DIY Dolly and Rail System for Video/Film

[bdavis93]

what DOF adapter did u use?

[tyronius1]

Wow! Those were amazingly smooth dolly-shots. We attempted to simulate a dolly and track by attaching a wooden platform (for the tripod) to the seat of a wheel-chair. Worked okay if the ground was perfectly smooth and level; otherwise not great. For an outdoor track we set up some 2"by6" boards to push it along....was really difficult to move it steady and keep the wheelchair on the boards, especially if simultaneously adjusting focus. Great idea, thanks.

[Nihilism13]

So rad to do the Letterboxing in white. I dig it.

[quintenbrems]

DIY 35mm adapter also? ;)

[islc52]

Nice Job. I have built a track and it adds great production value to video.

Q. How do you upload 16 x 9 to look like that on YouTube? I use 427 x 240 files (ie true 16 x 9) but they come up with black letterbox in a 4 x 3 window - I am intrigued. Thanks in advance.

[NC17z]

Most editing programs allow you to crop with a mask. Just change the color of the mask to white.

[islc52]

Aah, it's the simple things - so simple I missed it! Many thanks.

[paulpancake]

Any way to build a portable track or one that you can take around since carrying a 12 foot piece of metal isnt fun.

[librarianeric]

I like the posters on the back wall!

[eladbari]

hey, awesome job!

i love the do it yourself kinda stuff! 2 things:

1.u can set your computers monitor to 60MHZ refresh rate i believe so that it wont flicker when u film it.

2.thought bout it...and i think a nice steadicam can totally replace a dolly and more!

check out the steadicam merlin!

[i know..its expensive but it ROCKS! :]

bye! :]

[NC17z]

1. In Order to change the monitor flicker properly, you change the shutter setting on the DVX100. This video was a test for the Dolly...

2. I own a GlideCam 2000... Thanks for the support.

[eeversole]

yeah i'm looking to make a dolly like that; and struggling. Thats epic.

[emodave138]

does it make a lot of noise when you use it? AANNNNDDDD do you think you could send me a few pictures of it, one of those could really come in handy for me.

[NC17z]

It makes No Noise what so ever. Skateboard wheels and bearings are the trick...

[dmufilm]

Excellent work! What size where the pieces of iron?

[NC17z]

24" long. They were purchased that way. Pre-cut kind of thing. They only thing out of the ordinary was drilling the four holes into the board.

[KN1V35X]

so how'd you make it?

[NC17z]

8 skateboard wheels attached to two pieces of angle iron that are fastened to a 24"x24" board. The wheels are attched to the angle iron in such a way so that they make a V like groove. I use two pieces of 1 1/4" PVC pipe for track. When the dolly is placed on top of the two pieces of PVC they act like rails of a track. There you have it, in a nut shell...

Thanks for the interest,

Len

[brooklyngr]

man this is tight...