Video Dolly

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rolling camera dollyrolling camera dolly

New double rail camera slider design (or dolly) on the market. This one doesn't look like it comes off the rails for some smooth table action, so it's pretty useless except to roll on it's rails. Very little specs, but it looks like standard 15mm rods with tripod mount ends. Even if it doesn't come off for the tables, the very simple design looks like it would be very efficient as a straight slider and with wide rails looks pretty stable. Very cool to see a bowl mount for quick leveling too. Pricing is just way too high to make a move on this market...


rolling camera dolly
find-price-button Straight Double Rail Dolly with bowl mount

If you're looking to get a real double rail slider, the best one on the market would be Cinevate's Pegasus. Not only does it run on inexpensive rails, but it comes off the track for all that smooth table action, as well as a rotating dolly shot. Nice little example put together by Cinevate below. Found here: https://Cinevate.com/Pegasus

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Unlike camera dollies that use an entire square platform, here's a build from AgeOfRockets.com that uses a configuration of simple planks in a very sturdy frame design. If built correctly, the unit should be able to break down fairly small and portable (less the rails). Full DIY and parts list following the link: https://www.ageofrockets.com/blog/?p=131

Swift Camera Dolly

Of course there's already a design on the market that shows how it's all put together, and how it's all taken apart. The Swift Dolly (coming out of India), comes with a portable 12' Rail system, rails ends, and portable camera dolly that can be broken down into several parts for traveling. The kit even comes with bags. For the price (and the ugly colored wheels), you might want to look into the DIY version first.

swift portable dolly

Swift camera dolly kit
find-price-button Swift Video Camera Portable Dolly with 12' Track

The hardest part about DIY track dollies are getting the wheels drilled in properly. If your angle of drilling does not have the wheels sitting in proper alignment, you'll get wobbly footage as you push down the track. For those who don't want to tackle the hardest part of cutting and drilling angle iron, there are some ready made dolly wheels that just need to be bolted in place. Just grab a single board, and you're ready to roll...

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find-price-button Ready Made Video Camera Track Dolly Wheel Assemblies

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Vimeo member Lolo Two is at it again, but this time with a more 'polished' (no pun intended) version of his DIY Conduit Slider. The first version here: http://cheesycam.com/diy-conduit-camera-slider/ using 1/2" conduit piping looked like a simple build, but this new version (the Big Brother) with more surface area, polished piping, and double the couplers seems like a very solid build. You'll notice the smooth tracking with a simple push from a screwdriver, and the amount of weight thrown on with a Cinder Block. Very very cool stuff. [Thanks Lolo Two]

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If you're an iPhone Video shooter, this Lensse Camera Stabilizer for phones is pretty fluid. (BTW that's not an iPhone. That's the Samsung Galaxy) I'm thinking it should be able to support my GoPro HD once i've added enough counterweights. The drilled brass socket for the Gimbal is smooth, but as other stabilizers like this the angle of rotation is limited. I'll need to really test the weight once my GoPro LCD Bacpac has come in, but it should be fine.

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find-price-button iPhone / Cell Phone Video Camera Stabilizer

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Someone asked about a quick release adapter that would work best moving from a Flycam Nano over to some other different rigs. If you're not using a Fluid head like the Manfrotto 701HDV, then there's no reason you need to stick with the Manfrotto Compatible QR Adapter. The best low profile quick release adapter would be the Manfrotto 394. This low profile wide plate is a perfect fit for DSLR's and also doesn't use the twisty little side knobs which makes it perfect for mounting on wide flat surfaces like non Manfrotto Fluid heads, Steadicams, Glidecams, Camera Cranes / Jibs, Sliders, DSLR Cages, and Shoulder Mounts. Yeah sometimes those little twisty knobs off to the side are annoying..


Manfrotto 394
find-price-button Manfrotto Low Profile Quick Release Adapter

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DIY slider video from Vimeo member Lolo Two. Here's a clever way to take some very inexpensive conduit tubing, a coupler, and with a basic set of tools, come up with a very sturdy camera slider. The coupler works out great since it's designed to fit perfectly around the EMT conduit tubing and also has some easy mounting points for the carriage. The video is pretty thorough on what it takes to get things together, but there's also a parts list following the video link. It's a simple DIY, and I believe that you all 'Con Du It' too... [Thanks Lolo Two]

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Vimeo member Switch Flick uses pieces from a Flycam Nano to make a DIY Spidertrax Rotating Dolly. Axles are a bit long on this first version, but it looks pretty legit with attention to details down to the bolts (much like I used in my setup). Of course, this is all assuming you've already dished out a bit of change for the Nano.

If you're not familiar with the Flycam Nano, another video was recently shot using a Canon 5D Mark II + 17-40mm F/4L + Rode Video Mic. That's quite a bit of weight, but Vimeo member Spencer Turley managed to pull off some great footage while doing some charitable work out in Tuvalu. Found here: https://www.vimeo.com/20742652

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find-price-button Flycam Nano Video Camera Stabilizer

If you're not familiar with Rotating Dollies, you can see how the Konova Dolly (cloned after my own design) was used in this video: http://cheesycam.com/test-drive-spidertrax-clone-korean-dolly/

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find-price-button Rotating Video Camera Skater Dolly

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When Borrowlenses.com first started out, there wasn't much available for Videographers (mainly photographers). It seems the line of rental equipment that can be had is expanding and includes some very cool stuff. A small 7 piece set of Zeiss Compact Prime lenses can go for upwards of $24K, or around $5K each. Not something most people want to invest in, but at least now it can be rented. Remember that you don't need to be in the area to pick the rental up, they'll box it up and ship it right out to you. You should check prices of Rental gear to see if you can squeeze add it into the client's budget. That could save you some cash for items you don't use very often.

phillip-bloom-pocket-dolly

Also adding in to the lineup of things is a DSLR slider. One rental piece available is the consistently sold out Signature Philip Bloom Pocket Dolly - by Kessler. Boy would I love to see some Cinevate Linear tracking systems on that list too. There's also Glidecam Stabilizers, and LED Video Lights, but extremely short on the DSLR Shoulder rig lineup (sucks). Much more available at the site and the list seems to be growing every week. All found following the link.

borrowlenses
visit-button BorrowLenses Website Camera Equipment Rental

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Vimeo member ek2008 really took his time making this DIY video camera stabilizer. Not only looks good, but works great as seen in the video above. Look through some of the older videos and you'll see it's been a work in progress for several months.

Vimeo member Tim Nitsch uses a simple servo, spool, and a bit of string to motorize an IGUS slider. More information on how it's all put together at the video link.