Mini Dollys at DVinfo.net

Jonas Nystrom · July 8th, 2006, 03:35 PM

I'm an happy owner of an Axis-dolly. It's not to far from the P+S skater, but so far (less) away in pricing.

It's solid piece of work, really well done. The con's is maybe that the Axis-dolly a little bit to high and (maybe same for all skaters) when your dollie back and forth the dolly will "lose track", and you have to "manually" adjust and lift the angels after three to four times to get it back on track. But over all, and compared to the price of the competitors, 4 out of 5!

Anyone tested any other mini dollys?

Jonas Nystrom · July 8th, 2006, 03:41 PM

Here is a picture of my set-up, should been in previous post, but I messed it up - here it is anyway!

Gabriel Yeager · July 21st, 2006, 09:00 AM

Wow! Thats really cool! I've never heard of a mini-dolly before!
What do you use for the track? And are those casters?

Steven Davis · July 21st, 2006, 09:10 AM

That's really cool, but obviously something you don't want to 'faceplant.'

Rudi Meier · August 14th, 2006, 05:01 AM

I attached a picture of my DIY - Skater...
It was a lot of work but it works perfect! :)

Gabriel Yeager · August 26th, 2006, 04:23 PM

Very slick looking Rudi! How did you get that plat form?

~Gabriel~

Rudi Meier · August 27th, 2006, 12:19 PM

When you look on the P+S Homepage, you find everything you need! Take a look at their pictures, videos and manual!

Gabriel Yeager · August 27th, 2006, 02:10 PM

Whats "P+S"?

Rudi Meier · August 30th, 2006, 09:24 AM

Have a look here: http://www.pstechnik.de/en/skater.php

and also in the DVXuser Forum: http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?t=59132

Phil Bloom · November 25th, 2006, 09:28 AM

does anyone know which is the best alternative to the skater mini that is available to people in the UK AND that can take a full size pro camera?

Martin Munthe · July 3rd, 2007, 04:46 AM

I've designed a rail system that can double as a desktop dolly. You simply lift the mini dolly of the track and remove the guiding wheels underneath it to make it go on four wheels on a plain surface. If you have a Manfrotto or Bogen head - with out a ball - you can attach the camera directly to the base plate using the 3/8" screw and get the camera really low. I use it all the time for feature film work. It's not as sophisticated as the P+S Technik dolly but it will definitely give you some nice desktop shots.

I have a demo clip over at http://www.operafilm.com/mrail.html

July 12th, 2007, 09:58 AM

Looked at the site pretty nice! A bit on the pricey side for me...

David W. Jones · September 6th, 2007, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phil Bloom

does anyone know which is the best alternative to the skater mini that is available to people in the UK AND that can take a full size pro camera?

Phil, the Skater Mini Dolly supports 30kg/66lbs.

I built my own out of Plywood, but have only tested it with a camera rig around 20lbs.

Anmol Mishra · October 5th, 2008, 09:13 AM

One question, this requires a smooth surface. Can someone recommend a portable smooth surface that can be carried around ? Perhaps a smooth glossy rubber mat ? Not sure what this would be like though,but its nice to have a portable smooth surface to carry around..

Sverker Hahn · November 30th, 2008, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anmol Mishra

One question, this requires a smooth surface. Can someone recommend a portable smooth surface that can be carried around ? Perhaps a smooth glossy rubber mat ? Not sure what this would be like though,but its nice to have a portable smooth surface to carry around..

I would look for a corrugated plastic used as cheap roof for greenhouses and carports Glasfiber & Plastprodukter plexiglas uterumstak polykarbonat akrylplast plastskivor(link from Sweden just to show you ...). (Should be possible to cut into a proper size. Use it as a track for the dolly. No soft bends, however.

July 8th, 2006, 03:35 PM	#1
Jonas Nystrom Major Player Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Göteborg, Sweden Posts: 306	Mini Dollys I'm an happy owner of an Axis-dolly. It's not to far from the P+S skater, but so far (less) away in pricing. It's solid piece of work, really well done. The con's is maybe that the Axis-dolly a little bit to high and (maybe same for all skaters) when your dollie back and forth the dolly will "lose track", and you have to "manually" adjust and lift the angels after three to four times to get it back on track. But over all, and compared to the price of the competitors, 4 out of 5! Anyone tested any other mini dollys? __________________ Jonas Nyström, DoP :: HOT SHOT® SWEDEN :: www.hotshot.nu :: RED #1567, RED 18-50mm T3 :: XL A1, Letus Extreme :: XL H1, 20X & 6X lens (for sale) :: www.vimeo.com/nystrom

