Review on Camera Slider Motorized Panoramic Shooting by Randy Washington

This is a great find for filmmakers looking to add some sleek floats to their arsenal of shots. Also useful for time lapse. Here are some pros: For the price, the build quality is excellent. It is light but not fragile and not cheap. It has a buttery smooth glide that's programmable with precision. In manual mode, you can quickly set up slides in one take. In automatic mode, you can spend an extra minute determining the start and end parameters, then set them and forget about them while they repeat automatically. The battery also lasts surprisingly long for a mechanical device (I've been running for hours without end), but as you'd expect, it takes a long time to fully charge. Tips: You need to buy a tripod ball head. . On the rail itself there's only a threaded mount that lays the camera flat on the surface, which is useless for adjusting the frame. The ball head raises the camera several inches and allows it to be rotated to any angle. It is actually shown in the product images on GVM website, but not included in the package. It also doesn't fit in a bag, so plan on carrying it separately. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00MGJH5U6/ You will also need to purchase two light stands to mount it above ground. This is much better than mounting it on a tripod as it just tilts and wobbles. Even with two stabilizing posts, the whole rig is quite light and tends to wobble a bit when the tripods are extended to eye level. I recommend buying some heavier light stands or bringing some weights to fix it to the ground and make it more stable. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B074VMTP68/ Cons I wish I knew before buying: There is a small stumbling block in the middle of my slider. This doesn't affect slow programmed moves, but if you quickly start the rail manually (without power) you'll feel like it lags about halfway. As I mentioned above, the entire frame is very light. If you put a DSLR on it and lift it above waist height, it will wobble as you move, requiring extra weight to keep it stable. The remote is clunky too, so take a few minutes to get to know it before you need it, as it's not intuitive enough to navigate the field. Summary: This is a great slider for beginners. You'll save $1,500 over a professional slider, so meet your expectations. But if you make the most of it, you can really up your game with this tool without spending a fortune. Highly recommended.