ULF Dolly

[Tin Can]

Yup!

My dolly was in Michigan

Big Boy Linhof 8X10 1 of 3 by TIN CAN COLLEGE, on Flickr

Linhof Kardon 5X7 with Linhof tipod and dolly by TIN CAN COLLEGE, on Flickr



Linhof 8X10 Kodak 405mm f4.5 Portrait lens by TIN CAN COLLEGE, on Flickr

[r.e.]

The tripod dolly design that Tracey Storer talks about in post #6 is for still photographers who want to roll their camera around on a smooth floor. Well-made versions of this design aren't cheap. The one that he uses sells for just under US$500.

Some of the posts above refer to dollies used in film production. Filmmakers use dollies to make shots in which the camera moves. Outfitted with wheels appropriate for the surface, the dolly can be used directly on a floor or pavement, but often it's outfitted with longboard wheels* and runs on a track made of steel or PVC pipe. Off the shelf, these dollies are expensive. For that reason, there are a lot of discussions on the internet, and several videos on YouTube, about making your own. Basically, you need a plywood platform that's thick enough for the weight of the tripod and camera, and large enough for the diameter of the extended tripod legs. Add wheels (for still photography, ones that can lock) and a handle to push and pull the dolly around.

This 2010 YouTube video by Tom Antos may give you a few ideas:



* Longboard wheels are larger, have more give and are quieter than standard skateboard wheels.

[Tin Can]

30 years ago I bought a Sachtler 150mm bowl wood tripod and a great dolly with 6' wheels

Huge, perfect

Garage sale $15

Sachtler

No not LA, Illinois

I didn't know what is was, but sure seemed a bargain

I finally found a cheap bowl head adapter to fit

Nasty spikes and dolly is very wide with 6" wheels that lock 2 ways

[r.e.]

I think that Jurgen might also be able to accomplish his objective with a well-made light stand on wheels that can be locked (a roller stand) and that ends in a 3/8" screw to which a tripod head can be attached. I'm thinking in particular about a Low Boy Stand with a large footprint for stability. Assuming that he doesn't need to go really low, this would give him good control over height and excellent mobility. It's also a relatively inexpensive option, especially used.

He'd need a tripod head that can pan and tilt and the usual saddlebags to weigh down the stand's legs.

Below is a Matthews Junior Low Boy. The footprint is 1.5m. Minimum height is 1m. Maximum height is 2m. Weighs 6kg. Maximum load is 25kg. There are many variations on this theme, and a number of companies make stands that are cheaper than what Matthews and Avenger sell. For example, check what Kupo offers, or in the US B&H's house brand Impact. Just do a search for "roller stand". Pretty easy to find stands like this used as well.

This is a "Combo stand", meaning that there's both a Junior female receiver (diameter 1 1/8") and a pop-up 5/8" pin at the top. For this application, I would use the Junior receiver with a male pin that ends in a 3/8" screw.

[Tin Can]

Depends

I have 3 leveling c-stands with Junior pin adapters and Baby

Great for lighting, but not for camera stand

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/searc...4aAqJDEALw_wcB

[r.e.]

Depends

I have 3 leveling c-stands with Junior pin adapters and Baby

Great for lighting, but not for camera stand

I'm not talking about a C-Stand, which I would not use for this.

I'm talking about a robust stand with three proper legs, and a wide footprint, on wheels.

[Tin Can]

Show and Tell

Time

I'm not talking about a C-Stand, which I would not use for this.

I'm talking about a robust stand with three proper legs, and a wide footprint, on wheels.

[r.e.]

Further to post #14, this is a Kupo video on its "High Roller Stand". This stand is similar to the Matthews in post #14, except with three rather than two risers. This means that it has greater maximum height, although this particular stand goes much higher than Jurgen is likely to need. Note what the presenter says at 1:50 about lowering the risers to create a fourth point of contact with the floor/ground:

[Peter De Smidt]

I used to use a Junior rolling stand as a camera stand back when I had a small studio, but I didn't try it with a big camera.

[Tin Can]

I want one but don’t need it

I have wall booms for studio flash

next life

Further to post #14, this is a Kupo video on its "High Roller Stand". This stand is similar to the Matthews in post #14, except with three rather than two risers. This means that it has greater maximum height, although this particular stand goes much higher than Jurgen is likely to need. Note what the presenter says at 1:50 about lowering the risers to create a fourth point of contact with the floor/ground: