Best Camera Sliders Reviews [Expert’s Choice]
If you're a camera geek and specifically into filmmaking, a camera slider is a great investment to make. The camera slider's rails help you shoot from different angles and positions and lend a sense of live motion and fluidity to your shots.
Motorized camera sliders come with adjustable parts that allow you to customize the settings to your liking.
For whom are these sliders the best? Well, for anyone who will take rigorous action shots, panoramas, time-lapses, and many more.
If you're aiming to go pro with your video-making, a camera slider is one of the best investments you can make. Now let's take a look at some of the best options out there.
In a hurry?! Here are my top picks of sliders for DSLRs and camcorders
REVIEWS OF THE BEST SLIDERS FOR CAMERA
1) NEEWER CAMERA SLIDER (16''/40CM) - BEST VIDEO SLIDER
PRODUCT DETAILS:
Neewer is a well-known brand for manufacturing the best photography gears in the market, and this mechanical camera slider is no exception!
It is an excellent option if you're looking for a lightweight cam slider that doesn't break the bank but does the job well.
This mini-video Slider slider is made of aluminum build and a carbon fiber track, making it lightweight and easy to carry around.
The best part about this slider is it doesn't make any noise while moving, so you can use this equipment for shooting pro-quality videos. You just have to mount the slider onto the tripod in a horizontal/vertical or tilting position and start taking videos.
You don't have to stress yourself learning how to use this equipment. Just use the associated app to understand its operation. You can use it as a smartphone slider, or even use it with DSLR, mirrorless cameras, or even camcorders (with/without a ball head).
The slider is compatible with several camera brands, including Nikon, Sony, Canon, etc. Your DSLR can sit very comfortably on the slider.
Overall, The Neewer slider (16''/40CM) is hassle-free and works like a charm, and you should give it a go if you've been dying to film a timelapse for your YouTube channel or get a nice panoramic landscape shot for your next project.
What I liked about this CAMCORDER:
2) GVM GP-80QD (48"/120CM) - MOTORIZED CAMERA SLIDER WITH FLYWHEEL
PRODUCT DETAILS:
Looking for a motorized camera slider that can handle multiple shooting modes? Then the GVM GP-80QD professional camera slider is the one for you.
Yes, you can take horizontal, sweeping, and focus shooting with this electronic slider. It is best to take time-lapse shots as you can set slip speed, slip intervals, stop time, and auto loop.
You can get the best camera movements as this slider is made of a carbon-fiber body and a solid motor. You can adjust the motor torque as per your choice.
This product comes with a rugged slider bag, a long USB cable, remote control, and a battery. You just have to mount the cam slider onto the tripod head and place the camera on the slider's moving head. Now switch on the remote control (make sure you've locked the slider nob) and start seeing the camera movements.
For extra panning/tilting, place the camera onto a tripod and then place it on the movable slider compartment.
Overall, there could be no better option for Automatic round-up, time-lapses and panoramas than this GP-80QD electronic slider.
What I liked about this CAMCORDER:
3) NEEWER SCALED CAMERA TABLE DOLLY SLIDER
PRODUCT DETAILS:
If you're someone who prefers a camera dolly instead of a camera slider, then the Neewer Tabletop Rolling Slider Dolly Car is one of the best entry picks you can go for.
As seen in the picture, the dolly moves on plastic rubber wheels, while the body is made of aluminum, making it lightweight. But it can still balance heavy DSLRs (up to 10kg) on it.
You can use this camera dolly only on flat terrains; to make straight paths, curves, and even 360-degree rotations. A precise scale on the disc ensures your camera is moving in the right direction.
You can either mount your camera directly onto the dolly or even use a ball head if you are shooting at tricky angles.
Overall, the Neewer Tabletop Mobile Rolling Slider Dolly Car is an optimal choice if you're looking for a budget pick for your shooting purposes.
