{"id":5522,"date":"2015-03-24T07:30:00","date_gmt":"2015-03-24T17:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/suggestionofmotion.com\/?p=5522"},"modified":"2015-03-24T07:34:24","modified_gmt":"2015-03-24T17:34:24","slug":"panasonic-gh4-stabilization-sliders-overview","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/suggestionofmotion.com\/blog\/panasonic-gh4-stabilization-sliders-overview\/","title":{"rendered":"Stay on Track: Using Sliders with the Panasonic GH4"},"content":{"rendered":"

When you need precise control and smooth camera moves, a slider is your best friend<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

A tripod allows smooth pans and tilts, but the camera is locked down, so you can only move it around a central axis. Handheld rigs give you free range of movement, but can introduce too much distracting and unsteady motion into your footage.<\/p>\n

A slider unlocks your camera, while also keeping keeping the camera smooth and under control, producing footage with a high production value that keeps the audience focused on what’s important<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"Camera<\/a><\/p>\n

Anatomy of a Slider<\/h2>\n

\"Slider<\/a><\/p>\n

Before diving deeper into what a slider can do for you, let’s take a moment to understand what a slider is<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Simply put, a slider consists of a carriage that slides<\/em> along a rigid track. The camera is mounted on the carriage, which allows it to capture smooth moving footage from one point to another.<\/p>\n

Think of a slider as putting the camera on rails.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Camera<\/a><\/p>\n

Carriage<\/h3>\n

\"Slider<\/a><\/p>\n

The carriage carries the camera smoothly along the track. It is equipped with wheels or bearings to allow the carriage to move along the track with as little friction as possible. The quality of the carriage’s connection to the track is essential for smooth motion.<\/p>\n

\"Ball<\/a><\/p>\n

For more control over the camera while using a slider, a fluid head is often mounted on the carriage. This allows you to set the orientation of the camera independently of the slider, and also allows for compound movements<\/strong> (e.g. tilting the camera while sliding the carriage).<\/p>\n

\"Tripod<\/a><\/p>\n

The carriage should also have a brake to keep the camera from sliding away when making adjustments or moving the slider.<\/p>\n

\"Slider<\/a><\/p>\n

Track<\/h3>\n

\"Slider<\/a><\/p>\n

The track keeps the camera moving along a predefined path. A track may be a single rail with channels or two rods, but the track must be completely smooth<\/strong> where it comes into contact with the carriage’s wheels, as any imperfection will show up in your footage.<\/p>\n

\"Rail-based<\/a> \"Rod-based<\/a><\/p>\n

A slider’s track is usually straight, but it may also be curved.<\/p>\n

\"Curved<\/a><\/p>\n

Mounting Points<\/h3>\n

\"Slider<\/a><\/p>\n

A slider has mounting points to use it with a tripod or a pair of light stands to set the height, position, and angle of the slider.<\/p>\n

\"Slider<\/a><\/p>\n

Most sliders at least have a mounting point in the center of the track for attaching the slider to a tripod.<\/p>\n

\"Slider's<\/a><\/p>\n

Many sliders also have mounting points on each end allowing you to use a pair of tripods or light stands for improved stability and rigidity. These mounting points are especially useful for longer sliders can can bend or flex.<\/p>\n

\"Slider<\/a><\/p>\n

Feet<\/h3>\n

\"Slider<\/a><\/p>\n

A slider’s feet can be used for placing the slider directly on a solid surface, rather than on a tripod. This is useful when you want to set the slider on the ground to shoot from a low angle.<\/p>\n

\"Slider<\/a><\/p>\n

The feet are usually adjustable so that the slider can be leveled on uneven terrain.<\/p>\n

\"Slider<\/a><\/p>\n

\n

Note:<\/strong> If your camera setup is front-heavy\/back-heavy, using the slider’s feet may not be as stable as mounting the slider on a tripod.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Camera Movements<\/h2>\n

These are the main camera movements that are possible with a slider:<\/p>\n

    \n
  • Dolly<\/strong> — Move the camera closer or further away from the subject.<\/li>\n
  • Truck<\/strong> — Move the camera left\/right across the subject.<\/li>\n
  • Pedestal<\/strong> — Raise or lower the camera in relation to the subject. You can also move diagonally by tilting the tripod head that the slider is attached to.<\/li>\n
  • Compound<\/strong> — Slide the carriage along the track while also panning and\/or tilting the camera using a fluid head on the carriage.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Here’s a video that demonstrates several of these camera movements on a slider:<\/p>\n