Techniques and Tips on the Konova DSLR Video Camera Slider
The Konova slider is one of the most popular sliders that I’ve blogged about (HERE) and I continue to receive questions in regards to any techniques, tips or tricks that I might have for shooting with the Konova. In the video above I mainly highlight shooting with your aperture wide open, stopping down to get more of your shot in focus and the technique of revealing your subjects. Personally, these are some of the basics that I learned when beginning to shoot with a slider to help me understand how to shoot properly and how to build my stories.
Aperture wide open (ex: f/2.8)
When shooting wide open, your depth of field is very shallow. This means that the defocused areas are much larger than what is in focus. This creates the stylized look that DSLRs are known for. Bokeh also becomes beautiful when you shoot really wide open. If you wish to have a wide aperture but there is too much light in your environment, utilizing ND filters will allow you to dial in the correct shutter speed for this situation. I did a video (HERE) on shutter speed and one (HERE) on ND filters.
Aperture closed down (ex: f/11)
If you want everything to be in focus while you’re shooting, closing your aperture down will allow you to achieve this. Your depth of field is much larger and therefore very little to no area of your shot will be defocused. You can set your camera to aperture priority and dial this in or go fully manual so you have all control with shutter speed, ISO and your f stop.
Reveal
When making videos and movies using your slider, there are certain techniques that really help you to tell your story. The reveal technique is used often for impact and to give your viewer insight on what is taking place. Sounds can help the reveal also, but the simple trick of sliding into a scene is great for beginners getting a feel for building their story. Begin at one point where the viewer doesn’t see the subject and slide into frames where the subject and supporting actors or scene is. Always start sliding before you begin the scene or cut into it while the camera is already sliding in post.
Push/Pull
You don’t always have to slide right to left. Push your camera into the subject, pull away from the subject and pass object on the way. Get creative. Creating different perspectives makes cinematography so much fun for me. The viewer likes to see what they normally can’t from eye view.
Vertical
If you mount your slider onto a tripod and flip it vertically using a ball head or a fluid head, you can get vertical shots. Reveal something from the ground up or top to bottom. This is one of my favorite ways of using the slider because it can be tricky depending on what you’re shooting.
Use your imagination, get creative and innovative but whatever you do, just start playing around with your camera and slider. Once you begin to mess around with the settings and techniques you’ll gain a much better understanding of how it all works and what your shooting style is.
Heavy Duty 75mm Video Camera Tripod Pan Head
Heavy Duty Ball Head Quick Release
Combine the Konova Slider with a modular ball head and this allows you to get push/pull, side slides, and the vertical shots. Any 360 degree angle that your tripod will allow, and you have the skills to execute, this nifty slider can tackle. Smooth shots are effortless and make a huge difference in your video footage. The Konova Slider really does have massive capabilities.
Manfrotto 391RC2 Junior Head – Replaces 390RC2
ND FIlters – Variety Densities Filter Ring Sizes
There is also a new version Konova slider available now, which is only slightly different than the one used in my video. For information about the differences check out this article (CLICK HERE) at Cheesycam.com. Konova Bearing Sliders Can be Found Below
Konova Roller Bearing DSLR Video Camera Slider – Amazon
NEW – Konova Bearing Slider – via eBay
Very revealing …
Would you recommend that tamaron lens for wide angle shots of subjects? — does it achieve good sharp focus? i just recently tried out the canon 10-22 and was not amazed by it.
A few things to note, this Tamron 17 – 50mm is not a full frame lens, it’s also not an L lens which is why it’s a bit cheaper. It’s a great lens though. Good for wides and yes, it’s a sharp lens.
Hey i’ve shot there before, it’s right down the street from my house, except I did a night test shot on the gh13. That Tamron is very nice, tack sharp. Impressive!
Excellent post, the motion looks as smooth as silk. I’m in debate over whether to get the Konova or the 360VM. Which would be easier for a beginner to achieve smooth sliding motion?
The crank pulley versus the roller bearing slider is up for debate. Some say there is more control with a crank and others will argue that the roller bearings are a smoother ride. I personally think they both require practice and steady movement. In my opinion though, the Konova wins.
HI, thanks for the vid. I got my knova slider the other day and Im really happy with it.
A little trick that I used is when you do your out in focus in focus slide, I use one of the cleaning sponges to mark the point where is in focus instead of my finger which I might need for something else
Where is the link to the manfrotto head you are using?
Cheers
Hi David, I included a link in the post that will direct you to the Manfrotto head. =)
Great walk through! Great Site. Excellent job Olivia.
