{"id":5542,"date":"2015-04-07T07:30:00","date_gmt":"2015-04-07T17:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/suggestionofmotion.com\/?p=5542"},"modified":"2015-05-18T10:29:40","modified_gmt":"2015-05-18T20:29:40","slug":"panasonic-gh4-stabilization-sliders-features","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/suggestionofmotion.com\/blog\/panasonic-gh4-stabilization-sliders-features\/","title":{"rendered":"10 Things You Should Know Before Buying a Slider for the Panasonic GH4"},"content":{"rendered":"
Ready to pick up a slider for the Panasonic GH4? Make sure you choose the right slider<\/strong> by following these 10 simple steps.<\/p>\n A camera slider is an excellent way to add production value<\/strong> to your projects with smooth, controlled, and purposeful camera movements that help to guide the viewer through your story.<\/p>\n Shooting with a slider can make a big difference, but if you choose the wrong slider<\/strong>, your production can quickly go downhill due to unnecessary bulk, slow setup, poor control over the camera, and worst of all, wobbly footage<\/strong>.<\/p>\n When you’re shooting on a slider, one wrong move can ruin the whole shot.<\/p>\n Follow this 10 step checklist to ensure that you choose a slider that is easy to carry, quick to set up, and delivers silky-smooth footage every single time.<\/p>\n Use this checklist to quickly and easily see how a slider stacks up and whether it will meet your needs. You’ll also receive future resources and updates to help you tell your stories.<\/p>\n Pay $0<\/strong> or more for this resource. How much? You decide!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n Download Slider Checklist<\/a>\n<\/div>\n\n We could go deep into a discussion on the pros and cons of different types of sliding solutions, but I’ll make this simple– get a slider that uses ball bearings<\/strong>.<\/p>\n A slider with ball-bearings that lock on to the track has several benefits:<\/p>\n Bottom line:<\/strong> Accept no substitutes. Get a slider that uses ball bearings.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n A smooth track is essential for smooth camera movements. The tiniest bump will show up in your footage.<\/p>\n There are two common types of tracks for small sliders– a solid rail or two separate rods. When it comes down to it, both types of tracks work well<\/strong> as long as they are smooth.<\/p>\n However, it’s important to keep in mind that the outside of the slider is the most vulnerable to damage<\/strong>. Therefore, carriages with bearings that slide along the outside<\/em> of the track will be affected by any nicks or dents on this exposed area, and will definitely show in your footage.<\/p>\n For the most protection against damage that will affect the slider’s performance, you can choose a slider with bearings that roll along the inside<\/em> of the track such as Varavon’s Slidecam EX<\/strong> or Cinevate’s Duzi<\/strong>.<\/p>\n However, these types of sliders not as common, so if you choose a slider with bearings that roll along the outside of the track, make sure you take great care to avoid damaging the slider by keeping it in a protective case whenever the slider is not in use.<\/p>\n Pro Tip:<\/strong> If you shoot frequently in environments with a lot of sand or dirt (like the beach), rod-based sliders are easier to keep clean than sliders with enclosed rails.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Bottom line:<\/strong> Sliders with bearings that roll along the outside of the track are more vulnerable to damage. A single dent can affect the slider’s performance.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The GH4 is a lightweight camera, but it’s still important to carefully review a slider’s weight capacity to ensure it can handle your entire setup.<\/p>\n Make sure there’s a good buffer between your camera setup and the slider’s maximum weight capacity. You do not want to use a slider at its limits as this can result in stuttering and can make the slider difficult to control.<\/p>\n Furthermore, the slider must be able to handle an even heavier load if your camera setup is front or back heavy (e.g. due to a large lens), as that exerts more stress on the slider.<\/p>\n The slider for the GH4 should support a minimum of 9lbs<\/strong>. Of course, while a higher weight capacity is better, it’s not necessary to go all out for a slider just because it can handle a heavier load if you’ll never use it to its full potential.<\/p>\n Here are a few sample setups with the GH4 to give you an idea of what type of weight capacity your slider will require:<\/p>\n Here are some additional accessories that you may want to factor in as well:<\/p>\n Bottom line:<\/strong> Get a slider with at least a 9lb weight capacity, plus an ample buffer to handle heavier loads.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Sliders come in a variety of lengths, so you need to decide how much travel you need from a slider.<\/p>\n Obviously, longer sliders give you more travel, but it’s not quite that simple– more isn’t always better<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Sure, more travel means more options, but longer sliders are also heavier, bulkier, and require more support to keep from flexing (i.e. a tripod to support each end of the slider). Additionally, you’ll need more room to set up a longer slider, which may be difficult when shooting in small spaces.<\/p>\n On the other hand, a shorter slider may provide less travel, but it’s much more portable and lightweight, making it a no-brainer to take the slider with you on all of your shoots– even when traveling.