Tom Baker (no relation) has nearly funded his Kickstarter for “AirTracks: Inflatable All-Terrain Camera Slider” — a dollying system for SLRs that will cost you about $275 in pre-support (assuming the project is successfully completed). Baker’s product design experience is a little unspecific, but his prototype is impressive, and produces even-more-impressive videos. I can imagine that there are people for whom an AirTrack will open previously inconceivable possibilities.
As soon as you’re ready to shoot, un-clip the dolly from your bag and pull out the tracks. Within two breaths and a few squeezes of the built in hand pump, you have a 5-foot dolly ready to use wherever you are. The weight limit for the AirTracks is 8 pounds. That’s a lot in the world of DSLR’s, because the average camera / lens set-up weighs in at around 3 pounds. (Go-Pro Cameras and cell camera phones weigh even less!) And if it’s a pretty windy day, the grommets around the edge allow you to hold it down with tent stakes. As soon as you’re finished, twist the mouth valve to instantly release the air, roll it up and you’re on your way. The AirTracks were made to get dirty, so once you get home just spray it down with a hose and they’ll be dry in no time.
AirTracks: Inflatable All-Terrain Camera Slider
(via OhGizmo)