SliderMini: A portable, easy-to-use, motorized, camera mini slider - Review

THIS is the SliderMini by Smarta.

In this video I am going to demonstrate the functionality of this newly released, small, lightweight, battery powered, motorized, Bluetooth enabled, and mobile app controlled, camera slider.

The Slider Mini was a crowdfunding project by a company called Smarta.

Weighing in at 569 grams or 1 and a quarter pounds, the SliderMini is a precision crafted unibody design that looks like it’s machined out of a single block of aluminum. The design is elegant with only one button, for power. This same button activates the slider to move left or right. Double push and move left and triple push moves to the right.

There is a USB-C port on the side which charges the internal 1500 milliamp Lithium battery. There is also a shutter sync port which you can use for stop motion and time lapse sequences.

The slider can be used with or without the app. When using the slider without the app, the speed is fixed at a centimetre second which moves the slider from and to end in 20 seconds. For most quick set ups uses, I find that 20 seconds is good speed, and I do not need the app to control it at all.

To take full control of the advanced features, launch the Smarta app which is available for iOS and Android. It connects automatically via bluetooth and there’s no messy pairing issues to deal with. Once you’ve connected, and selected the features or speed control you want, you can close the app as the control instructions are now loaded onto the slider itself.

To control speed, simply rotate the dial. Maximum Speed is 1 cm a second which takes 20 seconds to to travel end to end. The minimum speed 6 micrometers per second, which equates to a travel time of just over 33 minutes. You can start and stop and change the direction of movement, just by just tapping the directional arrows and you control the speed by rotating the controller.

The SiiderMini base has ⅜ inch threaded mount point and comes with a 1/4 x 20 thread adaptor already installed. The slider top comes with a ⅜ male mount. They do include a ⅜ to ¼ inch adaptor, but you are much better off using a ball head with a ⅜ thread.

I’m using an inexpensive mini ball head here, to keep the overall the weight down. Anything heavier than this set up though, would require a more substantial support. The specs state the maximum load is 15 kilograms or 33 pounds. That of course would just be horizontal. Vertically the specifications state a load of 1 kilogram or 2.2 pounds. This will work at at at incline but the load drops off significantly as you tilt away from horizontal.

The SliderMini ships with the variety of sync cables which include options for Sony Nikon and Canon. However Smarta will sent a cable for just about any model of camera with your order. I simply asked for a Panasonic GH5 cable and when my order arrived, it was included in the package. It also comes with USB-C charging cable as well.

The Smarta app includes options for time lapse and stop motion. This is where you would use the sync cable.

The app comes with a 10 preset time lapse settings, each of which you can modify and it also allows you to add and save your own. Each of these are preset suggested settings which result in the slider making one movement from end to end while automatically triggering your shutter to obtain the correct number of photos. While these are quick set ups are handy, you still have to do your own math you calculate your camera settings to match the shutter interval and of course, exposure.

Timelapse movement is constant motion as opposed to shoot-move-shoot. However, movement over time only becomes an issue during night time lapses where you have very long shutter speeds.

Camera motion is one of the important keys to adding production value to your videos. You can achieve motion by using steady cams, gimbals, sliders, dollies, or drones etc. While the SliderMini will not replace all those, this is the only system you can carry in your pocket.

Overall this is a very clever design with great build quality, simple set up, and has lots of easy to use features, through the app. For an inexpensive, lightweight, motorized, pocket sized slider, this would make a great addition to your camera kit.

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