If you’ve ever watched behind-the-scenes footage of a movie being shot, you will see many large cameras on tracks following the movement of the scene or moving through the shot, especially if a character is walking or running. A video slider is like a miniature version of this, well-suited to high-end cameras and even decent DSLR cameras.
Simply put, a video slider is a roller with rails for your camera to take a ride on. Essentially, you can hook your camera up to these rollers and use the slider to pan with your camera or move it side to side (adjustable to higher or lower) to take steady video while moving at a distance. It’s almost like a tripod, but one that moves with your camera to hold it steady. Sliders can also add a bit more drama to your shots.
The movement is much smoother, and some of the better slider products are more adjustable than others – for example, if your surface is not level you can adjust one of the legs to ensure a steady smooth shot regardless of the surface.
If you are shooting videos that involve panning across shots or capturing motion and you want to ensure the steadiest shot possible with no shakes or variation in the height or tilt of the camera, a video slider is a great piece of equipment any videographer should have in their toolkit.
When buying a video slider, you’ll want to make sure that the slider is designed for your particular type of camera and that camera’s weight. If the slider is too light, a heavier camera may not glide very well despite the manufacturer saying the slider can accommodate heavier equipment. When you can, try it out with your camera before buying.
You can check out a cool video about these sliders and how they work here.
Heather Rose
647-448-5804