Kessler Crane has just launched the ‘Philip Bloom Signature Edition’ Pocket Dolly. This slider is a specially improved version of their popular Pocket Dolly V2.0 with some extra features added by Phil to make it better and more suitable for travel. Compared to a regular Pocket Dolly it has better gearing, drag control and a permanently fitted handcrank. It is available in two-foot and three-foot versions at a special launch price of $995 US, after which it will be $1095. It is also fully compatible with Kessler’s Elektra Drive and Oracle motor systems which give precise motion control in real time or for timelapse.
As cinematic journalism evolves, more and more news shooters are turning to devices like the Pocket Dolly to provide those extra-special camera moves. Phil is constantly travelling and has a background in broadcast news so he should know a thing or two about what news and documentary shooters need. I had a chance to chat to him about the dolly and this is what he told me:
“The traveller size is perfect for news shooters. You don’t need anything bigger, it fits easily in a suitcase and is nice and light.
“A slider like this will add enormous production to your shots, so simply and so easily. This slider is seriously smooth – I call it a ‘one take slider’.
“I would have killed to have had something like this when I covered news. With something like this and DSLRs, incredible shots are so easy.”
I’ve been using sliders myself for over a year now and find them invaluable. Kessler recently sent me a Pocket Dolly V2 and Elektra Drive basic controller to test out and I’m already in love with them. I used it for my latest trip to the Amazon and hopefully I’ll be able to share the results soon.
For more info about the Dolly hop over to Phil’s site here.
