Cheesycam Skater Dolly

Videos or Articles related to the Cheesycam Skater Type Video Camera Dollies.

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Wow, very cool examples of what type of footage you can achieve with the SpiderTrax Dolly design. Here's another simple build video of how parts from a normal skateboard, Cheese Plate, and Quick release adapter were put together for those slider and rotational shots.

Here's a link to the cheese plate that was used.
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Two months ago, the video above also used Skateboard trucks and looks like a wooden base. This is definitely becoming a main stream tool for many DIY'ers.

Isn't it weird how I share these videos and information openly, while at the same time it's something that I need to sell? It's all good with me, because my main goal was always to share these ideas and inspire more creative footage. For those who weren't able to DIY and wanted something, I worked with a team to have parts professionally manufactured with solid aluminum, cut with Computer Aided Design, and special Anodized coating (not spray paint). You can find the SpiderTrax Dolly available at PhotographyandCinema.com

Big thanks to Jarrod and Think Gines for taking time to put this video together and sharing ideas for others to make.

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Wow, I was just talking about the SpiderTrax Dolly in my last post, but then received an email from SpiderTrax Dolly user 'Luke' with a link to his awesome BTS video. These guys are crazy! Looks like they ran a custom long track for some super long slider shots. Something you're not going to be able to do with a standard camera Slider. They also showcased some very cool rotational shots on the gym floor, again something you can't do with a standard slider. Other BTS footage includes the use in a wedding, tutorial videos, and more. This is a great video really showcasing the versatility of this product, and c'mon you can't beat the price! I have a feeling this video is going to sell out the first run of these SpiderTrax dollies, so if you don't have one, now is your chance. Visit: PhotographyandCinema.com

Thanks Luke, great job! More information about Luke and the rest of the team that put together some creative video footage can be found on the YouTube description over here.

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Modeled after the SpiderTrax Rotating Video dolly from PhotographyandCinema.com, YouTube member ZelenPol pulled off some really fun footage. This is a fine example of the types of video footage you can capture with the SpiderTrax Rotating video dolly, that you can't achieve from a camera slider. I just recently shot a video / photo shoot last saturday in which i'll show some of my BTS SpiderTrax Dolly footage, but if you're not the DIY type and need something professionally made, the final first run of the SpiderTrax Dollies are running low. Check out more information at PhotographyandCinema.com.

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I'm not going to show off any fancy video making skills. This review is mainly to compare the IndieHardware Stabilizer vs. The Hague MMC. This is my first attempt at balancing the IndieHardware Video Cameara Stabilizer. I was able to balance this thing fairly quickly. I might not have it dead on, but it is possible to balance a Canon 7D + Sigma 20mm or even a Canon 5D Mark II + Sigma 20mm. I tried this same setup over on a Hague MMC, it just couldn't handle it.

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click images to find prices

The limited range of movement in the handle is going to prevent you from performing hardcore running shots, but for very smooth patient walking movements, the handle works. The Hague also suffers from a limited range of movement (they have almost the same design), but the Hague MMC has a longer handle. Having a longer handle 'appears' to have more range. It's like when kids cut the stick shift in their car, same stick shift, but feels like you're throwing it shorter when changing gears.

There seems to be 2 different versions of this stabilizer, so make sure you contact the seller to be clear about what camera you are trying to balance. The one I have has support for 2 weight stacks. There is another one that has only 1 weight stack similar to the Hague. I guess this is for really light camcorders. More weights means you can support a heavier camera. Can you just add more weights to a Hague? Not really, the IndieHardware gimbal is larger than the Hague which means it can balance and control that weight much better too.

This isn't a Steadicam Merlin or Glidecam HD, but the price isn't $400-$800 dollars either. If you're work consists of only a small percent of 'Steadicam' type shots, and you're not ready to invest into something expensive, you might want to try this one over the Hague.

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Just caught a twitter announcement from Aaron Dunlap about the Canon 550D / T2i 'LCD' Battery grips now available. I posted about these LCD Battery grips a short while back, and had many many questions about where to get the T2i version. I haven't used these myself, seems to have the same functions as a regular grip, but the LCD is there for the Intervalometer function (timelapse). It appears to be a limited timelapse function compared to the real Intervalometer remotes, but at least that's one less item to carry for short timelapses. Check out the new LCD Battery Grips for the Canon 550D / T2i.

lcd-battery-grip-t2i

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I just wanted to do something fun on the website, and give the chance for the readers of this blog something more to look forward to. Sorry i'm no Philip Bloom, or Shane Hurlbut, but in hopes to attract more 'sponsored' contests, i'm going to dig deep into my own pockets and kick off a simple little contest.

