Glidetrack on a budget
by
, 02-02-2011 at 01:14 PM (11555 Views)
[QUOTE=Andy Lockwood;155949]So - the Glidetrack is all very lovely - but what if you can't afford the three hundred quid plus they want for the HD version (1mtr long)
I looked into what the product is and was surprised at its simplicity. Essentialy it's a track with linear bearings on. Admittedly they've refined it with fancy feet and a tripod mount etc - but I just wanted a basic slider that'd take my Z1E with no hassle.
So - onto eBay and for less than a hundred quid I got 2 x 20mm induction hardened rails 1.2 metres long, four mounting brackets and four linear bearing blocks. Turns out I way over estimated what I'd need as the kit is way heavier than I actually needed. 12mm rails would have been more than sufficient.
Anyhoo, I bolted the mounts down to some bits of aluminium I'd got lying around, added a flat plate to the linear bearing blocks, added an old Manfrotto mount I'd long forgotton about and hey presto - results below.
The glide is silky smooth. It's a tad heavy and would need two tripods to mount it on if I don't want to use it on the ground but It's a good start I think.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]1101[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]1102[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=CONFIG]1103[/ATTACH]
Again I think It proves that with just a little bit of thought you can get those 'cinematic' shots you lust after without shelling out fantastical amounts of cash on sexy gear...
As this is written - you can source the rails that I bought [URL="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SFC20X1100-Precision-Rail-kit-20mm-OD-X1100mm-Long-/250653706213?pt=UK_BOI_Industrial_Automation_Control_ET&hash=item3a5c2007e5"]HERE[/URL]. But I'd do a search and get maybe 12mm rails if you can.... unless you like humping heavy kit around. (The upside of mine is that is absolutely rigid - no twist at all).[/QUOTE]