Camera Dollies

There are many different kinds of dollies that are available for sale. The most common type consists of a flat bed for the camera and tri-pod to sit on and has wheels underneath so that the dolly can run smoothly on its tracks. Other more complex types of dollies have a movable arm and can maneuver in and out of places that a handheld camera would not be able to go.

Cheap Camera Dollies

Camera dollies allow the photographer/cinematographer to move the camera while it is taking pictures. This allows for a perspective that otherwise would not be available by holding the camera. It also allows for a degree of stability that would not be possible by simply holding a camera. Camera dollies can be quite expensive and can easily sell into the thousands of dollars, and this does not include the track that many dollies need to run onto. A good place to find camera dollies is through online auction houses. Many of these auction houses such as eBay have sellers that are looking to offload their equipment at cut-rate prices. Before you buy, make sure that the seller is not trying to sell an entire set of things to you. Only purchase the items that you need and avoid package sales. Also, make sure that the seller is reputable. This can be done by reading the feedback on the seller and also by checking the seller’s rating. The higher the rating, the more comfortable you will feel about making the purchase.

Making Your Own Camera Dolly

Because of the prohibitive cost associated with the camera dolly, many photography/film enthusiasts chose to build their own. Most of these DIY dollies are quite simple in design and basically consist of a large wooden board with a hand for control, and with wheels located on its underside. The dolly will need to run along a track, which will help ensure stability, and pipes can be used to substitute for a track. In order to build your own dolly you need to quite handy with putting things together. The risk is that something will not work right if the dolly is not properly put together. Another alternative to building your own dolly is to use something that already has dolly-like properties such as a wheelchair. If you can pick up a wheelchair on the cheap, it would be a great substitute for an actual dolly. All that is needed is to build a device that will help to stabilize the camera on the tri-pod. A little bit of elbow grease and a little bit of resourcefulness can save you quite a bit of money.