First, follow me on Twitter (which most of you already do), and then just Retweet this article. I'll choose one random follower and pay out of my own pocket a $50 dollar Amazon gift card 'EACH WEEK' from now until the end of August. (who knows maybe longer?)

Pretty simple right? One winner every week will be sent an Amazon (US) gift certificate code via email worth $50 US dollars. What are you waiting for? Start Retweet'ing!

Sponsors, if you're interested in giving these fine folks something to smile about during this contest, contact me.

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This blog is 'moving mountains' thanks to all the readers out there who link back. We've seen it before where i've blogged about an item and prices go up. I blogged about a 717AH fluid head that's been on the shelves for years, and basically wiped out that entire inventory in the first 4 hours of my blog post. (They are still on major backorder).

Here's another example. I've been peeking through the eBay listings today on DSLR Rig sales. Let's just say sales haven't been on the upward trend for these type of rigs. I did although blog about the first ever $99 dollar Rod Rig DSLR shoulder shooter and that particular item went out the door faster than the seller expected. Well 'Gini Rigs', the Korean DSLR rig manufacturer most likely caught on, saw the attention this blog provided, and decided to launch their own version of a $99 dollar dslr shooter. So thanks to all the readers who link back and share this website. You're efforts are driving down prices on the competition around the world. Check out the new $99 Dollar Korean DSLR Shooter on eBay.

If you want to do more, all you have to do is link back on your BlogRoll, Twitter, Facebook, Digg, and just get the word on out this blog. The more attention this blog gets, the sweeter the deals you'll get by driving down some of these ridiculous prices. Follow me on Twitter too!

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A friend just recently started shooting DSLR video and the Canon T2i is his first. He's had some practice on my 5D Mark II when I first got it years ago, but switching to an all DSLR workflow takes some getting used to. Originally he was using the Canon HV20 camcorder. Since he did have access to some Nikon Film lenses from past Photography hobbies, a simple adapter from eBay allowed him to use a Nikon 85mm on this project. This project was submitted to PopTent.net - a very fun video contest website with cash prizes and a cool social network twist. No additional lighting was used, just the Canon T2i + Nikon 85mm. Here's the direct link to his video submission.

I think he did a great job with very minimal experience in DSLR, and very minimal equipment. There's plenty of funny stories behind the making of this short clip, which we plan to do a 'Directors Cut' interview for. I'll sit down with him soon and ask him a bunch of questions on what it was like to shoot on DSLR.

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Above is an older video from Dynamic Perceptions LLC. I just heard a rumor that Dynamic Perceptions will be releasing their long awaited motion controlled timelapse rig. Ok, i'm lying they emailed me, I was on a newsletter list. It's not a rumor. I hope this isn't top secret guys! Soon to be released and awesome as hell, I can't wait to start seeing some Timelapse videos shot with their new motion controlled rigs. Dynamic Perceptions are responsible for the rig that was used to make that famous Iceland Volcano timelapse found here.

They promised a really low budget motion controlled timelapse slider, and from the estimated prices, it looks like they've met that promise. If you're interested in seeing more awesome footage, hit em up. If you guys happen to get one before me, share them videos.

Another fine example of the Dynamic Perceptions Timelapse dollies was used for this video.

Macro Timelapse Dolly Moves (Hacked GH1) from MILapse on Vimeo.

The most demanding moves for the timelapse dolly are macro. What's a better way to test my freshly hacked GH1??

This is using the dynamicperception.com timelapse dolly at full speed for various focus rack moves. All shots were captured in avchd VIDEO with a hacked GH1 (thanks to tester13! donate now! https://www.gh1-hack.info/) with a Sigma 105/2.8 macro. Most are 1-3 inches of travel...

I'm running the GH1 @ (40(5) 50(5) 56(5) 60(5) aka the jobless 'D' settings) which should result in 37.4 Mbps. It looks astounding to me! enjoy & feel free to download for a big screen mind melting experience...

Track: NIN "1 Ghosts I"