Slider Alternative: A pocket dolly with a flywheel – Polly!

by Sebastian WöberFebruary 3^rd, 2012

Smooth for good, an invention that will probably change the way we look at sliders:

Sliders. Convenient, compact devices that let us achieve dolly shots easily and affordably. They have become very popular with HDSLR, but one of the biggest challenges when using a slider is to make a shot really smooth (=professional).
The smoothness and build quality of the bearings of the device is one factor and the technique of movement another that will affect our shot. There have been different approaches to make pocket dollys and sliders run smoothly, the most advanced devices are motorized and expensive, but here’s an approach that will probably revolutionize the way we look at sliders.

“Polly” is a device created by Thomas Kress from Germany. The idea is that a flywheel simultaneously accumulates the kinetic energy and stabilizes the movement.

This is a very interesting approach that should solve the biggest problems about compact sliders and allow us to create extremely smooth shots. I wonder why noone else has had that idea before.

The device is expected to ship in the second quarter of 2012. Pre-ordering will start in a few weeks.

Unfortunately it’s not very cheap:
Estimated price for the Polly-Engine is around 1250 €, the additonal arm would be 850 € and there’ll be a combo price.
They have an e-mail list on their website if you want to be notified.

I don’t doubt that this will be a great device, but we’ll probably have to wait some time for this idea to be picked up and built in a more affordable way.

www.pollysystem.com