What I liked about this CAMCORDER:
4) NEEWER MOTORIZED CAMERA SLIDER, 31.5-INCH - BEST TIME LAPSE SLIDER
PRODUCT DETAILS:
Another similar option to the GVM slider above is this 31.5 inches camera slider model from Neewer.
This amazing slider has got a 2.4G Wireless control facility which means you can control it over your smartphones via an app. Indeed a smart product.
Another amazing feature is that this motorized camera slider is completely silent. Next, the body is made of Aluminium, while the tracks are made of Carbon fiber.
I love taking Time-lapse shoots with this smart device as it gives me the provision to set the slip speed and the number of shots to be taken in time-lapse. Overall a great piece of equipment. Give it a try!
What I liked about this CAMCORDER:
5) GRIP GEAR SET - CHEAP CAMERA SLIDER
PRODUCT DETAILS:
If the budget options aren't worth investing in for you, then GripGear's rig could be a good start at a much cheaper price point. This best motorized camera slider is in small size that even professionals use, and although it definitely can't hold your heavy cameras, you can shoot some great footage on your iPhone or GoPro. It's a simple little piece of equipment developed with quite a bit of creativity, going by the results it produces.
It can convert to a 360-degree panoramic mount, a camera slider, or a video dolly, and also runs in vertical mode (even upside down!). It offers a wide variety of tracking speeds, slow (for time-lapses) and, of course, faster ones. If you're keen to work in slider mode specifically, you can buy separate tracks and fit your heavier cameras on there (within reason).
Of course, since this is at the cheaper end of the scale, the build is mostly plastic, but the quality is still pretty high for what you're paying. The remote control is simple and easy, without a bunch of added controls to confuse you. Just remember to stick to the weight limit, and you should get some amazing results.
What I liked about this CAMCORDER:
6) ZEAPON MOTORIZED MICRO 2 CAMERA SLIDER
PRODUCT DETAILS:
With a carrying capacity of 9.9 pounds, Zeapon's micro slider is a very versatile piece of tech that's value for money. Although it's not as budget-friendly as some other sliders, it comes with a great set of features that are hard to pass up.
It is powered by a high-torque step motor and gives your camera a lot of space to travel because the camera slide rails move along with the device and can move both horizontally and vertically. It has a nifty protection mechanism in case of any power outages and has a self-locking feature to protect your camera.
You can adjust speeds and directions on the control panel of the slider motor itself, but the best part is, the slider comes with an app. The app is an intuitive, intelligent thing to add to your rig, with time-lapse calculators and previews to perfect your video, aside from a wealth of other features. everything is fully customizable via the app, from parameter settings to slider control.
Although the powered slider doesn't go up to very high speeds, this is still a top product.
What I liked about this CAMCORDER:
7) GVM CAMERA SLIDER TRACK DOLLY - BEST FILM SLIDER
PRODUCT DETAILS:
An electric GVM camera slider with adjustable slide rails and feet is a suitable option for those who can set up equipment with a bit of patience. But once the slider is put together, it works very well.
With 8 layers of carbon fiber and an aluminum build, this is a solid piece of equipment and not cheaply-built. It's fairly light-weight, and there's a carry-bag so everything can be put in place when you're traveling for a shoot.
You can shoot easily on manual, and if you're using auto-mode, a controller is there to help you customize everything as per your requirement, although it's not as intuitive as you might hope, so it may take some time to figure out.
This might be the slider for you if you're better-informed on videography in general, as it takes some time to work out all the features. However, it does deliver in terms of performance, with a smooth slider and great time-lapse customization features.
What I liked about this CAMCORDER:
8) ASHANKS CAMERA SLIDER
PRODUCT DETAILS:
Asthanks camera slider is one of the best DSLR sliders and worth consideration, with its USP advertising a Bluetooth app that pairs with the device. With a carbon fiber tube and aluminum motor, this is built to last and can hold up to 22 pounds. The Bluetooth app has five modes (including video, time-lapse, and selfie).