Amazing shots! How sturdy does the a tripod need to be in order to have a single tripod as the support? Would something like a Manfrotto 190CX Pro 3 work?
Thanks, Mike. As long as your tripod supports the payload of the head, slider, camera and lens, you’re good. The 190CX Pro 3 should be just fine for the Konova. What will you be stacking on it?
Thanks for the great ideas!
One question, did you loosen up the ball bearing on the Konova, or leave them as they were? How do you achieve the smooth slide, is it just practice? I seem to have these points where I change speed during a slide, very annoying. :-/
Here are instructions on how to adjust your bearings: http://oliviatech.com/how-to-adjust-the-konova-slider-bearings
Also, it just takes practice to achieve smooth consistent shots. Some will argue that the crank pulley sliders are more consistent but in my experience they all take practice. I normally get a few of the same shots for safety. Normally the second or third try is better than the first.
Can the 501 Manfrotto head support the konova and the glideshot?
Grace, the 501 can definitely handle the Konova slider. We haven’t tried it with the Glideshot.
Great Post
Really Enjoyed it 
@Olivia Thank you so much olivia for explaining everything and being so helpful you have really taught me alot from watching your videos your the best and way beautiful !!
@Grace
If by “Glideshot” you’re referring to their camera jib…
I copied the 4ft Glideshot when I made my own jib. I made mine 5ft and it takes 15lbs to balance my T2i with Tokina 11-16 so mine is heavier than the one Emm and Olivia use and I have it mounted on an older regular 501 and it’s beautiful on there (just lock the tilt on it)… strong enough and smooth as silk when panning the jib.
… my 501 sits on a contractor’s tripod (used for laser levels etc.)… sturdy as hell and light enough to carry around. I can extend the legs long enough for my 501 to be sitting pretty much head level with my jib on top of that (and it’s still sturdy at that height), so I can get a pretty huge up and down range of motion out of that 5ft jib if I want
hey Olivia,
I’m interesting to know what microphone audio did u use in this video its sound pretty clear.
I ll appreciate for your answer and also provide me link a can take look into.
Again thx
Hi Amani, we use Sennheiser ew100′s. G2 (second generation)
[...] Camera Dolly. For some excellent examples of the old version in use, check out Olivia’s video (click here). The most noticeable changes are with the new adjustable feet / legs. The ends of the slider have a [...]
@Skunkworks
Thanks!! I’m hoping to mount either a DSLR (60d) and/or a EX1 or Hmc150 on it….was worried and confused at which fluid head and legs I should get. I should be getting my glideshot jib today!!
Grace, if you’re still around here, click http://www.skunkworksonline.ca/misc/jib_501.jpg for a pic
Hey – that’s so unfair having a beautiful woman talking me into buying things I really want anyway!!!
Seriously, a couple of questions for you Olivia, I noticed that from your first video with the older version of the Konova slider you were using and suggesting a different ball head than the Manfrotto one you used in this video. Can the Manfrotto head also do the vertical shots? Was there a reason for the change?
Also another change I noticed was in the choice of tripod – this time it looked like you were using light stands or something else??? Any reason for that change?
Keep up all the great work!
Hi Steve! There was no reason for the change, only that the equipment used in both videos was what we had in the studio at the time. For a slider, there are multiple types of setups you can use from a tripod to two tripods, light stands, the feet that the slider comes with. As long as it’s a steady base, the possibilities are pretty endless. The Manfrotto head that we used is capable of vertical shots. And yes, you are correct, we used two standard light stands for the “techniques and tips” video!
All right, I just sent my orders in…bought the Konova slider off of Ebay and the ePhoto heavy duty tripod and the 6664 Pro Action Fluid/Drag Ball Head on Amazon.
The tripod I was a little iffy about because of a lack of reviews but it is cheap and I like that it has the bowl mount so I can upgrade the head in the future.
With the gear on the way I am looking forward to doing some sliding perhaps by Christmas!
Ummmm, just a quick question about the heavy duty tripod from ephoto. I ordered it and found that the left/right panning is very tight. There is a screw at the base that seems to be designed to tighten and loosen the left/right movement but even when it is almost out, the tripod head turns rather stiffly.
I have sent an email into ephoto asking for help but have gotten no response. Have you run into this before and is there a solution? I also notice a “bolt” underneath the round part of the tripod head? Am I supposed to loosen that up?
Any help would be appreciated, meanwhile keep up the great work!
