DIY TimeLapse Slider Dolly: Cheap but High-Quality (Second Version)

[@MatthewGore]

Sorry to say that I've abandoned the upgraded Arduino based-version for the time being... too many other things on my plate, and no real practical need for it... and at least initially, there was very little interest in this video (it has picked up a little over the past several months for some reason)...so it's on the back burner. Maybe not even in the kitchen anymore. I may get back to it someday, but I don't know if or when.

[@Tricklarock]

I would rather do without the Arduino/Raspberry/etc version. I want know how to make it with just a motor/potentiometer/power supply - I'm not trying to learn coding for the time being... Also, I'm wondering if it's possible (it couldn't be that har, and I could figure it out so...) to make a version where you can attach a round plate at the motor end to use as a turntable for motion lapse???

[@tacrewgirl]

I came here after the camera dolly video. Great info. Thanks!

[@belleepoque777]

Doing this in 2024! Will update final cost and any replacements I used, so far coming out to $110. Thank you so much!

[@stevecain1956]

Brilliant, will make one. Thanks Matthew.

[@MatthewGore]

Its a fun build. For how simple it is, the results are pretty good :-)

[@sasosegula2974]

Super video and idea. I was thinking about purchasing motorised camera dolly, but after seeing this video I am already ordering parts for 1.5 m slider. In combination with a motorized tripod head it will be great for my time lapses.

[@MatthewGore]

This was definitely fun to build, and if you have the skills, converting it over to an arduino controlled device with bluetooth control shouldn't be too hard... I still haven't managed it completely myself.

[@clanelliott0305]

Great Video, nice to see your progress from MK1 slider. Looking forward to MK3

[@javajack-1]

This is awesome. I've been looking for a long reliable slider. One's I've purchased from Edelkrone, for instance, freeze up in the winter. I live in Canada and it's cold here now. This looks pretty simple, but I might wait and build your more sophisticated one when you release that. Subscribing now. Thanks for all of this.

[@GamesJames]

Loved the video! Thank you. It been a year though. How’s that new version coming along?

[@MatthewGore]

Hey James, Sorry to say that I've abandoned that project for the time being... too many other things on my plate, and no real practical need for it... and at least initially, there was very little interest in this video (it has picked up a little over the past several months for some reason)...so it's on the back burner. Maybe not even in the kitchen anymore. I may get back to it someday, but I don't know if or when.

[@GamesJames]

Matthew Gore thanks for letting me know. Sucks but you gotta do what you gotta do. I’ll use this video to try my hand at it. Wanting one for timelapse of my 3D prints. Much love and thanks again.

[@jenesisrock1202]

That's a great job

[@RyoHazuki224]

Great work! I just started working on an arduino-controlled slider as well! Literally just started and I have no idea what I'm doing haha. Wish me luck!

[@johnakin6168]

NICE, ANY UPDATES ON THE UPGRADE VERSION?

[@MatthewGore]

Sorry to say that I've abandoned that project for the time being... too many other things on my plate, and no real practical need for it... and at least initially, there was very little interest in this video (it has picked up a little over the past several months for some reason)...so it's on the back burner. Maybe not even in the kitchen anymore. I may get back to it someday, but I don't know if or when.

[@johnakin6168]

@@MatthewGore thanks for the reply. I understand you have to pick and choose. If you pick it up again, maybe add a swivel to the head to track an object.

[@pgtips4240]

Very informative video, thanks for sharing your idea.

[@henritroms3388]

So I almost finished the slider but the motor won't spin in the other direction... I couldn't figure out why😖

[@henritroms3388]

I got the button with 3 positions: Off, Left and right and I got the potentiometer but only the left button works....

[@MatthewGore]

@@henritroms3388 Nice! Sounds like you're most of the way there, anyway. Sounds like it may just be a wiring problem? Since your setup is different than mine (and it's been a couple years since I made this thing), I can't help you off the top of my head... but if you want to send me any wiring diagrams, photos of your work, etc, I may be able to help. [e-mail]

[@henritroms3388]

@@MatthewGore Hey, thanks for your reply! I figured out that the Controller is not working properly so I just ordered a new one. Besides that everything works fine! I just can't find a good way to attach the stopping sensors I bought to the aluminium bar to stop the cart when it arrives at the end but that's not a big deal😃

[@seanstout7904]

Genius, Thank you!!

[@henritroms3388]

So im currently working on the slider and was wondering how you mounted the Arca Swiss plate on to the Aluminium Bar... The Space between the Aluminium Bar and the V-Slot Profile is too small for a locking nut, and the aluminium is too thin to drill a fully working thread in it. Beside that everything worked so perfect! Thank you for the inspiration

[@henritroms3388]

And also a question I have is what happens when the Cart reaches the end? The Belt cant go any further and the motor wont stop right? Anyone got a solution?

[@MatthewGore]

Hi Henri, The aluminum bar that I used is 1/4" thick... a bit more than 6mm. For me, tapping it worked just fine. I imagine that if I had to remove the plates frequently the threads would get eaten up, but since I just leave the plates connected, they've been strong enough.

[@MatthewGore]

@@henritroms3388 You're right.. this analog one will not stop when it reaches the end... it needs a person to be there attending it. However, the common solution to this is to use a micro-switch wired to the ends that breaks the motor circuit... simple and cheap. This sort of thing might actually fit into the slot and the arm could protrude up into the path of the cart: amzn.to/3tF5jI7 If you're doing an arduino controlled version, there are more elegant solutions.

