Can anyone recommend a good slider?

[Bill Edmunds]

I shoot with the Panasonic GH3/GH2 cameras. My current slider does not perform up to my expectations; it is a slider in the truest sense, meaning it doesn't have bearings/rollers. I just cannot get consistently smooth moves with it. Thus I'm looking for something else. Any recommendations? I'd like to keep this under $500. I was looking at this one:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/903441-REG/varavon_vasc_sllite800_slide_camera_lite_800.html

[Jo Ouwejan]

Have you searched for the Igus slider? Very good and cheaper.

[Clive McLaughlin]

I have a Konovo K3, which I've been pretty happy with. But recently I tried a friends Igus and its very different. It slows to a stop a lot quicker, but when controlled by hand I found it buttery smooth! The design of the Konovo unfortunately gathers dirt and grit which makes the slide feel less smooth (although not to the extent it appears in the footage). The Konovo range has great adjustable feet though!

[Robert Benda]

Gently used, the Cinevate can be found for about $500

Amazon.com: Cinevate CILTAT1003 Atlas 10 FLT - 26-Inch LTS with Regular Ball Feet (Black): Camera & Photo

[Daniel Latimer]

I haven't used it, but cinevate makes good products. They have the duzi which is smaller and cheaper than the atlas. Made for run and gun situations.


Duzi Camera Slider

[Clive McLaughlin]

duplicate post

[Giancarlo Fajardo]

I have a Konova K3 slider as well and I like it enough. I don't have experience with other sliders but it's pretty smooth and for the price, there's nothing else out there. I just have issues with smoothness sometimes and adjusting friction.

[Dave Partington]

Kesler Pocket Dolly. Awesome.

Cinevate Pegasus - Awesome.

I have both and can't complain about either. I would like to get the motors for the pocket dolly for unmanned repeatable moves.

Unfortunately, neither are within your proposed budget. Before these I have the Igus slider (TERRIBLE!!! No bearings and kept having sticky moments) and some other slider I can't remember the name of. In the end I'd wasted money on two cheap products so ended up spending what I should have done in the first place (I'd have saved money by buying higher quality the first time).

As mentioned above, the Cinevate Atlas is also a great slider. I've used one but don't own it.

[Mark Von Lanken]

I love the DP Sliders, both the Standard and Mantis, but to be totally honest, I have not used any other sliders. The tough thing about buying online is not being able to get your hands on the gear and compare it side by side with other gear.

The Varavon slider at B&H might work great and if you don't like it, at least you can send it back to B&H and only be out the shipping. You could always make a trip down to B&H and try out the sliders they sell first hand so you don't end up sending back two or three until you find the one you like, but that's just me...always looking for an excuse to go to NYC and B&H. ;-)

Back to the DP Slider. If you do not need to slider on the floor or ground, I would go with the Standard 720, which is about $375. If you do need to slide on the floor, ground or any uneven surface, the Mantis 720 is the way to go, about $575.
DP Slider

Here is a video we made about the DP Slider Mantis
Von Films - MantisAndPrimeVon.mp4

[Peter Riding]

This new product called the Kamerar Big Slider looks promising:

Photography and Cinema - Store Kamerar BIG Slider

Just ordered one. Shipping to the UK is £75. I've had customs bills on other stuff from them in the past as well so its not as affordable as it first looks but P&C products are normally pretty good.

Pete

[Steve Bleasdale]

Two Konovas k3s... sometimes need to adjust but pretty stable and smooth

[Peter Riding]

Kamerar Big Slider arrived today. Pretty good service, ordered Monday, delivered Thursday all the way from Shanghai.

Nice solid bit of kit and a step up from my DIY botches.

You know what a brain teaser it can be to get vertical reveals? Especially if using a full size camcorder rather than a dSLR. Well I dug out an old Manfrotto 322 RC2 heavy duty pistol grip. Works a treat as it gives enough clearance from the slider and tripod. Just ordered an extra plate for it called the 322RA as its more versatile still if you have these plates on both the possible mounting points on the grip rather than having to change one over.

Manfrotto 322RA Additional Camera Plate Adapter For: Amazon.co.uk: Camera & Photo

The head itself:

Manfrotto 322RC2 Heavy Duty Grip Ball Head: Amazon.co.uk: Electronics

Pete

[Peter Riding]

I should clarify that the head I linked to goes on top of the sliders rail, and it is not the means of attaching the slider to a tripod

Pete

[Kyle Root]

Konova K3 here too. Like mine.

[Victor Nguyen]

I use to have a Konova k3. Hated that thing. Now I have Kessler Stealth and it's so much nicer. The tension knob is a big add on.

I would say look into the Cinevate Duzi.