A slider is a tool that every filmmaker should have in their studio to obtain quality shots. Since it allows us to create fluid camera movements and the possibility of creating videos using different techniques, such as Stop Motion and Timelapse. Now, when choosing a slider, there are several aspects to consider to make the right decision. Thinking about it, we bring you the 4 tips to choose the ideal slider.
Tamaño
It is very important to know the target for the slider and to choose the rail length accordingly. A longer rail will give you more travel, but this is not always a good thing, as you will lose portability and increase the weight of the device. Therefore, if your purpose is to use the slider outdoors to perform time-lapses, it would be best to choose a length between 60 and 80 cm.
Another related thing could be the stability and anchor options, especially if you are looking to minimize vibrations using a motorized slider.
Slider Manual o Motorizado
Without a doubt, a manual slider is cheaper than a motorized one. However, there are other things to consider. First of all, the Manual slider will not allow you to make Timelapses because you will not have a way to control the shots between camera movements, but you will be able to achieve movement in videos. On the other hand, a motorized slider offers you greater precision and repeatability of movements.
Extra Tip: Look for Compatibilidad VMount para nuestro Slider Motorizado
Ejes de Control
Hoy en día, los sistemas de movimiento para cámaras son cada vez más completos. Ofreciendo control de múltiples ejes motorizados. En este caso, con el Mod Sliderpuedes incluir los módulos de panning, tilting y de follow focus para tener control de 4 ejes motorizados.
Mecanismos de Control
When operating a slider, it is essential to have effective control. Some devices have apps for smartphones or tablets. However, this can cause connection problems and disable the device from which the slider is controlled. Therefore, it is always better to have a dedicated remote.
On the other hand, for stop-motion filmmakers, the use of specialized software such as Dragonframe ofrece un mayor control sobre los movimientos y disparos de la cámara. Además, el protocolo de comunicación o sistema de mensajes que Noxon uses is open source, which allows you to manually create the motion description messages to move the device with sub-millimeter precision. If you want more information, you can read our post about how to use your motorized slider with Dragonframe.
