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February 5th, 2006, 02:39 PM
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#1 |
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New Boot
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 16
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Dolly
Hey guys I am thinking about building a pipe dolly, but recently i've been thinking, whats the point? I mean they cant be used with inclines very well and if it is flat, couldnt you just as well use pneumatic tires? So guys, enlighten me on whats so great about these dollies, if there is anything.
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February 5th, 2006, 03:07 PM
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#2 |
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Regular Crew
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Oklahoma City, OK
Posts: 175
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I believe the reason so many people use dolly's instead of merely using wheels, is the consistancy over a long run. You see, no matter what type of terrain you are on, spreading your tracks the length of the run, (with the help of some shims, here and there, you can have a smooth run over any type of surface...almost. For instance, let's say for some reason, you travel back in time to the 80's when in Oklahoma, people did away with grass for their yards and decided on using lava rocks. If you were to try to dolly across that with nothing but wheels, you would get caught up and it would be a very bumpy shot. However, let's say that you decided to use a dolly on tracks. you simply level the tracks over the lava rocks and you are set. It makes it easy to get a smooth and beautiful shot.
Lava Rocks... A thing of genius. Bryon <><
__________________
Commandment #11- "Thou shalt Render as thou goest." "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom" (Prov. 1:7) |
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February 5th, 2006, 03:30 PM
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#3 | |
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Inner Circle
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Port St. Lucie, Florida
Posts: 2,614
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Quote:
The advantage to the track dolly is that it removes imperfections in the surface. For example, I used mine in my living room and that is a tiled floor. It is very flat, but it has tile grooves every 14 inches. Even the best of pneumatic tired dollies would be disturbed by the grooves. Laying my PVC on the floor eliminated all of the problems. Makes it smooth a silk, and once you get it in motion, you could move it with a feather. One other advantage to a track dolly is that they are lower to the ground most often, and this can be an advantage at times. Both have their places. Mike
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Chapter one, line one. The BH. |
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February 5th, 2006, 03:45 PM
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#4 |
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Inner Circle
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: San Mateo, CA
Posts: 3,840
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Don't forget - with a track dolly, the path of the movement will be IDENTICAL from take to take. I've seen wheeled dollys drift in and out depending on the quality of the grip doing the take. Not a big deal on a short run... but on a long one it's great to be dead on in the path take after take.
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February 5th, 2006, 03:57 PM
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#5 | |
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Inner Circle
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Port St. Lucie, Florida
Posts: 2,614
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Quote:
That's another good point! I used 5 or 6 dolly shots in DV#4 and blended them into one shot, and it worked great! Also, any minor change in direction at all, will cause the camera angle to change, not just go in and out. Good one. Mike
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Chapter one, line one. The BH. |
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May 4th, 2006, 09:55 AM
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#6 |
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Major Player
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 220
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No Incline? I've used a smaller version of mine to go up stairs and through car windows as well as hanging up-side down between two roof tops across an alley in downtown L.A.. Often with tire dollies, you have to lay dance floor, which is a much bigger pain than leveling track, believe me!
Dan www.dvcamerarigs.com |
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May 4th, 2006, 08:20 PM
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#7 | |
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Inner Circle
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Port St. Lucie, Florida
Posts: 2,614
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Great way to get in a plug for the website, but you misquoted me! My statement was "drastic incline!" Of course they can be used on an incline, but to put a full tripod and camera rig on a dolly with a drastic incline, is asking for drastic problems, such as the outfit tipping over. If you were quoting Will, then we had already addressed with his statement. Best of luck----Mike
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Chapter one, line one. The BH. |
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May 4th, 2006, 09:46 PM
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#8 |
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Trustee
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Sauk Rapids, MN, USA
Posts: 1,675
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If you already have a pnuematic tire dolly, and have to take it across an uneven surface, you can bring a stack of plywood with to smooth out the ride. Overlap the ends so the tires will not get stuck between them (old skateboarding/bmx trick). You could also bevel the edges of them to get rid of the slight drop from piece to piece. A plumb line (preferably solid and affixed to the dolly - perhaps a curb feeler spring) hanging just above the ground and a line of gaffers tape can act as a guide for it as well. Just keep the plumb above the tape and the ride is the same :)
<edit>And a block and tackle can pull the dolly up an incline</edit> |
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May 5th, 2006, 09:59 AM
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#9 | |
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Major Player
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 220
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Quote:
Dan www.DVcameraRigs.com |
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May 5th, 2006, 10:50 AM
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#10 | ||
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Trustee
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Sauk Rapids, MN, USA
Posts: 1,675
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Quote:
Quote:
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May 6th, 2006, 09:27 AM
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#11 |
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Major Player
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 220
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Sorry, Cole, guess I'm showing my age; I assume they still call this stuff "Dance Floor". At least I hope things haven't changed that much since I was a grip! Dance floor is basically big sheets of plywood with a thin hardwood glued on top. Like you mention in your version, you lay them out on surfaces that aren't exactly smooth or carpeted so the dolly gets a smooth ride.
Dan www.DVcameraRigs.com |
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