Reasonably Priced Timelapse Rail System?

[Markw]

Hi all. I have been looking a bit into making more timelapses lately. The one's I've already made can be seen at markwjr1's Channel - YouTube if you're interested. But I can't seem to really enjoy the idea of making more without being able to add the dynamics that a rail system would give me. I really love the ones produced by Dynamic Perception LLC, Open-Source TimeLapse Motion Control Systems , but they run at the hefty price of $900. And that's before the need of buying 2 good, sturdy tripods and a good tripod head. Are there any other reputable systems out there for, well, not nearly that amount of money?

Thanks,
Mark

 

[tirediron]

Looks like a pretty simple thing to home-brew; all you need is a platform, some wheels, tracks, rack & pinion and stepper-motor and controller. Plywood should be fine for the platform, the wheels can be anything from dolly wheels to skateboard trucks. 6061 aluminum 'L' would work fine for the tracks... The rack and pinion could be found at a scrap-yard, or purchased from somewhere like McMaster-Carr. The stepper-motor they show on the website you've linked to looks an awful lot like the sort of thing that you get on those cheap, off-shore CNC mills, and they will sell you the controller for $230. I would say, all-in you could make a pretty decent rig for <$400.

 

[lenejetva]

Photography is all about the art of lighting. Some of the most experienced photographers would know just how to manipulate the natural light for their photographs.

 

[Markw]

..what does that have to do with time lapses? You can have 100 different light modifiers, and still not make a good time-lapse. Mark

 

[Phranquey]

I've had this bookmarked for a while..... been meaning to get around to trying it.


A TimeLapse Rail from BBQ rotisserie motor | DIYPhotography.net

 

[tirediron]

Okay, that has my idea beat!