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How to Build a Simple Time-Lapse Dolly

Time lapse cinematography compresses long amounts of video into just a few minutes. To make good quality time lapse videos, experts use a dolly, which helps achieve fluid motion in the shots and minimize shakiness. Time lapse dollies can be expensive to buy and are typically difficult to build; many incorporate the use of timers, motors and other electronic devices. Depending on your needs, building a simple time lapse dolly may prove to be more beneficial to your specific needs. If you don̵7;t mind manually moving the dolly during your video production, you can build one in an afternoon with parts you can find at most hardware and photography stores.

Things You'll Need

Skateboard
Skate tool
Photography cheese plate
2 2-inch carriage bolts
3 wing nuts
Quick-release plate

Instructions

- 1
  Remove the trucks from the skateboard deck by removing the bolt in the center of the truck with a skate tool. Measure the diameter of the bolts you remove from the trucks; the carriage bolts you use for the dolly should be the same diameter as the bolts on the trucks. Discard the deck from the skateboard.
- 2
  Attach the trucks to the cheese plate by inserting a carriage bolt through the truck and then through one of the holes on the cheese plate. Fasten the bolt by screwing a wing nut on the end of the carriage bolt using your fingers. Leave the wing nut slightly loose to ease turning the dolly while in use. The design of the dolly will be very similar to that of an actual skateboard, so choose holes near the end of the cheese plate. Attach a set of trucks to each end of the cheese plate.
- 3
  Attach the quick-release plate to the top of the dolly. Insert the bolt on the bottom of the quick-release plate through a hole in the center of the cheese plate. Reach under the dolly and screw a wing nut onto the quick release plate̵7;s bolt to secure the plate to the dolly. Tighten the wing nut as tight at possible with your fingers. Mount your camera on the quick-release plate in the same fashion as you attach your camera to a tripod.

Photography