slider. The first company AFAIK to commercialise the product were Glidetrack in Scotland now no end of companies will sell you an Igus slider. It's just a friction bearing which is why they can be so frustrating to use as you never know when it's going to judder. Newer models will have hybrid combined friction & ball bearing from Igus which work much better.

Kamerar makes its own stuff. See Emm's post part way down the discussion in this thread:

Kamerar 23″ Slider Dolly SD-1 Overview CheesyCam (http://cheesycam.com/kamerar-23-slider-dolly-sd-1-overview/)

Pete

Got my Kamerar Big Slider yesterday. They shipped same day I ordered so, I got it the next day. It is very nicely constructed. The bearings roll smoothly though, they make a little noise because the track has a slightly textured finish. I imagine that as the finish wears from use, it will get quieter. Don't get me wrong, it is not a loud noise; my 70D didn't pick it up when doing some test shots.

I did find the very low working height to be a bit of a problem in grass. A single blade of grass getting between the track and the bearings will jam the slider. I resorted to putting it on a tripod splayed out. It looks like I can just swap the leveling feet for some long bolts to get more height in the future.

Here's a couple test shots. I used a Benro S4 head, Canon 70D w/ 50 f/1.4 and 18-135 STM.

Looks good Bob!
Are you manually keeping focus on the tap as you slide? If so, that's great work!

Looks good Bob!
Are you manually keeping focus on the tap as you slide? If so, that's great work!

That is the 70D keeping focus. I just selected the point of focus and did the slide. My other cameras are getting jealous of the time we spend together.

Kamerar BIG Slider – Kamerar (http://kamerar.com/products/pnc-big-slider)

This looks good ...

Any one have that? I'm looking for something to use with my Sony EA50.

I have a slider at the moment. It's one of those £150 chinese ones with ball bearings. Good quality, but my camera jitters on it ... I just smooth out the slide using proMercalli in post production though without loss in quality. (Amazing plugin btw).

The slider I got works perfectly fine for lighter cameras though ...