Steve, I have not experienced any issues with the panning and tilting being too stiff to handle on the 717 that we have in the studio. The head isn’t a true fluid though, so it is a bit stiffer than, say, a Manfrotto. This tripod is a bowl mount, which means there is no way to extend the neck up. You can however correct the camera’s level w/o adjusting each leg at a time. The bowl allows you to change the cameras leveling from the head. That’s what the bolt underneath the head is for. Try unscrewing it and playing around with the orientation.
Olivia,
I bought the slider, and noticed that it moves tremendously smooth from side to side. The issue I am having is that I notice a fair amount of play with the camera wanting to rock forward and back (viewfinder towards lens and vice versa) when mounted. Is this typical of all Konova sliders or do you think I have a faulty unit?
btw…I’m using a 503 Bogen fluid head on the slider. I have tried tightening the drag (per the instructions) to see if that would clamp down the unit a little more, but it only created more drag… no more stability.
Hi Mark, have you tried using the tool set that comes with the Konova? You can adjust the friction and tighten the carrier. I have not experienced this with any of the Konova sliders that we have. Try adjusting it with the tool set and let me know from there.
Hi there!
Sorry to interrupt, but I think I do have the same problem…
When I screw the plate to have more friction, I’m unable to obtain smooth SLOW movement.(too much friction, manually not possible)
When I unscrew the plate to have less friction, I do have this fair amount of play in the y axis (x being the slider axis movement)= like if it is not enough screwed.
In short, when my plate is stable, I can’t do slow manual movement.
When I can do slow manual movement better, my plate is slighty unstable(enough for the image).
Any clue, advice?
Is it the limitations of this slider(in manual mode, motor being better), or is there a trick?
I take it back and go for a kessler?
i keep it and go for a motor in time?
Thanks for any answer!
Sorry for my english!
And thank you for your time…
Cheers!
Slider+manfrotto 501 head+7D
@Mymyl I would contact Konova directly about this problem and see if they’d be open to replacing your slider under warranty.
Hey Olivia, Thank you so much for posting such informative videos. I’ve learned a great deal by coming to your site. I have a question that if you happen to get a chance maybe you could help me with. I’m not certain but it seems to me that some of the really beautiful slider footage that you’ve posted is shot at 60fps. I am a Nikon shooter (D7000) and we Nikonians don’t yet have the option to do slow-mo. I have the ability to fake slow motion in After Effects and the frame blending option helps to smooth out the motion but I’d really prefer to do it natively on a DSLR. My question for you is how important is shooting at 60fps to you guys with respect to strictly slider useage? I’m seriously considering a low end Canon DSLR just for the slow-mo capabilites. I’m a bit frustrated at Nikon for being so behind the curve on this feature but I just wanted your opinion. Could you live without 60fps and be ok using a slider? Am I just agonizing over a small issue or should I rightly be pulling my hair out? lol. Thanks again for the great blog and helping newbs like me get up to speed with DSLR video. -T
Toby, do you own a slider? I personally think there is a work around to just about everything. If you have a Nikon and you’re happy with it, I say explore what you can control to achieve slower sliding motions. While you can’t fake the movement of the objects within your shot, as you said, your editing software allows you to do some tweaking. Do you have any examples of footage you’ve shot and slowed down in After Effects? I found this (click here) looks pretty darn good to me!
Thanks for the reply Olivia. My perspective is greatly enhanced and I am very relieved as a result of your answer. Whew! I do not yet own a slider but I am buying one in the next day or so. I will be getting a Konova 30″. My decision to A) buy a slider and B) by a KONOVA slider is all your fault btw. (Did you hear that Konova?…I am buying a slider from you as a direct result of Oliviatech). I don’t yet have any examples of footage I’ve shot and slowed down using after effects. The use of slow mo video never really was an interest of mine until I saw some slow mo footage from a Canon. The vid you linked to demonstrating AE’s slow mo is definitely awesome. Moreso considering the footage was shot at 24p and not even 30. Nice! I was going to buy the slider either way but your reply makes me feel alot better about it for sure! Thanks for the reply. Much appreciated.
Would recommend the 24inch or the 31inch slider? Is that little bit a life saver for some shots?
Thanks
Honestly, Brad, for me personally both are really great, however I find myself with the 24″ mostly since it is smaller. It works well for me.
got my slider last week
any tips on getting a consistent push/pull speed by hand?
I always seem to slide too fast or end up speeding up during the slide
any help will be great, thanks
Practice!
I also use my hand as a smooth start stop break against the rail of the slider. This helps me control the ramping speed.