[@henritroms3388]

@@MatthewGore Thank you so much for your help!

[@isaacstone7899]

Where to buy motors and how to connect with Canon DSLR?

[@davidversteegen]

Dear Matthew, great video! Did you make an update? The website appears to not work anymore, is that right? Did it move?

[@MatthewGore]

Hi David. Just checked... the website link is still working. Let me know if it still doesn't load for you. I didn't make any updates after this, unfortunately. There wasn't enough interest for it to be practical :-(

[@davidversteegen]

@@MatthewGore Hi Matthew, thank you for your reply! The website works now, strange that it didn't. That's unfortunate but I understand!

[@syntaxtrap9198]

Great Idea - excellent

[@Noto_Roto_Bonsai]

Trims for Share

[@kogiekobayashi3421]

Matthew what time lapse software you recommend? Thank you.

[@MatthewGore]

Ahh... since I'm not really heavily into this sort of thing (I just play around a bit), I don't use special software, just the video editor in Photoshop. It can load a sequence of JPGs as video frames, and that's enough for me :-) However, there's a good piece of software for Lightroom... the name escapes me at the moment... but it will reduce flicker and make transitions smoother between night and day, for example. It may be called LRtimelapse. Good luck!

[@maaatin20]

Try LRTimelapse-it's used in conjunction with Lighroom, and it's a pretty easy-to-use software. Watch the intro tutorial and you should be able to get started pretty quickly with editing your footage.

[@sandy_vb]

I'm having to decide between a 31 inch and 48 inch slider. Can you advise?

[@MatthewGore]

It depends on how you'll be using it. In general, a shorter rail is handy if you're going to be hiking around with it or setting up in tight locations. If you're looking for something to use in a studio, or if you will be using it a short distance from your vehicle or home, then why not go longer? You can always just use part of the travel distance. Ultimately, how much movement you have in your finished video clip is an artistic decision, and it's completely up to you :-)

[@sandy_vb]

@@MatthewGore Thans bro, that was very informative. Can you think of a case when you absolutely have to use the 48 inch slider?

[@MatthewGore]

@@sandy_vb You will get better results with a longer slider in cases where you don't have anything in the close foreground of your shot. The closer your foreground is, the more dramatic the movement will be in the frame, so the less movement you'll need. You'd want to use more movement in situations where the nearest objects in your frame are a few meters away, for example. However, there's a very narrow window where 31" will not be enough but 48" will be, and in most of them it will probably be possible to re-compose your shot to get the movement you need. That said, I'm not really a film-maker, just a photographer... so I'm still learning how to use tools like this, too.

[@OutlandAlert]

impressive setup. What's your background with CAD?

[@MatthewGore]

Thanks! No CAD background.

[@ausrinezykaite5540]

Would you be able to make one of those sliders if someone would be interested to buy it from you and how much would you charge for your finished product? ;) Nice work by the way ;)

[@MatthewGore]

I could, but it would not be cost effective for the buyer... it would end up costing nearly as much as something that's already out on the market in commercial production (because my labor is expensive :-) ). But as a DIY project, it's very simple.... just a little time consuming.

[@javajack-1]

I had the same thought, I'd pay for this, too. I want one 8 feet long, though for really long time-lapse with lots of parallax.

[@MariusNMM]

nice job :)

[@dustin3631]

Incredible! What's the slowest speed the motor has? Is 3 rpm the fastest it can go? And do you toggle the speed via the potentiometer? Thanks:)

[@MatthewGore]

The "3rpm" rating of the motor is the speed that it will turn with a 12v power supply, with no motor controller. I use it with 9.6v (8 x 1.2v AA batteries) so it won't reach 3rpm, but with the motor controller, it can go much, much slower than that. If you want it to go faster, you can simply switch in a motor with a higher speed... I see them on Ebay at 7RM, 24RPM, 30rpm, and over 100RPM. But those wouldn't be very useful for time-lapse work :-)

[@dustin3631]

@@MatthewGore good to know. Thank you very much for that fast reply!

[@specialized415]

Brilliant tutorial Matthew.. thank you 👍🏻 One question if I may? When you say M5 bolts (assorted), could you tell me how many of each length I need please? It looks like they range from 6mm all the way up to 70mm 😳 Thanks again man ✌🏻

[@MatthewGore]

Hey :-) I replied to the comment you left on the article on my site, and updated the parts list there

[@kavan82]

don't laugh, but for second time, First like and first comment :)

[@MatthewGore]

Nice! It's always nice to see that KZbin actually notifies some of my subscribers that new videos are up :-) This one is a little different than others, obviously, but I hope that someone finds it interesting.

[@mandurahchess]

@@MatthewGore I did. I was wishing for the stepping motor version even before you mentioned it.

[@MatthewGore]

@@mandurahchess It took me a little study to get the whole Arduino thing planned out, but I think it's going to work out nicely. I am heading out of the country for a while, but I'll try to finish up that project as soon as I get back.

[@t.vel.890]

@@MatthewGore ist there any chance to see the stepper motor version anytime soon? Would be much appreciated 😅 Thank you for your awesome videos :)

[@MatthewGore]

@@t.vel.890 Unfortunately, I have pretty much abandoned this project for the time being... too many other things on my plate. Don't know if or when I'll ever get back to this :-(