The Rhino Slider is a camera track designed to lend DSLR cameras some lateral movement when shooting video. Pitching to a similar market to the similarly successful Genie time-lapse controller from Syrp, it's not surprising to see the Rhino Slide has received more than double its US$20,000 Kickstarter target with 40 days left on the clock. The Rhino Slider is a deliberately simple and therefore affordable device which relies on the camera being slid either by hand, pulley or by gravity.
Filmmaker Kyle Hart says he set out to create "the ultimate slider that used roller bearings, could be lightweight, and adapt to any environment or camera." The result was the Rhino Slider, a 48-in (1.22-m) track, and a slider with six "self-lubricating" rollers designed to achieve smooth tracking shots when shooting video on a DSLR. "All you have to do is mount your camera to the carriage, set up your shot and start filming," Hart says.
The track includes adjustable legs suitable for uneven ground, with feet that can be replaced by suction cups for adhesion to smooth surfaces. The kit comes with two mounting screws: one with 3/8-16 thread suitable for ball heads and fluid heads for more heavy-duty cameras, and one with 1/4-20 thread for lighter gear such as GoPro cameras and Glif-style iPhone accessories.
A smartphone-controlled motor is planned, as is a means of extending the slider's rails over much greater lengths.
As is the norm for Kickstarter campaigns, a variety of pledges are available. To get one's hands on an actual Rhino Slider, though, a minimum of US$350 is required. That'll net you a 5-pound (2.3-kg) model with stainless steel rails. It holds 7 pounds (3.2 kg) of gear.
An extra $75 (that's $425 in all) will get you a Slider with carbon fiber rails. It weighs only 3 pounds (1.4 kg) but can support 10 pounds (4.5 kg). For $475 a Pro version can be had, consisting of a steel slider with a center-mount plate designed for elevating the track above the ground using a tripod, and capable of holding 35 pounds (15.9 kg) of equipment.
It's good to see that all of these pledges knock at least $100 off the final retail price, which may or may not be a nod to the waiting period and risk inherent in Kickstarter ventures.
Despite being designed to be as affordable as possible, this is a product firmly in the realm of the serious amateur. Novice Nolans seeking to add glide to their filmmaking endeavors may wish to consider something like the Mobislyder instead.
The promo video below gives an idea of some of the results achievable with the Rhino Slider.
Source: Kickstarter