July 8th, 2006, 03:41 PM	#2
Jonas Nystrom Major Player Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Göteborg, Sweden Posts: 306	and a picture... Here is a picture of my set-up, should been in previous post, but I messed it up - here it is anyway! Attached Thumbnails __________________ Jonas Nyström, DoP :: HOT SHOT® SWEDEN :: www.hotshot.nu :: RED #1567, RED 18-50mm T3 :: XL A1, Letus Extreme :: XL H1, 20X & 6X lens (for sale) :: www.vimeo.com/nystrom

July 21st, 2006, 09:10 AM	#4
Steven Davis Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Richmond, VA Posts: 3,065	That's really cool, but obviously something you don't want to 'faceplant.' __________________ What happens if I push the 'Red' button?

August 14th, 2006, 05:01 AM	#5
Rudi Meier Tourist Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: GERMANY - NRW Posts: 4	I attached a picture of my DIY - Skater... It was a lot of work but it works perfect! :) Attached Thumbnails __________________ My footage on RevoStock Btw, you find some Footage of my RADIATUS - Skater Dolly when you click on the link above. In the "MEDIA SEARCH" type "Gun". The first 3 shots are made with the Skater. If you dont want to see my Portfolio first @ RevoStock, click here for the direct link.

August 27th, 2006, 12:19 PM	#7
Rudi Meier Tourist Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: GERMANY - NRW Posts: 4	When you look on the P+S Homepage, you find everything you need! Take a look at their pictures, videos and manual! __________________ My footage on RevoStock Btw, you find some Footage of my RADIATUS - Skater Dolly when you click on the link above. In the "MEDIA SEARCH" type "Gun". The first 3 shots are made with the Skater. If you dont want to see my Portfolio first @ RevoStock, click here for the direct link.

July 21st, 2006, 09:00 AM	#3
Gabriel Yeager Major Player Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Washington, NorthWest USA Posts: 788	Wow! Thats really cool! I've never heard of a mini-dolly before! What do you use for the track? And are those casters?

August 26th, 2006, 04:23 PM	#6
Gabriel Yeager Major Player Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Washington, NorthWest USA Posts: 788	Very slick looking Rudi! How did you get that plat form? ~Gabriel~

August 27th, 2006, 02:10 PM	#8
Gabriel Yeager Major Player Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Washington, NorthWest USA Posts: 788	Whats "P+S"?

August 30th, 2006, 09:24 AM	#9
Rudi Meier Tourist Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: GERMANY - NRW Posts: 4	Have a look here: http://www.pstechnik.de/en/skater.php and also in the DVXuser Forum: http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?t=59132 __________________ My footage on RevoStock Btw, you find some Footage of my RADIATUS - Skater Dolly when you click on the link above. In the "MEDIA SEARCH" type "Gun". The first 3 shots are made with the Skater. If you dont want to see my Portfolio first @ RevoStock, click here for the direct link.

November 25th, 2006, 09:28 AM	#10
Phil Bloom Trustee Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: London UK Posts: 1,939	does anyone know which is the best alternative to the skater mini that is available to people in the UK AND that can take a full size pro camera? __________________ Philip Bloom Cinematographer, Director, Filmmaker www.philipbloom.net

July 3rd, 2007, 04:46 AM	#11
Martin Munthe Major Player Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Stockholm, Sweden Posts: 331	I've designed a rail system that can double as a desktop dolly. You simply lift the mini dolly of the track and remove the guiding wheels underneath it to make it go on four wheels on a plain surface. If you have a Manfrotto or Bogen head - with out a ball - you can attach the camera directly to the base plate using the 3/8" screw and get the camera really low. I use it all the time for feature film work. It's not as sophisticated as the P+S Technik dolly but it will definitely give you some nice desktop shots. I have a demo clip over at http://www.operafilm.com/mrail.html __________________ Martin Munthe VFX Supervisor/DP/Director

July 12th, 2007, 09:58 AM	#12
Keith Brooks Posts: n/a	Mrail System Looked at the site pretty nice! A bit on the pricey side for me...

October 5th, 2008, 09:13 AM	#14
Anmol Mishra Major Player Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Sydney Australia Posts: 401	Portable Tabletop One question, this requires a smooth surface. Can someone recommend a portable smooth surface that can be carried around ? Perhaps a smooth glossy rubber mat ? Not sure what this would be like though,but its nice to have a portable smooth surface to carry around..