DP Slider or Glidetrack
 

Just wanted your input or any user experiences on either product.We are in the process of buying a slider but cannot decide which is better DP Slider or Glidetrack. Our cameras our quite heavy (Sony HD1000u) so we want to take that into consideration.

Thanks in advance for your input..

Kren

Vertical Video Works | www.verticalvideoworks.ca

As being the current owner of a Glidetrack, i would shot for the DP slider....

I find that with my glidetrack, the plastic bushings have slop in them, so that when you try to tilt the head on a glide, it loosens up...
Perhaps this wasn't the design intent, but nonetheless, build quality on the DP slider looks first rate...

I own a DPSlider and I love it. I love the vertical shots I get with it - although you will have to buy a bit of extra mounting gear to use it effectively vertically. I have plates on the end and the middle bottom of it so that I can go from horiz. to vertical very quickly.

we have a glidetrac and after seeings colleagues DP, I would choose the DP over glidetrack...or one up, the cinevate slider.

Thanks for your inputs...so far

DP Slider 3 Glidetrack 0

I'd say forget about both of them and go with a Cinevate Atlas30. They also make a tracking system that will support 200lbs. I have the Atlas30 and love it. It's super smooth every time. Yes, the unit weighs a bit (it uses stainless stell rods), but it's rock solid.

The solution to the whole question of rigidity isn't weight but good physics combined with good engineering.

I have two Glidetracks, both nicely engineered, but since they're solid they're bound to flex. Chris Harding's solution is the best (and cheapest I think).

Thanks Philip

Most commercial sliders are actually based on the Igus Linear Track which is designed for moving robotic units around a production line so they really do need to be on a solid surface if you have a larger camera!

As Philip says I ended up making a simple track using aluminium tube ... being an enclosed box section, aluminium tube is the stiffest extrusion you can get so no bending is evident. I just run an 8 wheeled mini dolly on the tube and there are no issues even with an 8lb camera!!

Regardless of which system you buy, be aware that if you suspend it in the middle only on a flimsy tripod it's going to want to bend and fall over!! Most people don't take support into consideration when buying a slider and it's only going to be as good as it's mounting. I personally have ditched the single tripod idea and now use two beefy lighting stands so be aware it does take a while to setup.

Chris

I used to own the glidetrack but later sold it because I was thinking about going with the cinevate carbon system.

I found the tutorial for building the "zaza" slider, which is basically a glidetrack without the nicely machine feet, and constructed a "glidetrack HD compact". It worked great for my application. I never had the issues with it bouncing and what not. I honestly think that some, not all, of the glidetrack complaints are from mis-use and not wiping down the rail once in a while. I've used it in sand, dirt, grass, etc. and have always been happy with it.

Anyway, I purchased a DP slider not too long ago. I was right about to pull the trigger on the atlas 30, but having used a friend's extensively, I was not fond of the weight nor the noise exhibit by the sliding. Some don't mind the noise, but it was a reason for me to pass on it. Now the DP slider was SMOOTH and quieter than the atlas 30, but louder than the glidetrack (although not by much). The catch 22 of the dp slider was that although it was light and SMOOTH, it caused me to sometimes overshoot a mark and have to do it backwards and fix in post or go very very slowly. When you have one take, overshooting a mark due to no friction is harder to deal with than friction. The atlas 30 has much more weight so it doesn't have that problem and the friction from the glidetrack bearings also are an advantage for slowing down easily.

Sold the DP slider to whom the new owner is very much enjoying and am continuing to use my homemade glidetrack. Yes it's heavier than the dp slider, yes it has a bit more friction, but for my shooting style and needs, I'm happy with it. I'm thinking about doing a thorough review of all 3 systems but eh...we'll see.

I would recommend building your own igus/zaza slider and seeing how you like it. Or if you're not too handy with tools, a drill press, and a thread tapper, purchase a glidetrack. One thing I can't comment on is how the weight of your camera will affect the glidetrack as I've only slid XH-A1s, HMC150, and Canon 5dmk2/7D. Thinking about your particular situation, maybe a DP slider would be good for you because of your heavier cameras and you won't have the overshooting of the mark issues I did. I'm just so used to the friction from the glidetrack I guess :S.

Cheers.

