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No, not at all, and I don't want to discourage you from asking (here or in any other forum). My puzzlement is that you're asking good questions... but ones to which you clearly know the answers and issues.
A dolly system can run thousands of dollars if you have good height options, stabilized movement and a lot of really adaptable track. A gimbal system generally costs less, although you can certainly load one up with optional stabilizers and arms and such until it's very expensive. If you can only afford one, I'd stay with a gimbal system you can expand in a useful direction until such time as you have a budget for a decent dolly. (Or rent the latter when needed and make the most of that day or two.)
If you have to make do... do your best making do, and concentrate on the many other aspects of getting quality onto the screen. Sure, a glass-smooth track or zoom is nice, but little bobbles can be processed out in editing or just smothered by good elements of other kinds.
Remember, Rodriguez's equivalent for his first film was a busted wheelchair.
Since it connects to a tripod, you have a pretty good adjustable height for a low price, don't you? But I heard from one other person that it's not as steady as the gimbal, so I feel that even though I know the pros and cons of each, I still can't make a decision.
Since it connects to a tripod, you have a pretty good adjustable height for a low price, don't you? But I heard from one other person that it's not as steady as the gimbal, so I feel that even though I know the pros and cons of each, I still can't make a decision.
Yes, their video makes it look smooth...
*This product is the Dolly only. Tracks and Tripod are not included.
SolidTrax Track Dolly fits standard dolly tracks and provides a firm support for your tripod.
I have two dollies, one about like that shown - it folds up and packs well - and one I built from wood that's nowhere near as portable (it does fold a ittle). The foldy-aluminy-tiny ones need a glass-smooth surface to roll, or tracks. My big dolly has 6-inch rubber tires and ball-bearing swivels, plus a pair of articulated push sticks that attach to it, not the tripod. I can get pretty smooth dolly action from it without tracks.
There just aren't any cheap/easy solutions when you get down to that last 5% of image quality.
Oh I see, okay. How hard is it to keep the tracks on a dolly from shaking though? We tried a dolly shot once, with one I borrowed from the film school, while I was in school, and there was vibration in it, even though we were on tracks in an outdoor parking lot. So is keeping the tracks smooth, very difficult normally?
Yep for sure, but I already have a tripod and the price of the tracks, plus the dolly adds up to around the same as gimbal, give or take a bit, so I didn't think I was saving anything by buying a gimbal over a dolly, like how some say the gimbals are cheaper.
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