Anyone know this equipment??? A week or so ago some guys were shooting a local movie at one of the beach bars here in Freetown. They were using a Canon (5D I think?) but I cannot...

Jolly Roger Loc: Dorset. UK

A week or so ago some guys were shooting a local movie at one of the beach bars here in Freetown. They were using a Canon (5D I think?) but I cannot understand the bit of kit between the tripod legs and the camera body. It seems like a rail, allowing for movement left or right. What is its main purpose.
Sorry about the pic. Taken on my iphone.

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

It is a rail. It will allow motorized movement of the camera while taking video, or even timed exposure shots.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

MT Shooter wrote:

It is a rail. It will allow motorized movement of the camera while taking video, or even timed exposure shots.

Right. Google time lapse photography, and you will see time lapse movies in which the camera moves one way or another during the exposures. It gives a very nice effect, but it's not (yet :D) a photo necessity.

ted45 Loc: Delaware

The device is called a camera slider and is quite usefull in shooting video. If you have what is basically a static scene the slider allows smooth movement of the camera to add motion. It can include a motor and automatticaly time the movement of the camera or, like the one in the photo, it can be moved by hand. The slider is a lot less expensive and easier to set up than a dolly that would move the entire tripod across a track. They can be as cheap as $150 for a 24" to several thousand with a motor system.

I have two; a 24" and a 60". They are not something you use everyday, but when you need them they are very useful.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Jolly Roger wrote:

A week or so ago some guys were shooting a local movie at one of the beach bars here in Freetown. They were using a Canon (5D I think?) but I cannot understand the bit of kit between the tripod legs and the camera body. It seems like a rail, allowing for movement left or right. What is its main purpose.
Sorry about the pic. Taken on my iphone.

Take a look at this time lapse. As the camera clicks away, the motorized rail is moving it left, right, up, and down. It's a big improvement of the static time lapse.

http://parks.mapquest.com/project-yosemite-hd-time-lapse-in-yosemite-national-park/

Jolly Roger Loc: Dorset. UK

Thanks Guys for the information and links. :thumbup:
The guy in the shot was not using it as you mentioned. He used the setup as a tripod only all the time I watched him. Not too sure if he was doing a little boasting or not.
Also I don't know with the slider equipment and you are shooting a movie why you wouldn't use a movie camera rather than a DSLR. He had a 'Sound' man and someone shouting "Action" and "Cut".

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Jolly Roger wrote:

Thanks Guys for the information and links. :thumbup:
The guy in the shot was not using it as you mentioned. He used the setup as a tripod only all the time I watched him. Not too sure if he was doing a little boasting or not.
Also I don't know with the slider equipment and you are shooting a movie why you wouldn't use a movie camera rather than a DSLR. He had a 'Sound' man and someone shouting "Action" and "Cut".

DSLRs have been shooting lots of video lately. I think cost is a big part of it. Compared to the price of a top quality camcorder, a Mark III is peanuts. Also, there is the ability to change lenses, and you still have your camera for taking pictures.

ted45 Loc: Delaware

Jolly Roger wrote:

Thanks Guys for the information and links. :thumbup:
The guy in the shot was not using it as you mentioned. He used the setup as a tripod only all the time I watched him. Not too sure if he was doing a little boasting or not.
Also I don't know with the slider equipment and you are shooting a movie why you wouldn't use a movie camera rather than a DSLR. He had a 'Sound' man and someone shouting "Action" and "Cut".

Jerryc1 is correct the Canon 5d Mark II started a revolution in using DSLR for video. Ron Howard has created several short films using only DSLR cameras. The problem is that the DSLR he used costs around $20,000. There was also a full feature film called "Act of Valor" that was produced with the Canon 5d. I'm not sure what the attraction for this is since the cost of all the stuff you need to add on to the camera put cost right up there with a good pro video camera.

Attaching the slider to a tri-pod is a bit of a chore so the guy in the photo was probably just not in the mood to reconfigure the set up. I've done the same thing.

Larrie Loc: NE Ohio

I might be wrong but I think the sensor in the 5D is bigger then most vid cams. Several episdes of "House" were filmed with a 5D

Ferenco Loc: Swansea, UK

There are a large number of companies who now use DSLRs for movie making. Technology has advanced sufficiently for this. He was using it in movie mode, just like a standard movie camera. The rail is solely to provide a dynamic effect within the shot as they track left or right.

Its common practice these days

Regards

F

Ferenco Loc: Swansea, UK

Take a look at this,which uses the rails for tracking.

Http://vimeo.com/search?q=7058755

Regards

F

Jolly Roger Loc: Dorset. UK

ted45 wrote:

quote=Jolly Roger Thanks Guys for the information... (show quote)

Thanks again. I really never considered a DSLR as a viable option to movie camera's.

Wabbit Loc: Arizona Desert

Larrie wrote:

I might be wrong but I think the sensor in the 5D is bigger then most vid cams. Several episdes of "House" were filmed with a 5D

Hey Doc ..... "you might be wrong" ..... We already knew That, ya didn't have to point it out .....

Dun1 Loc: Atlanta, GA

The system is a Canon 5D Mark ii as MT said on a rail system. Why the Canon 5D Mark ii because of the price of the camera body vs a Canon AC300. In many instances the mount, that holds the camera, the follow focus (the Canon 5D Mark ii will not shoot in the AF mode to you have to buy a follow focus mechanism, toward the front "barn doors" that surround the lens

Dun1 Loc: Atlanta, GA

The season ending House series year before last was filmed with two Canon 5D Mark ii's. The "Live fire shoot" from the movie "Acts of Valor" where real bullets were used, vs blanks was filmed with Canon 5D Mark ii's
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xo4bwz_real-bullets-on-a-live-fire-range-with-seals_people