In my extensive experience with the Igus built slider (glidetrack/pocket dolly/zaza slider), I have found that I spend way more time trying to make the shot smooth and re-aligning bearings than I do getting good consistent shots out of it. The plastic bearings are what cause the problems. The bearings can get "sticky" or "mis-align" quite frequently... for example, you will be sliding smooth for about 5"-10" then you hit this "sticky" spot in the rail and the carriage wants to just stop. You can add more pressure and keep going, but then you will most definitely get jumpy looking footage. I'm looking into building an alternative slider or getting the DP Slider. I have tried out the DP Slider at a video conference and it was AWESOME to say the least (I cannot vouch for anything but the rigidity, smoothness, and features of the slider). It would be nice if it had adjustable friction on the slider to control how much pressure is needed on the carriage to move it... but just like a glidecam/steadicam, it takes practice to master it and hit your mark every time. The Atlas is great for certain uses I believe, but for a slider I think there are too many parts, it's too heavy, it's too loud, and you have to use two tripods or two supports because of the design. This has the best friction and smoothness of all sliders though. Like I said, for certain users it will be perfect.

I know I don't really have a great recommendation here, but do yourself a favor and save the stress for something else other than a sticky, non-consistent slider. Figure out what features are important to you and that should help you decide.

Thanks for all your feedbacks...

I don't know what others have done to to their glidetracks to help alleviate the stickyness, but from the start, I had the carriage looser than normal and found that it has more play which helps give it some leeway as far as gripping goes. Maybe that's the reason why I almost never had the jumping/stickiness others have had.

As far as hitting marks and practicing, in regards to having used a dp slider in actual wedding environment, I was always able to hit marks with glidetrack and atlas 30 first crack and found it much more difficult due to the DESIGN of the dp slider. The DP slider's lightweight and smooth slide make it hard to hit marks if you're doing a "shooting out" slide very quickly as the inertia being generated is hard to slow down by hand without having the push back shake at the end of the shot. Granted, I've only used it for 2 full day events so maybe with more time I could have gotten the same proficiency as a glidetrack/atlas30 in that regard. A solution I had to that issue was I put a small piece of foam from my pelican case pluck and pick into the end of the track so it would provide cushion as well as a dampened stop.

And agreed, I think a slider with adjustable bearing preload would certainly be the way to go :).

Cheers

We had the Glidetrack and sold it and purchased the Cinevate Heavy Lifter LTS with 48" rods...love it. Then was introduced to the DP Slider and love it. I now use the DP Slider almost exclusively because of the portability, vertical option and is solidly built.

I bought the first version of glidetrack (1 meter) and I found that it was too long for me. I found my self only using the middle part. And because of destination wedding, the track bended a bit which causing it to stick a lot more. I then bought glidetrack compact and HD compact. They also stick but as soon as I loosen up the bearings, it then went pretty solid. But I cannot do a lot of tilting with it or focus pulling because it would then start to be unsteady.

I have been wanting to buy the cinevate atlas but the weight was a deal breaker for me. Although it is very very smooth and steady, I needed something more portable. Then DPslider came in with the hot chicks parade and vertical slide branding

DP slider allowed me to do focus pulling, tilting/panning as I glide left or right. without the help of an assistant. this is great stuff... the only downside is that its not that great when you want to slow down to a point (as discussed before) but then again, I just used it for one shoot. We'll see how we go in later shoots.

Santo

I use WD40 to lubricate the bar before taking it out. Also helps the car start on damp mornings ;)

Must not forget that 'feature' Santo :)

I would say the DP slider but a loooooooonnnnnnggggg shot.. It is sooo portable and it works great! I sold my GT as soon as I saw some shots from this thing..

I got the DP the day before this, tested it out in my living room and here is what we came up with. I love it. I now have a ball head and plates all over this thing. It's actually pretty sweet to mount it to a light tripod so you can get many angles!!

“e.Session” Megan + Grant / Lake ArrowHead Resort Wedding impressivecreations.com

This is pretty new too.
The Millennium Biltmore, Los Angeles ~ “Festival of Brides” impressivecreations.com

I would not flinch about a DP!

Hope that helps!
Brian

yep well looks like a wishlist item for us...

We've been using a Glidetrack for the past 2 years and it does the job. There ARE times that it sticks, but the solution is generally to wipe down the tripod with a cotton cloth before a shot. We also try to always carry the track by the composite ends and never grab the track itself. The oil from your hands will increase your chances of having it stick.

The other issue we've encountered is that if you don't have the weight perfectly center on the sled then you can have issues with sliding because the sled will tilt on the track. This causes the plastic bushings on one side to have more friction than on the other. We've also had some issues with the sled 'rocking' back and forth on the track while sliding.

