{"id":94525,"date":"2017-09-08T06:30:12","date_gmt":"2017-09-08T11:30:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.premiumbeat.com\/blog\/?p=94525"},"modified":"2017-09-08T09:16:59","modified_gmt":"2017-09-08T14:16:59","slug":"lone-videographers-need-motorized-slider","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.premiumbeat.com\/blog\/lone-videographers-need-motorized-slider\/","title":{"rendered":"Lone Operator? Make Your Next Purchase a Motorized Slider"},"content":{"rendered":"

Motorized sliders can make you more efficient on location, and they add production value to\u00a0your work with a full-crew look.<\/h2>\n

Cover image via Shutterstock<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re a lone wolf operator, ultimately, you want equipment that will\u00a0make up for missing\u00a0crew members<\/strong>, without weighing you down. It was only this year that I got\u00a0my first motion-controlled slider<\/strong>, and I keep asking myself why I waited so long?<\/p>\n

First and foremost, we have to acknowledge that a motorized slider is<\/em> going to add weight to your kit. I can fit my GlideTrack into a meter-long bag. My Syrup motorized slider requires a much larger bag and is twice as heavy. This is where many lone operators lose interest. Many\u00a0have become accustomed to equipment that has steadily gotten lighter, smaller, and cheaper over the years<\/strong>. As a result, most of us\u00a0don\u2019t want to add extra gear, but in the case of a motorized slider, it\u2019s worth it. Here are\u00a0a few reasons why.<\/p>\n

\"Lone
\nImage via KesslerCrane<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

Secondary Camera Footage<\/h3>\n

4K has given many videographers the ability to “fake” a B-cam. You can shoot in 4k resolution<\/strong> and later crop it in post-production to make it appear as if you have another camera closer to an interviewee<\/strong>. But nothing sells production value like moving footage. With a motorized slider, you now have a second camera operator<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

For wedding videos, documentaries, artesian videos, and even interviews, a moving shot cut with your primary mid shot can really take your production value to the next level. For\u00a0a sole operator, producing footage that looks as if it has come from a small team is invaluable. A motorized slider lets you capture twice the footage with more variety<\/strong> than a simple\u00a0tripod. And if you are shooting in 4K, you can still crop the motion-controlled movement and make it look like you have two moving cameras<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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Precise Movement<\/h3>\n

How many times have you been carefully moving the slider while panning the fluid head and you\u00a0move too quickly or jerk the motion?\u00a0That\u2019s never going to happen with a motorized slider. While setting up a motorized slider<\/strong> may add an extra five to ten minutes to your setup, you’ll actually save time by avoiding wasted movements and reshoots<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

A basic motorized slider will simply move\u00a0your camera from point A to point B<\/strong>, but you can buy sliders and accessories that also pan and tilt the camera for you. Depending on the slider, you can\u00a0preprogram these movements and adjust them with a control panel or a smart phone app<\/strong>.<\/p>\n