The DSLR revolution ushered in an explosion of one-person-crew gear options, and the slider has been no exception. Many manufacturers offer variations on the basic yet effective sliding camera platform, including Redrock, edelkrone, DitoGear, and Rhino. Now, a manufacturer called Trost is introducing a very sleek-looking slider aiming for extreme dependability and durability. Trost sliders feature hand-machined steel components, a quickly adjustable design, and the strength to support (some of) the weight of a 1983 Toyota Tercel. If you had any sliders on your holiday wishlist, you might want to check below for more details.

As far as camera moves go, it's hard to beat the stability and smoothness of dolly and track. When portability and setup time are of the essence, however, lighter-weight sliders can offer a good-looking solution. And Trost has created one beautiful-looking piece of gear here.


trost durable field camera slider shooting platform movement steel 04

trost durable field camera slider shooting platform movement steel 03

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Of course, good looks only count for so much, and functionality is the real selling point. Material posted by Trost emphasizes strong, weather-ready, and precise design, (which in turn give rise to the attractive aesthetics).

Trost, above all else, values its craftsmanship. Press material goes into further detail:

Each Trost slider is assembled, calibrated, and tested by hand. Although we depend on high-precision machining, a slider is only considered to be finished if it feels right during hands-on testing. The strength and precision of Trost sliders is partly due to the use of steel rolling components. Each wheel is rated to support 141 pounds of axial load – more than what most sliders can support in total. A Trost slider weighing 15lbs can support a camera rig weighing 560lbs with precise camera motion and zero observable deflection of the rail.

And yeah, there's the whole Tercel thing mentioned previously.

Granted, the system there is supported by three base plates per slider (each comes with two standard), but that's still a demonstration that puts a smile on the face. Coupled with easy one-person operation, such strength makes a solid candidate out of the Trost slider, even amongst a multitude of competition.

As you might imagine, Trost sliders won't come cheap. Configurations of 100cm, 75cm, and 100cm & 50cm dual-axis go for $1500, $1300, and $2000 on the Trost Store page, respectively. If you're pushing around heavy camera rigs and you need a quicker setup or more portable dolly solution, the Trost may be something to consider. It isn't an entry-level piece of gear by any means, but it's an affordable solution for the weight it can bear. And yes, you will almost certainly look good while using it.

Link: Trost Motion -- Homepage