I'm sure all of that sounds horrible but we've been making the track work for us for many weddings now. Whether or not you should pick up a Glidetrack or a DP or an Atlas depends on what you really want from your slider and what you have to spend. If we were starting over right now and budget was not an issue I think we'd give the DP a try first, although personally I've yet to use one.

I have a Glidetrack and have never used the DP Slider... although I think it looks outstanding!

That being said, I love my Glidetrack and never leave on a shoot without it. I have the 3 foot version and rarely do I ever use all 3 feet... maybe two at best, if that.

Yes... it will stick at some points. I don't think it's ever cost me a shot though. You just have to know where it will get sticky and how to fix it.

Price-wise it can't be beat.

The DP Slider COULD be overkill if all you'll primarily be getting are tracking shots.
If you plan on going vertical, than the Slider may be the best choice.

Here is a highlight clip of a destination wedding in Costa Rica I produced using DP slider. This was my first shoot using DP slider.


If you travel a lot for your shoots, then I would recommend DP slider for its compact form factor (easy to travel with).

I own both glidetrack and dp slider, but lately I find myself leaning more towards dp slider for my shoots.

I have not tried the DP Slider, but I've begun using the glidetrack and have been thrilled with the results. Others have mentioned slight bumpiness, but with a rubber mallet to the side of the carriage place (while it's still on the track) fixes this instantly. Plus as others have mentioned, using a rubber band to pull the plate along (for smaller cameras) helps to absorb any further bumps. Glidetrack's customer service (response time, ship time, expertise) is amazing. Can't say enough good things about it.

Put me down as a DP Slider fan. I have both the V720 and V1200. I love the creative possibilities I have with the V series and a ball head. Here are a couple of videos showing why.

EventDV-TV

The "von" code that saves $50 on a DP Slider ends Sunday, June 6, so if you are planning on making a DP Slider purchase soon, do it before June 6 to save $50.

Nice stuff, Mark, as always!! I LOVE my DPSlider. Here's a clip from a wedding we shot two weekends ago - notice the very first couple of shots are DPSlider shots!

I'm not using the DPSlider much during the ceremony, but for prep and b-roll stuff it is absolutely beyond compare! I have pimped mine out so I can go from horiz. to vertical very, very quickly, and have two different heads I can use on it as well.

I can't recommend this thing enough. :)

Thanks for all your wonderful input and samples...we are gonna go ahead with the DP slider

Cheers!

My vote is for the DP Slider for sure! I used to have an IGUS built slider, but a friend of mine got the DP and let me use it, and I never imagined it could be so smooth compared to the Glidetrack version.

I recently made my own with Redi-Rail Linear Guides which is the same exact thing the DP is made with. I couldn't be any happier with it. I have a 2 foot and a 4 foot and they can do anything I can imagine.

What about Kessler Pocket Dolly? I am still deciding btw it and DPSlider...

http://www.kesslercrane.com/index.ph...280&Itemid=112

DP is a lot more light and portable compared to kessler. Kessler's only advantage is the rolling handle but that's about it. if you have a very shaky hand, then might consider the kessler, otherwise, i think dp will be better.

Santo

Glidetrack
 

I brought the Glidetrack for a documentary this Spring and was very impressed with it except when it bends on the end. It's 3 feet long and really requires two tripods to keep level.

?
 

what size DP slider to you find most useful for event work?

thank in advance,

dano

I have both the V720 and V1200. The V720 is about 30 inches long. I can get great shots on a relatively small tripod and it is very easy to move around getting reception decor shots, or even ceremony shots. 30 inches of tracking is usually plenty, as long as you know how to use foreground to your advantage. Another nice thing about the V720 is that I can pack it in a large suitcase when traveling on a airplane.

With the V1200 I need a much larger tripod, and even then, at times it's a little much. I also use the V1200 on a couple of light stands. I can move it around by myself, but it is not as mobile, especially for events.

If you don't think you will ever have to put your DP Slider in a suitcase, you could go with the V960. It's about 38 inches. Just because you have 38 inches of tracking distance does not mean you have to use it. If I never traveled, I may have considered the V960, but in the end, I think either the V720 or V960 will serve you well.

If I would've read this post earlier, I would've gotten a DP slider instead. I just got my glidetrack today, after running into some inconvenience. I think the company is run by one person and he wasn't very customer-oriented at all. While I received my fedex tracking notification, there are no indication that the product was even shipped for 4 days. So I had to write and ask what's going on. He then replied and said he was waiting on a supplier and will ship the next day. I thought he should've at least email me to notify me of the delay or compensate me for the shipping cost. He then indicated that I shouldn't be upset and that he has 30 days to ship the product. 30 days??? Where on the website indicates such standards? I paid fedex international priority, I wasn't expecting my product in 30 days! He may have created a good product, but he really needs to work on his customer service skills.

I've also used the V720 and feels its the best length for weddings and events.

BTW, thank you Mark and Trisha :). Trisha gave me some quick advice over the phone of the dp slider before I bought it, super helpful.

-Randy

LOL - Karen, have you actually read back what you've written...

nearly all companies of that nature say 30 days, and nearly all companies of that nature say that to accomodate any delays/issues with suppliers, and product manufacturing etc.
so he sent it off in 4 days. that's great! and u wanted shipping compensation?!!!!!!!!!!
wonder what sort of ebay feedback you leave people ;)

haha. that made my day! brilliant!

p.s. to the moderators - if i've stepped out of line here, please delete my post.

Richard, I was trying to leave a true feedback on my experience. The product works fine, I just wasn't satisfied on the customer service I got. The website indicated 2-3 days delivery and testimonials saying they receive their product in 1 day overseas. I hope my case was a one-time deal but businesses (big and small) need to notify customers of any delay especially after sending out a shipping notification on a product that wasn't shipped. $30 fedex international priority is not cheap. My expectations was built up by what I read on the website. When I paid international priority, I do expect my product in 2 days and not 1 week. Why should a customer absorb shipping costs when the company caused the delay? The delay of delivery could also cause lost of income for a customer too.

Everyone has different experiences, it's not fair to dismiss someone's negative experience because you like the product or had no problems with them or are friends with the company. Businesses need to keep improving themselves, to serve their customers better, not just focus on making money for themselves (especially during this recession). Alastair (the owner) may be good in developing a product like glidetrack, but he may need to hire some management to handle the logistics. You just don't advertise fast delivery if you can't deliver to EVERY customer that fast.

Karen, with the greatest respect even with the delays 4 days for an international delivery is amazing. I mean simply amazing. When I order anything online to get it next day is pushing it and if there is ever a delay I like it when the company tells me, this week ive ordered a lens from a dozern different suppliers, each time saying it was in stock and then telling me (or not in most cases) that it wasnt in stock.

Im not sure where the bad customer service comes into this. In order to get the deliverys out a courier is arranged based on a regular supply of parts but in life, things go wrong. Hey, I think somone put it best "Stuff happens". Alastair was up front, told you of the delay, didn't blame it on a courier problem. To expect compenstation is a bit OTT IMHO.

4 days is a way off being a week. Slightly over half a week to be honest.

When you are dealing with a smaller manufacturer on a "custom" item, sometimes there are delays - parts may not be in stock, suppliers may not be shipping, and so on. Toss in the uncertainties of international shipping (and you're saying it was $30 for a large realtively heavy item - that's a bargain I'd say), and you can't expect things to arrive "overnight". Was there a weekend involved in those 4 days?

I will say that saying "30 days" was probably bad form, but it wasn't 30, it was 5... perhaps 30 days is standard overseas?

Until such time as we have a "product printer" that magically creates things before our very eyes right after we hit "buy it now", it's not unreasonable to expect a few days between placing an order and that order being shipped.

I know places like Amazon, Zappos, and all that have put big huge marketing $$ into building expectations of "instant gratification", but you can't BUY a "slider" from them, for good reason, - it's a niche market, limited custom production type item. A little "slack" under the circumstances would be appropriate.

If you like the product and it's working for you (and will long after you "forget" it took an extra couple days to get to you), be glad that such a unique product is available at all... Small niche manufacturers don't have it easy, and the fact they survive at all in the current economic environment is nearly a miracle in and of itself.

It is nice to see some loyal fans out there for glidetrack. But you might not have read my post clearly. I could understand and accept delays. But I wasn't notified of one and had to initiate an email 4 days after I received my shipping notice. It is misleading and almost dishonest to have receive a shipping notice on a product that is not shipped. It's great that you're supporting the company, but support it in the right way. If their customer service remains the same, future consumers and the company itself will suffer in the long run. A product does not remain unique forever. I didn't write this post to downplay anyone. My intention was to request for positive changes.

Would it not have been best to request these positive changes directly with GT rather than in a public forum?