Best sliders for silky smooth iPhone photography
- jul
- 18
How do you make sure your iPhone photography has the smoothest, most solid pans and slides possible? With these great rigs!
No matter how steady you think your hand is, there's going to be a bit of unevenness and shake when you're shooting video with your iPhone. To get the perfect, smoothest shots possible, using a slider is a great option. You can either get one of several well-known and recommended models on the market or, if you're adventurous, you can try making your own!
Cinetics miniSkates pro
Portable and quick to set up, the miniSkates pro tripod is a great option if you're looking for an inexpensive slider to use with your iPhone while filming.
While most sliders work on a track, the miniSkate works with three bright orange wheels that will keep your shot even as you pull it across a surface like your floor or counter. If you're looking to film in more rugged terrain, then this slider won't be the best option, as an uneven surface may break up the smoothness of your shot.
The miniSkates pro doesn't come with a tripod head, though, so you'll have to buy a mount in order to secure your iPhone. The Mudder smartphone holder would work well and comfortably fits a variety of iPhones, so if you're looking for a great tripod head, then this is for you.
Kessler Stealth
By far the most expensive slider on this list at just over $800, the Kessler Stealth flat mount adapter is a professional piece of equipment that'll turn your iPhone videos into smooth visual masterpieces.
You can choose to use the Stealth manually or with a motorized option to keep your shots as even as possible, and even with the motor, the slider weighs less than five pounds, making it the perfect portable tool for shooting video on the go,
Because the Stealth is regularly used for DSLR cameras, it can smoothly move a rig up to 15 pounds, so you can add whatever sound and lighting equipment you need to your iPhone without the rig tipping over or getting uneven.
Don't forget to pick up a mount for your iPhone, though. The Adjustable tripod mount by Gosky is another solid option.
TNP Dolly slider
Shoot and move smoothly at a variety of angles with TNP's dolly slider that can be mounted to work horizontally or vertically for less than $100!
This slider can be used with a tripod or directly on a flat surface; TPN's Dolly slider comes with rubber feet that prevent your slider from shaking and moving as you shoot your video, while the legs raise your slider 2 inches off the ground.
A built-in bubble level helps keep shots even as you're filming, so you don't have to worry about checking footage and interrupting your video.
Like other sliders on this list, it's worth picking up a mount that will hold your iPhone securely. If you're looking for a mount that's a little more flashy and stylish, check out the gold Gosky Optimus Prime smartphone holder.
Neewer camera track
At just under $50, the Neewer 24-inch camera track is an inexpensive option for shooting video with your iPhone, while still maintaining some of the bells and whistles of more expensive sliders.
Like the TNP dolly, you can choose to shoot in more ways than one; the Neewer camera track can be adjusted so you can shoot horizontally, vertically, or diagonally, giving you a ton of variety for your videos. A bubble level helps keep everything even, while removable and adjustable 2-inch legs mean the slider can be mounted to a tripod or left on a flat surface.
Of course you'll need to have mount that will secure your iPhone properly, so take a peek at the Livestream locking ball head phone mount.
DIY!
If you don't want to spend an arm and a leg on these sliders, then why not take a crack at making your own?!
What's your favorite slider to use?
If you've tried one of the slides above, including a DIY model, how did it work for you? If we missed your favorite, tell me all about it in the comments below!