<\/p>\n Different slider lengths are appropriate for different situations– a 3ft slider isn’t necessarily better<\/em> than a 2ft one. In fact, a slider with 18-24″ of travel is the sweet spot for many shooters. It delivers a fair amount of camera movement, can be mounted on a single tripod, and is easy to carry around.<\/p>\n When the occasional shot comes along that calls for a longer slide, you can simply rent a slider with more travel. There’s no need to deal with the hassle of owning a large slider if you’re not going to make use of it regularly.<\/p>\n Bottom line:<\/strong> A slider with 18-24″ of travel is the sweet spot for most shooters.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Most sliders give you two options for mounting the slider on a tripod, each of which comes with some benefits and drawbacks.<\/p>\n The first options is to attach the slider to a single tripod using a mounting point on the center of the slider’s track.<\/p>\n This is the simplest way to mount the slider, as it only requires a single tripod. This options also works best on shorter sliders– longer sliders can flex and wobble when mounted on just a single tripod.<\/p>\n The vast majority of sliders offer this mounting option. In fact, some sliders– such as Edelkrone’s SliderPlus<\/strong>— only<\/em> provide a mounting point in the center of the slider.<\/p>\n Many sliders also provide mounting points on both ends of the slider, allowing you to use two<\/em> tripods (or light stands) to support the slider.<\/p>\n This mounting option is ideal for longer sliders (3ft+) and keeps the track from flexing when the camera slides to either end.<\/p>\n However, setting up and mounting the slider on two tripods requires more time than using a single tripod. For example, leveling a slider across two tripod (instead of just one) can take a lot longer. Angling the slider for a diagonal movement can also take longer because you have to coordinate the angle of two<\/em> tripod heads, rather than just tilting a single one.<\/p>\n Bottom line:<\/strong> Center mounting is the simplest and ideal for short sliders. End mounting requires more setup time, but is practically required for sliders 3ft or longer.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Just because the GH4 is so small doesn’t mean you can’t use a slider beefy enough to handle larger cameras like the RED Epic.<\/p>\n You can do this, and the slider would likely work well, but you would be missing out on of the GH4’s greatest benefits– its portability<\/strong>. The GH4 packs a powerful punch, yet it’s still small enough to take with you everywhere you go.<\/p>\n Are you willing to give up that portability whenever you want to use a slider?<\/p>\n If not, there are portable sliders that easily fit in a backpack such as Edelkrone’s SliderPlus Medium<\/strong> that gives you 24in of travel in a compact package that weighs under 4lb.<\/p>\n The effects of a portable slider ripples through your entire workflow– less support gear to haul to your shoots, a lighter load, faster setup, and easier to use. Ultimately, this means you can start shooting faster<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Bottom line:<\/strong> A portable slider streamlines your entire workflow.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Portable or not, even a small slider needs a brake.<\/p>\n A brake allows you to lock the carriage in place on the slider to keep the camera from sliding away when you’re moving the slider or making adjustments.<\/p>\n A fully-loaded camera rig sitting on a low-friction carriage can build up a lot of momentum when it starts to slide out of control. There’s nothing scarier than seeing your unattended camera slide away.<\/strong><\/p>\n Bottom line:<\/strong> A brake locks the carriage in place on the slider. No slider should be without one (though some are).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Some sliders allow you to adjust the tension between the carriage and the track to increase or decrease drag.<\/p>\n More force is required to move the carriage as drag is increased. This gives you more control, which is especially useful for very slow camera movements.<\/p>\n Conversely, the carriage gets easier to move when drag is decreased, allowing you to move the camera with a very light touch. This is useful for fast slides or when you need more dynamic control over the slider (e.g. following a subject moving back and forth).<\/p>\n Bottom line:<\/strong> Whether you want to move fast or slow, a slider with adjustable drag gives you more control over the quality of your camera movements.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n When you buy a slider, you’re getting more than just a single piece of equipment– you’re investing in a platform<\/strong>. An ideal slider should have the ability to be expanded in the future to add new features and functionality.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n
Free Download: Interactive Slider Checklist<\/h2>\n
1. Start off with the Right Roller<\/h2>\n
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2. A Smooth Operator Needs a Smooth Track<\/h2>\n
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3. Check the Slider’s Weight Capacity<\/h2>\n
Sample Camera Setups<\/h3>\n
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4. Decide How Far You Want to Go<\/h2>\n
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5. Choose Your Mounting Options<\/h2>\n
Center Mount<\/h3>\n
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End Mounts<\/h3>\n
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6. Decide if Portability is a Priority<\/h2>\n
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7. No Brake is a Deal-Breaker<\/h2>\n
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8. Does the Slider Have Adjustable Drag?<\/h2>\n
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9. Check the Slider’s Expansion Potential<\/h2>\n