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1 | Does the SKATER Mini replace a dolly?
2 | Is the SKATER Mini only meant for table top work?
3 | Can I change the tilt angle during a shot?
4 | The object I'm filming is too high or too low, how can I adjust the lens height?
5 | What kind of surface do I need?
6 | How precise is the repeatabilty of the SKATER Mini?
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1) Does the SKATER Mini replace a dolly?
No, the idea is to use it whenever it is faster and more efficient. In most
productions the SKATER Mini is required as well as a dolly and will be used for a
few shots only. For fast removal of your camera head from a dolly, crane or tripod
we have integrated a dovetail into the SKATER Mini, so you can easily make
those changes without losing time on changing the sliding plates. |
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2)Is the SKATER Mini only meant for table top work?
The design comes from a table top background. But more and more the SKATER
Mini is also being used in feature and documentary work, especially on locations
which are hard to reach. If you have to walk up five flights of stairs it might be
easier to just take the SKATER, two apple boxes and a board than to bring a dolly
and tracks up there.
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3)Can I change the tilt angle during a shot?
The system is designed to work with fixed tilt angles. With some experience you
might also be able to tilt in a shot, but this needs some experience. We've heard
about DoPs doing this. |
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4)The object I'm filming is too high or too low, how can I adjust the lens height?
One way is to change the vertical position of the object or the tracking surface. If
the lens should be just a bit higher, change to the +/-30° rocker, which will
increase camera height about 2 cm or 0.8 inch. If you need to go a bit lower, loose
the sliding plate and the integrated dovetail and mount the camera directly onto
the rocker.
Another elegant way is the use of a straight borescope (see above) as it allows
you to adjust a lens height by changing the tilt angle of a camera. |
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5)What kind of surface do I need?
Just about any one will do. Make sure the board, platform, table or floor has a
plain surface. If you have a solid surface but it has dents, just place a thin plain
panel on top. Sometimes it’s only necessary to track a couple of inches to achieve
the desired shot, so often the tracking surface doesn’t have to be extremly big.
Also keep in mind that the wider your shot is, the less critical is the surface. If you
are on a wide lens you might even get away with small dents or a slight
uneveness on the surface. |
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6)How precise is the repeatabilty of the SKATER Mini?
If all wheel directions are precisely aligned, the SKATER is very precise. We
recommend to always use calculated values for all scales, as they are much more
accurate. Use the supplied rotation table or, even better, get a free download of
the Rotation Calculator (available in Palm versions or as an Excel file,
www.pstechnik.de). It will give you proper results.
In any case it can be useful to mark the start and end point of a move with a
marker. If there is a slight offset after a couple of takes, you can still re-position the
SKATER according to the marks. Those marks will also help the camera assistent
doing the focussing. |
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