GVM Slider with Camera Tracking - GVM GV-GT80WD Carbon Fiber Motorized Slider Review and Tutorial

GET 10% OFF COOL "INTO THE AM" T-SHIRTS & APPAREL

Video sliders are a simple tool for getting shots with subtle motion. But a motorized slider can get you that cinematic look without the risk of bumpy movements if your hand isn't steady. And in this video I'm checking out the GV-GT80WD motorized slider from GVM which stands for Great Video Maker.

The 31-inch rails are made of carbon fiber with ball bearing rollers which allows movement to be really smooth. It runs on common NP style batteries that are mounted on top of the motor housing. It also comes with a wireless Bluetooth remote for manual and automated control. But the remote uses a non-consumer battery so you have to use the supplied charger when it runs out of power. You can't just put in new batteries when it's dead.

To connect the controller to the slider, have it powered on then flip the power switch on the slider. In about 10 seconds the remote will automatically connect. You can confirm the connection when the two arrows appear next to the battery indicator. At this point go into manual mode and start using the slider. Movement is controlled by the plus and minus buttons on the bottom left. Speed can also be adjusted to get just the right amount of movement for each shot. One thing you do need to know about this slider is that the motor does make noise and it's noticeable at any speed. In a quiet room it's very possible the noise will be picked up by a camera's built in mic. So I definitely recommend using an external mic placed away from the slider. But the motor is a bit quieter on slower speeds.

As far as mounting options go, the bottom center of the slider has a variety of 3/8" and 1/4' inch tripod holes and it's the same on the ends. And like most sliders, the feet are adjustable for easy leveling to prevent wobbling.

One of the bonuses of the GVM Slider is that it comes with a useful ball head. It's made of solid metal and very sturdy. And it screws right onto the quarter-inch screw on the center of the track dolly.

To get this set up for automatic sliding mode... a start and stop point needs to be set. Start in Auto Mode select Set Key. Then select Append Point. Choose Point A and then move the slider to where you want it to start. Hit OK and then save. Now go to Append Point and set Point B and move the slider head to the end point and save. The A and B points can be at the ends or anywhere in between. Back in the Auto menu make sure that start and stop points are set to A and B. To start the movement select Execution. The slider will move to the A point at full speed and then it will start its move to the end point at the preset speed.

The last function mentioned in this video is the tracking ability. By loosening the red knobs on the ends and adjusting the middle bar you can center track or pan the camera while sliding. In center tracking, the lens stays pointed at the same location as the camera moves along the rails. This is great for getting subtle background motion on a stationary object. If the center bar is flipped the other way, the lens will do a sweeping motion so it'll pan across a large area as the camera moves side-to-side. But for normal sliding keep the center bar parallel with carbon fiber rails.

Along with a handy carrying case, the GVM slider also comes with various shutter control cables for time-lapse shots. And there should be one that works with almost any brand of camera.

This is is a high-quality slider that feels sturdy and it's easy to use. The nice thing is that it's fully assembled and ready to go right out of the box. A couple of final notes on the GVM motorized slider. To prevent sagging on the ends from the weight of the camera, it's best to use two tripods or stands on each end for a more solid platform. But the one thing that I can't ignore with this slider is the motor noise. So I definitely recommend using an external microphone placed away from the slider or just use this for B-roll shots. And finally, I just wanted to mention that the GVM GV-GT80WD slider can also be controlled with iPhone or Android with the GVM app.

If this video was helpful please give me a thumbs up and hit the subscribe button to stay up to date on all my weekly videos.

Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

****Equipment I Use For My Videos****

[lorenmiller]

One of the finest, clearest demo videos I've seen. Thank you!

[jonathan.awwsome]

You did a good job of introducing this product ! I've seen this slider on internet, but no idea is that worth or not, you solved my problem, the dude!

[craigluchin]

How long does the battery last in the remote? Once you have the phone app do you even need the remote?

[Raevenswood]

That’s a killer design for automated panning without needing an expensive motorized pan unit. Motor noise yeah that’s an issue but this would be great for time lapse.

[Purecast]

Very helpful video.
Does this come to a smooth stop or is there a jerk?
Does the start slowly ease into the movement or does it start with a jolt?

[beyond-real]

Hello there! Thank you very much for your review, the only thing that makes me not buying it, is a question that is responded nowhere :

Can you do a very slow timelapse with it? Like more than 10 hours?

[Akram_Ibrahim]

Great review! In your opinion what is the difference between the GVM GT80WD and Neweer slider?

[benchmarkcommercials]

Hey the remote is showing the device on bluetooth but it's not connecting. Any suggestions?

[ramzibejaoui]

I have problem my GVM GT-120WD
its a lot noisy