Glide Track - The portable dolly system

What makes a Glidetrack slider: The key components

A DSLR camera slider should improve the quality of filming of any piece of filming equipment that can, along with a slider, be attached to your tripod.

The advantage of the DSLR camera slider is that it is very portable and takes no time at all to assemble. It’s really easy to re-adjust your tripod into other positions and start shooting again for other angle. The choice of locking heads is also very important – the right type of head allows you to shoot with your DSLR on a tripod and slider and, with a few quick releases, also lets you  shoot with your camera in your hand in no time at all.

Glidetrack camera sliders can have unique designs but they also have carriages that sit above two linear glide rails. The Hybrid slider system runs on high precision extruded industrial grade rail that is made of hard anodized aluminum. The rail is of a heavier duty extrusion, which makes the Hybrid perfect for mid to large size rigs that may include external monitors, matte boxes or support systems. In addition to the traditional Drylin self lubricating liners, the new carriage now runs on four self lubricating, dry running roller bearings. As a result, The Glidetrack Hybrid Carriage requires 4-5 times less force to move than the traditional Drylin liners.

Glidetrack DSLR camera slider tracks can be up to 2 metres long. Adjustable high grip and non-marking rubber feet come as standard with your Hybrid slider, as does a locking carriage. The feet have been specifically designed so you can quickly compensate for uneven ground when shooting. They allow the Glidetrack Hybrid to be used horizontally, vertically, at inclines and even upside down. The DSLR camera slider can be assembled and ready for work within minutes.

DSLR camera slider tracks are typically made of aluminum because it does not corrode as easily as other metals of similar compounds and weights. To ensure that you get the best results, why not use a spirit level to make sure your slider is how you want it sitting. Your camera cannot be directly attached to your chosen Glidetrack slider so you are going to need a tilt/pan head or ball head. The mount that sits on the rails can be adjusted for vertical and horizontal movement. Did you know that you can also screw two mounts together and bend them at various angles at the joint, so the motion can be both vertical and horizontal?

A Glidetrack camera slider has tracks that are linear. Such great quality equipment was only previously seen in the professional environment but now this is possible to achieve in your home videos as well.

Some sliders use bushes and work on friction and resistance to move while others use wheels to create a ‘no friction’ effect but Glidetrack sliders use dry running bearings and the propulsion comes from your hand physically pushing the camera along the slider and rail. No motor or pulley system can beat the good old-fashioned hand-eye coordination that we were born with.

What a camera slider adds to your portfolio

As your DSLR smoothly rolls across its camera slider, the camera is capturing the object it is focused on at various angles. Camera sliders ensure that you add extra dimensions to your video frames to enhance the action.

The coverage that a DSLR camera slider offers is tremendous. If you want to shoot low shoots or shots at ground level you can do this without placing yourself in a contorted position of discomfort or bending. A camera slider runs on one rail instead of the two rails most production cameras use and these can be adjusted horizontally or vertically very easily to enhance the various camera angles you can work with.

Imagine the rails acting just like the arm of a crane and get you the scenery that the regular tilt/turn function cannot afford. A good way to think of the limitations of the two rails is if you were on elevated ground and were trying to shoot something below you – the angles are just not right.

A camera slider designed for use with a DSLR camera can bring out the true purpose of videography. There is very little point in shooting a video of static objects. Your run of the mill still photographer can do that and get better results as it is their job. Camera sliders, such as the Glidetrack range, demonstrate horizontal, vertical as well as rotatory motion. A DSLR camera slider adds more description and visual dimension to your shoots without the need of too much background commentary, which could reduce the overall appeal of your video. Too much background commentary will disturb the viewers with unnecessary dialogue. Having the minimal amount of commentary allows the audience to focus on what they are seeing and judge for themselves. A camera slider designed for DSLR cameras can work in tandem with a zoom lens. A number of times you may feel that the lens does not focus on objects in the way that you wish them to. The lens may work too fast or slow and you could be dissatisfied with the effect you have created. Positioning of the lens will become a focus of your time and you will only get better and quicker the more times you have to reposition the lens. A DSLR camera slider does all that for you and more.

What’s more, a DSLR camera sliders adds a professional look and feel to your amateur video.  Your videos will acquire the stature that will make them stand out. With a DSLR camera slider you now have another tool for that informative video blog in which you can use to enhance cinematic effects

One of the best things about a DSLR camera slider: is that it is not hard to assemble. You can bring your inclination to use technology to play and you can add more improvisations.

We hope that this blog has shed some light on how a camera slider can add a professional feel to your video portfolio. Stay tuned over the next few weeks for more examples of how camera sliders can play an important part in your future videos and their worth.