I’m currently preparing to shoot a feature film and the script calls for some slow, small movements. Due to the scale of production and budget it doesn’t make sense and is simply not practical to rent a large railcar system or trolley, so ultimately the best option is of course to use a slider. photos, but if you select the wrong slider, your photos won’t be available.
Of all the gear I’ve purchased over the years, one of the few items I’ve never owned is a slider. I’ve rented a lot of sliders and shot them, but never found one that was worth the investment for me. They seem to be either very cheap and flimsy or a bit overkill for my needs. I was looking for something in between that was cost effective without sacrificing the end result. There was no need to buy one until this movie project, so I spent the past month completing my homework and quizzes.
I’ll discuss a few sliders that I focus on and explain which one I choose and why. But first, for those new to sliders, it’s important to note that there are two main types of sliders: those that use friction and those that use smooth bearings. Generally speaking, any slider that uses bearings will be smoother. They glide along the track almost effortlessly. Friction-based sliders are generally stickier and produce slightly lower quality. Still, depending on the camera and specific slider you’re using, some friction-based sliders may be a good choice. Additionally, on high-end sliders, you can often purchase a motor that will automatically slide the camera at a speed you can adjust. This is often great for time-lapses and other situations, but motors can be very expensive. In some cases, almost as much as the slider itself.
When I started looking for sliders, I seriously considered three sliders, one of which was friction based and the other two were bearing based:
The Hague Camslide – $300 USD
Cinevate Atlas FLT – $579
Kessler Invisible Slider – $899
All three are tempting. I came across Hague (which I had never heard of before) at a local camera store. Of the three sliders, it’s the only one that’s friction-based, but after trying it out initially, I was impressed. Considering the price point and build, it’s pretty smooth. I bought it, took it home and started test shooting. Photos taken with a lens with an image stabilizer look very good, but not so good with a lens without one. Ultimately, I wasn’t 100% satisfied and continued looking for a slider.
The Cinevate and Kessler sliders seem to be the next best options to me. They both use bearings and are more rigidly constructed, which I think is equally important.
After some camera testing of the Kessler and Cinevate, I ended up choosing the Cinevate. Both sliders are very well constructed and both are very smooth – but I was eventually able to get better shots on the Cinevate and it seemed to work. The price is over $300 cheaper and a great value.
All in all, I highly recommend the Atlas FLT for its great value for money. If your budget is tight, The Hague is also a good choice. You may be more limited on when and where you can use it, but it will be a viable option in many situations.