The product itself comes with a bunch of cables for different cameras to ensure compatibility (but be sure to double-check with your devices), as well as a carry-bag. You can do your usual auto-loop, panorama, and tracking focus shoots as well, of course.
What I liked about this CAMCORDER:
9) KONOVA MOTORIZED SLIDER P1 SERIES
PRODUCT DETAILS:
A pretty well-known tech brand, Konova's offering in the camera slider market is a simple and light-weight gadget with a carbon fiber build. With high compatibility (you can even mount a monitor on it) and support for different camera brands, it also offers 8 mounting setups for greater shooting precision.
No more clumsy shots! You can take diagonal, vertical, or horizontal shots and change panning according to whether you're doing a parallax or a panoramic shot. It's operated with an easy-to-use remote control, and the slider is a smooth run.
What I liked about this CAMCORDER:
10) RHINO ROV PRO TRAVELER - BEST PORTABLE SLIDER
PRODUCT DETAILS:
The priciest product in this lineup, this Rhino slider is a pretty popular piece of tech. Perfect for captures on your DSLR or mirrorless camera or even your phone (it has a smartphone mount), it can hold up to 5 pounds and promises a 24-hour battery life (rechargeable, of course). It comes with an app that maximizes its compactness.
What I liked about this CAMCORDER:
WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A CAMERA SLIDER?
You might be thinking, what rocket science is needed for purchasing a camera slider. But by reading the factors given below, you'll understand that yes, there is a lot to be looked upon while buying a slider for your DSLR camera.
Are you an independent filmmaker, then a dolly or a gimbal itself will do the job for you? There is no need for you to now invest in a professional camera slider.
So what are these camera dollies? These are wheeled tools that have repositionable elements that create smooth camera movements. For low-budget filmmaking, a simple camera dolly slider will be a good investment. These are affordable as well.
However, if you're a pro, you will need a motorized camera slider that incorporates bearings and can move both horizontal and vertical is important to get the smoothest shots. But the thing is, premium camera sliders are costly.
A camera slider made out of Steel/Aluminium offers great weight handling. But they are heavier when compared to sliders made out of carbon fiber. So, if you are looking for lightweight options, opt for one made out of carbon fiber.
In simple words, steel camera sliders are durable, but carbon fiber sliders are portable and not that durable.
Camera sliders come in different lengths ranging from 30cm to up to 5 feet and sometimes even more. I suggest you get a tripod with a moderate length because longer units require tripods to ensure the balance of your slider, while a small slider can't go too long, limiting your creativity.
So, the idea is to pick one that ensures the perfect length range for your projects.
As discussed in the previous point, long camera sliders require too many tripods to balance them. However, if you purchase a DSLR slider that has built-in feet, then obviously, the issue can be solved easily.
There are slider feet that balance on flat surfaces, while some allow you to use on rocks and uneven places as well.
FAQ
Both a camera slider and dolly perform the same job; to provide smooth shots. In a camera slider, you will see bracketed rails that require tripods or a light stand to balance them. You can either attach a camera or a tripod head on the movable carriage and start making amazing videos. With a camera slider, you can capture 360-degree shots only when you use a tripod head between the camera and the movable carriage.
On the contrary camera, dollies move on wheels and have repositionable elements. And the advantage of using a camera dolly slider is that you can extend your shots' tracking length as they move on wheels. Also, they can make rotational movements.
You can refer to the video mentioned below to understand how to attach a camera slider to a tripod
CONCLUSION
So these are some of the best camera sliders that are out there on the market. While many people fork out upwards of $1000 on a camera slider, budget options produce great results and offer many features. The important thing is to get a slider that works for your professional or personal interests and is compatible with your device or devices.
Invest in a slider that plays to your strengths as a videographer. Whether it's time-lapse, panorama, or tracking shots, these sliders can produce some stunning results.
